Three days later, at Manalo Stadium.
The long-awaited final match had arrived.
On the field, Selene and Gladion stood on opposite sides of the stadium.
The entire stadium was packed with excitement. The crowd was made up almost entirely of local Alolans.
After all, this was the first-ever Regional Conference in the Alola region.
Nothing like it had ever happened in Alola before.
In the VIP area, Lusamine attended in person. Hala and the rest of the Elite Four were also present.
The referee entered the field, announced the battle rules, and then stepped back.
"Gladion, I'm looking forward to this battle. I hope you don't disappoint me."
Selene grinned. The Poké Ball in her hand enlarged as she taunted Gladion.
"The same goes for you. Even if you are someone close to Damian, I will not hold back."
Gladion spoke flatly. His expression remained as calm and cold as ever.
"Ha~ That would be for the best."
Selene's smile grew wider. She glanced at the big screen.
The randomized turn order was locked in, and she was going first.
"Now~ let's enjoy this exciting battle!"
"Incineroar!"
With Selene's loud voice, the Poké Ball was thrown high into the air, and a white light landed in front of her.
A low growl sounded as Incineroar slowly stood up straight. It glared fiercely.
Her usual lead was still Incineroar.
"It really is Incineroar. Lucario!"
Gladion was not surprised at all. He decisively threw out his first Pokémon.
Lucario landed in front of Gladion, looking sharp and focused.
Selene's lead was known to everyone.
It had always been Incineroar. She had never changed it.
And a Lucario with the Inner Focus Ability ignored Intimidate!
"It looks like he specifically studied this. He is using Lucario to reduce Incineroar's Attack-lowering effect as much as possible."
Damian chuckled lightly when he saw this.
Pokémon with the Inner Focus Ability ignored Intimidate.
Because of this, Gladion could at least make sure Selene's opening strategy would not work as well.
Otherwise, taking an Intimidate first, followed by Fake Out and Parting Shot, would weaken the opponent too much.
"But having a good plan on paper isn't enough. We still have to see how the rest of the battle plays out."
That was true.
Although using an Inner Focus Lucario to counter Incineroar was the right move, Lucario and Incineroar also countered each other.
As long as anyone had watched Selene battle, they would know that even though Incineroar was her lead, Selene always used Incineroar to weaken the opponent right from the start.
"Is it okay for Uncle Giovanni to come over here and watch the battle?"
Caitlin nodded, then looked toward Giovanni, who was wearing a gentleman's hat beside them.
That's right, Giovanni had come to Alola specifically to watch the match.
This was what he had promised Selene back then.
Lillie sat next to Damian, sitting straight and proper.
She felt quite nervous inside because this was Damian's father.
This was exactly like meeting the parents!
"Taking a day off is fine. Besides, since the Indigo Plateau Conference has ended, there isn't much business for the Kanto League right now."
Giovanni replied with a faint smile, pressing down the brim of his gentleman's hat.
"Moreover, with Hoopa here, traveling back and forth is very convenient for me."
Indeed, Damian had specifically asked Hoopa Confined to use its golden space rings to bring Giovanni over.
Otherwise, taking a plane would have been too much of a hassle.
Giovanni had also put on a simple disguise, so there were not many people in Alola who could recognize him.
Furthermore, even if he was discovered, it would not matter.
Selene used to be an apprentice at his Gym. With this excuse, the League would not have anything to complain about.
"That's good."
Caitlin nodded. Hoopa's golden space rings were incredibly useful.
Distance barely mattered at all.
The battle on the field continued.
"Selene... really is amazing. Her strength is probably no weaker than Steven and the others now."
Watching Selene's Tapu Koko defeat Gladion's Zoroark on the field, Giovanni couldn't help but chuckle softly.
Because he had acted as reinforcements twice this year, Giovanni had a very good relationship with Steven and the others, so he understood their strength well.
"She is hardly any worse than you were last year, Damian."
"How does she compare to the Trainers in Kanto, Uncle?"
Lillie worked up the courage to speak to Giovanni.
A girlfriend had to meet her partner's parents eventually. Besides, she had no reason to feel ashamed.
"There are too many talented rookies in Kanto this year, but Red and the others... should still be unable to beat Selene."
Giovanni glanced at Lillie. His eyes were gentle and friendly as he thought for a moment before answering.
There were truly more strong Trainers in Kanto this year than he had imagined.
Moreover, Giovanni hadn't expected that Silver wouldn't even make it to the finals in the end.
If he hadn't been lucky enough to get matched against an unknown Trainer in the Top 8, whether he could have reached the semi-finals was actually unknown.
However, in Giovanni's eyes, Red and his peers still couldn't compare to Selene.
After all, Selene was not only exceptionally gifted, but she also had Damian's support and resources.
Not to mention how strong her team was. She was also trained by locals like Professor Kukui.
Giovanni and the others chatted while watching the match, and the outcome of the battle was exactly as expected.
Although Gladion had gone all out, he ultimately could not overcome Selene, the strongest Trainer in Alola.
The final score was 2-6.
Even after giving it everything he had, Gladion only managed to defeat two of Selene's main Pokémon.
Selene successfully won the Manalo Conference championship.
The entire stadium chanted Selene's name.
Afterward, Selene had no intention of resting at all. She immediately proceeded to the Elite Four Challenge.
Under the excited gazes of the audience...
Hala, Olivia, Acerola, and Kahili, the Alola Elite Four, were defeated by Selene one after another.
Selene became the first Champion of Alola!
"Everyone, cheer as loudly as you want! The very first Champion of Alola has been born!"
Up on the main platform, Lusamine raised Selene's arm.
Her clear voice echoed through the entire Manalo Stadium through the microphone.
Yes, this day would be remembered in Alola's history.
"Whoa~!!"
"Selene! Selene! Selene!!"
Everyone in the stadium was screaming that name, and the cheers filled the stadium.
Feeling the excitement, admiration, and shouts from the audience, Selene clearly felt her blood heat up in this moment.
She loved this!
She truly enjoyed this!
Sure enough, wasn't becoming a Champion meant for this exact moment?
To shine and stand proudly as the strongest Trainer in Alola!
She had achieved the goal she set out with when she started her journey.
Right now, she was the strongest person on this land of Alola.
Champion Selene!
However, this was not the end of her journey.
Alola had already remembered her name.
Next, she was going to make her name known around the world!
On this day, Alola was destined to celebrate wildly.
All four islands were like this.
The birth of a Champion was, after all, extremely important for the Alola region.
Time moved to the evening, at Lusamine's mansion in Aether Paradise.
"Congratulations on becoming the Alola Champion, Selene."
Giovanni was clearly in a very good mood as well. He raised his wine glass to Selene to congratulate her.
"Hehe~ I also have to thank you for your past guidance, Uncle."
Selene beamed with a wide smile.
She held up a glass filled with juice with both hands and lightly clinked it in the air toward Giovanni.
"So my success today is partly thanks to your efforts, Uncle."
"Hehe~ It's been a year since we last met, and you've certainly gotten better with your words, little girl."
Giovanni gave a gentle smile.
They toasted and chatted, and the mood stayed warm throughout the entire dinner party.
"By the way, Damian, was the World Coronation Series your idea?"
"That's right. It seems Chairman Rose has already submitted the application?"
"Yes, Rose submitted a complete project proposal a few days ago. I happened to be discussing some matters with President Goodshow at the time, so I found out about it."
Giovanni took a sip of tea.
"What are President Goodshow's thoughts?"
"He agreed, of course," Giovanni smiled faintly. "The World Coronation Series is something that was bound to happen. Even if you didn't bring it up, Damian, it would have appeared sooner or later."
Regional Conferences were no longer enough for many people.
A world-level tournament was bound to appear.
Giovanni speculated that even without Damian pushing for it, someone would definitely propose this idea within two years.
"Is the World Coronation Series about to start? Then I can fight Champions from other regions!"
Selene perked up. Damian had mentioned the World Coronation Series to her before.
"President Goodshow is already preparing to notify the League Chairmen of every region to discuss this matter together. President Lusamine should receive the news within the next few days."
"However, because the scale of this tournament is too large, starting it will take at least a month or two, even with the full cooperation of all regions."
Giovanni continued to speak.
"Compared to the World Coronation Series, Damian, there is another matter that should come first for you."
Giovanni smiled slightly as he looked at Damian.
"The end of the year is approaching, and the League is already getting a bit restless. What are your thoughts?"
That was correct.
With the Indigo Plateau Conference, the most important event of the year, concluded, the next step for the Kanto League was naturally to deal with the issues surrounding Team Rocket.
"My thoughts? I have been waiting for this moment for a long time."
Damian gently tapped his finger on the table, and his smile turned sharp.
"Once we return to Kanto, I will give the League a reason to strike. Dad, you just stay at the League and wait to lead the operation against Team Rocket."
"Hehehe..."
Giovanni let out a laugh and shook his head.
Yes, as the Kanto Champion, he would naturally have to fight against Team Rocket as the Kanto Champion when the time came.
But...
Having the phrase "operation against Team Rocket" applied to him still felt strange to Giovanni.
"The League is going after Team Rocket??"
Lillie, who didn't know what was really going on, was stunned when she heard this and looked extremely shocked.
"It is not an all-out war. It is an opportunity to determine the relationship between Team Rocket and the League."
Gladion gave Lillie a simple explanation, but Lillie was clearly even more confused.
Lusamine sipped her tea.
This matter had nothing to do with her anyway, and she had no intention of participating in this battle.
"Tsk~ I just became the Alola Champion. Speaking of which, what should I do with my identity when the time comes?"
Selene, however, frowned in distress.
She had just become the Alola Champion, but at the same time, she was a High Executive of Team Rocket.
Which identity should she use to participate in this battle?
Should she stand directly on Team Rocket's side as a High Executive and fight the League's Trainers?
Or should she use her status as the Alola Champion to help Team Rocket fight the League's Trainers?
This was a difficult problem.
"It doesn't matter. Professor Kukui and the others know you're in Team Rocket anyway."
Damian replied in an amused tone.
"Anyway, let's send everyone a notice first. We will hold a full assembly in Kanto's Saffron City."
That night, all of Team Rocket's Executives and High Executives stationed around the world received a system message from Team Rocket.