Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 593: Battle Festival!

The next day, the weather was clear.

Unova Region, Eindoak Town.

Nothing unexpected happened during their night at the Pokémon Center. Johan didn't appear at anyone's door in the middle of the night as Garchomp had "anticipated."

After a simple breakfast at the Pokémon Center, Johan's group headed to the center of Eindoak Town.

Today was the actual festival day, and the streets were more crowded than yesterday, decorated with colorful lights and filled with bustling crowds.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar immediately spotted an ice cream stand not far from the Pokémon Center entrance.

"Welcome, what kind of ice cream would you like, exe-executive... wait, it's Teacher Johan's Gengar!!"

Walking out from behind the ice cream cart after hearing the commotion was none other than the Team Rocket trio, dressed in vendor uniforms!

"Wobbuffet~∠(°ゝ°)"

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar narrowed its eyes, leaned forward, and scratched its head at the trio's fawning smiles.

Who are you guys?

"Lord Gengar, it's us, meow!" Meowth immediately understood Gengar's meaning and hurriedly tried to explain, but noticed Teacher Johan and the others approaching.

Considering Teacher Johan's "secret mission" and "secret identity," the trio very professionally took out a sign.

"Congratulations on being our one-thousandth, one-thousand-and-first, and one-thousand-and-second valued customers! All ice cream in our shop is available for your sampling, meow!"

Seeing Meowth talking on top of the ice cream cart, Johan's eye twitched.

Great.

Even the Team Rocket trio had appeared in Eindoak Town, so it seemed this situation wouldn't be simple.

Fortunately, he had prepared in advance...

"Haven't we... met somewhere before?" Cynthia looked at the trio, showing a thoughtful expression.

"Of course, of course, Miss Cynthia!" James rubbed his hands together, "During the 'Youth Master World Championship' in Castelia City, you were our regular customer~~"

Hearing this, Cynthia suddenly realized.

"Oh, it's you guys... the ice cream you make tastes very good." She affirmed.

"Hahaha——Thank you, thank you~~"×3

Hand rubbing×3

This customer is a big spender!

Although when buying ice cream during the competition, she often took a long time to choose, she frequently forgot to take her change after paying.

"One thousand, one thousand and one, one thousand and two..."

Flint stood beside them, pointing at Johan, Cynthia, and Caitlin while muttering.

Wait.

Aren't you missing someone for the free treats?

"Welcome back anytime!"×3

"Wobbuffet!∠(°ゝ°)"

The trio smiled as they bid farewell to Johan's group.

"This 'pretending not to know Teacher Johan operation' was very successful!" Jessie said proudly.

"You can tell Teacher Johan was very satisfied," James said cheerfully.

"If Teacher Johan is satisfied, it means we're not far from promotion and a raise, meow!"

The trio's faces immediately showed unlimited hope for a bright future.

"What a wonderful feeling!"×3

"Wobbuffet!∠(°ゝ°)"

"Do they know you?" Cynthia asked Johan as she took a small lick of her tower-shaped ice cream.

Before he could speak, Caitlin added:

"I understand the thousandth customer, but do the one-thousand-and-first and one-thousand-and-second also get free treats?"

The one-thousand-and-third customer, Flint: Don't say any more, please don't say any more!

Johan gave Caitlin a sidelong glance, "Is it surprising that people know me?"

I'm at least half a celebrity now, so what's strange about being recognized?

"Besides, it's not just me."

I'm the thousandth customer, you two are the one-thousand-and-first and one-thousand-and-second, okay?

Flint: I'm begging you...

Thinking quickly in his moment of urgency, Flint suddenly raised his hand, pointing to a street not far away, "Look, it's an extremely rare shiny pseudo-legendary Pokémon!"

Hmm?

To be fair.

The words "shiny" plus "pseudo-legendary Pokémon" were indeed very attractive, with the most iconic being Steven's shiny Metagross.

Everyone looked in the direction Flint was pointing.

Cynthia's eyes brightened slightly, "Oh, it's a shiny Hydreigon."

A dark green dragon, a shiny Hydreigon!

Walking alongside it was a young girl dressed in ancient tribal clothing. The shiny Hydreigon floated beside her, attracting a lot of attention.

"It's Miss Carlita and her Hydreigon!"

"I heard Miss Carlita will also participate in this festival's battles."

"A shiny Hydreigon! They say Miss Carlita encountered this shiny Pokémon during her travels and had to make a great effort to successfully capture it."

"..."

People around them discussed excitedly.

Johan also remembered this girl with the shiny Hydreigon. She seemed to be the girl from the People of the Earth in the movie "Victini and the Black/White Hero, Zekrom/Reshiram."

Her brother Dread was a typical "restorationist" among the People of the Earth, hoping to return the Sword of the Earth to their original place and restore the "Kingdom of the Earth."

However, she and her mother didn't want to destroy the current Eindoak Town because of this.

Johan pursed his lips, sounding somewhat sour as he mumbled quietly: "Shiny Hydreigon, even dogs wouldn't want it..."

Dark green Hydreigon with that coloration... hmph!

Back when he played the games, he had played for so many years and only encountered a random shiny once. Without dedicated hunting, it was impossible to find shiny Pokémon, let alone a shiny pseudo-legendary.

The appearance of the shiny Hydreigon indeed helped divert much of Flint's attention.

"Let's go, Teacher Johan," Flint said excitedly.

"Where to?"

"To participate in the battle festival!"

Evidently, Flint had "set his sights" on that shiny Hydreigon and wanted to face it in the so-called battle festival.

Participate in the battle festival?

Johan held his forehead.

Flint, although you're not yet an Elite Four member, you're not far from it. With such status, you still want to participate in a battle festival for kids?

Isn't that bullying...

"I heard the winner can get a month's supply of berries!"

Hmm?

Berry supply?

A month's worth?

Johan's spirit suddenly lifted.

Wait.

Johan became vigilant and asked tentatively: "A Caterpie's monthly ration of berries?"

"How could that be?" Flint put his hands in his pockets, "Of course it's Snorlax-sized!"

Johan: "!!"

He exchanged glances with the bright-eyed Gengar.

"Ka-kaah!!"

Let's go!

"Mimi?"

In a corner of the bustling Eindoak Town streets, a small creature with a V-shaped mark on its head floated in mid-air, quietly watching Johan's group.

Originally.

The little one was just interested in some of the things they took out, which looked very delicious.

But just now...

The V on its head suddenly heated up, sensing a strong desire for victory from Johan and Gengar!

This immediately made the little one's interest in them increase dramatically.

"What?! Teacher Johan?"

"Teacher Johan is also participating in this battle festival?"

"Pfft——Please be human, Teacher Johan! The champion of the 'Youth Master World Championship' coming to participate in our battle festival?"

"What else is there to say? Brothers, get him! Relay battle!"

When people learned that Johan was also participating in this Eindoak Town battle festival, the tourists suddenly became "highly agitated."

But well.

Shouting was just shouting.

Many trainers were rubbing their hands together at the chance to meet Teacher Johan up close, or even battle him.

Not to say too much.

What if Teacher Johan, by some accident, slipped up and was defeated in their relay battle?

That would undoubtedly... bring fame!

Defeating one of Teacher Johan's Pokémon would definitely make that trainer a popular figure.

You should know.

According to Teacher Johan's fan statistics.

In all the competitions, big or small, that Teacher Johan had participated in, only in the finals of the "Youth Master World Championship," during his battle with Miss Cynthia, had any of his Pokémon lost the ability to battle.

If someone could defeat one of Teacher Johan's Pokémon in a relay battle...

Wouldn't that mean...

Teacher Johan > Miss Cynthia > Me > Steven and everyone else?

Invincible!

So.

Upon learning that Johan was also participating in this battle festival, as soon as the host announced it, Johan was immediately surrounded by a group of people.

One-on-one!

A group of them, taking on Teacher Johan alone!

To this, Johan just wanted to say...

Larvitar, your time to gain experience has come!

Isn't this much faster than finding high-level wild Pokémon in the wilderness to level up?

"Larvitar?"

"Brothers, the opportunity has really come, Teacher Johan is actually sending out baby Larvitar!"

"Let's go!!"

About an hour later.

Rumble!!

The ground shook violently, Larvitar stood with hands on hips, head held high at a 45-degree angle, with an air of "arrogant king of the world."

"Yoji!!"

Who else? Come all at once! I'll destroy you with one foot!

The surrounding spectators, looking at the mess all over the ground, all swallowed hard.

Who said this Larvitar... was a baby?

Is this the kind of destructive power a baby should have?

"Th-that's an Everstone!"

Finally, someone noticed the Everstone hanging around Larvitar's neck.

"That's an Everstone?! I thought it was a bell, no wonder it doesn't ring!"

"Damn! Teacher Johan disguised his Larvitar as a baby?"

"That's dirty, Teacher Johan, deliberately keeping a baby from evolving to compete in baby cups?"

The spectators all spoke up.

"Yoji?"

Larvitar turned back to look at Johan, pointing at itself.

When they say baby, do they mean me?

Johan nodded with a smile.

Our Larvitar has only been hatched for about three months at most, so why wouldn't it count as a baby?

The thing around its neck is an Everstone?

Is it possible that it's actually a "food intake suppressor"?

At this moment.

The mayor of Eindoak Town, trembling, made his way through the crowd, walking over the ruins to Johan.

Leaning on his cane, he said, "T-Teacher Johan, would you perhaps... consider stopping here?"

"Stopping?"

Johan was startled.

The mayor looked at the ground around them and the buildings damaged to varying degrees, tears almost falling.

This is a festival, not a demolition project...

Our Eindoak Town wasn't built to its current scale easily.

Teacher Johan, please restrain your powers!

Next time when Eindoak Town needs collective demolition, we'll definitely invite you to come and let you have a satisfying smashing session.

Following the mayor's gaze, Johan also came to his senses.

"Uh... sorry, if I said I got carried away grinding experience, would you believe me?"

"I believe, I believe!" The mayor nodded repeatedly, "Teacher Johan, look, although you've ended the battle, I'll still give you the champion's reward as usual, okay?"

Champion's reward?

"How could I accept that..."

Johan said seriously: "Mayor, I actually wasn't in it for the reward, I was—"

"I understand, I understand," the mayor nodded again. "Tickets to visit the Sword of the Earth will also be given to you, Teacher Johan, and your companions."

Visit the Sword of the Earth?

Johan was about to explain, but seeing the mayor's hopeful expression, he reluctantly nodded.

Seeing this, the mayor immediately let out a long breath of relief.

"By the way, Mayor, I don't want the Snorlax portion, could I have a Dragonite portion instead?" Johan asked.

"Dragonite?"

Although Dragonite was a pseudo-legendary Pokémon, Snorlax's appetite was famous throughout the Pokémon world.

Teacher Johan actually didn't want the Snorlax portion but wanted the Dragonite portion instead... what a good person! A truly good person!

"Of course."

Johan threw a Poké Ball.

"Woo~~"

The three-meter-tall Dragonite happily flew out, circling a few times above Johan's head.

"Can it be based on this Dragonite's portion?"

The mayor blinked.

"Uh..."

Eindoak Town, Central Park.

Johan, Cynthia, and Caitlin were now with their respective Pokémon, having lunch on the park's lawn.

"What a great event..."

Johan, wearing an apron while preparing lunch, was still marveling at the "excellence" of this battle festival event.

Originally, Johan wanted to use Gengar's appetite to replace the so-called "Snorlax portion," but then he thought... that wouldn't be very proper.

If Gengar really opened up its stomach completely, it could even take everything to the Distortion World.

So he finally chose Dragonite.

To be honest, Dragonite's food intake was indeed a bit higher than the so-called "Snorlax portion," but the advantage was... it had a limit.

If the reward for this battle festival wasn't berries, Larvitar would probably have been the representative.

It's just that Eindoak Town has the Dragon Vein suppressed beneath it, making the environmental conditions here very good, berry cultivation quite flourishing—otherwise, an ordinary town really couldn't withstand holding such a festival every year.

"Ding!"

The Rotom oven made a sound.

"Preparation complete, Roto!"

Johan, returning to his senses, clapped his hands, "Meal time! Today's special, Unova's specialty macarons."

"Ka-kaah!"

"Yoji!"

The little ones all swarmed over. Larvitar, completely insensitive to the heat, grabbed one with its hand and stuffed it into its mouth.

Crunch——

But just as it bit down, it found it was biting into nothing.

"Yoji?"

Larvitar was stunned.

Didn't I put it in my mouth? Didn't I? Did it fall?

It looked down at the ground.

Nothing there.

Then it felt its other hand suddenly loosen, and the other freshly baked macaron also disappeared.

"Yo-Yoji?"

Is this haunted?

Larvitar lifted its head with a confused expression.

The next second.

"Mimi!!"

Not far away in mid-air, a small creature with a V on its head suddenly appeared, its eyes filled with tears, mouth open in a cry.

It turned out that Larvitar's macaron was too hot and had directly forced it to become visible.

Despite the heat, it still struggled to bite, rolling the macaron around in its mouth, unwilling to spit it out.

"Mimi...(PД`q.)·.'゜"

Too... too hot...

"Victini?"

Seeing this little one, Johan was momentarily stunned before recognizing it.

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Powerstones?

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