Chapter 638: VS Genji, Double Battle!

On the evening of January 21st.

Outside the Battle Tower of Laurus City, a sea of people was insufficient to describe the crowd gathered there.

Even though many could watch via livestream, countless others still wished to witness in person the exhibition match about to begin.

——Not long ago, news that a heavyweight exhibition match would take place in tonight’s Battle Tower had already been broadcast across the city by countless Cube Robots.

Electronic advertisements for the exhibition match filled every street and alley of Laurus City.

The identities of both combatants had been publicly revealed from the start.

Because they were from different regions, and because much time had passed since the Asia Island incident, many in Hoenn were unfamiliar with Luo Mu.

They also failed to connect him with the young, talented Trainer who had been the teacher of Nimo in the recent viral Champion Test livestream.

But since Dr. Londo and his team had not concealed Luo Mu’s status as a Champion-level Trainer, no one questioned whether he had the qualification to battle the other contestant.

After all, compared to Luo Mu, his opponent was unquestionably the absolute peak of Hoenn Trainers, aside from the two Champions who frequently swapped positions.

The Dragon-type Elite Four member, Genji!

When word spread that Genji would be holding his exhibition match at this Battle Tower in Laurus City, the entire city—and even nearby towns—erupted in excitement.

Even now, many were likely still boarding the ocean-crossing train, continuously arriving in Laurus City.

This was the world of Pokémon.

Even a rarely seen individual like Genji carried his Elite Four status as his living trademark.

It also allowed him to sail the seas as captain without any worries.

Among this massive crowd, Ash and his group naturally blended in.

But thanks to their new acquaintance, Super, they had secured backstage access to the now-unobtainable tickets.

——Along with several other new friends they’d met, they each had a ticket.

Chatting about the strange aurora that had appeared in the afternoon, the group surged through the crowd and boldly entered through the back gate using Super’s higher-privilege access pass.

During entry, Amon—who had used Charizard as Ash and Super’s opponent in the afternoon—abandoned his usual calm demeanor and said with awe:

“I never expected to see Genji-sensei’s battle today! Coming all the way from the southern city for this Battle Tower was worth it!”

The twin sisters, Catherine and Audrey, wholeheartedly supported their brother Amon.

“Yes, yes! I’m his biggest fan!”

Jiantai, who used Squirtle, nodded in agreement, then—with agility that defied his slightly chubby frame—dropped to one knee before the stunned Yao.

“But right now, in my heart, you, Yao-chan, are number one!”

“.Ahahaha.”

Yao could only offer an awkward yet polite smile.

Super, who had remained silent and seemed somewhat socially anxious, suddenly spoke softly.

“Then what about Genji-sensei’s opponent? If he was invited too, does that mean he’s also at that level?”

As Dr. Londo’s child, Super clearly inherited his father’s sharp intellect, steering the conversation in a new direction.

The moment he spoke, Ash immediately chimed in.

“Of course he is! My Master is super～ awesome!”

To bolster his claim, Ash raised his arm in sync with Pikachu, exaggerating his gestures to show his excitement.

“Master? So Genji-sensei’s opponent is your Master?”

Jiantai asked curiously.

To his surprise, Ash scratched his head sheepishly and grinned. “He hasn’t officially accepted me yet—it’s just me unilaterally becoming his disciple.”

“.I figured as much.”

Jiantai shrugged; he simply couldn’t imagine how a Trainer capable of facing Genji-sensei could have trained someone as reckless as Ash.

During the afternoon’s Battle Tower sparring matches, Ash had pulled plenty of bizarre stunts that repeatedly made them doubt he was the seasoned Trainer who had once won a League Championship.

“Still, I’m more confident—or rather, strongly backing—Genji-sensei.”

Amon paused again.

“After all, he’s a genuine Elite Four member. As for what Champion-level Trainers are truly capable of… it’s still too early to judge, but I assume they’re inferior to Regional Champions.”

Jiantai and the twin sisters strongly agreed; Yao and Sheng hesitated slightly, having witnessed the power of that Messenger Bird.

Super stayed silent; Brock smiled without speaking; Ash, however, bristled, clearly ready to argue with Amon until the end.

——At that moment, Tong, who had been quietly checking something on her laptop, adjusted her glasses and whispered to herself: “Unknown. Fascinating.”

Despite the noise and commotion along the way, the group reached their seats in the front row with the best view.

Now, they only waited for the exhibition match to begin.

From the locker room, faint shouts and cheers from the audience could be heard through countless walls.

Luo Mu sighed slightly; today was likely the first time he’d ever fought with such a grand spectacle.

The vast arena and the sea of spectators were proof.

He had never before been so publicly visible.

His past battles had either been closed-door affairs or had small audiences.

The battle with the most viewers, if counted carefully, was still the recent graduation match he’d fought with Nimo in Desk City.

Only now, looking back, did he realize why his popularity paled next to Genji’s—it wasn’t anyone’s fault.

After all, he rarely appeared in official tournaments.

After reaching an agreement with Dr. Londo in the afternoon and nearly as a gift, he’d obtained the crucial piece needed to build his own Ecological Egg: the “reward.”

Excited by seeing his son Super’s “battle” on TV, Dr. Londo had rushed out with his assistant, Yuki, in a frenzy.

With nothing else to do, Luo Mu released his Raichu and Bagon, and toured Laurus City in a grand procession.

Had it not been for the exhibition match announcement arriving just before five p.m., he might have wandered longer.

After all, giant portraits of himself and Genji were plastered everywhere—it was unbearable.

Luo Mu had no choice but to slip quietly into the Battle Tower before the curious crowd surrounded him, especially since Dr. Londo had called him at that exact moment.

Luo Mu looked up at the live broadcast showing the crowd outside.

Suddenly, a few startled shouts erupted from the crowd—not because Genji had been mobbed by fans, but simply because the darkening night sky had changed.

Layered, dazzling curtain-like auroras shimmered across the heavens, as if carrying someone’s longing for another.

This unusual natural phenomenon naturally caused astonishment among the crowd.

Auroras are caused by solar wind; when high-energy charged particles from the solar wind reach Earth, they follow magnetic field lines toward the poles.

They were a unique, breathtaking natural phenomenon exclusive to those two regions.

After all, Hoenn was strictly a tropical coastal region—not polar—and such dazzling auroras in the night sky should not appear here.

——Notably, this aurora was not the first time it had appeared.

Earlier today, around four or five p.m., auroras had briefly appeared in a small area of Laurus City.

Leaving aside the public uproar over this irrational aurora, Luo Mu knew exactly what had caused them—or rather, who had.

The DNA Pokémon, Deoxys, once defeated by Rayquaza on the ice plains, had its entire body destroyed and its core crystal plunged into the deep sea, taking four long years to regenerate.

Yes, Deoxys had arrived in Laurus City, and amid countless magnetic interferences, was searching for traces of its companions.

And the auroras were this extraterrestrial Legendary Pokémon’s unique method of communication.

Luo Mu had not encountered it in the afternoon, nor had he planned to.

Because this plot would reach its perfect conclusion without his intervention.

After tonight, tomorrow would be the day Rayquaza, sensing Deoxys’s presence, would arrive—and Laurus City would be evacuated.

Rayquaza truly held a grudge; after four years, sensing the same energy, its first reaction was to come and kill.

It was quite persistent.

Fortunately, the black one I angered had been thrown far away by Regieleki—unlikely to cross paths again.

A knock interrupted Luo Mu’s thoughts.

“Mr. Luo Mu, it’s nearly time.”

After the “knock-knock,” a strong male voice came from outside the door.

There was nothing to prepare for, no need for psychological readiness.

After replying, Luo Mu rose and opened the door.

A stout Battle Tower staff member, wearing a red-lanyard ID badge, smiled.

“I’ll guide you to the contestant waiting area.”

He gestured to lead the way, guiding Luo Mu through winding corridors until they reached a dark space.

“Please wait a moment.”

After politely speaking, the staff member turned and used his earpiece to contact someone on the other end—likely the control room.

Once he received the confirmed instruction, he spoke: “Now, simply step onto the conveyor belt; it will transport you to the contestant waiting area. From there, the platform will automatically rise to take you to the higher battle arena. Please don’t be nervous.”

His explanation was thorough in every detail; Luo Mu nodded slightly, then stepped onto the silently operating conveyor belt.

The instant he steadied himself, a force began moving him forward.

Along the belt, every half-meter rotated a red ring, serving as both scanner and communicator.

A faint red light shone over Luo Mu—but it did not perform facial or iris recognition; instead, it accurately sensed the access pass tucked in his pocket.

A synthesized mechanical voice sounded.

“Access pass confirmed. Arrival registered.”

“Mr. Luo Mu, we wish you an enjoyable exhibition match.”

At that moment, the conveyor belt reached its end.

A red-and-blue circular platform shaped like a Poké Ball came into view.

Soon after Luo Mu stepped onto it, the conveyor belt extending from the passage retracted automatically, the safety door sealed shut, and the surroundings plunged into sudden darkness.

With the clacking of machinery, the battle platform began to rise under the lift mechanism, drawing closer to the light source above.

——Then, a wave of noise from the vast space surged forward like a heat blast!

On the same enormous circular platform, divided into red and blue, spotlights converged on Luo Mu, and the enthusiastic voice of the commentator aboard a flying vehicle rang out.

“The blue side is one of today’s exhibition match Trainers: Luo Mu, a Champion-level Trainer from the Paldea region!”

The enthusiastic audience seated throughout the vast space gave a generous response, erupting in cheers.

Luo Mu could faintly hear the voices of Ash and Pikachu.

But when the commentator introduced the red side’s Trainer, the atmosphere shifted abruptly, and even the commentator’s voice rose involuntarily.

“The red side is the pride of the Hoenn region: the seasoned Trainer who commands the power of dragons, Elite Four member, Mr. Juan!”

Never mind the commentator’s obviously biased introduction.

At Juan’s appearance, the cheers from the audience surged—twice as loud as before, no, ten times louder, even nine times louder—a tidal wave of sound.

Luo Mu’s expression remained unchanged; under the spotlight, he studied the white-bearded elder before him, wearing a white captain’s hat and a black open-front coat, his face carved by years of wind and sun into a rugged, weathered visage.

He was Juan, Elite Four member of the Hoenn region.

Like Koga of Kanto, Johanna of Sinnoh, Drossena of Kalos, and the Elder of Paldea.

As the most senior Elite Four member of Hoenn, his strength far surpassed that of ordinary Elite Four members.

For safety’s sake, Luo Mu should send out his main team to face him.

——But he had no such intention.

Whether it was Plusle and Pichu, or Mega Swampert and Wailord, those combinations were overkill.

It’s just an Elite Four member. No need to be this serious.

Juan was unaware of Luo Mu’s frankly arrogant thoughts inside his head; instead, he raised the two Poké Balls in his hands.

The commentator’s broadcasted rules echoed in his ears, but Juan, already knowing this was a Double Battle, looked at Luo Mu and spoke calmly: “Come then, let me see the strength of a Champion-level Trainer from Paldea.”

“Please, Master Juan, guide me.”

Luo Mu smiled slightly and tossed the red-and-white Poké Ball and Level Ball he had already prepared.

As the light from the Poké Balls shot out.

The next instant, both sides shouted:

“Roar, Flygon, Sceptile!”

“I choose you, Ho-Oh, Victini!”

(End of Chapter)