After the opening ceremony, the first day of the tournament began immediately.
There were quite a few entrants. Although the requirement of being both young and a master was high, in the vast world of Pokémon, with all nine major regions participating in the World Championships… there were still a lot of people.
In fact, some didn't even register.
But in the end, the total still came to over a hundred! More than a hundred top-tier young trainers from around the world.
The first day's competition was mainly for determining the top 64, conducted in 3v3 rotation battles.
To ensure smooth progress, the preliminaries were divided by field type: earth, grass, water, and swamp.
Johan, based on a draw, was assigned to the swamp arena.
To be honest—
It was Johan's first time battling in a swamp field. The muddy terrain could easily hinder a Pokémon's movement, and the slippery surface might even cause some Pokémon with weaker core strength to fall.
All in all… pretty interesting.
Also assigned to the swamp field were Flint, Aaron, Raihan, and Diantha.
Luckily, none of them ended up facing each other.
Leaning against the fence at the far end of the swamp arena, Johan glanced at Flint on his left, then Aaron on his right. He pursed his lips.
Other people get "Azure Dragon on the left, White Tiger on the right" — why is he stuck between two clowns? He felt his IQ dropping…
Gengar was sitting on the wall behind, swinging his legs happily.
"Whoa!" Flint suddenly exclaimed. "A Water-type beat an Electric-type! Type disadvantage win, huh!"
Type disadvantage? Johan shot him a look. You're one to talk.
If we were ranking type-disadvantage wins, you'd be up there…
"Excuse me…"
A voice came from Aaron's side.
Looking up—
They saw a cool-looking figure with long green hair, wearing a brown shirt, brown leather boots, and black suspenders. A young man? A girl?
Rika?
That name immediately popped into Johan's mind.
The future Ground-type Elite Four from the Paldea region, Rika!
And along with the name… a lot of doujins flashed through his mind… cough cough.
"Hey, bro, you are—?" Flint greeted her with a grin.
Hearing that, Johan's expression twisted, and Rika's cheerful smile froze slightly—then deepened.
Just slightly enough to seem… a little creepy to Johan.
But Flint and Aaron were clueless.
Even though Rika's appearance and attire leaned androgynous, she was, in fact, a full-fledged girl.
Just… in certain ways, more extreme than even Caitlin.
Still, you couldn't entirely blame Flint.
After all, the Pokémon world does have many androgynous characters — take Wallace, for example.
"You're so rude!"
Suddenly, a little girl — probably only seven or eight — huffed and crossed her arms angrily at Flint.
Wearing a light purple dress and sunhat, with a chubby babyface and a shiny metallic key or spoon pendant on her chest—
This must be Poppy?
"Huh?"
Flint scratched his head, puzzled, but still asked kindly, "Little one, you are—"
Johan gently kicked Flint's leg, signaling him to shut it.
"Johan-sensei, why'd you kick me?" Flint turned and asked.
Johan: "…"
Facepalming, he turned to Rika apologetically. "Sorry about that, Miss Rika. Flint is… not the brightest." Johan twirled a finger beside his temple as a gesture.
"You know me, Johan-sensei?"
Compared to Flint's blunder, Rika was more surprised that Johan recognized her.
"Wha—?!" Flint gasped. Aaron's delayed reaction caught up and the two blurted out simultaneously: "She's a girl?!"
Rika narrowed her eyes into crescent moons and said nothing.
Beside her, Poppy shook her head — can't stop idiots from digging their own graves.
She looked up at Johan with big sparkly eyes and asked, "Then Johan-sensei, do you know who I am?"
Johan smiled warmly and patted her head. "Of course, the youngest Master-level trainer. A genius girl — little Miss Poppy."
"M-Master?!!" Flint shouted even louder.
He looked at the tiny child in disbelief.
Only seven or eight and already a Master-level trainer?!
Must be a joke.
But Johan and Rika's reactions said otherwise.
Honestly, Johan had felt the same when he first learned about Poppy.
Not because of the current Poppy, but because of the future Elite Four of Paldea—Poppy, who achieved the title at age nine.
Even more impressive than Red becoming Champion at eleven.
"So… they're both contestants too?" Flint asked, gulping.
"You didn't listen during the opening ceremony's contestant introduction?" Johan deadpanned.
Johan then turned back to Rika and Poppy with a warm smile. "So, what brings you here?"
Rika and Poppy ignored the two clowns. But to Johan—someone admired by both Champion Geeta and Director Clavell—their impression was great.
Rika's already-soft smile grew warmer.
"Actually, it's about this little one."
"Oh?"
Poppy stuck out her tongue, nervously fiddling with her dress hem. "Umm… Johan-sensei, does your school accept transfer students?"
Transfer student? Poppy?
Johan blinked.
Rika explained, "It was Champion Geeta and Director Clavell's suggestion. They said, 'If anyone in the world can teach Poppy, it would be Johan-sensei.'"
Did the old headmaster bribe them?
Poppy was a nine-year-old Elite Four, and he's supposed to teach her?
While Rika was speaking, Poppy nodded furiously.
"They said Johan-sensei taught someone amazing like Steven!"
Johan: "???"
Steven's excellence had absolutely nothing to do with his teaching.
Steven would've been the dashing, rich, powerful Champion with or without him.
Still… he was beginning to understand Geeta and Clavell's logic.
Poppy specialized in Steel-types. And in the whole Pokémon world, Steven was one of the top Steel specialists — and still hadn't reached his ceiling.
"Also, Champion Peony of Galar sent his daughter to your school, too," Rika added.
Peony — also a Steel specialist.
Sending his daughter to Johan's school, alongside Steven, the future famous Steel-type trainer?
Yeah, Johan did look like the best choice for Poppy's mentor.
But Steven was born strong, and Peony's daughter Penny was basically a "support tech" person… Poppy fluttered her big eyes at Johan, full of hope.
"Johan-sensei, I… I want to study…"
Though Paldea's Naranja Academy had been around for centuries, Clavell really didn't dare admit Poppy.
Not because of lack of skill, but out of fear—fear of failing her.
Johan rubbed his temples. "Um…"
"Come on, Johan-sensei. What a diligent kid," Flint encouraged.
"Yeah yeah!" Aaron nodded along.
Rika and Poppy felt much more favorably about those two now.
"Let's wait until the tournament ends," Johan said. "We'll sit down and discuss it properly."
Rika and Poppy exchanged glances and nodded.
"Okay!"
After chatting a bit more, Rika took Poppy by the hand and left.
As they walked away—
Poppy: "Rika-sis, should I show off my strength? Maybe Johan-sensei's testing me?"
Rika: "Could be, little Poppy."
Poppy: "Then I'll do my best! Oowoo~~"
Rika: "And I've gotta make an impression too… like on those two idiots."
Johan facepalmed again.
Testing? Testing her for what…? The kid's already a Master. Probably another future Champion…
Flint and Aaron both shivered suddenly, as if sensing some impending doom.
"Did she mean us by 'idiots'?" Aaron asked.
Flint waved it off, "Nah, couldn't be."
"But… I feel like she wants to battle us." Aaron continued.
Flint laughed it off, hands in pockets, cocky as ever: "Pfft, a battle? I'm not scared—"
Johan interjected, "Rika specializes in Ground-type Pokémon."
"G-Ground-type? (*⊙_⊙)"
Flint's bravado instantly deflated.
"Ka-kaah~ (You're so done, bro!)"
Gengar cackled gleefully.
The matches progressed smoothly. Soon, it was Johan's turn.
After Flint won his match, Johan stepped into the arena for his first round in the "Youth Master World Championship."
His opponent: a girl with adorable looks, pink hair, and a school uniform—named Lacey.
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Powerstones?
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