John's arrival had set the World Pokemon Headquarters into overdrive. Following his request to "rapidly advance the schedule," battles were now taking place almost daily. The headquarters scrambled to receive and organize the endless stream of trainers arriving to challenge him.
Live battle footage was broadcast worldwide, and the results were nothing short of brutal.
John hadn't used the same Pokemon twice across six consecutive days. In half his matches, he defeated opponents using only a single Pokemon, sometimes without even bothering to show up personally, letting his team battle independently while he relaxed elsewhere.
Yet still, no one could threaten his Master Eight position.
Countless viewers couldn't help but marvel, "Is this really the youngest and strongest champion in Draconia's history?"
"He didn't even use his main team, did he? Just his second-hand Pokemon completely demolished these top-ranked trainers."
"If he actually deployed his main lineup, it wouldn't even be fair!"
"Draconia's champion is absolutely terrifying!"
While audiences watched for entertainment, trainers worldwide viewed the situation with growing unease. The World Pokemon Tournament's arrival had awakened dormant competitors after four years of relative quiet, like throwing a large, aggressive catfish into still waters. Powerful trainers who usually kept to themselves emerged one after another, each burning with fierce determination to challenge the Master Eight and claim the title of World's Strongest Trainer.
The World Pokemon Tournament hadn't reached the Master Eight stage yet, but it seemed everyone was simply waiting to fast-forward and crown John as " The World's Strongest Trainer."
Consequently, the World Pokemon Tournament officially suspended live broadcasts of John's battles. Several other Master Eight members issued championship declarations, swearing they would definitely claim victory.
The stagnant waters of the trainer world were finally showing signs of renewed life.
"I made just one small move, and this is already the limit for this tier," John mused, sipping tea while scrolling through news on his phone.
Why do those words sound so infuriating? Emerald thought to herself.
She drank her tea silently. Her boss's arrogance was truly insufferable, but his strength absolutely qualified him for that arrogance. Was there anything more irritating than that?
"Christina sent a message," Emerald announced, glancing at her phone. "The remaining challengers have all forfeited their matches."
"So you can directly claim the Master Eight position, and we can head home tomorrow."
"Expected," John replied with a knowing smile. He'd already been declined by three potential challengers before receiving this news.
Given the current state of public opinion in the trainer world, only a fool would consider challenging him now. Trainers were far more willing to face any of the other Master Eight members than confront a legendary trainer who commanded Lugia, Zeraora, Deoxys, and Jirachi, even if that alternative opponent currently ranked first among the Master Eight.
While John technically wasn't the strongest among the Master Eight, in the eyes of both trainers and audiences, he'd already become the uncrowned king standing above them all.
"What time is our flight tomorrow?"
"Eight in the morning."
"Perfect." John stood and headed upstairs.
He stepped onto his room's balcony and gazed into the distance, savoring his final view of the floating island's magnificent scenery. After a leisurely stretch, he settled down, pulled out his Gameboy, and got to "work."
During his two weeks on the sky island, besides training his second-string Pokemon, John had kept busy with his handheld device.
Opening the mission panel, he reviewed his progress:
[Tip: Champions defeated so far (8/10)]
[Note: When defeated champions reach 10, the Pokemon Championship will automatically unlock, and all Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champions previously defeated will be strengthened for the Pokemon Championship!]
The eight champions were: Wallace and Steven from the Hoenn region, Glenn from the Ferrum region, Cynthia from Sinnoh, Alder from Unova, Diantha from Kalos, Leon from the Galar Region, and Lance from both the Johto Region and Indigo.
Unfortunately, Orange Islands Chief Trainer Drake wasn't strong enough to qualify as a champion-level opponent, despite John having cleared the Orange Islands storyline ten times over.
Fortunately, he'd recently encountered and defeated former champion Steven in a Hoenn Region mining area. The system counted former champions toward the total, which came as a relief.
For the remaining two champions, John had definite targets he could locate at any time, no more searching across the globe required.
One was Mustard, the former Galar Region champion and John's own mentor.
The other was Red, located at Mt. Silver, the highest-level dungeon with a challenge requirement of level 100 and difficulty comparable to facing Mewtwo itself.
After defeating all the powerful trainers in the real world, John's confidence had soared to new heights.
Mt. Silver was just a dungeon, after all. If he lost, he could simply try again. Worth attempting, at least.
If he truly couldn't win, he could wait and grow stronger, or potentially seek out Blue instead.
However, before challenging Red, John decided to take the dishonorable path of "betraying his master"!
Taking a plane to the Galar Region, then flying to the Isle of Armor, John raced along familiar routes. His character pedaled a bicycle at breakneck speed toward a well-known courtyard.
Selecting the dojo entrance, the scenery around John suddenly shifted as he stepped inside.
Within the dojo, Master Mustard cut quite a figure, white pants, green jacket, two long white eyebrows hanging down either side of his face like a defeated cricket's antennae. He was hunched in the corner, holding a Gameboy nearly identical to John's, completely absorbed in gaming. Not an ounce of championship dignity remained; he looked exactly like an elderly child at play.
"It's been a long time," Mustard said without looking up. "I heard you went to other regions for training and defeated several regional champions. Seems you've grown considerably stronger."
John felt genuinely surprised. News of his victories over other regional champions had already reached Mustard's ears?
Actually, it made perfect sense upon reflection. Even Glenn, champion of the remote Ferrum Region, knew about John's exploits across other territories. The Galar Region, renowned for having the most competitive Pokemon battles in the world, would certainly be aware of their former student's achievements.
"Yes, Master," John replied respectfully.
"So," Mustard set down his handheld device, eyes gleaming with sudden intensity as if trying to see straight through John, "you've returned today to challenge me?"