On the livestream, Iono enthusiastically introduced all sorts of farm products, bringing out a professional nutrition facts chart for Miltank's fresh milk.
It had to be said—this soon-to-be super influencer really was unstoppable when it came to presentation.
She could outtalk even the most persuasive neighborhood aunties, but with a style that didn't wear people out.
However...
At some point, Lucas's face turned completely dark.
He had planned long ago—ever since before opening the farm—to have Iono promote the farm on her stream.
This time, he was really riding the momentum, making a bold attempt.
Lucas prided himself on being a good client: he knew he didn't understand livestreaming. So, he left the choice of the right advertising moment up to Iono.
The best would be an ad that isn't annoying but still effective.
Yet, this is how Iono repaid that trust.
Just as an intense battle between both sides was about to explode and everyone was paying full attention, afraid to miss a single detail... she cut the stream for an ad break!?
If he didn't know for sure she hadn't been possessed by some weird Earth TV exec, Lucas would have started to suspect she was channeling one. Otherwise, how else would she come up with an ad break at the most dramatic moment?!
Childhood memories of watching anime, only for a painfully long commercial to interrupt at the climax...
Lucas felt like memories from the grave were coming back to haunt him.
Sure enough—
The bullet comments in Iono's stream paused in unison, then exploded into a barrage of question marks, and soon after, into jokes like: "I already took off my pants, and this is what you're giving me?!"
"Way to go, Iono!"
Lucas, gritting his teeth, realized: from today onward, everyone in the stream would remember his farm forever.
The publicity, the memorable moment—all top notch.
...He just wasn't sure he wanted this type of fame.
…
As the young master of the Dragon Tamer family, Hassel's skill at raising and commanding dragon Pokémon was nothing short of artful.
Even fighting up close, Duraludon spewed dazzling white beams from its mouth like a cannon non-stop.
The beam hit Ursaluna's body, blasting away a part of its dense peat covering.
Its build was impressive, but the reason behind Ursaluna's powerful defense was partly due to that solidified peat.
That's why Hassel came in aiming directly to break Ursaluna's defenses.
Another Flash Cannon shot over—this time, Nemona made a new call.
"Hold your ground, then Lunge Forward!"
Unlike trainers who always hesitate, Nemona both had strength and trusted her partner. Her strategy didn't revolve around overthinking.
Instead, she would beat you fair and square with overwhelming power.
Right from the start, the one looking for space or creating openings was always Hassel!
"Roar!"
Ursaluna puffed out its chest, enduring the direct hit from the Flash Cannon, then crouched, its four limbs tensing like springs before springing into the air!
Boom!!
With a deafening roar, Ursaluna crashed down from midair, lowering its forebody. Countless earthy energy particles swirled around its form and instantly spiraled with broken stones as it lunged at Duraludon like a meteorite, sending shockwaves blasting outwards.
"Ah—"
Off camera, Rika pulled Larry, who had gone stiff, out of the way of flying debris.
Duraludon, being directly pressed by Ursaluna, felt as if it were being crushed by a mountain; its alloyed body buzzed under the strain.
The ground shook with the impact.
Moments later, with an explosion that shook the entire Paldea Pokémon League, Duraludon was lying KO'ed in a giant crater.
The judge declared the result via the broadcast, and every watcher heard the outcome.
…
Kanto Region, Pallet Town, Oak Research Lab.
Blue, who had temporarily closed down the Viridian Gym for a break and just returned home, watched on his grandfather's computer and whistled.
"This girl is pretty tough. She reminds me a fair bit of myself and Red in our younger days."
"Indeed, her talent is outstanding. I heard she's only been a trainer for less than a year."
Professor Oak nodded at his grandson's thoughts.
"Since Ursaluna is hers, that means she's Lucas's student. I thought he was just playing around, but it looks like he's already trained such a gem."
Blue stroked his chin, clicking his tongue at the thought.
When he first heard about Lucas being a farm owner and teacher, Blue assumed Lucas was just doing it out of interest, but was still at heart a proper trainer. After all, he took on the job as gym leader of the Viridian Gym the same way.
But now, perhaps he'd really underestimated Lucas.
Lucas had made it as far as the Champion Challenge, and according to Grandpa, had already defeated two Elite Four members in a row.
At least in Blue's eyes, Nemona wouldn't be stopped by Hassel.
"Very interesting. This makes me want to battle you even more!"
Professor Oak watched helplessly as Blue caught the battle maniac bug from Red.
…
With Duraludon out, Hassel released his second Pokémon—a true dragon warrior born for battle, with blood-red axe-shaped fangs: Haxorus!
Unlike the careful and cunning battle styles of Rika and Larry, Hassel as an artist embodied the typical dragon Pokémon trait: absolute strength.
Against trainers weaker than himself, he's overwhelmingly powerful; if facing stronger ones, he brings out impossible levels of potential.
But against Nemona, unfortunately, neither strength nor potential was enough.
A crisp whip crack split the air. Haxorus whipped its thick, armored tail like a bullwhip at Ursaluna—not to force it out with "Dragon Tail," but as a wide sweeping strike, "Breaking Swipe."
But Ursaluna used its freakish physique to directly block Haxorus's tail, grabbed it, and with a swing slammed Haxorus into the floor!
After a couple of heavy slams, the already battle-worn Haxorus couldn't catch its breath and fainted.
Hassel withdrew Haxorus. Two losses in a row shook his mindset. After a moment's hesitation, seeing Ursaluna still imposing despite its injuries, he opted to avoid its edge.
"Noivern, soar to the sky!"
A flash of red—the sound-based dragon entered the field, with huge bat wings and double ears atop its head that could emit powerful ultrasonic waves.
…
Lucas, rubbing Victini, paused and muttered to himself.
Unlike a year ago, where he beat several of Hassel's main Pokémon with Mimikyu alone, now Nemona had to exert herself far more to break through, as Hassel was the strongest future member of Paldea's Elite Four.
And as far as saving resources went, Fairy-types (which have an advantage over Dragon-types) would be good for Nemona, but her key Fairy Pokémon, Ribombee, couldn't be risked early.
Ribombee's Bug + Fairy typing is immune to Dragon, but Bug is weak to Flying. And most Dragon-types here have a Flying subtyping: a nightmare for Bug-types like Ribombee.
Ribombee is Nemona's team's only healer, so she couldn't let it risk an early KO, especially since Hassel still had his Poison/Dragon Dragalge on standby.
Hassel understood this, so he deliberately delayed sending in his "threat" Pokémon.
Facing the Flying/Dragon Noivern, the Ground-type Ursaluna, with its short limbs, was an easy target. Nemona withdrew Ursaluna and sent in her Goodra.
Against each other, Dragon vs Dragon, Goodra could safely absorb Noivern's Dragon Breath and Sound attacks, while counterattacking.
Lucas thought it was a shame—if it had been Hisuian Goodra with its snail shell, maybe Hassel would have taste despair for once.
After exhausting Noivern, Hassel sent out his Dragalge. To protect Goodra from being poisoned, Nemona brought out the heroic Pawmot who had performed a stunning sweep against Larry earlier.
But Pawmot was pretty spent from the last fight, and Nemona would have preferred not to use it if she could finish Dragalge quickly without risking poison.
If Pawmot was at peak condition, there would be no need for all this delicate shuffling, especially with two more battles to come.
"The pressure of the Champion Challenge is really starting to mount," Hassel mused, raising an eyebrow—not behaving like a mentor at all. He had Dragalge try to wear Pawmot down with poison, aiming to force it into a death spiral.
Despite gasping for breath, Pawmot stayed nimble, dodging every noxious glob. It closed in with a combination of "Elemental Punches": Fire Punch to break through Dragalge's Dragon Pulse, Thunder Punch to slow it, then Ice Punch as the main offense.
"Still pushing yourself this hard, even like this? Pawmot, you're something else..."
Even stone-faced Larry was moved; maybe because he related to working to exhaustion, burning with fatigue.
Hassel firmly exploited Pawmot's lack of stamina, having Dragalge keep its distance and force Pawmot to tire itself avoiding more poison, mixing in strong Dragon moves.
Nemona knew that if this kept up, Pawmot would be too spent to fight in the next round or stay in peak form for the final battle, regardless of Dragalge.
"No choice, then."
Whispering under her breath, Nemona played her ace.
"Pawmot, Double Shock!"
An exclusive move: a powerful physical Electric attack that drains all its electricity and, as a trade, loses its Electric typing for a while.
Coupled with Pawmot's Iron Fist ability, this was Nemona's real trump card. Unless it was necessary, she wouldn't use Double Shock without Terastallization.
Her Tera Orb could only support one activation. With two battles ahead, it wasn't time to use her trump card yet.
After calculating Pawmot's recharge time, Nemona decided it would be ready for the final fight, and went all-in.
Blinding lightning surrounded Pawmot's fists, crackling across the entire battlefield.
Dragalge, with nowhere to hide, tried to use Draco Meteor in defense but underestimated Nemona's and Pawmot's will to prevail.
Even under meteors pounding its small body, Pawmot gritted its teeth and punched forward—
BOOM!
Lightning flashed before Dragalge, swallowing its whole form in violent paralysis. Even though it resists electricity, this time it had no defense.
With a powerful slam, Dragalge was sent flying like a home run, embedding itself into the wall of the third room.
It was obvious to anyone: Dragalge was out cold.
Meanwhile, Pawmot burned itself out, gasping where it stood.
Hassel gazed at the scene, suddenly realizing just how fiercely determined this stubborn girl was to win.
…
Farm—Los Platos
Taking up his cracked phone, Lucas made a call.
High atop the Paldea League HQ, Geeta picked up, already guessing why Lucas would call at just this moment. She listened calmly, then smiled:
"I knew you'd do this, but I'll ask again—are you sure?"
When she got his confirmation, Geeta grinned even wider.
"From this moment on, cancel your resignation."
"Welcome to the League HQ, Champion-level Trainer Lucas."
…