[Steven: Hello, hello, is anyone there? Is anyone there?]
Steven's voice?
Wait—wasn't that guy supposed to be in Hoenn?!
How could his voice be heard all the way in Kanto?
Inside the Indigo Plateau Stadium, six people exchanged shocked glances, disbelief written all over their faces.
[Cynthia: Is this the chat room? What a terrifying ability.]
Even Legendary Pokémon couldn't accomplish such a feat. Not even the masters of space and time — Dialga and Palkia — could pull off something like this.
Perhaps only the mythical Creator, Arceus, possessed such power.
[Archie: Rewards include Legendary Pokémon? Is that true?! Can I really get Kyogre?!]
Kyogre!
That name represented Archie's lifelong obsession. If he could really obtain Kyogre through these viewing quizzes, Team Aqua wouldn't need to chase storms across the Hoenn region anymore.
[Maxie: Archie, haven't you given up on that naïve dream of yours? The land is the foundation of the world. Only by expanding it can civilization truly progress.]
Humans and Pokémon developing together? How utterly absurd.
The world belonged to humans, and human progress was inseparable from the world's growth. Pokémon were, at best, decorative additions to that world.
[Archie: Heh heh!]
He couldn't even be bothered to argue.
This guy claimed Pokémon were useless, yet he still sought to use Groudon's power to expand the land.
If that's not clown behavior, what is?
Archie scoffed. He had no time to waste on such hypocrisy.
[Wallace: Do rats in the sewer really dare to speak so much?!]
Wallace's tone dripped with disdain. He despised both Archie and Maxie.
Born in Sootopolis City, the place that existed only because of the ancient clash between Kyogre and Groudon, Wallace understood better than anyone the sheer devastation those two Pokémon could unleash.
For mere humans to try to control them?
Utterly laughable.
In Wallace's eyes, Archie and Maxie were playing with fire — and they'd drag the entire Hoenn region into hell if they ever succeeded.
[Steven: Hmph. Forgive them. This is the only time they have the courage to talk big.]
Steven's voice carried a sharp edge of mockery. Face to face, Archie and Maxie would never dare to talk like this. It was only through the safety of the chatroom that they found the nerve to puff up their chests.
[Archie: Nonsense! Is there anything I, Archie, don't dare to do in this world?!]
[Maxie: That's right! I'm Maxie!]
He wasn't even afraid of Groudon — did a mere Champion think they could scare him?
[Wallace: Heh heh. I'm in Ever Grande City right now. If you're really that bold, why don't you come over and prove it?]
[Steven: And if you can't make it to Ever Grande City, Dewford Town will do just fine. I happen to be there right now.]
[Archie & Maxie: …]
Silence.
Wallace and Steven's challenge left the two would-be villains speechless.
Their subordinates were also in the chatroom, watching this unfold. If they stayed silent, they'd lose face. But if they responded… what could they possibly say?
It's not like they could actually show up and fight two Champions head-on.
They still had enough self-awareness to know that while their strength wasn't weak, it was nowhere near Champion level. If they really picked that fight, they might end up spending the rest of their lives behind bars.
In the end, both Archie and Maxie chose to swallow their pride.
A wise man doesn't fight when the odds are against him. Losing a little face was better than losing their freedom — or their lives.
Team Rocket Headquarters.
"Reward…"
Giovanni muttered under his breath.
Ever since Mewtwo's defection, he had been in a dark mood — but upon hearing the word reward, his eyes lit up again.
He didn't know whether the system's words were true or false, but it wouldn't hurt to try.
If there was even a chance he could "reclaim" Mewtwo through this so-called reward… wouldn't that mean Team Rocket's resurgence was just around the corner?
Giovanni's expression hardened, determination flashing in his eyes.
He was ready for whatever this "viewing and answering session" would bring.
Just then, the system's voice echoed in everyone's minds again.
[Ding! Viewing content loaded!]
[Ding! Playback is about to begin!]
[Countdown: three... two... one...]
[Comparison Livestream begins—]
As the countdown ended, the white screen flickered to life.
Video Start—
A bright and sunny morning. Green trees swayed gently in the wind, and colorful flowers bloomed across a peaceful countryside.
Inside an ordinary house, hurried footsteps could be heard.
An energetic boy wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts was rushing down the stairs.
Instead of taking the steps like a normal person, he chose to slide down the handrail with a big grin on his face.
[Bruno: Oh? Isn't that Ash?]
Though the boy looked a little younger, Bruno immediately recognized him. That boundless energy was unmistakable.
[Goodshow: Ash? Is this the child who gives Professor Oak such a headache?]
[Professor Oak: …]
The second Ash appeared on-screen, Professor Oak's eyelid twitched. A bad feeling crept up his spine.
[Gary: No way! I'm clearly better than Ash! If they're picking a protagonist, it should be me!]
Five-year-old Ash was just an innocent kid — but Gary? He'd been aware and competitive since he was five!
Clearly, the system must've made a mistake. He was obviously the more fitting protagonist.
[Misty: Huh? Ash was actually so cute when he was little?]
[Brock: Boys change a lot when they grow up.]
[Pikachu: Pika Pika~]
[Serena: Ash!!!]
Fortunately, many people spoke at once, so Serena's emotional outburst didn't draw any suspicion.
On-screen, Professor Oak stood outside his lab with a group of kids.
"But the meeting time has already passed," said a girl with pink hair — Chloe.
"He's a very energetic boy who lives nearby," Professor Oak replied with a kind smile.
He had planned to wait a little longer for Ash… but one of the boys grew impatient.
"That guy must be a scatterbrain," the boy scoffed.
Professor Oak blinked. He didn't recall inviting this child. Upon asking, he learned that the boy was a guest Chloe had brought — Goh.
Compared to the polite and sweet Chloe, Goh's attitude was, frankly, annoying.
"So how long do we have to wait for that scatterbrain? Our time is valuable!" Goh demanded.
The entire audience watching the livestream fell silent.
Who was this kid?
Did he not realize who he was talking to? To speak to Professor Oak like that — how disrespectful!
[Gary: Hmph. I really want to beat that Goh kid up.]
Gary had always hated show-offs… well, other than himself.
Despite the boy's rude tone, Professor Oak didn't get angry. Remaining patient, he decided he couldn't keep the other children waiting any longer.
With a sigh, he led the group toward the campsite — leaving Ash behind.
Meanwhile, back at Ash's home—
The sun was already high in the sky. A broken alarm clock lay shattered beside his bed.
"Ahhh!!!"
Ash bolted upright, realizing instantly that something was very, very wrong.
He didn't even bother changing clothes — he dashed out the door and sprinted toward Professor Oak's lab, his heart pounding.
But by the time he arrived…
He was already too late.