On board the Alcor (the Death Omen), the sails were full as the Southern Cross fleet carved a path through the vast sea. It had been more than a day since they left Liyue Port, yet even in the middle of no man's land, a strange phenomenon continued to surprise everyone on board.
Whether it was the Poké-Phone distributed by the Adventurers' Guild or the Trainer's Pokédex from the Pokémon Home store, the signals were surprisingly strong. In short, the signal bars were always green. Because of this, neither Beidou nor the crew felt bored during this long voyage.
"Yeah~!"
"Winner, winner, chicken dinner again!"
In one of the cabin rooms, Yoimiya jumped up, her face flushed with excitement. Today was a private match within the customer group. Without Klee around to cause chaos, Yoimiya had the best record.
Hu Tao: No more fighting! I'm reporting someone for cheating!
Yanfei: Yoimiya, you "Police Girl," you're too good at this!
Xiangling: Hey! Hey everyone, look! The official website of the Liyue Trainer Competition is online! There's a new promotional video!
Suddenly, everyone in the Auto Chess game disconnected simultaneously.
"...Is this the official website?" Yoimiya asked, her interest piqued. Following the automated guidance on her device, she downloaded an app called "Browser." It opened to a clean, refreshing webpage with a default homepage titled: Welcome to Pokémon Home.
To be precise, this was the digital hub for the Pokémon Era tinkered with by Manager Hiroshi.
On the large banner at the top was a magnificent poster for the Liyue Trainer Competition, painted by the famous artist Albedo (using the pseudonym "Bai Chuo"). It depicted the backs of eight legendary figures alongside their powerful partner Pokémon. For those familiar with Pokémon culture, they would recognize figures like Leon, Cynthia, and Steven Stone. The partner Pokémon shown—Charizard, Garchomp, and Metagross—exuded an aura of absolute dominance.
Even if the people of Teyvat didn't know these masters, Albedo's expressive painting style perfectly captured the grace and power of a Champion. Below the poster was the registration portal:
Do you want to be a Trainer?
Do you want to be a Legend?
Do you know the influence of a Pokémon Master?
Below those questions was a single, glowing button: [I WANT TO PARTICIPATE].
"I really want to stay in Liyue and participate in this competition...." Yoimiya sighed, looking regretful. "However, Inazuma is my hometown. Manager Hiroshi is right—in the tide of the times, Inazuma should not become a desert!"
Yoimiya clenched her fists, her expression turning determined. "As an envoy of the Manager, a Trainer with the blessing of the 'Creator,' I will carry the message of the Pokémon Era to my homeland!"
She glanced at the two spatial backpacks on her bed. Inside was the "investment" Hiroshi had made in her mission: three large holographic square screens, a formal notice for the Inazuma branch of the Adventurers' Guild, ten unknown Pokémon eggs with incubators, and ten blank Pokédexes.
She remembered Hiroshi's words: "This is a powerful tool for preaching. For those curious about Pokémon and those with the courage to resist the Vision Hunt Decree, open a channel to sell these eggs. Also... this extra egg is a personal gift to you. Consider it an advance on your wages."
Yoimiya was still moved by his generosity. Store Manager! I will definitely find ten brave souls to hatch these eggs! They will become the spark in the desert!
Boom!
Kazuha pushed open the cabin door and stepped in. "I've signed up," he said softly. "My number is A18."
Yoimiya was envious, but she kept her mission in mind. "Congratulations, Kazuha! You're going to be famous. By the way, what was that second Pokémon you adopted?"
Kazuha shared his Pokédex data with her. "It's a Hisuian Qwilfish. Manager Hiroshi recommended it specifically for our journey."
Pokémon Data: Hisuian Qwilfish
Type: Dark / Poison
Classification: Balloon Pokémon
Description: Unlike the standard variety, this form from ancient Hisui has needles containing a lethal toxin. It is feared by fishermen as the "Sea Fiend."
"I put the little guy in the water so he can follow the ship," Kazuha smiled. "By the time we hit the shores of Narukami Island, he'll be at least Level 10."
Yoimiya leaned out the window to see the Qwilfish swimming in the wake. Suddenly, she saw a massive shadow expanding beneath the surface. Her pupils shrank. Was there a giant sea monster following them?
The Qwilfish didn't seem afraid. Instead, its eyes revealed a deep respect.
Gulu~
A growing Baby Lugia poked its head out of the waves, taking a breath of salty air before glancing at the ship. Remembering Hiroshi's strict instructions, it didn't greet Kazuha or Yoimiya. It simply sank back into the depths.
This was Hiroshi's second "dark trump card" for his chosen messenger. In the island nation of Inazuma, a Pokémon with the power of the Sea God—even a baby—possessed combat potential that could rival the Shogunate's navy. As Lugia submerged, the sea area was suddenly hit by a localized storm of thunder and rain, causing Beidou and her crew to scramble to adjust the sails.
Liyue Harbor - Wangsheng Funeral Parlor.
Hu Tao: Girls! My number is A08!
Yanfei: Don't disturb me, I'm browsing the forum on the official website. Hahahaha! I never realized Liyue and Mondstadt had so many jokers!
Hu Tao: Really? Let me see!
Hu Tao found the forum entrance on her Pokédex. A red-lettered post was pinned to the top of the board:
To the Trainers of Mondstadt and Liyue:
The first training competition officially begins registration today! Fame, honor, and massive rewards await those on the leaderboard. Stand upright in the arena, pour out your sweat and blood, and create a legend!
— With love, Hiroshi, Manager of Pokémon Home.
The comment section was already exploding with tens of thousands of replies.
Reply #452: "I signed up, but I'm just a 'Bug Catcher Boy.' Manager Hiroshi, can we get a giveaway? Like, pick 100 lucky posters and give us free eggs?"
Reply #453: "Great idea! I'm the lucky one!!"
Reply #490: "I'm a 'Rattata Trainer.' Who wants to sponsor me? I'll pay you back tenfold when I'm Champion!"
Reply #512: "Good luck getting a loan for a rat, buddy."
Reply #601: . "You won't believe it, but I caught this guy in the wild in the Ecological Zone!"
Reply #602: "A wild Starter?! You dog! My luck is trash!"
Hu Tao watched the forum with gusto. The internet was a breeding ground for storytellers, emo netizens, and jokers. She realized that with the Poké-Phones being popularized so quickly, everyone was now a participant in this new era.
The competition wouldn't just be about the thousands in the stadium; it would be broadcast live to millions across the continent.
If I reach the finals with millions watching... I'll be famous overnight! Hu Tao thought, her eyes shining with mischief. She posted using her real name:
"Manager Hiroshi is the GOAT! A great addition to the Pokémon Era!"
Back in the group chat, the scale of the event was starting to sink in for the Vision-holders. With hundreds of thousands potentially participating, the stakes were astronomical.
The "Second Set of Rules"—Unrestricted Combat—presented a massive challenge. It wasn't about rotating Pokémon; it was about the Trainer and their entire team fighting as a single unit. It was an encounter where you fought for a quick finish.
The famous characters were all discussing how to fill their teams. Because of Lumine's recent haul, she was currently the person to beat. With the Partner Cap Pikachu, the Overlord's cub Chespin, and a Spiritomb bound to a Keystone, her lineup was terrifyingly balanced.
"I need to complete my team!" Hu Tao muttered. "I have Gabite and Exeggcute... I need more firepower."
She thought back to a previous chat log. "Wait, who was it that found traces of a Flygon (Desert Dragonfly) in the rocky area? I need a dragon-type scout!"
As the first pioneer to obtain a 50 million Mora quasi-god, Hu Tao felt a heavy responsibility. If she failed to reach the Knockout rounds—or at least the Top 16—it would be a stain on the Wangsheng Funeral Parlor's reputation!
Liyue Main Store.
Hiroshi was busy organizing the back-end servers. Zekrom stood guard by the door, its tail glowing with a steady blue light that powered the shop's local grid.
"Manager," Zekrom spoke, its voice resonating through the floorboards. "The humans are restless. Their ideals are clashing before the battle has even begun. Is this the 'spark' you intended?"
"Competition breeds growth, Zekrom," Hiroshi replied, not looking up from his coding. "They aren't just fighting for Mora; they're fighting for a place in history. When Yoimiya hits Inazuma, that spark will become a wildfire."
He looked at his quest log. The "Hold an Event" task was ticking up.
Registered Participants: 154,203 / 10,000 (Goal Met)
System Bonus: Locked until Event Start.
"Ten thousand was a low bar," Hiroshi chuckled. "Liyue is the city of contracts and profit, and Mondstadt is the city of freedom and passion. Put them together, and you get a revolution."
Suddenly, a red notification flashed on his screen. It was an urgent ping from the Adventurers' Guild.
"Manager! We have a problem at the construction site! A wild Steelix has unearthed a set of ruins, and it's refusing to move!"
Hiroshi stretched his arms, a smirk playing on his lips. "Well, Zekrom. It looks like the 'referee' needs to do some field work. Ready to show them what a real dragon looks like?"
Zekrom's eyes flared red. "As you wish, Manager. Let us provide a lesson in strength."
Hiroshi turned to the group chat.
Hiroshi: "Urgent announcement! A wild boss has appeared at the Arena construction site. Anyone nearby who wants some 'extra credit' and rare loot, come to the coordinates! First come, first served!"
Hu Tao: "A BOSS?! I'M COMING!"
Keqing: "Wait! I'm already here! It's huge!"
Tartaglia: "A battle? Count me in!"
The era of the Trainer was no longer just about raising pets; it was about the world itself becoming a dungeon. And at the heart of it all was a shopkeeper with a very talkative dragon.