"The mission goal of 10,000 participants has been achieved!"
Just as Hiroshi finished coding the official website and the "Teyvat Cheers" browser app, the registration for the Liyue Trainer Competition exploded. Within an hour, the mission log flashed a success notification. However, when Hiroshi tried to click "Submit," the option remained a dull grey.
System Note: Target reached. Rewards and lottery draws will unlock upon the successful conclusion of the grand event.
Hiroshi checked the backend numbers and nearly choked on his tea. "One hundred million... No, nearly 100,000 active registrations in the first week?" He gasped. The scale was terrifying. With registration staying open for another week, he estimated the final number of contestants from Mondstadt and Liyue would reach the hundreds of thousands.
This was the result of his strategic partnership with the Adventurers' Guild. Distributing the Poké-Phone across all seven nations was a masterstroke. The phone wasn't just a communication device; it was the gateway to the new Pokémon Internet Era. Once Teyvat got a taste of social media and online competition, the "falling" of the entire network into Pokémon culture was inevitable.
"I need to finalize the live broadcast app," Hiroshi mused. "Everyone needs to watch the matches on their phones. Maybe I should combine the video station, the livestream platform, and the game hub into one app... Teyvat's version of Bilibili? That would be legendary."
The Gacha Despair of the Traveler
While Hiroshi planned the digital future, the streets of Liyue were bustling. In the downtown area, the Pokémon Home store was constantly crowded. To escape the noise, Hiroshi had moved his primary living quarters and studio to the Pokémon Research Institute. For a King-level Psychic like him, distance was irrelevant—he could teleport to the main store in the blink of an eye.
He received a mental ping from Meloetta, who was minding the store. Many famous characters were flooding the Mondstadt and Liyue branches to use their weekly draws.
"Yeah, looks like they're feeling the pressure," Hiroshi laughed.
Lumine had recently captured a Chespin and a Spiritomb, and her team was reaching a terrifying level of synergy. This had sent the other members of the group chat into a panic. They were desperate to fill their rosters before the tournament began.
Unfortunately, luck is a fickle mistress. Out of thirty-plus famous customers, only Klee, Xingqiu, and Bennett had drawn anything of note this week. With the Pokémon pool being so large, the probability of hitting a high-tier "Starter" or "Pseudo-Legendary" was plummeting.
Lumine herself had returned to the store with her earnings from the Prism Scale. She emptied her backpack of treasures, ready to whale for a fourth partner. But an hour later, she emerged from the store with a face as dark as a coal mine.
"Five draws... and not even a single competitive-tier baby," Lumine grumbled, kicking a rock.
"Why..." Paimon sighed, floating despondently. "Why do I feel like we spent all our luck picking up treasures on the beach?"
Lumine glared at the floating emergency food. She opened her Pokédex and finally replied to a pending invitation from Hu Tao.
Lumine: "I agree to the team-up. Let's head to the deep sectors."
Hu Tao: "Aha! I knew you'd see reason! Let's go capture some high-qualification wild Pokémon! We need a full lineup!"
Soon, a formidable team—Hu Tao, Xiangling, Lumine, and Paimon—set out for the rocky highlands bordering the Overlord territories.
"Found it!" Hu Tao shouted, pointing at a billowing sandstorm in the distance. "The intel was right! Flygon (Desert Dragonflies) are active here! That's my third Dragon member, found! Hahahaha!"
The Academy's Open Class
Back at the Research Institute, the atmosphere was different. A week had passed since the mass distribution of Hisuian Growlithe and Rufflet. The Pokémon Guards of Liyue and Mondstadt were now a visible presence, successfully containing any pre-tournament unrest.
Near the main headquarters, a new building had risen: the Pokémon Academy. Inside the massive "College Building," Hiroshi was conducting a rare open class.
Zhongli, having just finalized a "strange contract" at the Golden House, arrived at the institute. He looked toward the Academy and saw a crowd so thick there were no seats left. Students were standing in the back and spilling into the corridors.
Zhongli recognized several faces. Khedive, the researcher from the Chasm, was there, wearing a student ID badge and listening intently.
On the podium, Hiroshi—the "Dean"—was in his element.
"Every Trainer should develop their own unique Energy Cube formula," Hiroshi lectured, his voice clear and resonant. "Once the competition is over, we will officially launch the Breeder Certification System: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert, and Master levels."
He held up a shimmering blue berry. "Today's class is about Berries. They are the heart of all formulas. But do you know that the extraction of starch and polysaccharides changes based on the precipitation technique?"
The classroom was so quiet you could hear a needle drop.
"How do you obtain the essence efficiently? I will now demonstrate a Senior-level precipitation technique. Watch the temperature carefully. I'm controlling the water at exactly 63°C. Remember the change in viscosity!"
Hiroshi lit an alcohol lamp, heating a glass vessel. The students watched as a murky green juice was purified into a slurry as clear and vibrant as the finest Jade.
"This is just the start," Hiroshi said. "A perfect start makes the rest of the process simple. The goal is to remove impurities that Pokémon cannot digest. As I've said before: the higher the quality of the cube, the less your Pokémon has to... well, poop."
The class laughed briefly before Hiroshi signaled for an assistant. He chose a small, energetic girl in the third row.
"You, in the front. Come help me with the pressing machine."
The girl was Cloris, a botanist from Mondstadt. She approached the stage with stars in her eyes. Under Hiroshi's guidance, she processed a batch of Sitrus Berries. As the class ended, Hiroshi offered her a reward.
"To thank you for your help, Cloris, you may ask one question."
"Dean Hiroshi!" she asked excitedly. "Can a Breeder eventually make Rare Candy?"
"Certainly," Hiroshi smiled. "Rare Candy is the pinnacle of Pokémon nutrition. But I'll warn you: even the lowest quality requires a Master-level certification to research and produce. Keep studying!"
The Conversation of Gods
As the students filed out, Hiroshi walked over to the back of the room where Zhongli was waiting.
"What's this?" Hiroshi teased. "Decided to become a full-time scholar?"
"Initially, I was worried," Zhongli replied, his voice calm. "But seeing the 'Pokémon Era' you have set off in Liyue... seeing humans become the protagonists of their own world again... I have nothing left to fear. The age of the Archons is concluding gracefully."
"So... you signed that contract with the Fatui?" Hiroshi asked, his eyebrows raised.
The original plot was stubborn. Despite everything, Zhongli had still gone through with his deal with Signora and Tartaglia.
"One must do enough to ensure the theater is believable," Zhongli said. "In fact, if you wished for it, I would have given my Gnosis (Heart of God) to you instead."
Hiroshi waved his hand dismissively. "Keep it. The Gnosis is a super-god-tier resource, but it's too closely tied to Celestia (Sky Island). Accepting it is like accepting a tracking device. I prefer my power to be independent."
Zekrom, standing in the shadows behind them, let out a low rumble that vibrated the floor.
"A wise choice, Manager," the great dragon spoke, its red eyes glowing. "The 'Heart' is a cage. True Ideals require no shackles from the heavens."
Zhongli looked at the dragon and nodded in respect. "Indeed. A power that governs itself is a rare thing."
The Livestream of the Century
Hiroshi's Pokédex buzzed. A private message from Ningguang.
Ningguang: "Manager, the Rite of Descension (Immortal Invitation Ceremony) is tomorrow. I would be honored if you attended. It is a pivotal moment for Liyue."
Hiroshi looked at Zhongli with a mischievous grin. "Sister Ningguang invited me to the ceremony. Can I ask... is it okay if I live-stream it on 'Teyvat Cheers'? You know, the part where the 'Rock God' is 'assassinated' at the scene?"
Zhongli's face twitched slightly, but he regained his composure. "Do as you wish. The more people believe the Rock God is dead and the throne is vacant, the better for Liyue's growth."
"Aren't you worried about the fallout?" Hiroshi asked. "If the people think their god is gone, won't the ancient demons take advantage?"
Zhongli looked out at the sprawling Research Institute, where Pokémon and humans were already learning to coexist. "With you and your 'Age of Pokémon' standing guard? No demon would be so foolish as to stir up trouble now. To challenge Liyue today is to provoke the founder of this new era."
Zhongli leaned back against the wall. "I am the retired God of Rock. My only plan now... is to lie down and watch the show."
"Fair enough," Hiroshi laughed. He turned to his Pokédex and began drafting the announcement for the livestream.
[Teyvat Cheers Headline]: "LIVE TOMORROW: The Rite of Descension! Will the Lord of Rock bring a New Blessing? Or will a Shocking Event Change Liyue Forever? Tune in at 10:00 AM!"
"Zekrom," Hiroshi called out. "Make sure the signal is strong. We're about to have the biggest 'Breaking News' event in the history of this world."
"The truth of the theater will be broadcasted," Zekrom rumbled. "I shall ensure the lightning of your network never falters."
As the sun set over the Academy, Hiroshi realized the pieces were all in place. The Rite of Descension would be the ultimate promotional event for his tournament. If the "God" was gone, the "Trainers" would be the ones to fill the void.