Paldea region, League Headquarters.
"Rakua elements?"
Geeta looked at the letter signed by Teacher Johan, Cynthia, and Lance, unable to help but take it seriously.
A letter jointly signed by three Champions!
The importance of its contents was obvious.
When Geeta read about the events described in the letter and the "Rakua elements," her expression immediately became serious.
As a fellow Champion, she clearly understood what kind of trouble these "Rakua elements" would bring—if they could truly exchange lifespan, or accelerated cell division, for explosive improvements in Pokémon strength—and how many criminals they would attract.
Pokémon Hunters, evil organizations, or extremists would almost inevitably want to obtain "Rakua elements" upon learning of their power!
If it were just that, it might be manageable.
Though there were many such people, they could still be targeted.
The biggest trouble was when ordinary people used them blindly without knowing the side effects, or were subjected to them—the impact would be enormous.
"'Rakua elements,' power related to cell division, suspected to appear in Levincia City..."
Levincia City, Outstanding Inc., Gibeon...
Geeta naturally, or rather instinctively, connected these factors.
But it was just blind connection—there was no inevitable link between them.
"Troubled times indeed..." Geeta couldn't help but sigh deeply.
The disaster Pokémon issue wasn't completely resolved, the "Pokémon World Championships" was approaching, the depths of the "Great Crater of Paldea" seemed to be growing restless recently, plus these "Rakua elements"...
Even someone as capable as Geeta felt particularly overwhelmed, with a sense of not knowing where to start.
Over the following period, Johan and Cynthia were finally able to truly enjoy touring the Paldea region.
With their Pokémon, eating and playing along the way.
Mainly visiting the "Ten Sights of Paldea."
They'd already been to Levincia City's "Million Volt Nightscape" and North Province Area Two's "Dalizapa Passage" waterfall.
Afterward, they saw Casseroya Lake's "Socarrat Trail" and "Casseroya Falls."
They went to South Province Area Two's "Olive Roll" to eat fresh olives, with Johan stocking up on freshly made olive sauce and olive oil.
They camped at South Province Area Five's "Asado Desert," enjoying fresh seafood together.
They saw South Province Area Six's "Alfornada Cavern."
They had a "thrilling" adventure in West Province Area Two's "Dalizapa Passage," where the wild Pokémon were thoroughly scared by Gengar.
Among the "Ten Sights of Paldea," what satisfied Johan most was actually Glaseado Mountain's "Glaseado Gym" and the peak of Glaseado Mountain, called "Paldea's highest peak."
Looking down from Glaseado Mountain's summit, almost the entire Paldea region could be seen.
Even the mysterious "Great Crater of Paldea" was visible.
However, thick mist always surrounded the "Great Crater of Paldea." Looking down from Glaseado Mountain, only a rough outline was visible—the internal scenery couldn't be seen clearly.
While Johan and Cynthia toured Paldea hand in hand, the "Pokémon World Championships" was also proceeding intensely.
The "points stage" was nearing its end, and rankings were gradually stabilizing. Except for a few situations, most contestants who could qualify for the "Master Replacement Battle" were basically confirmed.
With promotion and extensive "points stage" livestreams and broadcasts, more and more people began anticipating the official start of the "Pokémon World Championships."
This "Pokémon World Championships" was a rare case where young master trainers and veteran master trainers competed together.
This was mainly because young trainers had emerged and grown in recent years.
Some representative examples included Kanto and Johto's Lance and Lorelei, Hoenn's Teacher Johan and Steven, Sinnoh's Cynthia, Flint, Lucian, and Aaron, Unova's Caitlin and N, etc.
People seemed to see an even brighter future for the League.
Therefore, this "Pokémon World Championships" was seen by many as a generational transition tournament. Missing it might mean never seeing such spectacular matches again.
So the League, to some extent, prepared a "holiday" for all audiences anticipating the tournament.
Students got vacation time, office workers had mandatory work hours, etc.
After all, in a world centered on Pokémon, such an event—arguably the highest level in the entire Pokémon world, covering nine regions—was naturally significant.
After Johan and the others finished touring the Paldea region, they'd had enough fun.
Though Johan didn't care what ranking he might achieve in the "Pokémon World Championships," he still needed to show proper attitude.
So after discussing with Cynthia, they decided to use the remaining time for simple special training!
Well, rather than special training, it was more like recovery practice.
After all, there hadn't been many battles recently, but they'd eaten plenty.
Johan felt his Dragonite seemed to have gained another size around the waist, making him genuinely worried.
Since it was special training, they naturally needed to choose an appropriate location.
So the two discussed the location issue.
"Mm..." Cynthia sat at the picnic table, chin in hand, listening to Johan's words.
Johan, wearing an apron while cooking, also spoke: "Actually, I think Glaseado Mountain is a great place. The wild Pokémon levels there aren't low, and most are Ice-types..."
Glaseado Mountain was considered a relatively dangerous area in the Paldea region.
The only shortcoming might be inconvenient accommodation.
In the icy environment, without proper warmth measures, you might wake up the next day as an icicle.
However, this wasn't a problem for Johan and Cynthia.
Through Ninetales' "training," Johan's Ice-type resistance was basically maxed out, while Cynthia had been training on Sinnoh's Mt. Coronet before challenging the "Champion's Road."
Mt. Coronet's danger level was no less than Glaseado Mountain's.
Worst case... they could spend days on the mountain and nights flying down.
They weren't in a rush anyway—just don't fly too fast.
Hearing Johan enthusiastically describe how good and suitable Glaseado Mountain was, Cynthia blinked and said softly:
"But Glaseado Mountain is similar to Mt. Coronet, and I've already trained on Mt. Coronet for a long time."
Johan's movements paused as his mouth twitched. "What do you think then?"
Cynthia smiled. "The Great Crater of Paldea, or... Kitakami, what do you think?"
Johan: "..."
He'd been enthusiastically recommending Glaseado Mountain precisely because he didn't want to go to these two places.
Though the Paradox Pokémon deep in the Great Crater of Paldea should be interesting—Johan was curious about Iron Valiant—there was also a high probability of encountering "Guardians," which would be very troublesome.
As for Kitakami... that was just a weird place.
A group of people were completely fooled by Pecharunt's story, treating Ogerpon as the villain instead.
Though Ogerpon might be very interesting, they might also get involved in "Kitakami's strange tales" troubles.
Of course, Paldea had the "Ten Sights of Paldea," and Kitakami had the "Kitakami Six."
But after seeing the "Ten Sights of Paldea," Johan wasn't really interested in these so-called "sights" and "selections."
"How about... Galar?" Johan asked tentatively.
Cynthia smiled sweetly, took out her phone, switched to an interface, and handed it to Johan. "Here?"
Taking the phone for a glance, Johan was stunned.
"Okoya? Mossui? Where's this?"
It felt somewhat familiar, but he couldn't recall immediately.
Scrolling through the screen briefly—
Mossui Town was an ancient town with a long history, located in vast mountain forests.
Any forest area with extremely large coverage would have high-level wild Pokémon in its depths.
Actually, the Pokémon world didn't only have nine League regions—there were many other large and small continents.
Some, like the Alola region, once didn't belong to the League but gradually became part of it as exchanges with the League increased.
Many regions had been like this.
Some regions, though related to the League, were never incorporated into League territory, like Orre and Fiore regions, etc.
Of course, some areas chose to join certain regions due to insufficient size, strength, and other factors, becoming part of them.
The most famous were naturally the Orange Islands, Sevii Islands—even Master Mustard's Isle of Armor counted, plus Unova's Blueberry Academy and Paldea's Kitakami region.
The region where Mossui Town was located was also one of these.
Strictly speaking, Mossui Town's region was even connected to Kitakami, though separated by vast forests with great distances.
So Mossui Town was also considered part of the Paldea region.
Continuing to scroll, Johan showed understanding.
"Mossui Town Fireworks Festival!"
So that's it.
These days were when Mossui Town held its autumn fireworks festival to celebrate harvest joy.
"Let's go there then," Johan decided.
They could train in the forest, bully wild Pokémon—cough, have "friendly" exchanges with wild Pokémon—and watch the fireworks festival.
By the time the fireworks festival ended, the "points stage" would be nearly over too.
"Okay~" Cynthia "obediently" agreed, playfully winking at Gengar.
"Ka-kaah~ (Д)b"
Gengar secretly gave a thumbs up.
Cynthia could still handle Johan.
Johan was thinking about something else.
Since there was a large forest outside Mossui Town, would it benefit Serperior?
His Snivy had evolved into Serperior and confirmed the existence of "Forest's Blessing," but seemed to have never been to a large forest...
"But before going to Mossui Town, I plan to return to Hoenn first," Johan suddenly said.
"Return to Hoenn?" Cynthia was stunned.
Johan looked toward distant Hoenn, saying softly: "Because... a little friend has been waiting for us for a long time."
Little friend?
"Ka-kaah!!"
Gengar and the others knew who Johan meant, immediately becoming excited.
On the plane returning to Hoenn.
"Steven VS Raihan?"
Looking at the livestream title pinned on the League website's homepage, Johan couldn't help clicking in.
The location was Wyndon Stadium in the Galar region.
Though Johan had kept Steven in Hoenn to "train" him and help him adapt to Champion duties early, Steven couldn't possibly miss this "Pokémon World Championships." Half a month ago, Steven had temporarily returned duties to Elite Four Glacia and rushed to Galar to gain points.
Steven's strength was indeed formidable. In just half a month, he'd already qualified for the "Master Replacement Battle."
Though his point ranking wasn't as high as Raihan's, no one dared underestimate Steven's strength.
Honestly, if Hoenn hadn't produced the "monster" Teacher Johan, Steven would likely be Hoenn League's Champion now!
So Steven was someone with Champion-level strength without Champion status.
Coincidentally, Raihan was similar.
Without Leon, Raihan would undoubtedly be Galar League's Champion.
In the anime, Raihan was originally one of the "Eight Masters," though he lost to protagonist Ash in the "Master Replacement Battle."
This proved Raihan's strength was Champion-level.
However, due to contact with Johan, current Steven had grown much faster than in the original story with a higher strength ceiling, so... in raw power, Steven was still stronger than Raihan.
Moreover, Raihan specialized in weather and was called the "Weather Prince," but Johan was also a weather "expert." As Johan's student, Steven had more or less mastered methods to counter weather.
For example...
"Cradily, Sandstorm!" In the livestream, the handsome Steven swung his hand sideways with full confidence!
Combined with Cradily's "Storm Drain" ability, he directly converted Raihan's Rain into Sandstorm.
"Steven has gotten stronger," Cynthia, also watching the livestream, couldn't help saying.
The two had battled before, more than once, and it was hard to determine a real winner, so Cynthia was quite familiar with Steven's strength.
"He hasn't been idle in Hoenn either," Johan laughed.
Steven's talent and ability were unquestionable.
While managing Devon Corporation and collecting stones, he could still become Hoenn League Champion, plus Devon's resources...
If Steven focused entirely on Pokémon, reaching legendary level would be normal.
For this "Pokémon World Championships," besides some Champion daily management for the League, Steven had truly focused on Pokémon training and battles.
He'd even held back from stone hunting for two months.
Plus being in a period of rapid strength growth, his improvement was naturally obvious.
"I heard that when Steven has free time, he even pulls Drake, Norman, and Phoebe into battle practice," Johan added.
Cynthia was speechless.
A serious Steven... was truly "frightening."
Johan continued with a smile: "I estimate many people will get nervous after watching this battle."
Especially those who might be challenged by Steven in the "Master Replacement Battle"—Lance, Professor Kukui, Leon, etc.
Cynthia nodded seriously, her expression becoming more serious.
Wasn't she also someone who might be challenged by Steven?
Johan was also possible.
In the Pokémon world, students defeating teachers wasn't shameful—it was glorious.
But for Johan... losing to Steven would be fine too.
He could conveniently pass the Champion position to Steven.
His island was already built anyway, and Steven was now much more familiar with Hoenn League affairs than him.
"Johan," Cynthia said softly.
"Mm?"
"When we reach Mossui Town, train with me in battles."
"Ah, huh?" Johan was stunned.
"Is that okay?"
Johan's expression fell as he forced a smile: "Sure..."
Hoenn region, the island where the Battle Frontier was located.
Johan and Cynthia didn't enter the Battle Frontier but walked directly toward the mountain forest in the opposite direction.
The familiar stone pillar forest.
The night sky was filled with brilliant stars, but compared to their last visit, it was missing that comet with a long tail.
"Ka-kaah..."
Mischievous Gengar somehow became dejected, drooping its ears as if remembering something beautiful but seemingly imperfect.
Cynthia also noticed the mood changes in Johan, Gengar, and several Pokémon.
Not understanding the specific situation or knowing how to comfort them, she could only silently hold Johan's hand tightly.
"Huff—"
Johan exhaled deeply, patted Gengar's head, and said:
"Don't be sad. Don't forget why we came here."
"Ka-kaah!" Gengar slapped its forehead.
Right! They almost forgot they came to wake up that little guy.
"Ka-kaah!"
I know the way—follow me!
In the night, Gengar impatiently floated toward somewhere in the stone pillar forest.
Soon, they reached that familiar place again.
The babbling stream, shores covered with pebbles, and beneath tall stone pillars was an excellent outdoor camping site.
Arriving here, both Johan and Gengar seemed to hear that familiar voice—
[Johan, let's play together, Johan! I love Johan the most...]
Whether the meteorite Eternatus had summoned was powerful enough remained to be seen.
"Gengar, take it out," Johan said.
As he spoke, the little ones emerged from their Poké Balls one by one.
Except for Tyranitar and Serperior who looked confused, the other Pokémon showed expectant expressions.
Hopefully, it would work...
"Ka-kaah!" Gengar didn't hesitate, immediately tearing open space beside it and pulling out a meteorite radiating misty light from the crack.
Cosmic Power!
"Ka-kaah?"
Gengar held the meteorite, placing it left and right, shaking it.
No effect?
Johan frowned.
That shouldn't be right...
The meteorite Eternatus had summoned not only contained rich Galar particles but possessed extremely strong cosmic power, no less than the original comet's cosmic power.
"Ka-kaah!!"
Gengar put down the meteorite, cupped its hands like a megaphone, and shouted loudly, startling a large flock of birds in the nighttime forest.
Jirachi!!
Seeing this, Dragonite, Tinkaton, Urshifu, and others all began calling out.
Johan immediately cupped his hands like a megaphone and shouted:
"Jirachi, I've come to take you home!!"
Hum—
A special energy fluctuation flashed by.
The meteorite Gengar had put down suddenly floated up, radiating cosmic power full of mysterious aura, gathering toward somewhere in the stone pillar forest.
It's coming!
Johan immediately perked up, spreading his aura power.
[Mm...]
A low moan carried the laziness of waking up, transmitted through aura.
[It's Johan, it's everyone, calling me...]
The telepathic connection through aura sounded again.
Just then, a crystal radiating weak light suddenly floated up. The cosmic power rippling from the meteorite was completely absorbed by this crystal.
The next second, the crystal suddenly burst with dazzling brilliance, brilliant light shimmering.
"Oowoo~"
The little ones immediately surrounded it.
"This is..." Cynthia looked at the floating crystal, hearing Johan's earlier words, finally understanding.
Jirachi?
Johan and the others came here to awaken the legendary mythical Pokémon, Jirachi, who could only wake for seven days every thousand years?
Looking at the meteorite Eternatus had left behind, Cynthia showed understanding.
So that's it.
The power of the cosmos?
At this moment, the crystal blazed with light.
Rotom immediately set up filming.
"Eh? Haven't I filmed this scene before, Rotom?"
Simultaneously, the dazzling light receded like a tide. As the light faded, a familiar, cute little one appeared in Johan and the others' sight again.
It looked like a star, wrapped in a golden cloth bag, with wish tags stuck to its head, eyes closed, appearing very cute.
Jirachi!
Its eyelids trembled lightly as Jirachi slowly opened its innocent big eyes, blinking twice.
When it saw clearly that it was Johan and Gengar and the others, joy immediately showed in its eyes.
[Johan!]
[Everyone!]
The golden ribbons loosened as Jirachi stretched its little hands and feet while floating up, then rushed toward Johan.
[Johan! Johan!]
Johan was directly knocked to the ground by the little one but still smiled while holding it.
Finally, they'd awakened Jirachi.
That fight with Eternatus was worth it!
[Johan! Johan!]
Jirachi's voice was full of joy.
[Has a thousand years passed already? So fast~ Johan is indeed still alive after a thousand years!]
Johan: "..."
A thousand years?
Actually, not even a year had passed.
"Cough, Jirachi, only about half a year has passed, at most ten months."
[Months?]
Jirachi looked up at the moon in the sky, showing confusion.
[Ten moons have changed?]
Johan: "..."
"Ka-kaah~"
Gengar held its stomach, pointing at Johan and laughing heartily.
Johan smiled and shook his head, pulling Jirachi into his embrace.
"Regardless, it's good that you can wake up, Jirachi."
Jirachi also hugged Johan, giggling.
[Good! Good!]
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 or 10 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates