Looking at the system notification floating before him, John stood stunned for a long moment.
'When the number of defeated champions reaches 10, the Pokemon Tournament will begin?'
When he'd battled every Gym Leader previously, each one had mentioned looking forward to fighting him again in the Pokemon Championship. At the time, he'd wondered how to participate in such a tournament, figuring it would trigger after defeating enough champions.
After all, in tournaments like these, the Gym Leaders, Elite Four members, and Champions who had been defeated would return stronger than before.
That made sense, after being beaten for so long, they should have grown considerably.
However, he'd currently only defeated seven champions, leaving him three short of the requirement. The seven champions he'd conquered were: Wallace from the Hoenn League, Cynthia from the Sinnoh League, Alder from the Unova League, Diantha from the Kalos League, Leon from the Galar Region, Lance from the Johto/Indigo League, and now Glenn from the Ferrum League.
Since the Kanto and Johto regions were closely connected, the two regions shared league facilities, meaning the Elite Four and Champions of both leagues were shared as well.
The six previous champions plus Glenn, whom he'd just defeated, brought his total to seven. Unfortunately, since he hadn't followed the main storyline in the Alola Region during his playthrough, no league had been established there, meaning no champion existed to challenge.
"Where should I find the remaining three champions?"
John immediately thought of two possibilities.
Former Hoenn Champion Steven Stone, and Red atop Mt. Silver. Both were former champions, though he wasn't sure if defeating them would count toward his mission total.
Beyond searching for champions in other regions, there were other possibilities to consider.
Would Chief Trainer Drake of the Orange Islands count as a champion?
The Paldea Region remained completely unexplored territory for now.
But there were several easily forgotten champions he could pursue.
Blue, the champion for just a few hours. Since Red existed, Blue was certainly a possibility as well.
Professor Oak, champion of the very first Indigo League Pokemon Tournament in ancient times.
And from even more ancient times, the undefeated legend who also served as his teacher in the Galar Region, Mustard.
"I'll challenge Steven first when I get the chance. If that counts, then I'll consider going after Professor Oak, Blue, or Red." John weighed his options and made his decision. Among all potential champions, Steven was the one he could most easily contact.
After defeating the Ferrum Region Champion, he'd exchange his accumulated points for rewards and consider this region fully explored.
As John recalled Gengar and prepared to step down amid thunderous applause, the sky above the battlefield suddenly darkened.
A profound darkness descended from above, engulfing the entire Ferrum League stadium.
In an instant, the whole world froze. The referees and audience became like a movie with the pause button pressed, locked forever in a single moment.
Despite being conscious, John appeared to be the only one capable of perceiving this phenomenon.
"What's happening?" John frowned as unease welled up in his heart.
Gardevoir had already materialized before him, immediately undergoing Mega Evolution while scanning ahead warily.
On the battlefield not far away, a black portal-like hole appeared.
A similarly pitch-black figure stepped through it, and what immediately caught John's attention was the golden resonance stone embedded in its left shoulder.
Above its head floated a name and level indicator.
[Shadow Mewtwo LV100]
"Shadow Mewtwo." John's lips trembled slightly.
The Pokemon before him was indeed Mewtwo, but unlike any ordinary Mewtwo, its entire body was jet black, with a golden resonance stone embedded deep in its shoulder like an ornament. Everything about it proved this was no normal specimen.
If John hadn't played Pokken Tournament, he might have mistaken it for a shiny Mewtwo. But having experienced that game, he knew exactly what this creature was.
The final boss of Pokken Tournament, a Mewtwo corrupted by the Dark Resonance Stone.
It possessed combat power far beyond ordinary Mewtwo! It was the ultimate fighting machine!
But... how had Dark Mewtwo suddenly appeared here?
Could it be because of the Destruction Factor?
[Destruction Factor: When equipped, Physical Attack and Special Attack stats increase by 50%, Psychic-type move power increases by 50%, and all moves gain "Piercing" effect. Pokemon below level 70 have a 50% chance of becoming confused with each move used.
After activation, Physical Attack and Special Attack stats increase by 100%, Psychic-type move power increases by 100%, and all moves gain "Destruction" effect. Pokemon below level 100 have a 100% chance of falling into Confusion status for 256 turns with each move used.
(Note: Creatures that carry and use this item will attract the attention of a certain Pokemon.)]
The Pokemon mentioned in the Destruction Factor's notes was most likely Mewtwo.
So... had Shadow Mewtwo come here to settle a score with him?
In front of him, John found himself Teleported three meters back, while Mega Gardevoir at his original position had already been pressed deep into the ground by overwhelming force. The five defensive barriers she'd deployed had collapsed instantaneously.
[Your Gardevoir is unable to battle]
I have to defeat it before it—
Wide Guard, Safeguard, Light Screen, Barrier, Protect, all deployed simultaneously, along with Teleport.
John immediately realized that whether Shadow Mewtwo had come looking for trouble or not, the outcome would be the same.
A notification appeared in the lower left corner of his vision.
"Wait—" John called out loudly.
But the moment he reached for a Pokeball, his legs gave out and the scene spun into darkness.
"Human! You are the strongest I have encountered in this region!" Mewtwo's voice suddenly echoed in John's mind.
Before John could process what was happening, sounds like shattering glass filled the air,
Bang! Bang! Bang!
"I have something I must ask of you!"
"Was... was I just one-shot too?"
Mega Gardevoir had already launched a preemptive response, but...
Mega Gardevoir got... swatted aside?
When light and vision returned, John found himself lying on his bed, Gameboy in hand, with his character located in the Pokemon Center of the Ferrum Region.
John immediately went on high alert.
"Defeat me!" The final words of Shadow Mewtwo came as almost a roar. The golden glow in its eyes was slowly being consumed by black as it spoke, and its slender right arm extended downward with crushing force.