"Looks like Tobias is sending in his second Pokémon!" shouted Christopher from the commentator's booth, his voice ringing with excitement. "What will it be this time?"
All eyes turned to Tobias, the tension in the stadium crackling like electricity.
Would it be another Legendary Pokémon?
Just then, something no one expected happened.
Naoki also reached for a Poké Ball, and recalled Urshifu.
Gasps erupted across the audience.
"He's switching out?" Christopher blinked. "Naoki is recalling his Urshifu... even though it just dominated Darkrai!?"
Why would he withdraw a Pokémon still riding a wave of momentum?
Meanwhile, Tobias had already made his move.
With a sharp throw, the Poké Ball cracked open midair, and a radiant beam of light burst forth.
A streamlined figure soared into the battlefield with a whirring sound, as if slicing through the wind.
Blue and white. Sleek, jet-like wings. Fins like a drifting aquatic Pokémon.
It floated effortlessly in the air, a serene gleam in its eyes.
"Amazing!" Christopher shouted, standing up from his chair. "It's Latios! Tobias's second Pokémon is the Legendary Pokémon, Latios!"
The audience burst into wild cheers.
Two Legendary Pokémon back to back.
But what about Naoki?
Cameras turned. Every Rotom drone in the stadium pivoted to catch Naoki as he tossed his next Poké Ball into the air.
A white flash exploded onto the field, and then a strange silence followed.
What appeared on the battlefield wasn't anything the crowd recognized.
It had the form of a humanoid creature, a green mask covering its face and a cloak-like body that looked stitched from layers of vines and cloth. Its limbs were long, its posture oddly endearing, and its energy… unfamiliar.
"What... what is that Pokémon?" murmured Christopher, confused.
Viewers across the world grabbed their Rotom Phones to scan it.
But Rotom's reply was uniform and chilling.
"No record found. Unknown Pokémon."
A hush spread through the stadium.
"What did we just witness?" Christopher breathed. "Naoki has sent out a Pokémon that doesn't even exist in the current Pokédex!"
Whispers erupted across the crowd.
"Is it a new discovery?"
"Is it from the Paldea region?"
"Did he just bring a brand-new Pokémon into the World Championship!?"
Naoki stood calmly while his mysterious partner tilted its head and stared directly at Latios.
"Boni!"
The masked Pokémon gave a quirky little call, its voice cheerful and slightly mischievous.
Under its green cloak, a few strange bumps jostled as it moved.
Naoki glanced at the Pokémon with a helpless smile.
He had only planned to bring her along as a spectator, maybe for support... but the moment Ogerpon heard they'd be facing incredibly strong opponents, she had made up her mind.
Not only had she come to the stadium, but she brought along all four of her masks, each tucked neatly under her cloak like secret weapons.
Right now, she wore the green Grass Mask on her face. The other three were hidden somewhere beneath her robe.
Naoki sighed softly. "You really brought all of them, huh...?"
He briefly wondered if she had some kind of spatial pocket under that coat.
But he didn't have time to dwell on it.
His eyes shifted back to Latios, still hovering effortlessly across the field, its gaze calm but intense.
Tobias's Latios.
In the anime, this Latios had gone toe-to-toe with Ash's Pikachu and Sceptile. It had displayed monstrous power, some even said it was more dangerous than his Darkrai.
"Pon."
As if reading Naoki's thoughts, Ogerpon turned her head ever so slightly and locked eyes with her trainer. Her masked gaze radiated confidence, unwavering and fierce.
Don't worry, she seemed to say. I'll take care of this.
Naoki's lips curved into a small smile.
That's right. Ogerpon wasn't just a mysterious Pokémon from Paldea. She was a warrior, through and through. She had once fought off four opponents by herself and defeated powerful foes without backing down. Her power ran deep beneath the charm of her mask and cloak.
Then the shrill sound of Duncan's whistle pierced the air.
The second battle had begun.
"Latios, Luster Purge!" Tobias called without hesitation.
A surge of psychic energy exploded around Latios as it soared high above the battlefield. Its entire body began to glow, a blinding light building in its core before erupting into a devastating beam that tore across the sky toward Ogerpon.
"Move!" Naoki commanded. "Dodge, then look for an opening!"
Ogerpon tried to leap aside, but the beam was too fast.
The Luster Purge struck her head-on. The explosion of psychic power lit up the arena, and the force of it sent her skidding backward, her feet digging into the ground.
Naoki tensed, until a faint shimmer flickered around her body.
Her special defense had dropped.
But in exchange, her hidden power awakened.
A green pulse surged through her limbs. Her physical strength spiked.
Ogerpon's Defiant Aspect had activated.
Naoki's gaze sharpened.
This was their chance.
"Let's ground it. Vine Whip, now!"
"Ponii!"
Twin vines erupted from Ogerpon's sleeves like striking serpents. They snapped upward, slicing through the air toward Latios.
"Evasion pattern!" Tobias ordered.
Latios twisted, one wing tucking in tight as it dodged to the left, the first vine missing by inches.
But the second vine was still in play.
"Track it. Keep pressure!" Naoki ordered calmly.
The second vine coiled around, silent and focused, weaving its way through the air like a predator circling prey.
Latios sensed danger too late.
The vine lashed forward and wrapped tightly around its right ankle.
"Got you," Naoki whispered.
"Ponii!" Ogerpon cried out as she yanked hard.
Latios's wings flared in panic. But the force behind the pull was immense.
The Legendary Pokémon was ripped from the sky and slammed into the battlefield with a bone-rattling crash that split the stone beneath it.
Dust and debris blasted outward. The crowd screamed in disbelief.
Latios was down. Vulnerable.
"Now!" Naoki barked.
Ogerpon didn't hesitate.
She charged forward like a streak of green fury, cloak fluttering wildly. Her hand glowed with an emerald light as a club materialized in her grasp. It was thick and rugged, entwined with thorny vines and glowing softly with primal energy.
Latios was stirring. Its wings twitched.
Too late.
"Poniiiii!"
Ogerpon leapt into the air and brought the club down like a hammer from the heavens.
The moment before impact stretched into silence.
Then, impact.
The club struck Latios directly with a monstrous boom, shaking the entire battlefield. A shockwave ripped through the arena as thorny energy exploded outward.
Latios let out a pained shriek that echoed through the stadium.
Then its body went still.
Eyes closed.
Wings limp.
The Legendary Pokémon had been knocked unconscious in one brutal, decisive blow.
Dead silence.
And then the world erupted.
"Latios is down! Tobias's Latios is out of the match!" Christopher's voice cracked with shock. "This is unbelievable!"
Ogerpon stood tall, her club resting on her shoulder, her mask gleaming under the lights.
The audience was losing their minds.
"She one-shot Latios!"
"What kind of monster is that thing?!"
"Where did Naoki even find her?!"
"She looks adorable, but she hits like a truck!"
Even Tobias couldn't hide his surprise. His calm façade cracked slightly as he stared at Latios's motionless body.
"What's going on with that Pokémon?"
All across the audience, jaws had dropped. Even in the VIP section, the reactions were far from uniform.
Leon leaned forward, eyes wide with exhilaration. "Unreal," he muttered, almost grinning.
Cynthia rested a finger on her chin, her gaze calm but thoughtful.
Steven looked genuinely impressed. "To strike down Latios like that in a single blow… I didn't expect this."
Lance's arms were crossed, brows furrowed, his expression heavy with unease. "This Ogerpon… It's not normal."
Meanwhile, thousands of kilometers away in the Kanto region, Giovanni reclined in his leather chair. One leg crossed over the other, he calmly stroked the head of his Persian resting beside him.
His eyes stayed locked on the screen showing the ongoing battle.
Regret darkened his features.
"What a shame," he said quietly. "A talent like that, wasted… He could've been mine."
His thoughts drifted to years ago, when he'd personally extended an offer to Naoki. An invitation to collaborate. To become allies. To build something powerful.
Naoki had refused.
Giovanni let out a quiet sigh.
Back in the arena, the crowd roared with energy, but on the battlefield, Naoki stood composed. Calm. Focused.
His gaze never left Tobias.
Two of Tobias's Pokémon, Darkrai and Latios, had already fallen.
But four still remained.
Four Pokémon that had never been seen before in any official match.
In his past life, Naoki had read countless fan theories online. Everyone speculated wildly about the rest of Tobias's team. Some said he had a full team of Legendaries. Others believed they were Mythicals, or even Ultra Beasts. No one ever found out for sure.
But one thing was certain.
Those remaining four Pokémon would not be ordinary.
As the crowd cheered behind him, Naoki quietly reviewed his own options.
Two of his Pokémon had already taken the stage, Urshifu and Ogerpon.
That left him with four more.
Koraidon, Kyurem, Giratina, and Calyrex.
All of them powerful.
He looked across the battlefield at Tobias once more, eyes narrowing.
"Tobias," he thought, "don't disappoint me now."