Glancing at the serene expression on Juan's face, Lucius didn't feel any noticeable change in himself.
"When you believe you've been blessed by the ocean, then that belief alone makes the blessing real," Juan said, catching Volkner's gaze as he spoke something that sounded deeply spiritual.
Tch, what a mystic…
Lucius wasn't in the mood to argue and instead turned his attention back to the arena.
Maya had already delivered the tournament's opening declaration, informing all participants that the champion would be awarded the title of "Sea Hero" along with a "Mystic Water."
There was now about two hours of prep time for the contestants to ready themselves for battle.
Meanwhile, Lucius, Juan, Maya, and the others rested comfortably in the VIP lounge.
"Mr. Volkner, I never imagined you'd actually come. Maya has always wanted to meet you," the Sea Priestess said as she slipped away from the public eye. Her previously cool demeanor melted away, her eyes practically sparkling as she looked at Lucius.
It wasn't unusual for someone who served the ocean's will to admire the man who once commanded the Lord of the Sea.
"I said I'd come, didn't I?" Lucius replied with a slight smile.
Maya nodded eagerly. "Since you and Master Juan are both here, how about this—after the main tournament, would you two consider a showcase battle? I'm sure the audience would be thrilled."
A showcase battle, huh…
Lucius glanced at Juan. While the idea hadn't been discussed in advance, it wasn't exactly surprising. Champions and Gym Leaders often held exhibition matches during major events to hype up the crowd.
"Well, if the Priestess herself is making the request, and Mr. Volkner has no objections, I'm more than happy to oblige," Juan said smoothly, stroking his neatly trimmed mustache. His tone was refined, confident.
After all, he was a Contest Master—if anyone could make a performance dazzling, it was him.
"If Juan is fine with it, I'll go along with it too," Lucius responded with a relaxed nod.
"Fantastic!" Maya beamed.
A battle between a Water-type Master like Juan and an Elite Four member like Volkner—seeing that live was a rare privilege, something usually limited to broadcasts. Their participation would undoubtedly elevate the entire event to a new high.
Two hours passed quickly, and the main competition finally began.
The venue was an ancient coliseum, somewhat reminiscent of a Roman amphitheater from Lucius's previous life. However, this one had long since sunk underwater. Only a few circular platforms and broken columns remained above the surface, giving the Pokémon something solid to stand on.
A perfect stage for Water-types and amphibious Pokémon.
The early rounds followed a one-on-one elimination format—lose once, and you're out.
Most of the Pokémon that took the field were typical: Marill, Wartortle, Chinchou—nothing particularly jaw-dropping.
So this is what real-world Pokémon battles are like, Lucius thought, exhaling with a hint of disappointment.
The Pokémon used by these average Trainers weren't even at an elite level. Some were barely stronger than wild Pokémon.
Skills like Water Gun, Bubble Beam, and Tackle were the norm—basic moves, nothing flashy.
This was also why advanced techniques were hoarded by powerful clans and families. Unlike in the games, where you could just slap a TM on a Pokémon and be done with it, reality demanded intense training and discipline.
Like how Ash had to train Pikachu for ages to master Iron Tail, or how he helped Buizel learn Ice Punch—it all took time and hard work.
Many high-level moves were only learnable through a Pokémon's innate genetic potential. If it wasn't a move they'd naturally pick up by leveling up, then Trainers had to invest serious time and resources to teach it.
Which was one reason why Trainers rarely managed more than six Pokémon at once—any more, and they simply couldn't keep up.
Even Ash left most of his Pokémon with Professor Oak for care and training.
Soon, it was time for the sixth match. As the announcer called out the names, Lucius's ears perked up at the booming voice.
"Ash Ketchum versus Dory!"
Immediately, Lucius's attention zeroed in. His reaction must've been noticeable, because Juan seemed intrigued as well.
Just like in the canon, Ash sent out his playful Totodile, while his opponent used a fully evolved Kingdra.
One was an unevolved baby Pokémon. The other, a Dragon-type in its final evolutionary stage. The outcome seemed obvious the moment they appeared.
Sure enough, Kingdra opened with a Twister, whipping up a violent current. Totodile, submerged in the water, was trapped and disoriented by the swirling vortex.
But then—somehow—Totodile slipped out of the current midair and dodged the follow-up attack with surprising agility.
In a tense back-and-forth, Totodile latched onto Kingdra's snout just as it was charging a Hydro Pump, causing the pressurized water to misfire. The energy exploded backward, blasting Kingdra into the water with a resounding splash.
This… this is what they mean by protagonist aura. This is what it means to be the chosen one.
Lucius was genuinely impressed, captivated by the spectacle.
"This boy is quite interesting," Juan said, clearly intrigued.
"Yeah… he really is," Lucius nodded thoughtfully.
There hadn't been a single competitor quite like Ash Ketchum after his battle. The rest of the matches were average at best—so monotonous that Lucius was nearly falling asleep in the stands.
However, just as the first day wrapped up, Sea Priestess Maya dropped a bombshell: after the final match concluded, there would be an exhibition battle between Volkner and Juan. The crowd erupted into gasps and murmurs of excitement.
The second day played out much like the first—until the female lead, Misty, finally took the stage.
Lucius noticed something strange the moment Misty stepped into the arena—Juan's expression subtly shifted with a trace of surprise.
As a former Water-type Gym Leader himself, Juan had an intimate knowledge of every Water-type specialist within the League, including Cerulean City's own Gym Leader, Daisy, and her sisters.
Especially since one of Daisy's younger sisters had once traveled back from the future to warn the League's Elite Four of an impending disaster.
"Misty… and Ash…" Juan's gaze sharpened, clearly realizing the truth—these were the two future champions.
He glanced at Volkner, who sat silently, watching the battle unfold with calm intensity.
Was this why he agreed to appear as a special guest here? Because of them?
Juan didn't doubt for a second that the leader of Hive—Volkner—was fully aware of the true identities of these future prodigies. What concerned him now was whether this infected overlord had intentions to interfere with them.
Back in the arena, Misty's opponent—a burly middle-aged man—was clearly underestimating her. He must've thought she was just some novice kid, unaware that this girl was practically raised inside a Water-type Gym. Perhaps he was trying to conserve strength for later rounds, as he only sent out a Qwilfish that hadn't even been trained properly.
A few swift commands later, the Qwilfish somehow managed to lodge itself into the coral branches of Misty's Corsola.
Then, the "World's Number One Beauty" herself issued the command: "Corsola, use Spike Cannon!"
With a loud blast, the Qwilfish was launched clean out of the ring.
Now that was the protagonist's aura. That was the mark of a future Pokémon Master.
Between Ash's high-level improvisation and Misty's commanding performance, these two were easily the only real highlights of the junior division over the past two days. Most of the other matches were as bland as dishwater—though one contestant's outfit did suddenly catch Lucius's interest…
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