With Garchomp recalled, the match was officially over.
The Pearl Clan chief—visibly stunned and bleary-eyed—rose shakily to his feet and announced the final result in a daze.
As the two Trainers left the stage, he pressed a hand to his forehead.
Elias had turned the match around and seized the final victory. He should be thrilled.
After all, it meant that for the foreseeable future, the Diamond Clan would have to hold their heads lower.
But…
Of all the Pokémon Elias could've sent out as his second—he had to choose that one.
Zoroark.
He vaguely remembered a heavy snow day years ago, when he'd sat Elias down in the snowy fields of the Alabaster Icelands and warned him about this so-called "calamity beast."
He'd even emphasized how dangerous these Pokémon were and told him to stay far away if he ever encountered one.
Back then, Elias had listened intently, even asking about Zoroark's habits, preferences, and favorite foods.
He'd been so focused that the chief had been genuinely impressed, thinking Elias had taken his words to heart.
And in a way, Elias had learned well.
So well, in fact, that he'd somehow befriended a living Zoroark and was now raising it as a partner Pokémon.
Raising it was one thing, but bringing it into a match in front of both clans?
That went beyond anything he could've imagined.
If there was any silver lining at all…
It was that Zoroark were so rare that most people in the clans had never been attacked by one directly. Their understanding came mostly from stories whispered since childhood—scary, yes, but abstract.
That gave the chief a bit of hope. Maybe he could still manage the fallout.
Meanwhile, Zoroark herself was still riding high on the thrill of victory.
She had personally secured Elias's title as Champion—and that made her very happy.
"Elias!"
She bounded lightly back to her Trainer's side, pushed off her toes, and pounced toward him.
Elias caught her with practiced ease, only stepping back two paces thanks to her careful control of force.
"Well done," he said, rubbing the fur atop her head with a smile.
He had to admit—today had shown him just how terrifying Zoroark's true strength could be.
Even a powerhouse like Garchomp had fallen prey to her illusions with alarming ease.
If this fox really wanted to… could she keep me in an illusion for years without me even knowing?
The idea sent a chill down his spine.
Zoroark noticed his expression and tilted her head in confusion. Then, narrowing her eyes slyly, she murmured—
"Maintaining an illusion for that long would be exhausting."
"So… probably only two or three years, max."
The words echoed directly in Elias's mind. Somehow, she'd spoken straight into his thoughts.
Elias: …
That didn't help. That made it worse.
"At any rate, the Champion's title of Sinnoh is yours—at least for now," Cynthia said with a good-natured smile as she walked over.
She wasn't a sore loser. While disappointed, she was more exhilarated by the intensity of their battle.
As she spoke, she pulled something from a hidden inner pocket—a golden badge.
"This is the official proof of the Sinnoh Champion. I'm handing it over to you."
"There was a massive trophy too, but…" She gave him a teasing smile. "I can't exactly give you that here. If you ever come back to the future with me, I'll make sure you get it."
Her tone turned just a bit suggestive at the end.
The time she'd spent with Elias had only made her more certain—she wanted to bring him back to the modern world.
Even if the chances were slim…
"I'll look forward to that," Elias said, accepting the badge with a smile.
He glanced down at it.
It was a gold plate in the shape of a Poké Ball, surprisingly hefty for something that fit in his palm.
First Sinnoh Champion of the Hisui region, he mused. I might just be the first in history to pull that off.
"But... is it really okay for Zoroark to reveal herself like this?" Cynthia asked after a pause, frowning slightly.
"It's fine. I'd planned to reveal her for a long time," Elias replied calmly.
And so far, everything was going according to plan.
In truth, the reaction from the clans hadn't been as bad as he'd feared.
In fact, thanks to Zoroark's striking appearance, she'd actually piqued quite a bit of curiosity.
"Still, just to be safe… I might need your help keeping an eye on things within the clans," Elias added after a moment's thought.
The people of Hisui were honest, kind, and sincere.
But that sincerity could cut both ways.
If someone—or some Pokémon—caused trouble in Zoroark's name, even unintentionally, her reputation could spiral fast.
These people wouldn't naturally consider the possibility of a setup or a false flag.
Cynthia, once a Champion herself, immediately grasped the implications.
She nodded seriously. "Garchomp and I will keep an eye on things."
Zoroark, now curled up in Elias's arms, squinted at them both.
She could tell they were talking about her—but couldn't quite follow the specifics...
After a bit more chatting, Elias excused himself.
There was still something he had to do.
When leaving the battlefield, he'd noticed the Pearl Clan chief looking unusually dazed.
Clearly, Zoroark's appearance had left quite a mark.
Arriving at the chief's tent, Elias saw the man furiously scribbling something at his desk.
"Chief?"
He knocked lightly and stepped inside.
The moment he spoke, the chief's head jerked up.
At the sight of Zoroark beside him, the man instinctively shrank back a little.
Then, regaining his composure, he gave Elias a hard stare.
"When did you catch it?" he asked bluntly.
Elias thought for a moment, then replied, "About… three or four years ago?"
The chief's chest tightened. He stared at Elias in disbelief.
He'd assumed Elias had ignored his warnings and caught a Zoroark later out of recklessness.
But this?
He caught it even before I gave the warning.
How the hell am I supposed to lecture him now?
After a long silence, he sighed and slumped back into his chair.
"I can't exactly ask you to get rid of it now. Just be ready for the rumors you'll face in the days ahead."
So far, public reaction had been fairly positive.
Elias's fame, combined with Zoroark's championship victory, had softened public reception considerably.
But that didn't mean everyone was on board.
Surely, there were still people within the clans who had once been harmed by a Zoroark. Getting them to accept her wouldn't be easy.
"Zoroark will behave."
"And anyway… I don't live in the village. I don't really care what a few people think."
Elias's tone was firm—unshakably so—when it came to Zoroark.