Soro City, Battle Festival Venue.
To help Diancie adapt and experience the world faster, Li Wei brought Diancie here.
Battles are an important part of the Pokémon world.
Through a Battle Festival, Diancie can fully understand the charm of battles and people's love for Pokémon battles...
As the Champion, Steven thought more deeply than Li Wei.
Observing battles, besides boosting a Trainer's confidence, can also uncover Trainers with cultivation potential...
Steven believed that Elite Four Yan Kai, who came to watch the battle, felt the same way.
Steven and Elite Four Yan Kai had not yet battled, but Steven understood this Elite Four member with a knightly spirit very well.
Just like how he dresses, Yan Kai advocates for a knightly spirit: humility, bravery, honesty, and fairness. He possesses such virtues.
Steven had heard of Yan Kai's deeds.
In Pokémon battles, Yan Kai also adheres to this knightly spirit, preferring to challenge and defeat opponents head-on.
As for Trainers who use dirty tricks...
Yan Kai can also understand.
After all, he has a knightly spirit.
Steven looked at Galarian Farfetch'd,
"Farfetch'd, if you want to learn the knightly spirit, Elite Four Yan Kai is an excellent role model."
While serving as a Pokémon Summer Camp teacher at the Breeding Center, Steven learned of Farfetch'd's goal.
Farfetch'd wanted to become a knight.
A knight who protects the weak and faces challenges head-on.
Steven strongly supported this idea.
"Gah!"
Farfetch'd's eyes lit up.
Farfetch'd looked intently at Elite Four Yan Kai, who was engrossed in watching the match.
Soon after,
Elite Four Yan Kai made a request to Steven, "I would like to have a battle with you at the end of the Battle Festival."
"Because he wants to battle you."
Elite Four Yan Kai sent out Scizor.
"Cha-ow!"
This was a spirited Scizor.
Looking at Scizor's hopeful eyes, Steven, with his arms crossed, slightly curved his lips and nodded, "I accept."
Elite Four Yan Kai immediately got up to inform the organizers to arrange some time at the end of this afternoon.
This was definitely not monopolizing resources.
On the contrary, for those who came to watch the event,
"Mr. Yan Kai, please wait a moment!"
Li Wei called out to him and also made his request.
Looking at Li Wei's Metagross and Lucario, Yan Kai did not refuse,
"I have no problem with that."
Li Wei proposed a formal one-on-one battle with Elite Four Yan Kai, whether it was at this afternoon's Battle Festival or privately.
The reason, of course, was the side quest to defeat Champions and Elite Four members.
Steven looked at him with a hint of confusion,
"You're not usually the type to propose battles."
Lucario, Arcanine, and Metagross were also curious, looking at him.
Li Wei rarely took the initiative to propose battles with other Trainers; it was usually others who invited him.
In such cases, Li Wei generally would not refuse.
Li Wei pondered, "Perhaps I'm increasingly appreciating the charm of battles."
Li Wei was not entirely lying.
Although his primary reason for proposing to battle Yan Kai was the side quest,
in battles with Lance, Steven, and others, Li Wei had indeed gradually come to appreciate the charm of Pokémon battles.
"I see."
Steven did not dwell on this matter.
Soro City, Battle Festival Venue.
Although today's Battle Festival was nearing its end, the audience was still full of energy.
Just as the Battle Festival entered its final stages, Referee Rotom suddenly announced good news.
"Mr. Steven Stone, the legendary Mr. Stone from the Hoenn region, will have an exhibition match with Mr. Yan Kai, the Steel Elite Four whom the Kalos region is proud of!"
When Referee Rotom announced this good news, a deafening cheer erupted from the audience, lasting for a long time.
Diancie was a bit puzzled,
(Why are they so excited?)
"Because Steven is a Champion."
Diancie tilted her head,
(Champion?)
"The number one person in a region; in short, it's a very impressive title."
(I see, Steven is so amazing!)
Steven showed the calm smile of a strong person, "I'm already a former Champion; now the Champion of the Hoenn region is Mikuri."
Of course, if Steven and Mikuri were to battle, Steven would definitely have a higher win rate.
This could be seen from their rankings in the Master League and the Pokémon World Championships.
In both the Master League and the Pokémon World Championships, Steven was third, while Mikuri did not make it into the top ten.
As time passed, the atmosphere of the Battle Festival had reached a fever pitch.
Both the audience in the front rows and those watching the screen in the back saw two figures slowly entering the stage.
Entering from the left was Elite Four Yan Kai, clad in silver armor, upholding the path of a knight, as solid as a rock, with firm eyes.
Entering from the right was the former Hoenn Champion Steven, in a blue suit, elegant and calm.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
Referee Rotom's voice echoed through the venue,
"The final chapter of the Battle Festival, a clash of steel!"
"Aww!!!"
The thunderous cheers, like a mountain tsunami, almost tore off the dome.
(Will everyone cheer like this?)
This was a cheer that had not been heard during previous Trainer battles.
(How interesting!)
Diancie liked this atmosphere, liked the audience's enthusiasm, and liked these cheers.
Seeing the sparkle in Diancie's eyes, Li Wei's lips curved slightly,
"When your fame reaches a certain level, even if you're not on a battle stage, you'll still receive cheers like this."
(Fame?)
Diancie did not understand the meaning of this word.
"It means everyone knows your name."
"Diancie! Diancie!"
Li Wei imitated a fan, raising his arm to demonstrate to Diancie.
Diancie recalled how, recently, she would occasionally see girls coming to Li Wei and Steven for photos and autographs...
They all seemed to be like Li Wei, shouting their names.
(I understand!)
Diancie made a decision: she also wanted to stand on stage and enjoy such cheers and applause.
While Li Wei and Diancie were explaining, the battle was about to begin.
Yan Kai placed his right fist over his chest, performing a standard and powerful knight's salute, his voice loud and clear:
"My respects to you, Champion Steven, may this battle be worthy of the knight's path!"
Steven bowed slightly in acknowledgment, a calm smile on his lips,
"It is my honor to battle a noble knight such as yourself."
After both sides exchanged greetings, Steven's eyes suddenly sharpened, like a drawn sword.
In battle, Steven always took it seriously, especially against a respectable opponent like Yan Kai.
"Go, Scizor!"
After a red flash landed in the arena, Aggron landed like a heavy bomb, kicking up dust.
"Go, Aggron!"
At the same time, Steven took off his brooch, made to kiss it, then pressed the key stone...