Not Being a Trainer This Time

7 p.m., Royal Dome.

”Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight’s thrilling match!”

”Many of you already know: this battle is the qualification match for Wing King to advance from Advanced Rank to Master Rank.”

”As long as he and his Pokemon can defeat three opponents, starting today, our Royal Dome will give birth once again to a super–popular star Trainer!”

”Since registration, not a single loss, not a single defeat—28 straight wins to climb from [Normal] Rank up to [Advanced] Rank. That is our Wing King!”

”Even our veteran star, Royal Masked Man, has never managed that!”

”And now, Wing King is迎来了 his Master qualification match. Can he, just like in his previous battles, crush his three opponents with overwhelming force and take the win? Let’s wait and see!”

The stands around the neon-lit arena were packed; seats that were usually half empty were now filled to the last spot.

Tourists from every region had gathered here.

Parents with children, young couples, spry old grandpas, and groups of teenage Trainers.

Right now they were all raising their glow sticks high, shouting in unison; their voices surged like a rising dragon, echoing through the entire Royal Dome.

”Wing King!”

”Wing King!”

”Wing King!”

”...!”

”Haha, I’m sure Wing King can already feel everyone’s passion!”

Microphone in hand, commentator and referee Roger stood on the lift platform, looking down at the arena below.

”Before the battle begins, I’ll be introducing the three opponents Wing King will face in this match!”

”First, let’s welcome the man known as the [King of Hell], brutally strong, famed for hurling his foes into hell with Inferno-like rage—the Wolf King, and his Pokemon, Houndoom!”

The spotlight above the arena suddenly flared, locking onto a black-haired young man in one corner of the stage.

In front of the young man stood a Pokemon shaped like a hellhound, a long scar slashing across its face, making it look vicious and terrifying.

Houndoom, the Dark Pokemon, Dark+Fire Type.

”The [Wolf King] and his Houndoom have fought more battles than you can count; his strength is already at Elite level. Sadly, he lost to the [Royal Masked Man] last time, which knocked him out of Master Level—but his power is absolutely not to be underestimated!”

Under the spotlight, the black-haired youth gave a calm nod, then fixed his gaze on the shadow shrouded in darkness across the arena.

That was Wing King, the powerful Trainer who had ridden a winning streak all the way to this point.

”Looks like we’re in for a grueling fight today, Houndoom,” the Wolf King said.

Houndoom also turned its eyes toward that dark silhouette. It bared its fangs and dipped its body into a fighting stance; the folds of flesh on its face bunched together, making it look ferocious beyond belief.

”Grr–woof!”

”But we’re not like those weaklings who go down in one hit. If he wants to move up, let’s see if he’s got what it takes.” The Wolf King muttered.

”Next up is our Water Musician, [Singer], and his partner, Primarina!” Roger’s voice rang out again.

The second spotlight fell, revealing a long-haired, slender man, elegant as Wallace himself, in full view of the crowd.

And in front of him stood a Pokemon with sea-blue long curly hair, tied into three sections by pearl hair bands, pink starfish hair ornaments over both temples.

The Pokemon’s form was incredibly beautiful: deep blue eyes, long thick white lashes, a slim, graceful white body, and broad powerful hands.

A pale-blue, wave-shaped shawl draped its shoulders, and below was a dark-blue tail; at first glance it looked like a mermaid from the heart of the ocean.

This was Primarina, evolved from the Alola Region Water Type Starter Pokemon Popplio.

[Singer] brushed his own blue long hair back behind his ear, his voice as delicate and clear as plucked strings.

”Primarina, let’s give everyone a splendid performance together!”

Primarina lifted its head high, a clear, ethereal Growl pouring from its throat straight into the listeners’ hearts.

”Ooooh~”

”And our last contender: the Ice Fighter, [Punch King], and his partner, Crabominable!”

The third spotlight snapped on, illuminating a burly man in a white karate gi.

In front of him stood a crab Pokemon covered in white fur.

Purple patches marked its chest, back, abdomen and forelimbs; its original pincers had fully transformed through evolution into fists, patterned with blue-and-purple, footprint-like markings.

”Crabominable, use those fists to KO them all!” Punch King lashed out with a swinging punch.

The Crabominable before him shook its two massive fists, settling into a Fighting stance.

”And now, our newly-risen star contestant—Wing King!”

The final spotlight came on, revealing a masked youth in everyone’s sight.

”Wing King!”

”Wing King!”

”Wing King!”

The crowd erupted in cheers at once.

Ever since the Royal Dome was founded, no Trainer had ever reached this stage on a complete winning streak without dropping a single match on the way!

A Trainer this powerful, with such a varied style—sometimes cool and sharp, sometimes quirky and unpredictable—is just too compelling. Anyone who’s watched a few of his battles can’t help but become a fan.