Chapter 746: All Eyes on the Prize, Champion Battle
The air was crisp and the sky clear.
The final was about to begin.
Brilliant fireworks blossod above the main venue on Victory Road!
Vendor stalls were booming, and a flood of tourists poured into Victory Road, clutching goods and snacks, chatting and laughing:
“Today’s the big showdown between Teacher Lu and Champion Shangren, a battle of equals.”
“It’s about ti, Teacher Lu finally isn’t playing in the Baby Cup!”
“Maybe for him… it’s not that different from the Baby Cup?”
“There are new plushies, don’t miss out~~”
Team Rocket shouted from behind a stall.
“If you’re lucky, the blind box might give you an Eevee plush or a Haunter plush!”
“H-hello.” Manchong squeezed into the crowd, nervous, “I-I want to try for a plush!”
“Of course, ow~” owth stood on the shelf, slinging an arm around Manchong’s shoulder, eyes narrowed, “But who are you cheering for, ow?”
“Teacher Lu!” Manchong replied.
Bang!
Under curious stares from passersby,
the trio fired a party popper and cheered, “Correct answer!”
Master Dojo walked through the crowd with his disciples, hands behind his back, smiling, looking every inch the old man who “doesn’t understand Pokémon battles.”
A green-haired youth wearing a baseball cap brushed past Master Ma.
Master Ma casually glanced back at the youth’s retreating figure.
“What is it, Master?” Mustard asked.
“Nothing.”
Master Ma shook his head, hands behind his back, amused: “A few very interesting young people showed up.”
“Brother, look, so many Pokémon I’ve never seen, and balloons and ice-cream carts!” Bonnie’s eyes sparkled as she looked around at the Pokémon accompanying trainers, then glanced at Clemont. ????????????s
“Can I go play with Dedenne? I’ll be right back!”
“Be safe.” Clemont replied helplessly.
“Yay~!” Bonnie hoisted Dedenne high.
“Ash—”
Ash turned back.
Serena’s cheeks showed a faint blush as she lifted an arm, offering a Pikachu balloon tied to her wrist.
“For you.”
“Ahaha, it’s Pikachu!” Ash laughed, reaching to take Serena’s wrist, “So cute, I’ll take it!”
“Serena, I want one too~” Bonnie said.
“All right, I know~” Serena bent slightly, smiling with squinted eyes.
Alice, with purple hair, hid Axew in her hair and stood by the park’s fountain, looking around.
“Strange… I just saw a very familiar Garchomp…”
Suddenly, Alice’s eyes widened in surprise, she stepped back a half-step: “Chu-Chu Lan? Σ(??Д??;
)”
A long line snaked from the ice-cream cart in front of the park all the way to the distant main venue.
A graceful figure with waterfall-like golden hair, dressed in noble black with black-and-gold hair ornants, stood there.
Alice moved closer and saw Cynthia resting her chin on her hand, her elegant profile deep in thought.
“Sir… it’s been half an hour, have you decided?” the shop owner asked, sweating nervously.
“Hmm… I have decided.”
Cynthia tapped her palms together, smiling as she extended two fingers.
“Please, I’ll have two triple-scoop ice creams!”
A commotion rippled through the crowd behind them.
“Ooooo, she made a choice!”
“As expected of Cynthia!!”
“Supre!!”
Alice spread her hands and sighed like a little adult:
“No choice… that really is Champion Cynthia’s personality.”
At that mont, Alice felt a poke, turned oddly, but there was nobody there.
“Gengarrr~” Haunter appeared behind Alice, muffling a chuckle with its hands, its crimson eyes narrowed.
“Wah!” Alice spun, flailing and rolling her eyes.
“Gengarrr~!!! ∑(??Д??ノ)ノ” Haunter shrank back.
“Hahaha, Haunter, I knew it was you~~” Alice laughed, clutching her stomach.
“Gengarrr… (￣▽￣)~*” Haunter pouted.
Boring. I’ll go find soone else to play with~
“You’ve got a match today, Haunter.” Alice scratched her head. “Where’s Teacher Lu?”
“Gengarrr!” Haunter grinned toothily and pointed toward the end of the path.
At the road’s end, Lu Ye walked in a shirt, holding a triple-scoop ice cream, chatting side by side with Cynthia.
Tourists didn’t crowd them, rely taking photos from afar, looking like starry-eyed fans.
“Oh—so you two are fighting, but sneaking out to play!” Alice said.
“Gengarrr~” Haunter turned its back, wiggling its little tail spike toward Alice, then shot off toward Lu Ye.
“Wait for !” Alice shouted and ran after it.
“Relax this afternoon before the match.” Lu Ye told Cynthia.
“You always look relaxed.” Cynthia said.
“Is that so.” Lu Ye scratched his cheek, “Well… it’s a small stage for .”
The purple-haired girl chasing Haunter caught up, causing Lu Ye to pause a mont before he regained his composure.
“Alice?”
“Teacher Lu, Cynthia!” Alice greeted energetically, “And loetta~ good to see everyone!”
“lo~” loetta floated on Cynthia’s shoulder and happily bobbed her head.
“You even know the idiom ‘good to see you.’” Lu Ye smiled.
“Heh heh, Grandpa Drayden taught … Besides, I’m a genius!” Alice placed her hands on her hips proudly.
Her cultural foundation is already better than A-Jin’s… Lu Ye thought.
In the vendor area, A-Jin tried a ring toss, nonchalantly landing the jackpot, then wiped his nose with flair as the shop owner looked ready to kill him.
“Ha, I practically grew up playing this ga!”
“A-Jin, let’s go…” Kris nervously clutched the stuffed dolls she’d won.
She glanced up at the shop owner.
A look that could stab a person—yeah, you can’t hide that!
In a quiet corner of the park, Silver called his father.
“Yes, today’s Teacher Lu’s final.”
“Pass on your ssage? Can’t you tell him yourself…”
Click.
The call ended.
Silver looked helpless.
A special call just to pass along a cheer to Lu Ye?
Silver swiped his phone and opened his following list, unsurprised to find that Cat Boss’s video had updated.
Cat Boss was forcing cuteness, and a string of supportive posts followed under the video:
[#DonghuaRoad#Vote for your favorite Pokémon#I’m rooting for Haunter~]
Silver grimaced and shut the video off quickly.
Every ti he saw that account, sothing inside felt like it went click and broke…
Ami walked toward the main venue with her Machamp.
Roll—roll—
Wheels of skates sounded behind them;
Ami turned to see a blonde girl raise an arm and shout fiercely:
“Found you, Ami—battle
now!!”
Ami’s calm face flickered with a hint of puzzlent.
Who is this person?
But it would be good practice before the match… cheering is a physical job after all…
Ten minutes later.
Ami walked away.
Korrina kneeled, tears in her eyes: “Damn… damn it! Lucario and I won’t lose again!”
Above the sky, Zekrom’s engines stitched together lightning as it surveyed the land.
Its gaze passed over layers of cloud and landed on N walking alone.
N’s handso appearance drew many glances;
he sotis returned a friendly smile that left the ladies blushing, though that smile was really for the Pokémon.
He could hear the hearts of Pokémon. Even if captured and living with humans, they could still be happy.
As for Poké Balls—N knew banning them was unrealistic, but at least trainers could let Pokémon travel with them and enjoy equality and freedom.
N liked Ash’s Pikachu and Teacher Lu’s Haunter… their inner voices were vivid and beautiful.
The main venue lood before them, the sacred fla in the silver brazier burning high.
N stopped and looked up.
This is it…
Donghua Road, the stage for the final!
Bang, bang, bang!
Fireworks lit the sky, coloring the atmosphere with fervor.
A whale-shaped airship drifted across the sky, replaying footage of Lu Ye and Champion Shangren on its screen.
Several helicopters circled above. A female host stood at an open door and announced:
“Donghua Road, the champion contest is about to begin. We can see the audience entering!”
“Go Teacher Lu!!”
“Shangren, invincible, cheers!!”
The open-air circular stadium roared with voices and cheers.
This massive venue, holding tens of thousands, was packed to capacity, setting a new attendance record!
And it wasn’t just because
of Teacher Lu’s championship feats that had conquered trainers from Unova, Hoenn, Sinnoh and other regions.
It was also because
he had made breakthroughs in battles, gaming, coordination, and catering—pioneering achievents across fields!
His cunning tactics, unique charisma, and adorable Pokémon drew countless attention.
All the spectators were about to witness a trainer restarting his journey and stepping atop Victory Road’s highest stage!
“Go Teacher Lu!!”
“There he is, bringing his baby squad to the Baby Cup!”
“Champion Shangren might beco the outgoing champion! (sad)”
Pre-match official support polls showed a 65 to 35 split in popularity, with Lu Ye the majority.
But such popularity numbers smacked suspiciously of reverse-jinxing, and Teacher Lu wasn’t taking it lightly.
Therefore, moves like Precipice Blades, Geomancy, and Dark Void—those borderline-illegal techniques—were already prepared!
Victory Road forbids certain legendary beasts, but not specific moves, nor disallows commands like “Revival Shout” or “Show so backbone,” even if they’re against the rules!
“Welco everyone, to the final stage of Victory Road!”
The comntator’s passionate voice echoed through the arena.
“Next, allow
to introduce the mbers of this final’s organizing committee!”
President Tang, League President Mr. Goodshow, the head referee and two assistant referees.
As the head referee stepped onto the field,
cheers from the stands grew louder, supporters on both sides waving banners.
Lu Ye’s father, Lu Yong, looked around proudly: “No wonder he’s my son!”
His mother, Liang Fang, rolled her eyes but clenched her hands, silently cheering for her child.
Mo University’s old principal Du Yuanshan sat with Director Song and venue owner Tang Hui.
In just a year, tis had changed.
The boy who once dominated the Piplup Cup’s lower ranks now stood on Victory Road’s grandest stage.
“Young people are sothing else!” Director Song exclaid.
Principal Du smiled hoarsely;
Lu Ye had been his student, and pride welled up inside him.
Cynthia, Alice, Ash and the rest sat together.
“Teacher Lu’s new team reached this level in just a year?” Alice was utterly amazed.
Cynthia smiled faintly: “You could try too, Alice.”
Alice nodded vigorously, eyes bright with hope: “Yes!”
“In a month and a half it’s the Lumiose Conference, right, Ash?” Cynthia asked.
“Yeah, after this match I’ll head back to prepare!” Ash replied.
A month and a half… that’s right around Christmas… Serena thought.
“Froakie~” Froakie squinted and half-crouched beside Ash.
Cynthia rested her chin on her hand, gray eyes watching the Froakie for a long mont, then smiled: “Good luck, Ash. I look forward to the day you challenge
and Lu Ye at the Champion League.”
“I will!” Ash grinned.
“Look—” Bonnie pointed from the railing with Dedenne on her head, “that uncle is making his entrance!”
“Next up, please welco the blue corner, Champion Shangren!”
Spotlights fell on the players’ tunnel beside the grassy field, where a burly man strode out.
On the big screen, Shangren’s bronzed face was stern, brows bristling, commanding respect without anger.
Last year on Victory Road, his near-death climb atop Dragon Ridge, fighting side by side with Pupitar, had moved countless viewers.
No flashy talent, but his solid fundantals were all the more intimidating!
“Now, please welco the red corner, Lu Ye!”
Click!
Spotlights dropped.
From the player tunnel by the grass walked a tall, black-haired young man in a shirt.
The mont he stepped onto the field, the roar was deafening!
N sat in the stands, hands on his knees, the brim of his cap shading a flash in his eyes: “Teacher…”
Ami straightened her back. Korrina sat beside her, pumping her fists: “Go Teacher Lu!!”
Manchong flushed and finally shed his shyness, joining the crowd’s shout.
The cara focused on Lu Ye.
Lu Ye raised his gaze.
The big screen reflected the remarkably handso black-haired youth, elegant and natural with a warm smile.
Forums across the web burst into posts at this mont.
“Damn, I admit he’s on my level!”
“#NurseJoy secretly watching the match# Not only that, Officer Jenny is watching too!”
“Yanzu, you opened the comnts again.”
“Tearful! Ten-year fan finally sees Teacher Lu at Donghua’s champion match!”
The venue erupted.
It was unimaginable that one trainer could rally attention from several league regions.
But given Lu Ye’s deeds in those regions—not surprising!
At the command table, Lu Ye stood still, one hand in his pocket, black hair and shirt flap swaying.
Haunter floated by, covering its mouth and giggling, as the Rotom Pokédex opened the livestream feed.
Champion Shangren’s face was severe as he nodded gently toward Lu Ye.
Lu Ye returned a small smile.
The head referee inspected both sides and raised the flags high.
At that mont, everyone seed to hold their breath.
In an instant, the flags dropped!
“Battle start!!”
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