Seven days later.
"This ship... is quite impressive."
On an open area of Kanaz Pokémon Academy stood a massive airship, with the lower half having a ship's structure.
Above it was a large hot air balloon-like flying device, which also served as the ship's main cabin.
At the very top were wings representing flight, which could effectively help with changing direction and stable flight.
Friede smiled and scratched his nose, saying somewhat proudly:
"This was originally Old Man Randall's 'Olivine,' but through our joint efforts, it's been transformed into what it is now. We call it the 'Brave Olivine'!"
Johan nodded, gently running his hand along the ship's edge. This was almost identical to the Rising Volt Tacklers' vessel from "Pokémon Horizons" in his memory.
Not only could it fly, but as a ship it could also navigate on seas and lakes.
It was truly amphibious.
If there was any difference, it was probably just the Kanaz Pokémon Academy logo added to the hull.
In the Pokémon world, airships weren't uncommon.
Team Plasma's massive "Plasma Frigate" was the most exaggerated, Team Rocket also had many flying vehicles, and there were even aerial fortress-like craft confiscated from that famous "Pokémon collector."
Though not uncommon, the construction cost was definitely not cheap.
As a Pokémon Professor, Friede had put all his earnings from working at Exceed Corporation into this, but it still wasn't enough without Kanaz Pokémon Academy's stipend to complete the renovation.
It was renovation, not construction.
Being able to complete the renovation was thanks to Mr. Randall contributing the "Olivine."
"Have you test flown it?" Johan asked, feeling somewhat envious.
Compared to this airship, his own flying vehicles seemed rather modest.
Inside were facilities like a control room, medical bay, kitchen, observation deck, dormitories—everything was complete.
Even more so.
When the airship's "wings" fully extended, they could transform into a very sturdy battle field, and the deck had enough space for training and daily activities.
"Of course!" Friede was very satisfied with his "Brave Olivine."
This airship wasn't just fully functional with complete equipment—more importantly, its flight energy source was fire!
Besides the coal consumption needed for regular operations, during major energy demands like takeoff and acceleration, it could be completely supplemented by Fire-type Pokémon flames.
As a "Battle Pokémon Professor," besides his signature Captain Pikachu, Friede's most iconic Pokémon was actually a Charizard!
As a trainer born in Kanto, Charizard and Friede shared a deep bond and could be considered his current strongest combatant.
The daily coal and heat requirements could be satisfied by a Coalossal and a Larvesta.
"Teacher Johan, let me introduce my friends."
Just as several "Rising Volt Tacklers Class" members were preparing to board, Friede smiled and said.
"This is Mr. Randall, the owner of the Olivine, who was once an excellent actor."
Randall was an elderly man who looked somewhat like a Drampa, holding a fishing rod and giving off a very gentle feeling.
Don't be fooled by Randall's seemingly frail appearance now—he was famous for being robust in his youth.
Moreover, under those loose clothes... he actually still maintained a robust, even exaggerated physique, giving off a Master Roshi vibe.
His principle was to be quiet when appropriate, but absolutely not stand by when action was needed.
"Mr. Randall, Ginji, I know about him." Johan smiled.
Hearing this, Randall was stunned and somewhat surprised. "I didn't expect Teacher Johan to know about Ginji..."
Ginji was the protagonist's name from the "Battle with Sharpedo" movie series that Randall had starred in.
"I heard Teacher Johan also enjoys fishing? We should fish together sometime if there's a chance..." The old man seemed happy and actively extended an invitation.
Fishing?
Johan's eyes became serious. "We definitely need to have a proper match."
When it came to fishing, he was a professional!
"This is Orla, our 'Brave Olivine's' mechanic, responsible for regular maintenance. Actually, the 'Brave Olivine's' renovation was mainly completed by her."
Orla wore practical work clothes, had her brown hair tied up, and greeted Johan with a straightforward personality.
"The famous Teacher Johan, eh? Finally seeing you in person."
Johan: "..."
Honestly, Friede's "Rising Volt Tacklers Class" really had a One Piece feel to it, even having a mechanic.
"Hello, Miss Orla." Johan nodded. "Regarding forging and repairs, I think... perhaps one of my Pokémon could have many common topics with you."
"Really?" Orla's eyes immediately lit up.
In such a Pokémon world with highly advanced technology, everyone became trainers, so there weren't many people who liked mechanics. Having a Pokémon to exchange ideas with was already quite fortunate.
Johan smiled noncommittally, thinking: Just hope hammer sister doesn't dismantle the ship.
"Oh, Teacher Johan, don't let Friede fool you. This guy made me stay on the ship as a mechanic because he couldn't afford the airship renovation costs." Orla whispered a reminder.
Friede: "..."
"Ahem, this one, this is our chef, Mr. Murdoch. The food he makes is delicious!"
Friede immediately changed the subject, introducing a dark-skinned, robust man.
It was hard to imagine this man would be an enthusiastic and attentive chef.
Murdoch extended his hand to Johan, saying warmly: "Teacher Johan, if there's anything you'd like to eat, just tell me anytime. I don't know your taste preferences or if you have any dietary restrictions..."
He immediately began asking about Johan's food preferences.
Friede whispered: "Murdoch, Teacher Johan's cooking skills are also famous."
"Oh?!"
Murdoch became even more excited. "Is that so? Then we definitely need to have a good chat about cuisine sometime!"
"I know a little, just a little bit." Johan said modestly.
Now Mewtwo was doing all the cooking at home—Johan hadn't been in the kitchen for most of a week.
Although the café was blown up by Mewtwo and Mew, having Mewtwo take over cooking wasn't entirely a bad thing for Johan.
"And this one is our doctor, Miss Mollie."
Friede introduced the last person.
A girl wearing a fashionable pink vest, pencil skirt, black stockings, with pink shoulder-length hair, giving off a... spirited young woman vibe.
Compared to Randall, Murdoch, and Orla, Mollie's expression seemed much colder and calmer.
She had her hands in her pockets, nodded at Johan, and said flatly: "Teacher Johan, I know you. You appear often in our family group chat. Our family has many fans of yours, or rather supporters."
Actually, Mollie's full name should be Joy Mollie.
That's right, she was a member of the Joy family, and her mother was a Nurse Joy.
Because of Johan's reputation among the Joy clan, Mollie often saw photos of Nurse Joys from around the world with Teacher Johan in the family group chat.
Hearing this, Johan adjusted his glasses somewhat awkwardly. "Ahem, Miss Mollie, hello."
Although Mollie had a cold personality and was somewhat... antisocial compared to other Joys, in such a large Joy family, there would always be some Joys with different personalities.
There was even that Investigator Joy who owned a Latias.
Mollie said flatly: "Actually, I'm also your fan."
"Ah, really?"
She really didn't seem like it at all—she showed no reaction of a fan meeting their idol, just like meeting a stranger.
But Mollie nodded seriously. "Not because of Teacher Johan's tactics with Blissey, but because of your attitude toward Pokémon, toward wild Pokémon that need help. This is something I need to learn."
Regarding Pokémon, Mollie's attitude was actually the same as most Nurse Joys, even more serious than most.
Johan's behavior in helping Pokémon in need made Mollie very approving of him.
"I see..."
After introducing the crew members, Friede said:
"Since everyone's here, if Teacher Johan is ready, we can depart anytime!"
For safety considerations and to let the academy better understand this "Rising Volt Tacklers Class," Johan would board the ship as a teacher representative for a not-so-short voyage.
Based on this, they would evaluate the feasibility and safety of the "Rising Volt Tacklers Class."
"Wait a moment. There are still a few people coming—they should arrive soon."
In the distance, several figures were running over.
"Teacher Johan!!"
Soon.
They reached the airship.
They were Johan's students Roxanne, Flannery, Penny, and the excited Flint.
"Are we finally going to Galar?"
Flint was nearly dying of anxiety. In just one week, his ranking had already dropped from 101st to 146th place.
As someone wanting to challenge "Master Ball Tier," this ranking made him increasingly anxious.
Finally leaving!
Johan also gave them a simple introduction.
Roxanne was serious, earnest, and rigorous—very suitable as the actual examiner for this "inspection," collecting and recording information about the "Rising Volt Tacklers Class" and "Brave Olivine."
Penny was going to Galar, to her homeland, so someone needed to show the way.
Moreover, Penny's computer skills could ensure the accuracy of Roxanne's data collection.
As for Sonia...
After summer vacation ended, she hadn't reported to school yet, saying her grandmother Professor Magnolia had given her some difficult task that would keep her busy for a while longer.
And Flannery and Flint...
Cough, these two were completely the "stress test" personnel for this "inspection team."
Only by putting enough pressure on the "Brave Olivine" could they examine its upper and lower limits.
Thus.
All personnel were finally assembled.
Everyone boarded the "Brave Olivine."
"Destination: Galar region!"
Captain Friede announced the direction.
"Pika!"
The partner Pikachu wearing a captain's hat gripped its hat tightly and declared—
Takeoff!!
The distance between Galar and Hoenn regions wasn't short.
Moreover, Friede's "Brave Olivine" wouldn't fly at full throttle, which was naturally good news for Flint, but somewhat rushed for the inspection team that needed to conduct their "examination."
However, the inspection team had work to do, while Flint and Flannery...
Well.
After the airship took off and flew into Hoenn's waters, the two got over their initial excitement and ran to the battle field formed by the ship's tail wing to battle.
Honestly.
Such a high-altitude battle field was indeed somewhat intimidating.
Looking down, there was a tremendous drop. People with acrophobia would definitely have their combat effectiveness reduced by 30% on such a battle field.
This reminded Johan of the scene in the manga where Boss Giovanni had his final battle on an airplane.
However, Flint and Flannery, these two single-minded individuals, had no such concerns.
As two trainers specializing in Fire-type Pokémon, their battle was truly... all flames and black smoke. People who didn't know might think meteors were falling from the sky.
As for their strength levels...
There was still some gap between Flannery and Flint.
Although Flannery's strength had improved tremendously since Johan first met her, she had now become a qualified Gym Leader and taken over as Lavaridge Gym Leader.
She also had guidance from her grandfather, the former Elite Four member.
But Flannery only had a decent ranking among Hoenn League's Gym Leaders. Having a gap with Elite Four member Flint was inevitable.
In this "Pokémon World Championships," Flannery was rated as "Ultra Ball Tier" with her Lavaridge Town Gym Leader position, ranking in the 500s.
Because like Johan, she didn't have many competition points.
However...
Having a strength gap was one thing, but their battle was still very passionate and seemed evenly matched.
This fully proved.
Flint was also typically someone who was strong against strong opponents and weak against weak ones.
"Torkoal, Overheat!"
"Rapidash, Flamethrower!"
Boom!!
Scorching flames erupted on the battle field.
Fortunately, this battle field on the airship wasn't completely without protection—invisible barriers completely blocked the two streams of fire within the barriers.
"Such passion..." Friede said with twitching lips.
Penny sat to the side collecting data, while Roxanne held a notebook, seriously writing notes.
Mechanic Orla was currently constantly checking and maintaining.
Truly battling above while maintaining below.
"What talent..." Johan looked at Orla's nimble, busy figure and couldn't help muttering.
Being able to renovate a ship into such an airship with energy, power, infrastructure, and entertainment facilities all complete.
No wonder Friede wanted to "bind" such talent to the ship through debt.
"Orla, I think..." Johan suddenly spoke: "How about collecting the energy aftermath from battles on this field and converting it into the airship's power?"
"Eh?"
Busy Orla wiped her forehead and turned to look at Johan in surprise.
"Good idea!"
Then she stroked her chin thoughtfully, muttering to herself: "But this doesn't seem like an easy task..."
Johan smiled and threw out a Poké Ball.
"Cha?"
Tinkaton appeared on the deck.
"This child might be able to help you."
"Cha?"
Tinkaton looked at the airship and immediately had glowing eyes, as if seeing another fun "toy."
"And this guy too."
Johan also brought out Rotom.
"Rotom!"
"Great!" Orla became interested, slapping her fist into her palm. "Let's get to work!"
"Draaa—"
Outside the airship.
Dragonite flew by happily.
If anyone was happiest about taking the airship to Galar, it was definitely Dragonite.
Flying freely in the sky to its heart's content.
But...
Letting Dragonite fly freely had one problem...
Suddenly, ship doctor Mollie's voice came over the broadcast.
"Large storm clouds ahead. Warning, large storm clouds ahead!"
Johan: "..."
This was one of the main reasons Johan usually didn't like riding Dragonite for travel except in emergencies.
Not just because of the speed.
But because...
He never knew what he'd encounter when traveling on Dragonite.
Although he wanted to give Friede's "Brave Olivine" a bit of stress testing, this kind of "stress test" seemed a bit much.
Friede pulled down his goggles and shouted into the intercom: "Prepare yourselves—we're going through!"
"Are you crazy?"
Orla nearby exclaimed.
Friede grinned: "Only this way can we show Teacher Johan the safety of our 'Brave Olivine'! I believe in you, Orla!"
Although being trusted was something to be happy about...
"It's not you who has to work hard..."
Orla complained irritably, then immediately led Tinkaton and Friede's Charizard toward the airship's engine room.
Rumble!!
Dark clouds gathered, and a bright lightning bolt struck down, illuminating the sky golden.
Seeing this scene, Flint and Flannery, who were battling, simultaneously cried out:
"No way—"
This journey began with such exclamations.
Three days later.
"From the current situation..."
"The 'stress test' held up."
Roxanne and Penny simultaneously made their respective judgments.
"We made it to Galar alive..."
"I'm still alive..."
Flint and Flannery sat back-to-back, collapsed on the deck.
Heaven knows what they'd experienced in these short three days.
They thought the initial storm clouds would be the biggest trouble, but who knew...
They also encountered migrating flocks of Fearow, whose sharp beaks nearly turned the "Brave Olivine" into a sieve.
They also encountered blizzards, tornadoes, heavy rain, and more.
Most exaggerated of all...
They actually encountered a meteor shower!
Not the kind of meteor shower you watch from afar, but the kind where fireballs directly crashed down from overhead!
More accurately, it was a meteorite shower!
Heavens.
Flint had rarely seen meteor showers in his lifetime, but this time he encountered a meteorite shower?
Teacher Johan said to have him and Flannery do some stress testing for the "Brave Olivine."
Wasn't this stress testing them instead?
"In Galar region, encountering meteorite showers is quite normal." Johan smacked his lips.
In Galar, meteorite showers were normal, right?
Too bad they didn't find any "Wishing Stars."
"Um... Teacher Johan, we've also reached Galar. How about recalling Dragonite?" Friede said with some lingering fear.
Even he felt somewhat overwhelmed after encountering so many consecutive events.
"You're right."
Johan nodded.
Otherwise, they might encounter a beam of Galar particles flying toward the "Brave Olivine" next.
Hearing this, everyone including Friede visibly relaxed.
"Galar region... where should we go first?" Friede asked.
Johan looked at his phone.
"Let's go to... Spikemuth first."
Somehow Peony had ended up in Spikemuth. They'd meet up with him first, then bring in Leon.
With the combined power of three Champions and one Elite Four, carrying sword and shield, bringing Calyrex—no need for much reasoning, they'd charge straight to Wyndon's energy plant.
Now that Johan was Champion, his own strength wouldn't falter when facing first-class legendaries.
Having worked hard to achieve such strength, if he remained timid, wouldn't that effort be wasted?
With sword and shield in hand, summoning Zacian and Zamazenta, calling Calyrex, with the strength of himself, Peony, Leon, and Flint—couldn't they overwhelm one Eternatus?
Johan—only fights crushing victories!
"Understood!"
From summer to autumn, the weather gradually became cooler.
In the blue sky above, several Corviknight soared past with "caw caw" calls, seemingly bringing autumn's desolation.
Whoosh—
A stone suddenly flew through the air, nearly hitting a Corviknight, scaring the birds into frantically flapping their wings to fly away.
"Cha..."
Tinkaton tilted its head.
Eh?
Missed?
Had it been too long since practice, getting rusty?
"Oowoo~"
Ninetales had its tail wrapped around Johan's arm, nodding slightly at him.
"Galar region! This lord has finally arrived!"
Looking at the dilapidated, graffiti-covered Spikemuth, Flint showed no awareness as he stood at the town entrance laughing loudly, provoking several leather-clad, tattooed or spike-wearing thugs to roll up their sleeves and angrily approach.
Seeing this, Flint wasn't intimidated. "Hey! Teacher Johan, I'm going to do ranked battles!"
Flint waved at Johan.
He didn't even check his phone's "matching system" notification that his opponent was only "Poké Ball Tier," not even "Ultra Ball Tier."
For current Flint, even the smallest mosquito was still meat!
Rotom Phone also suddenly floated out.
"Battle invitation received, Rotom!"
Battle invitation?
Johan, who had just landed, was stunned.
He was "Master Ball Tier"—anyone who could send him a battle invitation had to be at least "Ultra Ball Tier" and within the top 100. Even current Flint couldn't challenge him.
Johan initially wanted to refuse directly.
With his current ranking, even if he was at the bottom of "Master Ball Tier," he could directly ignore ranked battles. At worst, he'd just fight a few matches during "Master Replacement Battles."
But after thinking about it, he asked:
"What's the opponent's rank?"
"Ultra Ball Tier, 22nd place! Rotom!"
22nd place?
It couldn't be Peony, could it?
"Who is the opponent?"
"Username: Isle of Armor Master, Mustard!"
Johan: "?"
Although Spikemuth was the Galar region town closest to the Isle of Armor, did the matching system have such a wide range?
It could even match across the sea?
"Decline!" Johan decisively chose to refuse.
No way.
Master Mustard definitely treated this ranked battle like a game to "climb ranks" and would definitely get serious—too troublesome.
Even if he really wanted to fight, he'd find someone outside the top 100 to bully a bit.
"How about this one? This 'Ultra Ball Tier' 189th place dares challenge 'Master Ball Tier'? While waiting for Mr. Peony, farming some points wouldn't be bad..."
----------
Powerstones?
For 20 advance chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates