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Three days later, Manalo Stadium.
The long-awaited finals finally arrived. Selene and Gladion stood on opposite sides of the stadium.
The atmosphere in the entire stadium was extremely heated, mostly with local Alola people.
After all, this was the first regional Tournament in the Alola region, and its popularity in Alola was unprecedented.
On the high platform, Lusamine was personally present, and the Elite Four, including Hala, were all there.
The referee entered, announced the battle rules, and then exited.
"Lillie's brother, I'm quite looking forward to this battle. I hope you don't disappoint me."
Selene slowly grinned, her Poké Ball enlarging in her hand as she provoked Gladion.
"You too. Even if you are close to Mammon, I will not hold back."
Gladion said calmly, his expression still as cool and indifferent.
"Ha~ That's for the best then."
Selene's smile widened. She glanced at the big screen, and the random first-hand/second-hand had been decided; she was first.
"Alright~ Then let's enjoy this pleasant battle!"
"Incineroar!"
Following Selene's loud call, the Poké Ball was thrown high, and a white light landed in front of Selene.
With a low growl, Incineroar slowly straightened up, its ferocious and intimidating gaze striking fear.
Her first Pokémon was still the unchanging Incineroar.
"As expected, Incineroar. Lucario!"
Gladion was not surprised at all and decisively threw out his first Pokémon.
The handsome and stern Lucario landed in front of Gladion.
Selene's first Pokémon was well-known; it had always been Incineroar, never changed, never.
And Lucario with the Steadfast Ability is immune to Intimidate!
"It seems they've specifically studied her. Using Lucario to minimize the effect of Incineroar's attack reduction."
Mammon chuckled at this. A Pokémon with the Steadfast Ability is immune to Intimidate. This way, it can at least ensure that Selene's combo cannot be used to its full effect.
Otherwise, first taking Intimidate, then Fake Out + Swagger, such weakening would be too severe.
"But tactical offense and defense alone aren't enough; we'll have to see the battle that follows."
Indeed, while using Lucario with the Steadfast Ability to counter Incineroar is correct, it doesn't account for the fact that Lucario and Incineroar are mutually countered.
Anyone who has seen Selene battle knows that while Incineroar is her first Pokémon, Selene always uses Incineroar at the beginning to weaken her opponent.
"Is it alright for Uncle to come here to watch the battle?"
Caitlin nodded, then looked at Giovanni, who was wearing a top hat.
That's right, Giovanni specifically came to Alola to watch the battle, as he had promised Selene.
Lillie sat beside Mammon, prim and proper, feeling quite nervous because this was Mammon's father.
This was like meeting the parents!
"Taking a day off is fine, and after the Indigo Plateau Conference, the Kanto League doesn't have many affairs to handle currently."
Giovanni replied with a faint smile, adjusting the brim of his top hat.
"Besides, with Hoopa, it's very convenient for me to travel back and forth."
Indeed, Mammon had specifically had Hoopa use its Hyperspace Hole to bring Giovanni over; otherwise, flying would have been a bit troublesome.
Giovanni had also made some simple disguises, so not many people in Alola recognized him.
Moreover, even if he were discovered, it wouldn't matter. Selene was once his Gym apprentice, and the League would have nothing to say about that reason.
"That's good then."
Caitlin nodded. Hoopa's Hyperspace Hole was truly excellent in its functionality; the distance in space seemed to have no meaning whatsoever.
The battle on the field continued.
"Selene~ What a monster. Her strength is probably not inferior to Steven and the others now, is it?"
Watching Selene's Tapu Koko defeat Gladion's Zoroark, Giovanni couldn't help but chuckle.
Having served as reinforcements twice this year, Giovanni had a very good relationship with Steven and the others, so he understood their strength.
"She's almost as good as you were last year, Mammon."
"How does she compare to the Trainers from Kanto, Uncle?"
Lillie mustered her courage and curiously spoke to Giovanni. A 'plain' daughter-in-law still had to meet her in-laws, and besides, she wasn't plain.
"There are too many talented newcomers in Kanto this year, but Red and the others... should still not be as good as Selene."
Giovanni glanced at Lillie, his eyes still relatively gentle and friendly, and replied after a moment of contemplation.
Kanto's 'monsters' this year were truly more numerous than he had imagined.
And Giovanni hadn't expected Silver to not even make it to the finals...
If it weren't for good luck in being matched with a random person in the quarterfinals, whether he could have made it to the semifinals was still unknown.
However, in Giovanni's opinion, Red and the others were still not as good as Selene.
After all, Selene was not only exceptionally gifted but also had Mammon's resource support. Her team's strength was very high, not to mention she was trained by Kukui and other local Alola people.
Giovanni and the others chatted while watching the match, and the battle result was as expected.
Although Gladion had given his all, he ultimately could not overcome Selene, the 'Alola Demon King'.
The final score was 2:6. Even fighting with all his might, Gladion only managed to defeat two of Selene's main Pokémon.
Selene successfully won the Manalo Conference Championship.
The entire stadium was cheering Selene's name. Afterwards, Selene had no intention of resting and continued with the Elite Four Challenge.
Under the excited and fanatical gazes of the audience.
Hala, Olivia, Acerola, Kahili—the Alola Elite Four were defeated one by one by Selene.
Selene became the most dazzling star in the Alola region!
"Everyone, cheer your hearts out! Our first Elite Four Champion of Alola has been born!"
On the high platform, Lusamine raised Selene's arm, her high-pitched yet magnetic voice echoing through the microphone across the entire Manalo Stadium.
Yes, this day was destined to be recorded in the annals of Alola.
"Wo~! !"
"Selene! Selene! Selene! !"
Everyone in the stadium was shouting that name, the sound waves soaring into the sky.
Feeling the excited and adoring emotions and shouts of the audience, Selene clearly felt her blood boiling at this moment.
She liked this! She enjoyed this very much!
Indeed, wasn't the purpose of becoming a Champion for this very moment?
Shining brightly, standing at the pinnacle of Alola!
She had achieved the goal she set out for when she began her journey. Now, she was the strongest person in this land of Alola.
Champion Selene!
However, her life was not over yet.
Alola had already remembered her name, and next, she would make her name resound throughout the world!
This day in Alola was destined for revelry.
All four islands, each one, were like this. The birth of a Champion was, after all, extremely significant for the Alola region.
Time passed until evening, at Lusamine's residence in Aether Paradise.
"Congratulations on becoming the Alola Champion, Selene."
Giovanni was clearly in a good mood as well, raising his glass to congratulate Selene.
"Hehe~ I also have to thank Uncle for his guidance back then."
Selene beamed, holding up a glass filled with juice with both hands and clinking it with Giovanni's.
"So my success today also has a share of Uncle's contribution."
"Haha~ It's been a year, and you've become even more articulate, you little girl."
Giovanni smiled faintly.
Amidst the clinking of glasses, the atmosphere of the dinner party was very good.
"By the way, Mammon, was the World Championship project proposed by you?"
"That's right, it seems Chairman Rose has already applied?"
"Yes, Chairman Rose submitted a complete project proposal a few days ago. I happened to be discussing some matters with Charles Goodshow at the time, so I learned about it."
Giovanni took a sip of tea.
"What are Charles Goodshow's thoughts?"
"Naturally, he agreed." Giovanni smiled faintly: "The World Championship project is an inevitable outcome. Even if you didn't propose it, Mammon, it would appear sooner or later."
Regional Tournaments are gradually no longer satisfying most people, so a World Championship is bound to emerge.
Giovanni speculated that even without Mammon's intervention, someone would surely propose this idea within two years.
"Is the World Championship going to start? Then I can battle Champions from other regions!"
Selene's eyes lit up. Mammon had mentioned the World Championship to her before.
"Charles Goodshow is already preparing to notify the League Chairmen of various regions to discuss this matter together. Chairman Lusamine should receive the news within the next few days."
"However, because the scale of this event is too large, even with full cooperation from all regions, it will take at least one or two months to get it started."
Giovanni continued.
"Compared to the World Championship, Mammon, for you, the most urgent matter is something else."
Giovanni's lips curled slightly as he looked at Mammon.
"The end of the year is approaching, and the League is getting a bit restless. What are your thoughts?"
Indeed, with the Indigo Plateau Conference, this year's most important event, concluded, the Kanto League would naturally have to deal with Team Rockets next.
"My thoughts? I've been waiting for this moment for a long time."
Mammon's fingers gently tapped the table, his smile gradually becoming sinister.
"When I return to Kanto, I'll give the League a reason to act. Dad, you just wait at the League to 'fight' Team Rockets."
"Hehehe..."
Giovanni chuckled and shook his head. Yes, as the Kanto Champion, he would naturally have to fight Team Rockets in his capacity as Kanto Champion.
But how should he put it?
The five words 'fight' Team Rockets' appearing in relation to him still made Giovanni feel a bit strange.
"The League is going to conquer Team Rockets??" Lillie, who was unaware of the inside story, was stunned and very surprised.
"It's not an all-out war; it's an opportunity to determine the relationship between Team Rockets and the League."
Gladion briefly explained to Lillie, but Lillie was clearly even more confused.
Lusamine elegantly sipped her tea. This matter had nothing to do with her, and she had no intention of participating in this battle.
"Tsk~ I just became the Alola Champion, you know? Speaking of which, what should I do about my identity then?"
Selene, however, frowned her small face, a bit troubled. She had just become the Alola Champion, but she was also a Top Executive of Team Rockets.
So, which identity should she use to participate in this battle?
Should she stand with Team Rockets as a Team Rockets Top Executive and fight the League Trainers, or should she help Team Rockets fight the League Trainers as the Alola Champion?
This was truly a difficult problem.
"It doesn't matter. Anyway, Kukui and the others know you're with Team Rockets."
Mammon replied with a laugh.
"In short, let's first send out a notice to everyone. Let's have a full assembly in Saffron City, Kanto."
That night, Team Rockets' Senior Executives and Top Executives all over the world received a system message from Team Rockets.
"Legendary Large-Scale Mission Instance: Saffron City"