Chapter 130: The Royal Mask and Incineroar! (First Update!)
(In commemoration of the author, Samsung Charmander (Author Name), writing too many compositions about Qu Yuan in elementary school, I'll do an update burst. Three chapters today.)
Ash and his group entered the town.
The town wasn't very large, nor did it have any big shopping streets. It was clearly just a small town situated near Celadon City.
But it did have the requisite Pokémon Center. The group temporarily entrusted their Pokémon to Nurse Joy and began to recover.
The P1 Grand Prix was scheduled to start at 8 AM tomorrow, and Ash had already decided to participate.
Although he did have the idea of targeting Shandou, he also harbored the wild ambition of taking the champion title and soaring all the way to the world's Grand Finals.
As for who exactly to send out, he was still hesitating.
This was a fighting competition, but it wasn't limited to only fighting-type Pokémon. It just restricted the use of flashy, special moves.
Of course, some colorful moves were still permitted.
For example, the three elemental punches.
So in his team lineup, Primeape, Charmeleon, and even his Fire Gengar could all participate; they wouldn't hesitate to start throwing punches.
"Teacher Brock, speaking of which, are you going to participate?"
Ash turned his head and asked doubtfully.
The Pokémon he had that could throw punches were Geodude and Lickitung, both of whom were capable of fighting.
Brock immediately shook his head.
One is a rock-type, the other is a normal-type, and he's going to happily participate in a fighting competition?
As expected of you.
He knew the type-effectiveness chart like the back of his hand.
He was going to watch the show while drinking tea.
That was the role he'd set for himself tomorrow.
While the Pokémon were resting and recovering their stamina, the three of them sat in the public lobby like old men, drinking tea and chatting.
This Pokémon Center had many promotional posters for tomorrow's P1 Grand Prix, and even the public television was showing related content.
"Next up, please enjoy these exciting highlights from the Grand Finals of the 5th P1 World Grand Prix."
The television changed programs, immediately capturing everyone's attention. Even many passersby who were just loafing around in the Pokémon Center gathered closer.
"The 5th, so that was last year's competition," Brock explained to the other two.
Hearing this, the two immediately pulled out a few boxes of popcorn and started watching intently.
Even Red in Ash's soul became interested. In his soul space, he conjured a grandmaster's chair, held a tub of popcorn, and half-lay on it to watch the show.
The scene flashed, switching to a live battle. The specific location couldn't be determined, only that it was a massive arena, with a frenzied atmosphere. A dense crowd of spectators could be seen, waving large fists and light sticks, cheering for something.
"Next up, please welcome the biggest favorite for the champion title, who defeated an Elite Four member of the Kanto League in the semifinals to advance to the Grand Finals, Master Ma! I should add, he was also the Grand Champion of the last P1 World Grand Prix!"
As the host finished the introduction, the entire arena erupted, the cheers almost blowing out the television's speakers.
Just as Ash was wide-eyed with anticipation, wondering what kind of legendary figure this was, an old man walked out onto the screen, surrounded by a crowd. He was stooped, with both hands tucked into a warm jacket, looking like a health-conscious elder.
He looked frail, the type of martial arts grandmaster who was all talk.
"That's it?"
Ash was a little disdainful.
But when he saw a burly, bare-chested man standing behind the old man with his eyes closed in meditation, next to a four-armed humanoid Pokémon with a large gold-plated belt around its waist, also meditating with its eyes closed, Ash took back his words.
Because that burly man was the pride of their Kanto Region, Elite Four Bruno.
Someone who could even defeat an Elite Four member... this Master Ma was no small matter.
Ash couldn't help but hold his breath, staring at the old man with a fiery intensity.
Next to the old man stood a black-and-white patterned humanoid Pokémon, or rather, it looked more like an upright brown bear. Its physique was about a head taller than an adult, and the fur on its body was arranged in a pattern resembling a martial arts uniform. It even had a focus sash tied around its forehead.
"What Pokémon is that?" Ash asked curiously.
"Beep. No data. There is a fifty percent chance it is a mutated Ursaring, a fifty percent chance it is a mutated Beartic, and a one percent chance it is a mutated Bewear."
The Pokédex automatically recited a bunch of nonsense.
But in its defense, it was already quite remarkable that Professor Oak had expanded the Pokédex's data range to include the Alola Region.
No data = NB. That was the thought in Ash's mind, and he secretly raised the old man's level another notch.
"Another news bulletin: Master Ma has held the position of the Galar Region's Pokémon League Champion for 18 consecutive years and will officially step down at the end of this year. The next Galar League Champion will be officially decided in the Galar Champion League tournament held at the end of this year. Everyone is welcome to follow the updates!"
The host's news was all substance, without a trace of clickbait titles meant to keep people hanging.
This news once again caused an uproar in the crowd. They never expected this unassuming old man to also be a Pokémon League Champion.
"Whoa..."
Ash was dumbfounded. A Pokémon League Champion was the strongest person he had ever heard of.
Even Red in his soul raised the corners of his mouth, curiously sizing up the old man called "Master Ma."
After introducing one side, the host began to introduce the other dark horse participant who had fought his way into the Grand Finals.
With a burst of exciting, blood-pumping BGM, two dark figures leaped out from the other side of the arena, striking a very stylish pose atop one of the high corner posts, like a Ho-Oh standing on one leg.
One was a muscular man wearing a colorful mask. His face was hidden, revealing only a firm chin with a sparse beard beneath the mask. He was bare-chested, showing off his strong chest muscles, dressed like a professional wrestler.
The other was a tiger-like Pokémon, its body covered in fiery red skin overlaid with jet-black stripes. It stood upright, its body packed with powerful, bulging muscles, looking both domineering and imposing.
"Damn! What a cool Pokémon!"
With just a single glance, Ash was completely captivated by this Pokémon's handsome and cool appearance.
"Beep. Incineroar, a Pokémon from the Alola Region. Other data unknown..."
This time, the Pokédex managed to report its name, but it couldn't say another word of additional information.
"Incineroar, huh..."
Ash suddenly clenched his fists, his eyes shining as he shouted:
"I've decided! I'm definitely going to catch an Incineroar in the future!"
After getting his fill of the magnificent sight of the universe's number one Pokémon, Ash finally turned his gaze to the masked wrestler.
The host raised the microphone and introduced him again:
"The Royal Mask, a native expert from the Alola Region with a mysterious background. He is the perennial champion of the local Royal Dome!"
Since the Alola Region didn't even have a League yet, its overall strength was clearly behind other regions, so the introduction was quite sparse.
Of course, don't be fooled by the brief introduction. Being able to fight his way to the Grand Finals meant that The Royal Mask's strength was definitely not just for show!
Ahem...
Actually, saying he wasn't coasting was still a bit of a stretch.
After all, the Masked Man's opponent in the semifinals was an old man from the Kalos Region called "Old Cucumber," who was a Gym Leader.
Don't be fooled into thinking a Gym Leader is that amazing. Compared to Bruno, who was also a semifinal opponent, there was a world of difference.
If the brackets had been switched, and the Masked Man had faced Bruno in the semifinals, the matchup for these finals might have been very different.
But The Royal Mask and his Incineroar on the screen showed no fear in the face of a powerful enemy. Instead, their gazes were fixed intently on Master Ma and the humanoid brown bear beside him.
FIGHT!!
An underdog aiming for the top! This incredibly strong and firm willpower made even Ash's heart, watching from in front of the screen, pound. He was deeply moved, staring blankly at him.
"This person..."
Ash suddenly had a strange premonition. He felt that one day in the future, he would meet this Masked Man.
(end of chapter)