The Semi-finals.
The Ranch Uncle faced his strongest opponent yet. The adversary was clearly a seasoned veteran of the circuit, fielding four Pokémon native to the Unova region—a testament to the depth of a world-traveling Trainer.
Technically, this was the Uncle's first ever Conference. His Pokémon suffered from a noticeable level gap compared to the opponent's team.
Fortunately, his secondary profession as a Breeder bridged that divide.
Combat power is never just about levels; whether a Pokémon has been meticulously cared for is a deciding factor. The love the Uncle poured into them and their decades of synergy wouldn't lose to anyone.
But as the battle progressed, his team fell one by one. By the final stage, his ace Rapidash had taken the opponent's penultimate Pokémon down with it. The Uncle was left with only a burnt, stumbling Tauros facing an opponent's Pokémon that was still full of vigor.
The outcome seemed set in stone.
[You seem to see the end of the match. The sight of your old partners and new members falling tells you the road has ended. In that moment, you hear voices.]
[You hear your daughter's scream, your wife's shout, and the heavy breathing of your Pokémon.]
[You know the match isn't over yet.]
The screen froze for a heartbeat. Then:
『STAND UP! TAUROS!』
The "explosion" bubble roared like a physical sound in Kashiwagi's ears. Tauros, forelegs buckled, snapped its eyes open with an unprecedented surge of primal strength. Flashes of memory flickered by—the Uncle being knocked down and standing up again and again, and Tauros leading the herd across the plains.
It stood up!
『MOOOO—!!』
Despite the burn leaving it with 1% HP, it held on. Facing the enemy's final Pokémon, it unleashed its ultimate move: [Facade]!
From a gameplay perspective, this was terrifying: a STAB-boosted Facade enhanced by a burn status, used by a high-Attack Pokémon against a non-Ghost type. The opponent didn't sit still, but the pixel effects for Tauros were overwhelming.
Though only one bull was charging, it looked like a stampeding legion.
The opponent was crushed in a single hit. The Ranch Uncle was going to the finals! Kashiwagi's heart hammered against his ribs. Could he actually win the whole thing?
Unfortunately, reality set in. Proving the importance of a deep roster, Tauros was too badly injured to compete in the final. It had to be replaced by a Dodrio the Uncle had raised later in the journey.
The final opponent was even more formidable—a veteran with Mega Evolution. This extra "trump card" prevented the Uncle from suppressing them. He relied heavily on the Three-Word Truth, but the opponent clearly shared a bond just as deep—you can't Mega Evolve without it.
No matter how loudly the Ranch girl and her Ponyta cheered, the Uncle lost. Even though Rapidash's Overheat took down the opponent's Mega Pokémon, the Uncle stilll finished as the Runner-up.
Thinking that he embraced his family. His face showed a mix of regret and the peace of a fulfilled dream. Amidst the cheers of his townspeople, a "smile" icon appeared over his head.
[You fulfilled your dream and did not disappoint your daughter. You and your Pokémon proved that even in middle age, you can still burn bright on the grand stage.]
[Your story resonated with middle-aged people everywhere. Following your lead, the number of older citizens challenging Gyms has increased.]
[Not long after, you bid farewell to your wife as she departed to fulfill her dream of a Contests Triple Crown.]
[Simulation Ended]
-----
A middle-aged man chasing his dreams... Kashiwagi felt a pang of regret. If he had won, the social impact would have been even greater. He rubbed his face and squinted at the sun outside the window.
"What book is that? You looked like you were about to bite someone, and then you looked like you won the lottery," Tyra asked, having watched Kashiwagi's shifting expressions for a while.
Kashiwagi gave her a random title; the simulator was for his eyes only. Then, the rewards popped up. He had high hopes for this one, given the Uncle's talent as a Breeder.
Fixed Reward:
- Technical Machine ×3 (Attribute can be specified).
- Ranch Uncle's Breeding Memories—Health Management Edition (Can be reviewed repeatedly).
Selectable Rewards (Pick 3):
1. Level Up: Any Pokémon grows 3 levels (below Lv. 70).
2. Pokémon Clue: Excellent quality (Attribute can be specified).
3. Move: Facade (Can be taught to one Pokémon).
4. Talent: Keep [Robust Physique] for the next simulation.
"Whoo! Health management!" Kashiwagi wanted to whistle. This was arguably the most vital part of being a Breeder. A healthy Pokémon is a 100% effective Pokémon. With these memories, he'd save a fortune on professional care during his travels.
He chose rewards 1, 2, and 3. While a talent carry-over was nice, "Robust Physique" wasn't game-changing enough to sacrifice a level boost or a high-quality Pokémon lead.
-----
He now had three Pokémon clues saved up. One of them had led him to Deino... and a very confusing backstory. Looking out at the desolate plains, he wondered if he should use one now. He had been trying to remember base stats for top-tier Pokémon, but without a Pokédex to confirm, it was all guesswork.
To fill the empty sixth slot in his team, he decided to use the clue he just earned.