"At first, I just wanted to trick a famous friend into joining the tournament to boost the buzz," Julian said, his voice carrying clearly through the Liuyundu Stadium. "But her condition for entering was a match against me. As the organizer, I can't be both the referee and the contestant in the main bracket—so we settled on this exhibition."
He paused, looking up at the high-altitude holographic screens. "However, my thinking changed. In this match, I don't just want to fight. I want to show the galaxy what a true Pokémon battle is supposed to feel like. Words are inadequate. Let's let the souls speak for themselves."
Owlbert flapped his wings, sensing the shift in the air. "Then let us welcome the other protagonist of this duel—Silver Wolf of the Stellaron Hunters!"
Silver Wolf's projection materialized in the opposite trainer's box. The audience rippled with whispers. While the IPC had painted her as a galactic menace, the Xianzhou were indifferent; they had no beef with the Hunters, and their ship was far too secure to fear a single hacker.
"Did you find a back-door into Screwllum's labs?" Silver Wolf asked, her eyes narrowing. She knew Julian's obsession with giving Pokémon "souls." In her mind, only the mechanical geniuses of the Genius Society could bridge that gap between code and consciousness.
"That's a long-term goal," Julian replied with a mysterious smile. "But for a ten-minute match? I have my own ways."
Owlbert took his position in the judge's chair. "Trainers, prepare your partners!"
"Hmph. No matter what tricks you're pulling, I'm winning this rematch," Silver Wolf declared. She tossed a luxury ball. "Go, Dragonite!"
The massive orange dragon materialized, its wings humming as it hovered. The audience gasped. Based on the community-calculated base stats, Dragonite was the undisputed king of the current meta—a 600-stat powerhouse with the rare Dragon type.
Julian didn't look intimidated. He reached into his pocket and released his own partner. "Show them, Pikachu!"
"Pika!"
The crowd's excitement turned to confusion.
"Pikachu? Its stats are barely 320!"
"Is he throwing the match for PR?"
"Dragonite could sneeze and KO that mouse."
Even the Fruit Shop Part-timer in the stands leaned forward, pulling a pair of thick-rimmed glasses from his pocket and cleaning them frantically, as if he suspected his eyes were failing him.
"You're holding back?" Silver Wolf frowned.
"Not at all. I chose Pikachu because stats aren't everything. We have a 'Bond' that transcends the math of your algorithms."
"A bond... with strings of code?" Silver Wolf stared at him like he'd finally lost his mind.
Julian didn't answer. He closed his eyes and snapped his fingers. Suddenly, a wave of golden energy—the Path of Elation—erupted from his body. It wasn't a destructive force, but a joyful, shimmering ripple that washed over the entire stadium.
Then, the impossible happened.
Pikachu, without receiving a single command, suddenly chirped and leaped onto Julian's shoulder. It nuzzled his cheek, its little ears twitching with genuine affection. It looked down at its own glowing, holographic paws with a puzzled expression, then back at Julian, seeking confirmation.
Julian smiled, his hand—wrapped in a faint golden aura—actually managed to scratch the Pikachu's chin. The Pokémon let out a contented purr that sounded hauntingly real.
On the other side of the field, the Dragonite paused. It looked at its claws, then looked at Silver Wolf. It flew over, attempting to give her a massive hug, but its arms passed through her shoulder. It let out a confused, rumbling "Waaah?"
The stadium went silent. In the game, Pokémon only reacted to active interaction from the player. They never initiated physical affection on the battlefield, and they certainly didn't show "Existential Confusion."
"You... you've projected their consciousness through the Path?" Silver Wolf realized.
She knew about Julian's Pathstrider ability to project Pokémon, but usually, it was exhausting and brief. By projecting only the sentience and anchoring it to the stadium's high-end holographic rigs, Julian had bypassed the need for a server-side soul. He had turned the projection into a bridge.
"It's a bit strenuous, but it'll last the match," Julian said. "Come on, Silver Wolf. Let's see if your logic can handle a partner that thinks for itself."
"Pikachu!" The mouse leaped off Julian's shoulder, landing in a combat crouch with a confident grin.
"Fancy tricks won't save you from a Dragon Pulse," Silver Wolf countered, her own competitive fire igniting. "Dragonite, teach them a lesson!"
"Something extraordinary is happening here, folks!" Owlbert's voice boomed from his flying drone. "I hereby declare this exhibition match... OPEN!"
"Pikachu, let's show them the power of our bond! Quick Attack!"
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