"Oh my, it seems Mr. Owlbert needs to spend a bit more time exercising," Robin teased, her cheeks still flushed with excitement from the performance.
"Hey, don't say that!" Owlbert protested, flapping his wings in mock indignation. "I'm usually in peak physical condition! The atmosphere today was just so electric that I put a little too much passion into my routine, that's all."
"Is that so? Then perhaps..."
"Alright, let us give another round of applause to Miss Robin for that dazzling show!" Owlbert cut in hastily, eager to change the subject before she could tease him any further. "Please, Miss Robin, take your seat on the panel!"
The audience chuckled as Robin stepped down with a bright smile, walking over to the judges' table to take her seat beside Topaz and Himeko.
"And now, get ready for something truly legendary!" Owlbert raised his voice to project across the entire stadium. "Please welcome the General of the Xianzhou Luofu, General Jing Yuan!"
The arena plunged into darkness once again.
"We, the Cloud Knights, will uphold our sacred oath. Like clouds that cover the heavens, we shield our ship from harm!"
A deep, powerful vow cut through the silence. It carried weight, solemnity, and an unshakeable sense of duty, instantly shifting the cheerful mood left by Robin's concert into a focused, reverent quiet. The murmuring crowd settled down, eyes glued to the center of the dark arena.
"Jing Yuan? Jing Yuan, wake up!"
A gentle hand shook his shoulder, pulling him out of a light doze.
When the light faded back in, the man standing before the audience looked strikingly different from the armored commander featured on the official tournament posters. The heavy, gold-trimmed mantle of the General was gone, replaced by light, practical traveler's gear suited for long journeys through deep space.
"We just picked up a distress signal from a nearby sector," an ethereal voice chimed beside him. "Monsters are rampaging across the surface. Are you coming?"
"Of course," the young swordsman replied with an easy grin, slinging a greatsword over his back. "That is what we Galaxy Rangers do."
An Entei stepped up to his side, its fiery mane billowing in the wind as the two set off into the stars.
The unexpected opening stirred a wave of whispers across the viewing platforms. Native Xianzhou citizens among the crowd immediately began debating whether their General had truly roamed the cosmos as a Galaxy Ranger in his youth. Yet those familiar with Luofu history knew he had risen steadily through the ranks of the Cloud Knights from the very beginning.
The scene shifted. Down on an alien world, Groudon and Kyogre were locked in a cataclysmic duel, tearing the land and seas apart.
Seeing the familiar elemental titans clash, veteran players let out a wave of nostalgic chuckles.
Jing Yuan and Entei descended into the fray to break up the fight, only for Rayquaza to drop from the upper atmosphere. Mistaking Jing Yuan for an intruder encroaching on its territory, the emerald sky dragon attacked him directly.
The clash was fierce, but as their blades and claws met, both realized they fought for the exact same purpose. A duel forged an unspoken bond; after working together to quell Groudon and Kyogre, Rayquaza joined their ranks, traveling the starways alongside them on the path of The Hunt.
They wandered from world to world, cutting down villains, protecting the defenseless, and freeing enslaved cities—all guided solely by their personal sense of justice.
Whenever the battle was won, they never lingered for praise, nor did they accept grand rewards. A simple nod, a turn of the heel, and they vanished back into the vast sea of stars.
It was the ultimate romance of boundless freedom.
After each victory, Jing Yuan sat beside Rayquaza and Entei around a crackling campfire, sharing drinks and laughing under the open sky.
In the real universe, the Galaxy Rangers were often misunderstood. Their reliance on direct, violent retribution and their refusal to explain their motives earned them mixed reputations, compounded by outlaws who committed crimes under their name. After several diplomatic clashes with corporate authorities, their standing in official records had become complicated.
Yet watching the romance of Jing Yuan's stage, countless viewers felt their hearts stir with a longing for that untamed, chivalrous path.
The peace did not last. News arrived of a terrifying entity threatening an entire star cluster. Without a moment's hesitation, Jing Yuan and his companions flew toward the front lines.
The colossal threat revealed itself: Eternatus.
Its skeletal, glowing crimson frame towered over the landscape, sharp edges radiating an overwhelming aura of dread that made the virtual arena shudder under its presence.
Beside Rayquaza and Entei, Jing Yuan charged headlong into the storm, engaging the beast in a sweeping, cinematic clash.
Even as the battle pushed him to his absolute physical limits, the swordsman's lips remained curved in a fearless, effortless smile.
Gathering the last of their strength, the three unleashed an all-out strike. The blinding collision of pure light and dark energy swallowed the world whole, washing the entire stadium in pure white.
"...Hm?"
The light faded gently.
Jing Yuan blinked, lifting his head from a desk covered in stacks of administrative scrolls. Recalling the wild, wandering dream he had just awakened from, a soft, self-deprecating smile touched his lips.
He stood up, walking toward the high window of the seat of divine clairvoyance. Looking out over the grand vista of the Luofu, his gaze softened.
Down below, the streets bustled with everyday life. People and Pokémon walked side by side through the sunlit plazas, shopping, laughing, and living in quiet, undisturbed harmony.
As the projection faded, the arena remained still for several seconds.
There was no sudden roar of cheering this time. Instead, a slow, deeply respectful wave of applause rippled through the stands, gradually swelling into a thunderous ovation.
In a cosmos rife with war and sudden catastrophe, such tranquil peace was the rarest treasure of all. It was precisely why so many players cherished the gentle sanctuary of the Pokémon world.
Jing Yuan's message was unmistakable: he had once dreamed of wandering the stars as a free, untamed ranger, but when the people of the Xianzhou needed him, he willingly set aside that dream to stand as their guardian, dedicating his life to preserving their peace.
That quiet, selfless devotion earned the deepest respect of everyone watching.
"I came for the romance of the Galaxy Rangers, but by the end, I fell in love with the Xianzhou."
"People keep saying the Xianzhou ships are dangerous, but look at that city. Is that real?"
"Whoever told you that doesn't know what they're talking about. Compared to most war-torn systems out there, ordinary folks on the Luofu live the most peaceful lives in the galaxy."
"Like clouds shielding the heavens... it's not just a fancy slogan. The Cloud Knights really do take the brunt of everything so the people don't have to."
"I'm definitely booking a Starskiff to visit the Luofu after this tournament ends!"
Down in the audience seats, Dan Heng watched the stage with a complex mix of melancholy and quiet reverence.
Fragments of old memories drifted across his mind—echoes of the ancient rebellion and the heavy burdens carried by the High Elders of the past.
"Are you feeling alright, Dan Heng?" Stelle asked, noticing his unusually distant gaze.
"I'm fine," Dan Heng said quietly, keeping his thoughts close to his chest. "I was just reminded of a few things... and found myself respecting General Jing Yuan even more."
Stelle tilted her head, curious, but sensing he preferred not to dwell on it, she turned her attention back to the stage.
Up at the podium, Owlbert clapped his wings together, wearing an exaggerated look of deep reverence. "What a moving performance! General Jing Yuan's devotion is truly inspiring, and the synergy shown by his Pokémon partners was exceptional!"
"Please, General Jing Yuan, come join us at the judges' table!"
Jing Yuan smiled warmly, stepping off the platform with measured, unhurried steps.
"My, look at Mr. Owlbert trying to win favor on both sides," Robin remarked playfully from her seat, raising her voice just enough for the audio pickup to catch it.
Owlbert froze mid-step, a visible drop of sweat forming beneath his feathers.
"Don't worry," Topaz added with a teasing smirk, crossing her legs. "I'll have a very thorough chat with his direct supervisor once we get back to the office."
She let out a soft chuckle, letting the poor bird off the hook.
Desperate to steer the spotlight away from himself before Robin could tease him further, Owlbert quickly puffed out his chest and raised the mic.
"And now, let us welcome the creator of Pokémon and founder of Arceus Studio—Mr. Julian!"
Under his breath, Owlbert squeaked softly into his collar, "Director Topaz, please, let me explain later!"
The faint plea carried through the speakers, sending the entire arena into fresh waves of laughter as the lights dimmed once more.
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