The stadium plunged into total darkness once more. The audience, now thoroughly accustomed to the rhythm, fell into a quiet, eager hush.
A faint light pierced the void, blooming into an endless sea of stars.
Julian floated amid the celestial expanse, seemingly adrift in a deep slumber. When his eyes drifted open, a look of quiet wonder crossed his face.
Before him, towering beyond the boundless starry sky, an enormous, majestic silhouette emerged. Though it appeared only as a translucent phantom, the warm golden light radiating from its frame and the absolute calm in its eyes conveyed an aura of sacred, untouchable majesty.
A floating tag beside the entity simply read: [???].
Though unrevealed, everyone recognized the design language of an unreleased, high-tier legendary Pokémon.
The young man and the divine entity gazed at each other in silence across the cosmos, the distance between them shrinking with every passing second. Julian reached out a hand to touch the light, but the moment his fingers drew near, he woke with a sudden start.
The scene shifted. Julian found himself sitting in a sprawling, quiet archive.
Judging by his simple attire and the massive stacks of ledgers surrounding his desk, he was an ordinary librarian.
Looking at his open palms, and then at the endless rows of archive shelves, a faint smile touched Julian's lips. He decisively stripped off his clerk's coat and broke into a run, sprinting toward the open exit.
With his very first step, the world shifted beneath his feet.
Charmander, Squirtle, Bulbasaur, Pikachu, Pidgey...
Dozens of familiar Pokémon gathered around him, running alongside his stride as the familiar town square of Pallet Town materialized and expanded outward into sprawling valleys and forests.
The audience realized the narrative immediately: this was the story of how Pokémon was born.
Curiosity stirred through the crowd. Fans began piecing together the imagery, wondering what that divine titan in the starry dream represented, where Julian had drawn the inspiration to shape this universe, and how his personal journey had unfolded.
The vibrant world continued to flourish, when suddenly an Absol appeared along the trail. The creature let out a sharp cry of warning, and the earth gave way beneath Julian's feet, sending him falling into a subterranean abyss.
As Julian plunged into the dark, an Altaria swooped in from the shadows, catching him on its soft, cloud-like wings and carrying him safely to the mouth of an underground grotto.
Waiting at the shore was a Braixen standing aboard a wooden skiff.
Julian stepped onto the boat. Guided by Braixen's flame-tipped wand, the skiff glided forward across a lake of pure light, passing beneath a shimmering waterfall to return to the sunlit world above.
With another wave of Braixen's branch, the boat took flight, soaring across the open sky. The Absol reappeared on a cliffside, but this time it brought no warnings of disaster—it leaped aboard, choosing to journey alongside them.
At that moment, a shooting star dropped from the heavens, transforming into Jirachi to join the growing crew.
The live chat immediately lit up with eager speculation:
"I get it! That little flying boat represents a Xianzhou Starskiff, and Braixen is definitely Madam Yukong!"
"Wait, Yukong has that golden-blonde Foxian hair and high standing—Julian totally based Braixen on her design!"
"Haha, that actually fits so well."
"Then who is Absol supposed to represent?"
"And Altaria?!"
"Rumor has it that Silver Wolf from the Stellaron Hunters helped write early system code for the game. Absol probably represents her!"
"Wait, Xianzhou and Stellaron Hunters cooperating? Aren't they opposed factions?"
"You don't get gamers. Unless there's a blood feud involved, gaming ties transcend faction lines!"
"I can't place Altaria, but Jirachi is definitely a reference to General Manager Cai Xing!"
The stage swept forward.
Generations of Gym Leaders, Elite Four champions, and iconic rivals passed by Julian's side. A massive arena dominated the skyline, framed by a prominent statue honoring Fu Xuan's championship run in the first Masters Tournament.
Along the road, a mischievous Rotom zipped out of an electronic terminal, hovering playfully over Julian's shoulder.
The memories of the first, second, and third generations drifted past in a vibrant montage. By the time the fourth generation appeared, Julian stepped onto the battlefield himself.
The pacing turned electric. The stage erupted into high-octane battle choreography as Julian commanded his team through grueling matches, climbing through the regional circuits, toppling the Elite Four, and seizing the champion's cup.
The intense battle scenes, backed by the driving rhythm of Robin's earlier anthem, sent waves of adrenaline through the stadium.
As the montage reached its peak, previous champions stepped forward to challenge him one by one. Julian fought his way through every single titan, claiming victory against all odds.
Finally, standing at the summit of the stage was Leon, crowned as the undefeated champion.
Julian took the field opposite him. A blinding flash of light cut across the arena, skipping over the clash itself.
When the light settled, Julian was already pulling on the champion's mantle. Sensing the gaze of millions of spectators, he turned slightly, giving the camera a sharp profile and a calm, fiercely confident smile.
The broadcast chat erupted instantly:
"Julian looks so sharp in that mantle!"
"Wait, that final look... was Boss Julian issuing an open challenge to all of us?!"
"That smile definitely meant: 'I'm waiting at the top. Come take the crown if you can.'"
"Challenge us? He's just a game developer! Watch me sweep his team in the next tournament!"
"Did you miss the exhibition match at the Masters? His Pikachu wiped Silver Wolf's Dragonite!"
"Wait, a Pikachu took down a Dragonite?! Are you serious?!"
"Go watch the exhibition match archive yourself and see!"
While casual viewers bantered in the chat, seasoned players like Welt, Guinaifen, Stephen, Silver Wolf, and the regional Elite Four felt a genuine surge of competitive fire.
Sitting up at the judges' desk, Jing Yuan—who had spent countless quiet hours mastering the game in private—felt his own competitive spirit ignite. Watching Julian's confident stance, the General felt an itch to step down and test his strategies against the creator himself.
When the performance concluded, Julian walked over to the judges' table under Owlbert's guidance, taking his seat beside Jing Yuan.
"Julian," Jing Yuan murmured, leaning in slightly with an eager glint in his eye. "Once this celebration wraps up, we must have a proper match."
"I didn't realize the General was so keen on duels," Julian replied with an amused smile. "Since you've extended the invitation, I'd be delighted to accept. I'm curious to see how sharp your team has become."
"Haha! When I challenged Master Diviner Fu Xuan back then, she held the natural advantage of her divination abilities," Jing Yuan said with quiet confidence. "Now, I am certain my tactical grasp is no less refined than hers."
"Oh? Then I'll be looking forward to it," Julian said, noting inwardly that the General had clearly spent plenty of his recent recovery days gaming in private.
"If you two wish to coordinate a match, let's settle it after the broadcast," Robin leaned over with a soft laugh, gently tapping the desk. "Our contestants are about to take the stage."
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