Pokémon: Starting with a Volcarona

The referee and commentator's voices rang out at the same time, triggering thunderous cheers from the audience.

"You won, Nathan. Congratulations."

Recalling his Gyarados, Griffin didn't show any signs of resentment, disbelief, or rage.

"You know, it's strange. I thought that facing despair would leave me more affected emotionally. But for some reason, I feel... satisfied."

Scratching the back of his head, Griffin looked a bit confused as he spoke.

He had clearly lost — and quite utterly at that — without putting up any real resistance.

He hadn't even been able to force Volcarona into its Bond Evolution form.

"That, I suppose... is how a true trainer should respond."

"Thanks."

Looking back at Griffin, Nathan offered a sincere thank you.

Although he hadn't fully experienced the complete power of an Elite's Domain Technique, he still felt he had gained immensely.

So, this is how strong combination techniques and terrain abilities can be?

They could almost rival Mega Evolution.

It's not that the people in this world are necessarily smarter than those in the anime.

It's just that — this is reality.

And in reality, the more brutal something is, the more powerful it tends to be.

…

The National Tournament had ended.

The top three stood upon the supreme podium, receiving not only cheers from the entire stadium but also the glory that came with their ranks.

What surprised Nathan, however, was that the third-place winner turned out to be... Mira!

Yes — after defeating Seth, Mira not only reappeared but also stood beside Nathan on the podium as the bronze medalist.

However, just like before, she still looked like some kind of shy, timid creature.

Nathan even suspected she kept sneaking glances at him the whole time.

"Congratulations — the youngest National Tournament Champion in League history."

"I doubt anyone will break that record anytime soon!"

Fire-type Elite Guardian member Benedict Li appeared in person to present the award to Nathan, speaking with a tone of satisfaction.

Had Nathan not been such a monstrous talent, Benedict might've taken him as a disciple during their earlier evaluation.

But for a prodigy like him, it's best to let him soar free on his own.

He had experienced countless battles before even graduating high school — over 8,000 recorded matches.

Just thinking about it made Benedict marvel.

Behind every genius and monster isn't just talent, but a past filled with effort few can imagine.

Perhaps it was full of sweat, perhaps it was chaotic and messy…

But no matter the case, they didn't give up before success came knocking.

Although...

Nathan had originally just treated it all like a game.

A game called Reality.

"Thank you — and thank you for everything you've done behind the scenes as well."

Accepting the lavish, gem-encrusted golden trophy, Nathan expressed genuine admiration.

Through Tina, Nathan had learned that Benedict hadn't been ghosting him all this time — he was busy battling the Dark Organization in secret.

Just like the anti-narcotics officers in Nathan's previous life.

Nathan might not become that kind of selfless hero, but he could still deeply respect them.

Even being an Elite Guardian member didn't guarantee safety.

After all, even someone like The Tiger had managed to raise a Champion-level Pokémon using shady methods.

The Dark Organization was far more dangerous than the public realized — especially when they took the offensive.

After the tedious award ceremony ended, Nathan finally had time to inspect his giant gold trophy.

First impression? Extravagant!

Second thought? Absolutely luxurious!

A pure gold trophy — never mind its sheer size — even the embedded gemstones were of the highest quality, not the kind you could just buy at any store.

Nathan figured that just popping those gems off would net him a fortune — at least in the tens of millions.

But beyond the trophy, the real perks of winning the National Tournament were just beginning.

He was issued an ID-like certificate that functioned as both a bank card and ID.

It came with tons of discounts across the country — and was a certified status symbol.

Then there was the 50 million Pokecoins cash prize — and even better, Nathan was allowed to choose two rare resources from a pool of exclusive items.

One was a golden Electric Orb.

Another was an ultra-rare fruit found only in this world.

There were also all kinds of rare Pokémon resources available.

It was safe to say the League spared no expense when it came to its National Champion.

The wealth and prestige they offered outshone what even second and third place winners combined could receive.

After some consideration, Nathan chose two items meant for his Pokémon:

A fiery fang artifact for Fire-types, and

The Electric Orb for Zeraora.

But that wasn't all.

Even the system store offered him a surprise reward!

Limited time sale:

[Psychic Fruit]

[Constitution Fruit]

[Stamina Fruit]

Upon closer inspection, Nathan realized these weren't meant for Pokémon — they were for him.

One increased his psychic powers and synchronization strength.

One boosted his physical constitution, so he wouldn't be drained by using synchro too much.

The last one, similar to the second, increased stamina — enough to stay awake for a whole week without fatigue.

Despite being labeled as "flash deals," they were far from cheap.

Nathan's newly acquired 50 million was immediately reduced by 90%.

Still, the effects were clearly worth it.

After chomping down on all three fruits — which looked only slightly better looking than Devil Fruits — Nathan felt a warm current flow between his body and soul.

It was like soaking in a hot spring from the inside out.

By the time the sensation faded, he felt mentally refreshed and physically invigorated.

Before he could enjoy it further, though, the League President Joseph came looking for him.

Following behind him... was Mira, looking just as timid and childish as Bella had.

"Don't tell me — she's got some tragic backstory, and now you want me to take care of her or adopt her or something?"

Deadpan and expressionless, Nathan spoke up before Joseph could say a word.

Joseph: "..."

At that moment, Joseph felt like Nathan had just learned how to read minds.

He hadn't said a thing, and yet Nathan already knew everything.

"You can forget about it. I'm already spoken for. Aside from loyal fans like Zoe who don't cause trouble, I never planned on raising a timid girl who's older than me."

Seeing Joseph's face, Nathan sneered.

Was he joking?

The leftover money he had was barely enough to support himself and his Pokémon.

He was even planning to use some Rainbow Pokeblocks as an emergency stash.

Taking in someone like Mira?

No thanks. Nathan figured that'd bankrupt him for sure.

After all, this girl was no small expense.

Aside from a few Elite-level Pokémon, she was known to take in and care for stray Pokémon.

She even had a growing Snorlax at home!

In other words — maintaining someone like her wasn't for the average person.

If you weren't one of the richest people in the country or the world, you might as well forget it.

"But... there's really not much we can do," Joseph said with a bitter smile.

"The League isn't a charity, and definitely not a welfare center for grown women."

"But if we just let her roam free, she might get exploited again by the Dark Organization..."

Truth be told, the story went back to when Nathan chased after The Tiger.

After a strict investigation, the League discovered that Mira had been secretly raised and manipulated by the Dark Organization.

They had used fake familial and emotional bonds to control her — all to groom her into a powerful trainer under their thumb.

Mira herself had no idea that the people "supporting" and "guiding" her were actually the enemy.

The League wanted to bring her into the fold…

But without orders or coercion, Mira could barely manage day-to-day life, let alone complete missions.

…

So Joseph turned to Nathan for help.

There were many reasons, but the most important were twofold:

First, Nathan was very strong.

Second, Nathan had already been targeted by the Dark Organization — and Mira wasn't weak either.

The two of them together made the League feel a bit more at ease.

"Fine," Nathan finally replied. "But I'm heading to university in Grace City soon — isn't she a bit too old for that?"

(End of Chapter)