Pokemon: A New Path-The Master Tier Awaits[539]
The next morning, after finishing his usual work at the ranch, Naoki crossed through the Distortion World as always and arrived in the Alola region to continue his challenge.
The opponents in the Battle Royal Dome's Super tier were a mixed bag. Some were rather weak, while others had strength comparable to Gym Leaders. You could say it was a real toss-up, some matches were a breeze, while others tested his strategy.
Thankfully, with the steady teamwork of Farfetch'd and Alcremie, Naoki had cruised through the ranks, securing victory after victory. Their synergy helped him power through to the Advanced tier, and he had now accumulated enough points to qualify for the Master tier.
His string of wins and confident battling style began to attract attention from spectators.
In just a few days, Naoki, battling under the pseudonym "Gold King," had become a fan favorite.
Some fans even went so far as to make glowsticks and cheering signs for him, and someone had even created a ridiculously dramatic life-sized standee of him with sparkly wings and blazing effects, placing it right outside Royal Avenue, near the Royal Dome entrance.
Every time Naoki walked past it, he felt a mix of embarrassment and disbelief. He always muttered to himself, "Once I get the Island Challenge Completion Certificate, I'm never coming back here again."
Taking a deep breath, Naoki strode confidently into the Royal Dome.
Today was the final match of his Advanced tier run. One more victory, and he'd ascend to the Master tier, where he could finally battle against none other than Professor Kukui, disguised as the legendary Masked Royal.
...
Meanwhile, far away in the Distortion World.
Giratina hovered silently, its crimson eyes glued to the Rotom Phone screen, which was currently streaming Naoki's battle live.
Giratina had watched every single match, without missing a single second. At this point, it knew the rules of the Royal Dome better than some of the judges.
It also knew that if Naoki won this match, he'd be promoted straight to the Master Division.
And Giratina… was ecstatic.
It was almost time. Almost time for its grand entrance.
The Legendary Pokémon loomed in anticipation, a twisted grin curling across its serpentine face.
Human... prepare yourself to tremble!
...
7:00 PM – Royal Dome
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to tonight's electrifying match!"
"I believe many of you already know, this isn't just any battle. Tonight, Gold King will be fighting for his chance to rise from the Advanced tier to the elite Master Division!"
"If he and his Pokémon can defeat all three challengers, then starting today, the Royal Dome will crown a brand-new superstar!"
"He's been on an unstoppable streak, undefeated since his debut, with 28 consecutive victories, climbing all the way from the General tier to Advanced. This is our rising sensation… Gold King!"
"Even the legendary Masked Royal didn't achieve a perfect streak like this back in his day!"
"And now, the moment of truth has come. Can Gold King crush his opponents tonight just as he has in the past? We're about to find out, so stay tuned!"
The neon-lit Royal Dome was packed. The seats, once sparsely filled during early rounds, were now brimming with eager spectators.
Fans from all corners of the world had come to witness the action.
There were parents with their kids, excited young couples on a date night, elderly folks cheering with the energy of teens, and clusters of budding young Trainers soaking in every second of the action.
In this moment, they all had one thing in common, glowsticks waving in unison and voices raised in thunderous chants.
"Gold King!"
"Gold King!"
"Gold King!"
The roar echoed like a mighty Dragonite's cry, shaking the entire Dome with anticipation.
Up on the rising platform at the center of the arena stood Roger, the commentator and referee, mic in hand and voice full of energy.
"Haha! I think Gold King can feel the love and hype from the crowd tonight!"
"But before we begin the battle, let's introduce the three opponents standing between Gold King and the Master tier!"
"First up… it's the fearsome combatant known as the Wolf King! They call him the 'Hound of Hell', a Trainer who sends his foes into fiery defeat with his explosive rage, and his trusted partner, Houndoom!"
A dramatic spotlight flared, illuminating a corner of the ring.
Standing there was a black-haired young man dressed in dark combat gear, his expression calm and unreadable. In front of him stood his battle-hardened partner, Houndoom, a fearsome Dark/Fire-type Pokémon with a long scar etched across its muzzle.
Its eyes burned with intensity, and its devilish horns glinted under the lights.
Houndoom let out a low, threatening growl as it leaned forward, taking a battle stance. Its lips curled to reveal jagged fangs, muscles coiled like a predator ready to strike.
"[Wolf King] and his Houndoom have survived countless battles together. He's a Trainer who once reached the Master Division, but was defeated in a grueling match against the Masked Royal. He's been fighting to reclaim his place ever since!"
Under the spotlight, the Wolf King slowly nodded, casting a sharp glance at the shadowed silhouette standing on the opposite side of the field, Gold King.
"So it's you," he muttered. "The one who's made it this far…"
"It's going to be a tough fight, Houndoom," he said, his voice like steel.
"Graaaw!" Houndoom snarled in reply, its posture ready to pounce.
"But we're not like the ones you steamrolled before," the Wolf King added with a cold grin. "If you want to reach the top, you'll have to earn it."
"And now, introducing the second challenger…" Roger's voice rang out once more.
"From the deep blue seas, it's the enchanting water performer known as the Singer, a maestro of melodies and battle finesse! Accompanying him is his graceful partner… Primarina!"
A second spotlight burst to life.
There stood a tall, elegant Trainer with flowing blue hair, a lean frame, and the serene poise of a stage performer, reminiscent of Wallace, the famed Water-type specialist from Hoenn.
Before him stood a stunning Pokémon.
Primarina, the evolved form of Brionne, shimmered under the lights. Her silky, ocean-blue hair was styled into elegant waves, tied in three sections by pearl-like ornaments. Pink star-shaped accessories adorned the sides of her head, glinting like coral in moonlight.
This 𝓬ontent is taken from fгeewebnovёl.co𝙢.
Her white body glowed with a gentle radiance, her long eyelashes accentuating calm blue eyes. She wore a soft ruffled cape of seafoam hues and trailed a graceful mermaid-like tail behind her.
"Let's give them a performance to remember, Primarina," the Singer said, brushing his hair behind one ear with a quiet smile.
"Wooo~" Primarina lifted her head and let out a beautiful, haunting melody, clear and soothing, echoing like a lullaby over waves. The sound washed over the arena like a dream, calming hearts and captivating the audience.
"And finally, our third challenger of the night, give it up for the icy brawler known as the Boxing King and his powerhouse partner, Crabominable!"
A third spotlight ignited and beamed down onto a burly man clad in a crisp white karate gi, standing proudly on the stage below.
Beside him was a large, imposing crab Pokémon, its body covered in thick, shaggy white fur. Patches of pale purple marked its chest, forearms, and back, and instead of traditional claws, its fists were massive and round, like boxing gloves, etched with striking blue and violet patterns that looked almost like footprints.
"Crabominable! Let's smash our way to victory with those fists!" the Boxing King shouted as he threw a massive air punch of his own.
Crabominable grunted with enthusiasm and raised its enormous fists, stepping into a fighting stance with a snarl.
"And now… entering the arena, our rising star! The undefeated challenger himself, Gold King!"
The final spotlight snapped on.
From the shadows stepped a young man wearing a signature feathered mask. As he entered the ring, the arena exploded with cheers.
"Gold King!"
"Gold King!"
"Gold King!"
The entire Royal Dome was roaring with excitement.
Since the founding of the Royal Dome, no competitor had ever made it this far without losing a single match. Not one. Gold King's dynamic and unpredictable fighting style, sometimes sharp and tactical, other times playful and wild, had captivated the hearts of every spectator who'd watched even a single battle.
Have you ever seen an Alcremie take down a Gym Leader-level Pokémon… with just a flick of its finger?
Every time Alcremie used Metronome, it unleashed a random, but always dazzling move that had turned the tides of battle again and again, wiping out opponents in spectacular fashion.
Have you ever seen a Farfetch'd that wielded its leek like a legendary blade?
This wasn't just any Farfetch'd. It darted through the field like a ghostly swordsman, its leek slicing through air and light with such mastery that it seemed capable of cutting through anything.
So now the big question was, which Pokémon would Gold King choose for this final, decisive battle?
Would it be his dashing Farfetch'd? Or his chaotic but lovable Alcremie?
The crowd erupted into cheers and playful shouts, each fan rooting for their personal favorite:
"Farfetch'd!"
"Send out Farfetch'd!"
"We want Alcremie!"
"Let Alcremie KO them all again!"
The Dome was alive with passion.
Amid the chorus of cheers and the flashing lights, Gold King calmly reached into his pocket and drew out a Poké Ball.
It was a standard red-and-white ball, nothing flashy, no gimmicks.
He raised his hand… and in a burst of white light, the Pokémon that emerged was not the nimble Farfetch'd… nor the ever-chaotic Alcremie.
No, what stood before the audience now was a towering, majestic Pokémon that resembled a massive olive tree.
Its thick trunk-like body was a lush shade of green, with branches sprouting from its head like a crown. It stood calmly and firmly, radiating quiet strength.
The crowd gasped in unison.
Eyes widened. Mouths dropped.
"Wh-what Pokémon is that?!"
"That's not Alcremie! Or Farfetch'd!"
"Wait, is that…?!"
