Another day of the Eight Masters tournament competition.

After Magnus and Lance’s match, the next two days saw one match per day. However, John didn’t attend those matches as commentator.

Once was enough for that kind of thing.

Second match showdown: Geeta vs Diantha. Geeta won.

And Geeta’s defeat of Diantha was explosive.

It was an extremely spectacular come-from-behind reversal. Except the heat it generated still couldn’t match the photo of John eating ice cream on the beach at Trial Island, taken by a student with their phone from several thousand meters away.

Even veteran trainers posted comments: Right now, trainers exist in both the best era and the worst era.

The best era, John showed trainers the standard of the strongest trainer, even blazing trails predecessors never walked before, like Greninja (John form), Sword-Shield Aggron, and various others.

The worst era, John was like a massive mountain forever blocking the future of countless trainers, where just looking up once would bring complete despair!

"Everyone and their mother would tell you the same thing about John, he was...

The Strongest.

The Eight Masters tournament’s first round highest-heat match.

Normally for Eight Masters matches, the battle arena had no empty seats. But for John versus Chadri’s match, there was no standing room! Even the sky wasn’t considered a battle zone.

This could also be considered feedback for the vast audience who loved him.

Standing opposite John, Chadri was no longer the relaxed, confident victor from the opening ceremony. He was now serious, extremely serious.

Defeating John? He’d never even thought about it. Being able to persist without forfeiting was already Chadri’s final stubbornness when facing an unbeatable opponent.

"Now beginning the Eight Masters tournament first round, fourth match. Trainer John versus Trainer Chadri. Tournament rules: full six-on-six battle. When one side’s entire team loses battle capability, the battle ends!"

"Now, both trainers please send out your Pokemon!" The referee signaled with his hand.

John and Chadri began selecting which Pokemon would battle first.

Chadri’s mind instantly exploded with calculations.

What Pokemon would John send?

The Zeraora that demolished Kyogre? Or the uniquely evolved form he possessed that could bully Groudon, Greninja? Or... the Gardevoir wielding time in one hand and space in the other that brutalized the Space-Time Dragons?

Chadri considered many options. It seemed that no matter which he predicted correctly, he still couldn’t win. At least among the Pokemon that had appeared in footage of John battling Legendary pokemon, he couldn’t defeat any of them.

In the end...

"Doesn’t matter. I can’t beat any of them anyway." Even before the battle began, Chadri had already given up, his so-called fighting spirit born not from hope, but from sheer resignation.

Conversely on John’s side, after deciding he wanted to add some entertainment, he immediately determined which Pokemon to send out.

The crowd buzzed with speculation. Would John open with his devastating Shiny Blaziken? His legendary Mega Gardevoir? Perhaps even the Hero Form Mega Aggron that had demolished Yveltal?

But John had something else in mind entirely.

Following the referee’s flag dropping, two Pokeballs opened mid-air.

A noble form descended gracefully, landing on all fours with regal dignity. The legendary Pokemon stood tall, a quadrupedal warrior with a coat of light blue and a magnificent steel helm adorned with twin horns. Its hooves gleamed like polished metal, and its eyes held the wisdom of centuries.

Cobalion, one of the legendary Swords of Justice, Steel/Fighting-type. A Pokemon of honor and strength, said to protect Pokemon from human threats. Its very presence commanded respect.

"Toge toge pii!!" Togepi excitedly waved its tiny hands toward Cobalion, enthusiastically greeting it.

The enthusiastic greeting made Cobalion pause.

Cobalion’s eyes observed the small egg-shaped Pokemon with curiosity. As a protector of the weak, it felt no hostility toward such a harmless creature. But this was a battle, and honor demanded it fight with full effort.

The legendary warrior looked to its trainer for confirmation.

Chadri was also dazed. He’d even suspected John might directly send out Rayquaza to thunder-strike his entire team in one sweep, but never imagined John would send out a Togepi to fight him.

Ah, mainly because he didn’t know John even had a Togepi.

But... wouldn’t this scene be somewhat discordant?

Cobalion versus Togepi, a Legendary against a baby Pokemon?!

The entire stadium audience also couldn’t understand John’s operation. They’d all been speculating which Pokemon John would send to demolish Chadri.

Tonight’s late-night gossip was destined to be noisy.

Countless refined seats on the upper levels watched in anticipation as the referee raised his flag.

"Battle begin!"

Chadri figured dealing with this mere Togepi, one Iron Head would be enough.

Cobalion felt that even using its signature Steel-type move on such a small opponent seemed excessive, but if its trainer commanded it, honor demanded obedience.

"COBALION!" The legendary warrior’s twin horns began glowing with brilliant metallic light. Steel-type energy concentrated around its head as it lowered its stance, preparing to charge forward with enough to end the round.

Hearing Chadri’s command and seeing Cobalion’s technique taking effect, John’s lips couldn’t help curving upward slightly.

This was called suffering by choice!

"Togepi, use Metronome!" John commanded with a wave.