Chapter 1508: Chapter 1504: Voting at Mt. Silver
Hoenn had a Champion once again!
If Cain had been there, he would have immediately recognized the person sitting in that seat: his mentor as a trainer, the Dragon-type Elite Four, Drake.
Or rather, he should now be called the Champion of Hoenn, Drake.
"The reason I have summoned you today should already be known to you," said the white-haired president calmly. "Some time ago, while monitoring the Space-Time Continent, we detected energy fluctuations from Dialga and Palkia, and they were extremely violent fluctuations."
"According to reliable analysis, Dialga and Palkia descended upon the Space-Time Continent for some reason."
"Although these fluctuations appeared and disappeared quickly, even at this distance we were able to feel them. That can only mean one thing: those two deities attacked on the continent."
No one showed surprise upon hearing this; they had already been informed before coming.
After all, this concerned the safety of the young talents of each region. As elders, they could not take it lightly.
"However," the president continued, "just a moment ago we once again detected energy fluctuations from those two deities, and this time they were even more intense. Although we do not know why they appeared on the continent, we have reason to believe there is a high probability that they have gone out of control."
The president’s tone grew heavier.
Even with his identity and power, there was no way to deal with two top-tier gods in a frenzied state.
Out of control?
Those present frowned.
"President, does that mean the youngsters inside are facing unpredictable dangers?" Juan asked, clearly worried about the safety of Phoebe, Cain, Steven, and Wallace.
In truth, no one there was not worried.
The president nodded slowly.
"That is why someone has proposed ending this trial ahead of time. Although the fluctuations from Dialga and Palkia have already stopped, we cannot rule out the possibility that they may erupt again. Moreover, the trial has already progressed beyond halfway; ending it early could also be an effective way to avoid risks."
"Elder, recently the Pokémon world has been abnormally quiet," said an elderly Officer Jenny.
She was the supreme matriarch of all the Jenny families across the various regions of the Pokémon League.
Given the special nature of the Jenny family, she had sufficient authority to sit alongside the regional presidents and Champions; the same applied to the leader of the Joy family.
As those responsible for the safety of the entire League, their words carried enormous weight.
"Oh?" The president narrowed his eyes slightly, understanding her implication.
The Sacred Church, which had been very active recently, seemed to have vanished just as something so serious was happening on the Space-Time Continent. It was impossible not to link the two matters.
Since the founding of the League, there had been countless trials on the Space-Time Continent. Although there were long periods of interruption due to technical issues, there had never been a recorded case of Dialga and Palkia going out of control.
It was not that those two deities never returned to the Space-Time Continent; in fact, they did so quite frequently. But they had never before caused a disturbance like this.
The League was well aware of the limits that Dialga and Palkia could tolerate. Anyone who entered there would never exceed the strength required to break through the second barrier of the Champion level.
That level of power was still very far from the young participants.
Although they were all outstanding geniuses, they were still far from such strength.
One only had to look at the new Champion of Hoenn, Drake: his signature Pokémon, Salamence, had only just reached that level, and yet it was already enough to make him Champion.
Not counting the League’s hidden experts, someone like Drake already stood at the absolute pinnacle of the Pokémon world.
But if the Sacred Church had truly intervened... then everything was uncertain.
Understanding the subtext of Leader Jenny’s words, everyone fell silent. No one seated there was a fool; they all understood the structure of the Pokémon world very well.
The sudden Sacred Church, though small in number, was composed of extraordinary individuals.
What kind of power lay hidden behind that nebulous veil was something no one knew.
"Very well, let us proceed to vote," said the elder, sweeping his gaze across the room. "Let us decide whether we should end this trial ahead of time. If anyone has another opinion, they may express it."
Although he appeared elderly, no one dared to underestimate him.
There was even a popular legend—no one knew whether it was true—that this elder possessed unfathomable abilities, capable of knowing most events in the Pokémon world. Very few could escape his gaze.
"I believe it is necessary to end the trial ahead of time. We cannot allow the future of each region to be risked unnecessarily," said the president of the Johto League. "The purpose of the trial is to subject them to a certain amount of pressure and help them develop their talent, but this pressure already exceeds what they can bear."
"I support the motion," Juan responded immediately.
Phoebe, Cain, Steven, and Wallace... any one of them possessed aptitude above the Elite Four level. Especially Cain and Steven, those two little monsters—Juan truly hoped they would become Champions.
If all went well, Juan estimated that within at most three years, Cain or Steven could assume the position of Champion of Hoenn.
As for which of the two would do so, that was not something Juan needed to decide.
Just as they had competed for the Elite Four position, it would be a healthy competition, beneficial to both. Whoever became Champion, Juan would accept.
Although, deep down, he also had his own plans.
"I support the motion," Drake said next.
As Cain’s mentor and an elder to Steven and the others, he had long wanted to speak, but as this was his first meeting of this kind, he still felt somewhat restrained.
"I support the motion."
"I support the motion."
"..."
Led by Juan and Drake, one after another, everyone present deemed it prudent to end the trial ahead of time.
"In that case, the trial ends here," said the elder. "Each region will send representatives to Mt. Silver to receive their people. You must be mentally prepared; personnel losses will be inevitable."
With that, he declared the meeting concluded, and those present began making preparations.
(End of Chapter)
