Pokemon: Spiritual Master

Chapter 765: Rankings!



"This is... a Pokémon?"

Back at the campsite.

When the awakened Cynthia and Caitlin saw the unconscious Miraidon that Tyranitar had carried back, they were both somewhat stunned.

Caitlin immediately took out her Pokédex and started flipping through information about Paldea region Pokémon.

She had crammed information about Paldea region Pokémon but didn't remember any Pokémon like Miraidon, which looked somewhat similar to Cyclizar.

To avoid being "educated" by Johan again, Caitlin was being proactive.

But Cynthia was different.

Cynthia was at least familiar with Paldea region Pokémon, having battled some Paldea region trainers.

But it was precisely because of this that she felt confused and curious about the Miraidon that Tyranitar was carrying.

What Pokémon was this?

Johan, who had picked up a "big trouble," looked helplessly at the unconscious Miraidon and nodded:

"I don't know how to explain it all at once."

He couldn't just directly say this was a Pokémon from the future—a future Cyclizar, right?

The four Cyclizar that Chairman Geeta had sent, which had been quiet and well-behaved all along, all seemed frightened when they saw Miraidon. The four Cyclizar huddled together, looking scared.

"Take it to a Pokémon Center?" Cynthia asked.

Johan thought about it and shook his head.

"No need, I should be able to handle it."

Never mind whether the Pokémon Center could help restore a future, highly technological legendary like Miraidon.

Just the impact that Miraidon's appearance might bring would be a huge trouble.

Rather than getting involved in these troubles, it was better to pretend not to know and treat Miraidon as an ordinary Pokémon that needed help.

More importantly, the nearest Pokémon Center to this rocky area wasn't close either.

Out of trust in Johan's abilities, Cynthia didn't insist.

"Bangi—"

Tyranitar placed Miraidon on the ground.

Johan then took out some healing spray and antidote to treat some of its problems.

For wilderness exploration, healing sprays and antidotes were essential.

However, Miraidon's body was more complex than Johan had expected.

Its entire body was almost covered with a very sturdy but seemingly not very heavy special metal. From head to tail, there were almost no flesh structures visible—in fact, none at all.

It gave off a feeling like... Mewtwo wearing specially-made Mewtwo armor, full of technological sense.

It was also somewhat like Genesect, which had been modified by Colress—a combination of technological and biological power.

"Would all future world Pokémon become this technological state? Or is this an exception? Or is this just the future of one universe among countless parallel universes?"

Johan felt the possibility that Miraidon belonged to a "parallel universe" future might be higher.

After all, besides Miraidon, there was also Koraidon from ancient times.

It couldn't be that Cyclizar from both past and future were so strong, while Cyclizar of this era were stuck being "transportation tools," right?

He applied healing spray to some obvious places, but the effect was very limited.

He also removed the poison from Miraidon.

Actually, to be honest, Miraidon wasn't severely affected by the toxins from Glimmora and Glimmet. Its current state was fundamentally because its body was already very weak.

A weakness whose cause Johan didn't quite understand.

"Done."

But Miraidon still didn't wake up.

Seeing this, Johan understood.

"Looks like we still need Herba Mystica..."

Fine.

Since he'd obtained Herba Mystica and Johan had originally planned to make food anyway, then... let's make breakfast!

Gengar and the others had already set everything up.

He put on his apron.

"Rotom, oven mode. Ceruledge, light the fire!"

"Understood, Rotom!"

Whenever it was time to make breakfast, his little ones were very cooperative and self-motivated.

Following the game's method would definitely be sandwich standards, at most adding some meat sauce noodles or pasta.

But in Johan's hands...

"Do you want sweet or salty soy milk?" Johan asked.

Cynthia: "Sweet."

Caitlin: "Sweet, of course."

Hearing this, Johan curled his lip. "Heretics!"

Then he silently added fried dough sticks, pickled vegetables, and soy sauce to his own soy milk, while adding sugar to Cynthia and Caitlin's soy milk.

He lightly patted his hands, forgiving himself for his "heretical" behavior.

Soy milk was just one part—there were also fried dough sticks, baked flatbread, and steamed buns.

This was the true breakfast standard!

Ceruledge controlled the temperature of the oil pot. After pressing the kneaded dough and putting it in, fried dough sticks soon rolled up from the oil pot.

Tyranitar built an oven. After rolling the dough pieces into rounds, flattening them, sprinkling sesame seeds and sticking them inside the oven, where Ceruledge had prepared charcoal.

As for the steamed buns, they were the key to this breakfast.

"Herba Mystica" was used by Johan as ordinary seasoning, ground into powder and mixed with minced meat, mushrooms, and other seasonings to make filling, which was wrapped in the buns.

Then steamed in a steamer.

Soon, the aroma of meat buns carrying a peculiar, enticing fragrance spread out.

The little ones were already squatting in front of the steamer with their eating utensils, waiting to eat.

Gengar and Tyranitar were even banging their iron bowls, making "clang clang" sounds.

"Smells so good," Cynthia twitched her little nose.

"What did you put in these buns? They smell so good?" Even Caitlin, who usually liked to argue with Johan, couldn't help asking, carefully swallowing her saliva.

Johan smiled mysteriously.

"Eat slowly. Don't blame me later if you can't finish the buns."

There had probably been people who obtained "Herba Mystica" before, but someone like Johan who used it to make meat buns... was probably the first.

"Kraa..."

Under the temptation of the aroma, the unconscious Miraidon also twitched its eyelids twice before slowly waking up.

As soon as it woke up, its eyes fixed on the steaming basket.

But soon, it quickly calmed down, taking a defensive posture as golden arcs jumped on its body.

However, upon using electricity, Miraidon suddenly discovered...

Its body seemed to have recovered somewhat!

Though weakness remained, the poison it had contracted earlier had been removed.

More importantly...

The group of guys opposite weren't even paying attention to it!

"Kra, kraa?"

Miraidon tentatively called out again.

Still received no response.

Johan was still making breakfast, Cynthia and Caitlin were drinking soy milk and eating fried dough sticks and flatbread, while Gengar and the other Pokémon surrounded the steamer without even glancing at it.

Only the four Cyclizar barely glanced at it.

Miraidon: "..."

Fortunately, Johan finally noticed it after it stood stunned for a few seconds.

"Awake? The buns need a bit more time. Fried dough stick or flatbread? Sweet or salty soy milk?" Johan, wiping his apron with both hands, raised his eyelids and asked.

"Kraa?"

Miraidon tilted its head.

"Alright, salty then. Go wait over there." Johan pointed to beside the picnic table, where a brand-new iron bowl and utensils were placed.

A big question mark appeared above Miraidon's head.

"What are you standing around for? Don't you want to eat? If you don't want to eat, you can leave."

"Kraa!"

Miraidon immediately trotted to the picnic table. Like the four Cyclizar, it obediently waited to be "fed."

Noticing Miraidon's approach, the four Cyclizar still showed some fear.

After a while longer—

"Done, done!" Johan walked to the steamer and dispersed the surrounding little ones.

The noise wasn't small. Miraidon, who was carefully trying the salty soy milk, shuddered and half its head went into the soy milk. When it lifted up, its mouth, nose, and face were all covered with dark yellow soy milk, even with fried dough stick pieces and green onions.

This made Gengar and the others laugh heartily.

Miraidon licked its cheek but showed no anger or embarrassment, appearing extremely calm.

Opening the steamer lid, a milky white steam carrying rich aroma immediately rose. The little ones, including Cynthia, Caitlin, and Miraidon, all fixed their eyes on those snow-white buns.

Johan pinched the soft buns and nodded with satisfaction.

"Limited quantity, no fighting. However much you get is however much. If it's not enough, fill up with Energy Cubes." Johan said.

After speaking, he sighed inwardly.

He didn't know when his highest quality Energy Cubes had become mere stomach-filling rations in these "big eaters'" mouths.

Truly... life had become too comfortable.

Soon, each person and each Pokémon had three large meat buns distributed to their respective bowls.

For Gengar and the others, three meat buns weren't even enough to fill the gaps between their teeth, but for Cynthia and Caitlin, three large meat buns were almost equivalent to their daily rations.

"Kraa!"

Smelling that long-desired aroma, Miraidon also seemed to temporarily lose its composure, grabbing a large bun and stuffing it into its mouth.

Munch munch

After chewing twice, Miraidon's chewing speed immediately accelerated. Johan, who was inconspicuously observing it, could clearly sense that Miraidon's eyes seemed to brighten somewhat.

As if remembering something.

More importantly, after eating food made with "Herba Mystica," Miraidon's weakened state seemed to recover somewhat.

The unsatisfied Miraidon licked its lips and looked back toward the Great Crater of Paldea.

Johan's heart stirred.

Including when Miraidon had rushed out of the Glimmora cave earlier and roared toward the Great Crater of Paldea, this was the second time it had looked toward the Great Crater.

There was definitely something in the Great Crater of Paldea affecting Miraidon. It was just too far away for him and the others to sense it.

And anything happening in the Great Crater of Paldea... definitely meant big trouble.

If it were someone else, they might think about building a good relationship with Miraidon and riding this legendary future Pokémon—riding the cool "violet electric motorcycle."

But for Johan... it was meaningless.

Of course, it definitely wasn't because the "violet electric motorcycle" was too fast.

What a joke.

He'd even ridden Rayquaza—what was so special about a mere Miraidon?

"Are you full? If not, there are Energy Cubes here." Johan said to the group of Pokémon.

Considering Miraidon's displayed personality, he directly took Energy Cubes that Dragonite and Rotom liked and placed them in front of it.

"Kraa..."

Miraidon looked at Johan, looked at the Energy Cubes on the table, and still began eating them with "crunch crunch" sounds.

Although the Energy Cubes didn't have that special aroma of "Herba Mystica," they actually tasted quite good. Miraidon felt its body seemed to recover a bit more.

"Can't eat anymore..." Cynthia rubbed her stomach.

"Me too."

Though very delicious, Johan had indeed made the buns a bit large. Having already drunk soy milk and eaten fried dough sticks and flatbread, eating one more meat bun had far exceeded their food intake.

But there was no worry about waste.

Because Gengar, Dragonite, Tyranitar, and even Garchomp had long been waiting in front of them.

"I admit, your search for those 'Herba Mystica'... has some merit," Caitlin said, hugging Cynthia's arm with a pout.

"Heh."

Johan chuckled softly.

If it was about Pokémon battles, Johan might not have 100% confidence in himself, but when it came to food... he was absolutely confident.

"What about it?" Cynthia gestured toward Miraidon.

After eating breakfast and Energy Cubes, Miraidon had recovered quite well.

It was still weak, of course, but had almost maxed out within the weakened state.

Moreover, when Miraidon first woke up, it was very wary, subtly hostile toward Johan's group and all the Pokémon.

But now Miraidon had dropped its guard.

Look—Gengar was already circling around Miraidon with a curious, examining expression.

Even showing signs of wanting to try riding it...

"Kraa."

Miraidon looked at Gengar circling around it, seemingly guessing what Gengar wanted to do. It didn't show obvious resistance, but from its eyes following Gengar's movement, it was still somewhat unwilling.

"Let's go, Gengar."

Johan, who had finished packing, called to the bold purple little fatty and waved.

"Ka-kaah..."

Gengar hung its head and reluctantly floated toward Johan.

"You already have Cyclizar, and Spectrier too," Johan said, tapping the little fatty's head irritably.

"Ka-kaah!"

Oh right!

Gengar realized.

Right, I still have Spectrier!

It immediately whistled, and Spectrier ran out from Gengar's shadow.

Neighing—

Spectrier raised its hooves, rearing up and neighing.

"Ka-kaah!"

Behold, ghost and horse united!

Johan shook his head and mounted Cyclizar with Cynthia and the others, heading toward their next destination.

Miraidon stood in place, watching them leave.

"Not caring about it anymore?"

Johan smiled: "If it wants to follow, it naturally will. The choice is in its own hands. If it doesn't want to follow, that means it has other business."

Although Miraidon seemed to have dropped its guard, it actually instinctively felt a kind of innate resistance toward this world—or rather, toward creatures outside the Great Crater of Paldea.

That his group could make it not hostile was already quite good.

As a "Pokémon Psychologist," Johan had sufficient authority on this matter.

"It seems to have business."

Even Cynthia could see this.

This time Johan didn't respond.

Business?

What Miraidon had wasn't small business.

Compared to that, even the "Treasures of Ruin" seals could only be considered drizzle.

"Where are we going now?"

"Levincia City," Johan said without hesitation.

This was the most technologically advanced city in the Paldea region. Though not as large as Mesagoza where Naranja Academy was located, it was still the second-largest city with extremely prosperous commerce.

More importantly...

"What are we going there for?"

"To watch Iono's livestream show."

?

"No, to see Levincia City's unique 'Million Volt Night Scene.'"

He'd almost revealed his true thoughts, but fortunately Johan stopped himself in time.

Cynthia looked at him with a half-smile.

Johan wiped the cold sweat from his forehead.

"Kraa..."

Miraidon watched Johan's group leave, also feeling somewhat relieved.

Honestly, besides the two professors, it really didn't know how to interact with other humans and Pokémon.

It had been hesitating earlier—if Gengar wanted to ride it, should it allow it? If Johan invited it, should it go?

Now it didn't need to struggle with that.

However... for some reason, watching Johan's group leave, Miraidon felt a vaguely empty feeling rise in its heart. It didn't know what this feeling was.

"Kraa!"

After glancing toward the Great Crater of Paldea, Miraidon quickly rallied its spirits.

Wait for me!

Miraidon went in the opposite direction from Johan's group.

League Official Website.

As young trainers gradually took over as Champions, Elite Four members, and Gym Leaders, all nine "Master Ball Tier" contestants for the "Pokémon World Championships" were basically confirmed.

Elite Four Agatha, Lance, Johan, Cynthia, Alder, Diantha, the Royal Masked Man, Leon, and Geeta!

Except for Elite Four Agatha and the Royal Masked Man, all were regional Champions.

Additionally, two people served based on their rankings, strength, and points from the previous "Pokémon World Championships."

They were Pryce from the Johto region and Peony from the Paldea region!

Eleven people total.

Currently ranked by points, Leon was in first place!

But because Leon had recently been busy with Galar region and Rose Corporation succession matters, his points were trending toward being caught up by Lance.

As for Johan... though he'd gained some points, he was still at the bottom.

Additionally, currently in "Great Ball Tier," the top five who would successfully advance to "Master Ball Tier" in the "Master Replacement Battle" were:

Raihan, Geeta, Mustard, Lorelei, and Giovanni!

Master Mustard's strength was actually sufficient to replace Peony's position, but... Mustard hadn't participated in the previous "Pokémon World Championships," so he didn't qualify.

Or more accurately, Mustard's joy was in climbing ranks and rankings, not in achieving some final placement.

He would most likely, like in the previous "Pokémon World Championships," voluntarily withdraw after the points stage ended.

Discussion about these "Great Ball Tier" top five was very intense.

Especially two names rarely seen in the public eye: Geeta and Giovanni.

Boss Giovanni was still fine—he'd done several big things with Johan, plus "Rainbow Rocket" gradually appearing in everyone's view, so people had some understanding of him.

But Geeta... when people investigated, they discovered he was actually the chairman of the Paldea region's largest corporation, Outstanding Inc.

No, it shouldn't be called the Paldea region's largest, because Outstanding Inc., like Silph Co. and Devon Corporation, had business covering all regions with wide influence, just not as well-known as Silph Co. and Devon Corporation.

Indeed, few people would think that Outstanding Inc.'s chairman would also participate in this "Pokémon World Championships."

This made the already limited spots extremely tight.

Moreover, besides these people, there were relatively less well-known names gradually rising in the point rankings.

Like N, like Tobias.

Overall, this "Pokémon World Championships" was more intensely competitive than many had expected.

It was also seen by many as the most important link in the generational transition!

And the end date for the "Pokémon World Championships" points stage was getting closer and closer.

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Powerstones?

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