Chapter 186: Becoming Champion
The Champion battle arena.
Not a single seat in the circular stands was empty, and the members of the Shiny Shinyko Fan Club alone occupied three entire sections.
"I’ve lived a long life."
Alder walked to one side of the battlefield and looked around at the surrounding stands.
"But this is the first time I’ve ever felt like the away player in my own home stadium."
Good-natured laughter immediately erupted throughout the stands, accompanied by plenty of cheers from Alder’s own supporters.
"Grandpa Alder."
Miori stood at the opposite end of the battlefield and gave him a proper bow.
"I look forward to battling you."
"No need to be so formal."
Alder crossed his arms.
"I told you before the tournament that once you reached this stage, I would use my strongest Pokémon against you."
"Now it’s time for me to keep that promise."
With that, he took out a Poké Ball and threw it high into the air.
Red light erupted.
A Bouffalant landed heavily on the battlefield, its four thick legs planted like iron pillars against the ground.
The entire arena trembled beneath its weight.
Miori also took a Poké Ball from her waist and threw it with all her strength.
"Zeraora, I’m counting on you!"
Zeraora landed on the battlefield, its gaze immediately locking onto Bouffalant.
The referee glanced toward both sides. Seeing that they were ready, he raised his flag and swung it down.
"Battle, begin!"
"Bouffalant, use Head Charge!"
Alder made the first move.
Bouffalant slammed its front hooves against the ground and transformed into a massive brown projectile, charging straight toward Zeraora.
"Zeraora, use Agility!"
Miori reacted just as quickly.
Zeraora accelerated in an instant and slipped sideways past Bouffalant’s charge.
Bouffalant crashed headfirst into the protective wall at the edge of the battlefield, causing spiderweb-like cracks to spread across its entire surface.
"Now! Close Combat!"
Miori seized the opening while Bouffalant was turning around.
Still moving at high speed, Zeraora kicked against the ground and cut toward Bouffalant’s flank.
Fighting-type energy gathered around both fists in dazzling white light.
An uppercut slammed squarely into Bouffalant’s side.
Bouffalant released a muffled grunt, its massive body sliding half a meter sideways from the impact.
The attack was super effective!
But rather than panic, Alder’s lips curled upward.
"Bouffalant, Payback!"
At the very instant it was struck, Bouffalant twisted its body around.
Dark-red Dark-type energy enveloped one of its front hooves before it slammed directly into Zeraora’s chest.
Zeraora took the heavy blow and hurriedly retreated, clutching its chest.
Bouffalant had also been injured.
The muscles along its left side twitched faintly, but all four hooves remained firmly planted on the battlefield, and the fighting spirit in its eyes only burned brighter.
"Zeraora."
Miori spoke.
"Can you keep going?"
Zeraora turned toward her.
It made no sound.
Instead, it clenched one fist and gave Miori a firm nod.
"Good."
Miori reached for the Key Stone hanging around her neck.
"Then let’s do this."
Seeing the motion, Alder’s eyebrows shifted slightly.
"Oh? You were still hiding something?"
"Zeraora."
Miori raised her head, her voice carrying throughout the entire stadium.
"Mega Evolve!!"
The Key Stone in Miori’s hand erupted with dazzling rainbow-colored light.
At the same moment, the Mega Stone hidden within Zeraora’s mane burst into the same radiance.
Countless multicolored beams connected, intertwined, and resonated with one another.
It was as though the very air inside the stadium had been stirred by the surging energy.
Zeraora threw back its head and released a deafening roar.
Its body rapidly transformed within the light—
The muscles along its limbs grew more defined, while its already sleek frame became even more powerful and agile.
When the light finally faded—
Mega Zeraora slowly straightened.
Its icy-blue eyes locked onto Bouffalant across the battlefield, their depths overflowing with excitement and hunger for battle.
"Zeraora."
Miori raised her hand.
"Plasma Fists!"
Mega Zeraora was even faster than before.
So fast that Alder’s eyes hadn’t even managed to follow its trajectory before Mega Zeraora had already appeared directly above Bouffalant.
Blinding platinum-white electricity enveloped its right fist.
It came crashing down from above.
"Bouffalant, Protect!"
Alder shouted sharply.
A pale-green barrier unfolded above Bouffalant.
Plasma Fists smashed into it—
And the barrier shook violently.
"We’re not finished!"
Miori swung her hand downward.
"Close Combat!"
The instant the barrier shattered, Mega Zeraora launched its second assault.
Brilliant white Fighting-type energy gathered around both fists as a storm of punches rained down upon Bouffalant.
The first struck its shoulder.
The second slammed into its side.
The third came upward—
And smashed directly into its jaw.
"Payback!"
Alder seized the brief opening after Close Combat ended.
Bouffalant endured the relentless barrage and launched another Payback straight toward Mega Zeraora’s chest.
This strike carried all the momentum of the punishment Bouffalant had just endured, pushing Payback’s power to its limit.
But Mega Zeraora didn’t retreat.
It twisted sideways, narrowly evading the blow—
Then hooked its left arm tightly around Bouffalant’s neck.
"Now—"
Miori thrust her hand forward.
"Maximum-power Plasma Fists!"
Platinum-white electricity gathered around Mega Zeraora’s right fist.
Compressed.
Condensed.
Then compressed again.
The sphere of electricity expanded from the size of a fist to nearly the size of a washbasin.
Every electrical charge in the surrounding air seemed to be pulled toward that sphere.
Throughout the stands, spectators felt their hair rise strand by strand from the static electricity.
Mega Zeraora brought down that platinum-white sun—
Along with every ounce of strength it possessed—
Straight into Bouffalant.
The resulting explosion of light swallowed the entire battlefield.
When the radiance finally faded—
Bouffalant lay collapsed at the edge of the arena.
Its four limbs were spread out, and perfectly matching spirals filled its eyes.
Its trademark afro had been electrocuted until it was nearly twice its normal size, with tiny wisps of white smoke rising from every strand.
"Bouffalant is unable to battle! Zeraora wins!"
The referee finally recovered from his shock and hurriedly raised his flag.
The entire stadium remained silent for three full seconds.
Then—
Deafening cheers erupted from every direction.
The referee was forced to raise his voice just to be heard over the roaring crowd.
"A new Unova League Champion has been crowned!"
"Everyone, congratulations to our new Champion—"
"MIORI!!"
Streamers and glitter rained down from the stadium dome.
Golden and silver confetti reflected countless tiny points of light beneath the spotlights.
Miori stood atop the awards platform.
Zeraora, Luxray, Ampharos, Metagross, Hydreigon, and Aegislash surrounded her.
Alder stepped onto the platform and extended his right hand.
"Miori, congratulations."
Miori took his hand and shook it enthusiastically twice.
"Thank you, Grandpa Alder!"
"No need to thank me."
Alder released her hand and personally draped the Champion’s cape over Miori’s shoulders.
"This cape has stayed with this old man long enough."
"It’s about time it found itself a new owner."
Miori pulled the Champion’s cape snugly around her shoulders.
Then she planted both hands on her hips and flashed an exceptionally brilliant smile toward the entire stadium.
"Starting today, the Champion of the Unova League—"
She pointed proudly at herself.
"Is Miori!"
[VIP Chat Group]
[Ash]: She’s Champion!!! Miori became Champion!!!
[Bianca]: Waaaah, Miori is seriously amazing! She went from Nimbasa Gym Leader, to undercover agent inside Team Plasma, all the way to Unova League Champion!
[Bruno]: Plasma Fists against Payback! The entire battlefield was glowing during that final attack! My blood was boiling just watching it! Now that’s what a Champion battle should look like!
[May]: When Champion Alder personally placed the Champion’s cape around her shoulders, I nearly started crying. That feeling of one generation passing the torch to the next was wonderful!
[Alder]: Heh. These old bones of mine have wanted to retire for quite some time. If my parallel-world counterpart managed to find a successor like Miori before retiring, I’d say he could step down without any regrets.
...
TL: Sorry, I was busy yesterday and didn’t have time to update. Here are your four Chapters.