Chapter 215: Ascending to Champion
The result was that most of the Stone Edge attacks were successfully dodged by Charizard, with only a few managing to hit. Meanwhile, Dragonite, at a level disadvantage, was struck by Charizard’s Sacred Fire. The searing heat made Dragonite cry out in pain and inflicted a burn.
Lance watched in horror. If not for Multiscale, Dragonite might have gone down in that single exchange.
"Th-this—how can the gap be this wide in just one year?!" Lance muttered in terror.
In their first exchange, the difference in strength was immediately apparent. Charizard had only sustained minor injuries, while Dragonite was severely wounded and burned. A year ago, Dragonite had dominated Charizard. Was this the difference between having Sacred Fire and not?
Panic set in. If Charizard was this strong, none of his remaining Pokémon would stand a chance.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, Rio gave his second command: "Charizard—Sacred Fire!"
"Roaar~" Another torrent of purple flames erupted.
"Dragonite—Agility, dodge!" Lance commanded through gritted teeth, hoping Dragonite could evade.
"Drag~" Dragonite spread its wings and flew across the battlefield at high speed, narrowly avoiding the Sacred Fire.
"Charizard—don’t stop the flames. The burn will trigger and slow it down," Rio said calmly.
Charizard pursued Dragonite with Sacred Fire. After only two seconds, Dragonite’s burn triggered, causing it to falter midair. The Sacred Fire caught up—and Dragonite fell.
Lance felt a chill run down his spine. He couldn’t understand how Rio’s strength had grown so fast in just one year. He had been training too—so why was he being crushed? He was Lance—Elite Four Lance—heir of the Dragon Tamer Clan. How could an ordinary person surpass him so thoroughly? It was unthinkable.
"Elite Four Lance—time to send out your fourth Pokémon," Rio said with a smile.
Lance wanted to tear that smile off Rio’s face—but he held himself back. He recalled Dragonite and sent out his fourth Pokémon—a Level 65 Charizard. It lasted less than five seconds before being taken down by a single Sacred Fire.
Lance sent out his fifth—a Level 65 Gyarados. Same result. One hit.
His sixth and final Pokémon—an Altaria—fell just as quickly. Lance stood frozen, pale and hollow-eyed.
"I... I lost?" he murmured, staring blankly ahead, his spirit shattered.
"Good work, Charizard." Rio calmly recalled Charizard and walked toward the door leading to the Champion’s chamber. As he passed Lance, he heard him speak:
"Rio—tell me the truth. Have I gotten weaker?"
"No—you haven’t gotten weaker. I’ve just gotten too strong, too fast." Rio threw back a line dripping with confidence, then walked onward, stepping through the door that now belonged to him alone.
After Rio left, Lance stood alone in the room, lost and broken. He had never experienced a battle like this in his entire life. Even if he had, it had always been his opponents who felt this way.
"There’s always someone stronger," he thought. I’ve been too arrogant and complacent. I let my training slip. That’s why I’m in this position. I need to work harder—train harder—and surpass him. With renewed resolve, Lance walked out of the room.
Meanwhile, Rio walked down a long corridor and arrived at the room that would henceforth be his alone—the Champion’s Chamber.
"This... is the Champion’s throne?"
The room was empty except for a magnificent throne at the top of a flight of stairs. With eager steps, Rio ascended and sat down.
At first, he was thrilled—his hard work had finally paid off. He was now the sole Champion of both Kanto and Johto, ruling over two regions. He was now the trainer at the top of the pyramid, worthy of being called Champion Rio—not just "Conference Champion Rio."
But after a moment, a sense of emptiness crept in. Something was missing. The room was empty—just him.
"At least a few people could come in and flatter me a little," he grumbled. There was no point in showing off if no one was watching.
"Is this meant to teach me that Champions are destined to be lonely?" he sighed. If that was the message, he could accept it—the path to kingship was a solitary one.
Then he noticed six slots on the throne, apparently designed to hold Poké Balls. Rio thought for a moment and placed the Poké Balls of Charizard and his other Pokémon into the slots.
The moment they were in place, the six slots glowed red, as if scanning. About ten seconds later, a scroll unrolled from the left side of the room—depicting Charizard. Seven or eight seconds later, a second scroll appeared—Munchlax. Then a third—Annihilape. A fourth—Red Gyarados. A fifth—Greninja. A sixth—Eevee.
Three scrolls on the left, three on the right. When all six had descended, the red glow from the slots faded, as if its task was complete.
Rio gazed at the six portraits, a vague, indescribable feeling stirring in his chest. He then retrieved the six Poké Balls and pulled out the ancient Poké Ball instead. A moment later, he released Gengar.
"Gengar—I need your help with something," Rio said directly.
"What now?" the old ghost asked, puzzled. I never get to enjoy the glory—only the hard work.
"All you need to do is simple..."
Rio explained his request while pulling out the three Poké Balls containing the Regis. Soon after, Gengar sank into the ground and vanished—carrying the three Poké Balls with it.