Pokemon: Spiritual Master

"Resolved?"

Cynthia looked at Johan appearing on the massive root system beneath the "Sacred Tree" and asked.

Johan grinned. "Just some small fry."

We're Champions after all!

However, he still briefly explained the "Enhancement Orbs," "Rakua elements," and Outstanding Inc. identities that Agate and Onyx had used.

Cynthia pondered thoughtfully: "Looks like Chairman Geeta will be busy."

Johan shrugged.

Let Geeta worry about the "Rakua elements" situation. They'd already done enough, whether intentionally or not.

Regarding Paldea region matters, Johan chose to observe from the sidelines.

No choice—he didn't understand it well.

Besides, logically speaking, Paldea region's strongest legendary should be little turtle Terapagos.

But little turtle's nature... was basically a "turtle version" of Jirachi—harmless to humans and animals. At most, another shiny Zygarde might pop out, but they had shiny Rayquaza to handle that.

Better not get involved in this commotion if possible.

Successfully completing the "Pokémon World Championships" would be enough!

"How's this side?"

Johan looked up at the towering "Sacred Tree." After taking two spear hits from Biotope Company's robot, the "Sacred Tree" had two huge gashes with peculiar liquid seeming to have flowed out by more than half.

"Look."

Cynthia gestured with her chin, indicating Johan should look at the Zarude.

The Zarude elder, leading a group of Zarude, was looking at Johan expectantly, appearing to want to say something but not quite daring to.

Enemies that their entire Zarude clan couldn't stop despite their full efforts, Johan and Cynthia had easily resolved.

If last time the Zarude clan's understanding of Johan's strength was insufficient, this time... they recognized it.

The Zarude were also relieved that Johan had held back a few days ago—otherwise, they wouldn't know if their clan would see the next day's sun.

Simultaneously, while revering Johan and Cynthia's strength, the Zarude also looked at Johan with some pleading.

Perhaps this extraordinarily powerful human could help them restore the "Sacred Tree."

Actually, Johan was already planning to do this without them asking.

Because Serperior had once again resonated with the "Sacred Tree."

And unlike before, last time Serperior had been proactive, but this time the Sacred Tree was "proactive."

Serperior's ability to immediately get the forest's response during the previous battle was actually a sign.

Sure enough—

"Sni..."

Serperior stood beneath the tree, looking up blankly at the damaged "Sacred Tree."

Rustle rustle—

Forest leaves rustled without wind.

A light green breeze drifted up from behind Serperior, as if the forest's power was gathering toward it, helping it restore the "Sacred Tree."

Johan nodded slightly.

Last time, though Serperior gained much, it hadn't met evolution conditions. This time... might be different.

Even without using aura power, Johan could still feel that forest aura.

Such a vast forest, plus the "Sacred Tree's" power interaction...

"Sni!"

Serperior called out low as numerous blue-green transparent vine-like patterns appeared behind it.

All the Zarude present gaped seeing this scene.

"Zarude!" The elder Zarude was extremely excited, constantly striking the ground with its staff, making "bang bang" sounds.

Child of the Forest!

Child of the Forest!

Child?

Johan glanced disapprovingly at the elder Zarude.

Believe it or not, Serperior will beat you up later?

She's a girl, you know.

"Ka-kaah..."

Gengar's eyes rolled around, looking at the staff in the elder Zarude's hand with some cunning.

Last visit, Gengar had taken a liking to this staff. This time...

[It's the forest's wish! A wish from the forest!]

Jirachi called out excitedly.

A "wish" from the forest!

As the Wish Pokémon, Jirachi clearly felt it.

And to fulfill this wish... depended on Serperior.

"Sni~"

Serperior remained calm, approaching the thick "Sacred Tree" and gently placing her hand on its trunk.

The next second, tender shoots sprouted from the trunk beneath Serperior's feet, quickly budding and growing.

The blue-green vines behind Serperior grew longer, rapidly spreading. In the previously destroyed forest, numerous plants continuously sprouted and took root.

"Bii~~"

At this moment, a ethereal, crisp sound came from atop the "Sacred Tree."

Everyone looked toward the sound.

The Zarude immediately became excited.

Celebi!

It's Celebi!

They couldn't remember how long since they'd seen Celebi—this legendary existence that protected forests had actually appeared now!

Could it be...

"A shiny Celebi," Cynthia said softly.

What appeared was a pink-colored Celebi, moving gracefully and nimbly, its sparkling eyes curiously watching Serperior.

"Cha?"

Tinkaton looked at Celebi, then at itself, then pointed at Celebi and called to Johan twice.

Hey! It's the same color as me!

Johan looked at the appearing shiny Celebi, then at the various "phenomena" Serperior was bringing about, his expression somewhat strange.

His Serperior wouldn't evolve into a legendary, would it?

Really, this commotion didn't seem like what ordinary Pokémon could cause.

"Bii~"

Celebi playfully winked at Johan, looking like it recognized him.

However, it didn't linger, instead flying rapidly around the forest, constantly waving at Serperior.

The forest power already stirred by Serperior became even more surging.

"Sni!"

Serperior suddenly called out lightly.

Hum—

The damaged areas on the "Sacred Tree" began glowing faintly as the broken trunk visibly recovered.

"Oowoo..."

Ninetales sensed "life energy" aura.

When the "Sacred Tree" gradually recovered, when the forest's power reached some extreme...

Hum—

Serperior's body suddenly burst with brilliant white light!

"Here it comes!" Johan collected all scattered thoughts and focused intently on Serperior.

Evolution light!

Though his Pokémon had evolved many times, Johan inevitably felt nervous and excited whenever a Pokémon evolved.

Evolution... was probably one of Pokémon's most charming abilities.

Under the white light's envelope, Serperior's appearance gradually changed.

Her arms slowly disappeared, her body became thicker and longer, overall size growing larger. Vine-like patterns slowly appeared on her body, seeming to belong naturally while also seeming... to originate from the entire forest!

Rustle—

The recovered "Sacred Tree's" thick trunk and lush branches seemed to sway, and a power belonging to the "Sacred Tree" fed back to Serperior.

Just like Serperior with their "Miracle Berry" tree.

However, this energy was more massive and pure.

When the brilliant white light faded, Serperior—no, should be called Serperior now—appeared before Johan and others in a brand new form.

[Wow—]

Jirachi's little eyes lit up, emotional value maxed out.

"Sni..."

Serperior struck a cool pose, expression aloof, chin slightly raised, red eyes showing royal pride without reservation.

Finally!

Serperior had successfully evolved into her final form!

However, when Serperior saw Johan's smiling face, that prideful color quickly disappeared.

"Congratulations, Serperior. You've become even more amazing," Johan smiled.

He'd been wondering when Serperior would evolve into her final form. "Forest's Blessing" brought huge benefits while making evolution far more difficult than other Pokémon.

The previous "Sacred Tree" visit hadn't enabled evolution.

Unexpectedly, this time the "Sacred Tree" being damaged actually let her successfully accumulate the power needed for evolution.

"Sni, sni!"

Serperior's cheeks reddened slightly as she called out with bared teeth.

Even, even if you praise me, I won't be happy!

"Haha—"

Johan had figured out Serperior's personality—she needed gentle handling. Though she looked fierce, that was just her shy "disguise."

"Bii~"

Celebi waved at Johan and Serperior, turning to enter a space-time tunnel.

"Give my regards, I miss it very much. Come play together when you have time~" Johan also waved at Celebi.

The "it" he mentioned was naturally the Celebi he knew.

"Bii~~"

The shiny Celebi nodded happily and disappeared.

Johan rubbed his chin lightly.

He wondered if Celebi understood correctly. By "you both" he meant this shiny Celebi and the previously known Celebi—two total.

Don't let thousands of Celebi suddenly appear... that would be fun.

The elder Zarude, leaning on its staff, walked "resolutely" to Johan. When directly facing Johan's gaze, its eyes trembled slightly, but it forced courage and took a deep breath.

Johan's expression was strange.

This old Zarude's expression kept changing—who knew what it was thinking.

"Za, Zarude!"

Could, could you please have the 'Child of the Forest' stay!

Stay?

Johan and Serperior exchanged glances.

Too lazy to even speak, they turned and left.

Stay here yourselves.

The surrounding wild Pokémon that Coco had brought followed Serperior step by step as they left.

In such a short time, Serperior had already "conquered" all the wild Pokémon.

"Teacher, Teacher Johan..."

Quite a few Biotope Company researchers recognized Johan, as his reputation in research circles wasn't small.

Karen, as representative, approached.

When Dr. Jedo wanted to ignore all wild Pokémon and force-attack the "Sacred Tree," Karen and others had realized Dr. Jedo's true purpose wasn't so simple, nor was he as "kind" as he appeared.

And now, Dr. Jedo, Onyx, Agate, and numerous Outstanding Inc. members were unconscious or tied up.

Karen wanted to ask what to do with these people.

"Oh right." Johan slapped his forehead. "There's still one matter to wrap up."

He gave Gengar a look.

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar hypnotized Dr. Jedo without any difficulty.

Dr. Jedo gradually told everything about persecuting Coco's parents back then.

Karen and others looked shocked.

They hadn't expected Dr. Jedo to actually commit murder?

And against his two best "friends"!

How many veteran researchers in current Biotope Company had joined because of Coco's parents?

Of course, most shocked was definitely Coco.

Not only confirming he wasn't a Zarude, but learning his parents had already died...

But this was left to Papa Zarude—it could certainly comfort him well.

Perhaps... future Coco would still leave this forest and return to human society.

The way he'd developed of interacting with Pokémon in youth, plus his ability to communicate directly with Pokémon, destined him to become a very remarkable trainer.

Perhaps comparable to N.

"Please hand this Dr. Jedo over to Officer Jenny," Johan told Karen and others.

"Yes!"

Understanding what Dr. Jedo had done, Karen and others' last trace of sympathy disappeared.

As for Agate, Onyx and others... they could only call Chairman Geeta to send people to take them away.

"Whew—"

Johan stretched lazily.

Matter finished!

This "plot" had no difficulty and even let Serperior evolve.

If only all encountered matters could be this "simple."

Noticing Cynthia's gaze, Johan smiled: "Now we can train properly."

Serperior's evolution was perfect timing for training to adapt to post-evolution bodily changes.

"Zarude..."

Watching the departing Johan and Cynthia, watching the reluctant wild Pokémon, the elder Zarude sighed sadly and pounded its back.

Pity they couldn't keep the "Child of the Forest."

However... this "Sacred Tree" attack and wild Pokémon rescue made the Zarude realize...

Perhaps "Forest's Blood" didn't just refer to them, but all forest Pokémon.

Hmm?

"Zarude?"

The elder Zarude suddenly felt like something was missing, looking around. What was missing?

Right.

My staff!

Where's my staff!

Time passed.

The "Pokémon World Championships'" "points stage" concluded amid audiences' rising enthusiasm.

The top five from "points stage" would directly advance to "Master Ball Tier," filling sixteen "Master Ball Tier" spots.

The following sixteen would qualify for "Master Replacement Battle."

Of course, considering some might not have sufficient time for points, there was still "Ultra Ball Tier" double-elimination tournament before "Master Replacement Battle."

Meaning... excluding the thirty-two who advanced to "Master Ball Tier," the top sixteen would have "two lives"—still qualifying for "revival matches" after defeat, while the bottom sixteen had only one chance.

The final sixteen determined could participate in "Master Replacement Battle."

This gave many opportunities while making competition more suspenseful.

Johan and Cynthia officially ended training, preparing to head to Galar region to watch "Ultra Ball Tier" tournaments while preparing for "Master Replacement Battle."

Additionally, many long-unseen friends and elders could meet at this event.

Johan's thinking was simple.

Don't get challenged in "Master Replacement Battle," meet Diantha or Professor Kukui in the round of sixteen—that would be success!

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Powerstones?

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