In the year 301 of the New Pokémon Calendar, young trainers in Pallet Town were still dreaming of challenging the Indigo Plateau and becoming champions of the Kanto Region.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the world, the grandest event of the year was in full swing—the World Pokémon Championships.
Galar Region, Wyndon – Wyndon Stadium (Palace Gate Arena)
This was the place where legends gathered.
The stadium was packed to the brim with spectators, fans, researchers, and representatives from every major region. Even Professor Oak, the most esteemed figure in the Pokémon academic community, had traveled across regions to witness this climactic event—the final battle of the Master Eight Tournament.
At the heart of the battlefield, two powerful trainers stood tall.
On one side was Leon, the reigning World Champion and beloved figure of the Galar Region, known for his iconic cape and undefeated battle streak.
On the other was Lance, the Dragon Master of the Kanto Elite Four and Champion of the Johto Region. Known for his fearless battle style and command over dragon Pokémon, Lance had long been hailed as one of the strongest Trainers in the world.
But now, the title of "Strongest King" was on the line.
With a final command, Leon's voice echoed across the arena:
"Charizard, unleash your ultimate—G-Max Wildfire!"
With a deafening roar, Leon's Gigantamax Charizard lit up the stadium. Flames surged outward in a blazing spiral, surrounding Lance's Gyarados in a fiery vortex. The sky turned crimson as the inferno lit up every corner of the arena. The massive form of Charizard loomed above, a living embodiment of power.
The crowd held its breath.
And then—
Boom!
A charred Gyarados crashed to the ground with a heavy thud.
The referee raised his flag:
"Gyarados is unable to battle! Charizard wins! The victor of this match—and the defending World Champion—is Mr. Leon of the Galar Region!"
Thunderous applause erupted instantly. The crowd roared like a tidal wave, drowning the stadium in pure, electric energy.
"Too strong! Leon is just too strong!"
"He's defended his title again—what a monster!"
"Lance is no slouch, but Leon is simply on another level."
"Is there even a Trainer alive who can beat him?"
"Leon, you truly are the strongest Trainer in the world!"
Cheers echoed through the sky. Fans chanted Leon's name. Cameras flashed as confetti and fireworks exploded in celebration of the match's stunning finale.
On stage, Chairman Damalan, President of the Pokémon Trainer Alliance, personally handed the golden championship trophy to Leon.
"Leon, you've done it again," he said with admiration. "Congratulations on your third consecutive World Championship."
Leon smiled humbly, accepting the trophy. "Thank you, Mr. Chairman. But I still believe I can do better."
Damalan laughed. "Hah! If this is you not at your best, then I fear no one will ever dethrone you in the next ten years."
Back in the audience, other champion Trainers watched the ceremony with mixed emotions.
Alder, the Champion of the Unova Region, burst out laughing.
"Looks like I lost a bet again, haha! Leon did it—what a beast."
Steven Stone, Champion of the Hoenn Region, let out a sigh.
"Leon truly is on a different level. I don't think any of us stand a chance right now."
Steven's ace Pokémon, Metagross, had a massive type disadvantage against Charizard's fire moves. It was a hard wall to climb.
Diantha, Champion of the Kalos Region, nodded. "If anyone has a chance, it's either Cynthia or Lance."
The camera panned to Cynthia, Champion of the Sinnoh Region, and Lance, who was just retrieving his fallen Gyarados. The two exchanged a glance, then smiled.
"I'd love to defeat Leon someday," Cynthia said, smiling calmly. "But I still have a long way to go."
Lance clenched his fists, fire still burning in his eyes.
"Even if I've failed before, I won't give up. The Kanto Region may be second to Galar, but I'll be the one to end Leon's reign!"
Diantha chuckled. "Before you do that, maybe focus on training your Aerodactyl. Rock-type moves are four times effective against Charizard, after all."
"Nonsense!" Lance protested. "I'm the Dragon Master! I specialize in dragons!"
Diantha smirked. "Really? Because you just used Gyarados, Aerodactyl, and Dragonite. All Flying-types."
Lance: ...Emmmmm.
As laughter rippled through the Champions' row, everyone turned their attention back to Leon.
Three consecutive world titles.
Undefeated in every official match since his debut.
Still young and full of ambition.
Was there even a Trainer who could challenge him?
Suddenly, the unexpected happened.
Just as the crowd was settling down, a strange voice echoed throughout the Palace Gate Stadium:
[Now broadcasting live worldwide—]
[Presenting key highlights from the Pokémon world and beyond!]
The voice was calm, robotic—and clearly not part of the event.
Then, right in the center of the stadium, a massive green holographic screen appeared out of thin air.
The crowd gasped.
"What in the world…?"
"What's going on?"
All around the globe, from major cities in Sinnoh to sleepy villages in Hoenn, green screens began appearing in town squares, gyms, and even high-security facilities.
At the Team Rocket Headquarters in the Kanto Region, Giovanni narrowed his eyes.
"What is the Pokémon League playing at?"
Citizens everywhere looked up in confusion as the same green screen and strange message appeared over their skies.
Back on Cinnabar Island, Ash Ketchum and his friends—who were preparing for his seventh badge challenge—paused to look up at the sky.
"What's that?" Misty asked, startled.
Brock squinted. "It's coming from the Palace Gate Arena in Galar."
Even elite trainers, gym leaders, and professors across the globe were frozen in place as they tried to understand what was happening.
Lance instinctively stepped forward. "I'll go check it out."
But Professor Oak quickly stopped him, his expression uncharacteristically serious.
"Wait. Don't act rashly. Let's see what their intentions are first."
Cynthia, Steven, Alder, and Diantha all nodded in agreement. Even they couldn't sense hostility, but the suddenness of the event put them on edge.
Then, the robotic voice returned—
[Playback sequence initiating—]
[Presenting: The Top 10 Greatest Battles in Pokémon History!]
All over the world, screens shimmered to life.
The audience watched, stunned.
It wasn't just a random show. It was a worldwide broadcast—declaring a countdown of the most legendary battles from across the Pokémon universe and parallel dimensions.
What did it mean?
Was it entertainment? A warning? Or something more?
One thing was clear:
Everyone in the world—Trainer, Champion, or civilian—was now part of something far greater.