Pokémon: When the World Changed

"Training mission completed."

"Once I hand these eight Badges in at the embassy, I'll be able to return. In addition, with these eight Badges, I'll also be able to participate in the Pokémon League."

Carefully placing the eight Badges on the table, a smile appeared on Ethan's face.

In this training expedition in the Federal League, aside from those eight Badges, Kommo-o and Garchomp had also managed to take that crucial step and grow.

Up to that point, it could be said that the entire training experience in the Federal League had gone wonderfully.

Next, he only needed to seize victory in the Pokémon League to complete his training perfectly.

"Sandslash, Lucario, Charizard, Melmetal, Kommo-o, and Garchomp. This time, without a doubt, the six of you will be the ones participating in the Pokémon League. Give it your all."

After registering for the Federal League tournament, Ethan spoke with his six Pokémon.

And, furthermore, if he managed to become the final champion, he would also obtain the opportunity to challenge one of the Federal League's Elite-level Trainers.

From that point of view, naturally, the true protagonist would be Melmetal, who possessed Elite-level combat power.

"Although, before the Pokémon League, I will first have to pass by the embassy."

Thinking about the competition that was about to begin, Ethan felt a certain concern.

He was a little worried that, if he stood out too much in the tournament, that might provoke some strange movement from the Federal League.

Not long ago, just after defeating Leader Nico, he had already received an invitation from the other side.

Of course, as for joining the Federal League, he had rejected it without hesitation.

After receiving that answer, Leader Nico simply smiled and shook his head, without insisting further.

But now, although the Federal League had not insisted again, if he showed strength equivalent to the Elite level, surely the League's stance would change again.

...

"Ethan, you want to challenge the Federal League's Pokémon tournament?"

At the embassy, the ambassador of the Daleron League fell into a brief silence after hearing Ethan's words.

Due to Ethan's special status, the Daleron League had always closely followed his training experience.

"That's right. I want to try what it feels like to fight against an Elite of the Federal League."

"A public battle of that level is a very difficult opportunity to obtain!"

Ethan smiled broadly.

On a public occasion like that, in order to protect their prestige, an Elite-level Trainer would undoubtedly have to make sure to win.

And only in a situation like that would it be possible to face an Elite-level Trainer who truly fought with all their strength.

Normally, it was also possible to ask an Elite-level Trainer for a practice battle, but the atmosphere was different, and one could never know for certain whether they were truly using all their strength.

"Do you have confidence in a public battle like that?"

Looking at Ethan, who overflowed with confidence, the ambassador showed a strange expression.

"I'll only know that when the time comes to battle."

Ethan's answer was direct, and it slightly surprised the ambassador.

He observed him from top to bottom, unable to imagine where that confidence came from.

Could it be that Ethan already possessed Elite-level combat power?

"Don't worry. When the time comes, our League will also send a delegation to that tournament."

Naturally, the ambassador understood perfectly what Ethan was worried about, so he responded with a smile.

At the same time, a trace of expectation appeared in his eyes.

Although he still did not really believe that Ethan could defeat an Elite-level Trainer of the Federal League, as long as he showed a certain level of power, that would already be enough to bring prestige to the Daleron League.

And if he truly managed to defeat the other side's Elite-level Trainer...

Thinking of that, the ambassador slowly shook his head, feeling that it was unrealistic.

But, if Ethan really managed to do it, the entire Federal League would probably explode completely!

...

The days passed one after another.

During that time, Ethan continued training his Pokémon without rest.

The research on Sandslash's Totem aura, the study of Charizard's Solar Fire, Lucario's life energy research, Melmetal's adaptation to its new body and mastery of its original abilities, as well as Kommo-o and Garchomp's exploration of their own paths.

During that period, each of his Pokémon had lived very intensely, and their strength continued increasing with steady steps.

And, amid that atmosphere, the Federal League's Pokémon League officially began.

In the central stadium of the Federal League, the opening ceremony had already begun.

Listening to those passionate speeches on the stage that he did not even fully understand, Ethan's gaze wandered around the surroundings.

With the World Championship drawing near, he had also seen many Trainers in training from other Leagues arrive.

However, someone as young as him was still a rarity.

Most of those Trainers in training were around the League's age limit, twenty-five years old; in comparison, he, who was only twenty-one, seemed much more immature among all of them.

Fortunately, aside from those foreign Trainers, most of those present were still Trainers from the Federal League itself.

And those Trainers, who had invested so much effort in gathering the eight Badges, could not help looking at the foreign Trainers in training with bitter expressions.

Although the Gyms of the Federal League had done everything possible to block the entry of Trainers from other Leagues, several of them had still managed to qualify.

Facing that situation, the Federal League itself had also sent many especially strong native Trainers to compete, raising the difficulty of that tournament to a much higher level.

"That is... Stefan, Harvey, and also James."

Suddenly, Ethan's gaze hardened.

The people he had just seen were, without exception, members of the Federal League who had participated in the junior category of the Pokémon World Championship.

When they competed in that junior tournament, they were all twenty-two years old.

And now they were twenty-three, while the age limit for the Federal League's League was twenty-five.

"Stefan... That Darkrai, after all this time training, will undoubtedly have become much stronger..."

A thoughtful expression appeared on Ethan's face. Back then, the reason Mega Lucario had been able to defeat Darkrai was not only because Lucario's aura power countered the power of nightmares, but also because Stefan had not yet had time to train Darkrai properly.

But now, after all that time of training, it was inevitable that Darkrai had become much more powerful.

"Why did we have to be so unlucky as to coincide right with the World Championship?"

"Our League should prohibit participants from other Leagues from entering the tournament!" said a Federal League Trainer in frustration, clearly displeased.

"It can't be helped. After all, we are supposed to be the freest nation of all."

Another Trainer replied with a helpless sigh.

"Damn that freedom."

The first one muttered, in a complaining tone.

...

"How are the contacts with those Trainers in training going?"

In the main stand, the higher-ups of the Federal League were also holding their own discussions.

"They are going quite well. There are already several Trainers in training who have shown their willingness to join our League."

"However, one of them, who has a great deal of potential, set conditions that were far too high. Some of them even asked to become a 'divine envoy,' and I rejected it directly."

The person in charge of recruiting Trainers from other Leagues answered.