John had defeated Grace in a spectacular fashion, propelling him closer to the final.
When the news spread across the campus network, it caused quite a stir. However, some initial doubts lingered.
Black Humor: "I'm not surprised John beat Grace, but using only one Pokemon? That's outrageous."
Slim Shady: "Just got back from the plane. That's insane."
Certified Lover Boy: "I saw Grace's battle on Trial Island, and her strength was impressive. I'm starting to think John's fans might just be hyping him up."
But soon enough, the full video of the battle between John and Grace was uploaded, and all doubts vanished. What followed were only awe-struck comments.
Unparalleled Troll: "Boss John, please let me bow before you."
Black Humor: "My bad. I shouldn't have doubted John."
Grandps: "From now on, it's Boss John!"
Sam: "As a student from the battle department, I'm ashamed. I couldn't even beat him."
John, however, didn't pay attention to the campus chatter. He was more focused on watching shows, leveling up in games, and getting some well-deserved rest.
After reaching the semifinals, John began to notice something strange. Everywhere he went, whether through the breeding department or the battle department, students now called him "Boss John" with an odd reverence.
John wasn't used to it. For the first time, he felt a bit uneasy. Several big, burly guys from the battle department had even greeted him with a respectful "Boss John." If he hadn't known better, he might've thought they wanted him to join their "crew."
The whirlwind of attention only grew.
In the semifinals the next day, John was declared the winner by default.
His opponent, after watching the battle video from the previous day, had decided not to even try. Believing they stood no chance against John's Hariyama, they chose to forfeit to avoid unnecessary injury to their Pokemon.
This situation left John feeling a bit helpless. He had planned on using a different Pokemon for the match, but now, it seemed, Hariyama's dominance had silenced any challengers.
The other semifinal, however, would decide who John would face in the final. His opponent was none other than his classmate, Ricardo.
Ricardo had been a standout all through the competition, using only a single Pokemon: a Riolu that many admired.
It was said that Ricardo possessed the rare and coveted power of Aura, a gift that allowed him to manipulate energy like few could. In a world where Psychic abilities and Aura powers were rare, he seemed like a prodigy.
With his combination of Aura energy, a powerful Riolu, and his good looks, Ricardo was regarded by many as the true star. Some even joked that, in comparison to John, Ricardo seemed more like the "main character" of the story.
As the final approached, the tension built. Ricardo and John had a history, albeit a subtle one. It all started before the competition when they had competed for the position of class monitor. John had been called to Professor Scarlett's office and invited to join her research team, which left Ricardo to take the role.
But was that really a win for Ricardo? John's invitation to join Scarlett's team was an opportunity many would envy. So, it seemed neither of them had truly "lost."
Now, with the stakes higher than ever, the two would face off again—this time, with the added prize of a Pseudo-legendary Pokemon.
The final battle had arrived.
To accommodate the large number of spectators, the match was moved from the battle area to the prestigious Central Battle Hall at Riverstone University.
The hall was packed, with over a thousand seats filled by students and faculty alike. Even a few professors had come to watch.
"Professor Scarlett, what brings you here?" the dean of the freshman department asked as he saw her enter the hall.
"I finished my work early, and when I saw there was a match going on, I thought I'd drop by," Scarlett explained casually. "Besides, I heard one of the competitors was John, and I thought it'd be interesting to see how he does."
Scarlett knew John's talent well. He was someone who could easily handle Pokemon like Nosepass, and as a student of the breeding department, he had already shown his strength by outperforming the battle students in the competition.
The atmosphere in the hall was electric as the match began.
On the battlefield, John and Ricardo stood on opposite sides, having exchanged not a single word. The tension was palpable as they waited for the match to start.
The referee called out the rules.
"This is the final of the Riverstone University Freshman Military Competition. Trainer John will face off against Trainer Ricardo. Each side has two Pokemon, and once both Pokemon from one side lose their ability to battle, the match is over. Trainers, please release your Pokemon."
At the referee's signal, both John and Ricardo simultaneously released their first Pokemon.
The bright flash of silver marked the appearance of Ricardo's Riolu, a sleek, upright dog-like Pokemon that looked cool and collected. Its arms were folded, its expression one of quiet confidence, a perfect fit for Ricardo's image.
The crowd immediately erupted into cheers.
"I wish I had a Riolu."
"Why can't this Riolu be mine?!"
Riolu had become somewhat of a celebrity, especially in the media and fan circles, thanks to its starring role in several major Pokemon storylines.
As for John, his choice of Pokemon was less flashy. He released Combusken, a fiery chicken Pokemon that, while strong, didn't garner the same immediate fanfare as Riolu.
But John knew that every battle was a chance to prove just how far his skill could take him—no matter what Pokemon he had on his side.