Pokémon Heart Journey

Chapter 316: An Invitation to a New Territory: Battle in the Frontier

The moonlight flowed like water, quietly on the grass where the battle had just ended.

Ash held the exhausted but conscious Pikachu in his arms, his gaze still fixed on Lila and her Alakazam, the silent but soul-stirring confrontation replaying in his mind.

"Telepathy..." Xiaozhi repeated the word in a low voice, his eyes gleaming with curiosity and yearning. "Ms. Lila, the tacit understanding between you and Alakazam is amazing! I've never seen such a fighting style before!"

Lila gently stroked Hu Di's head, and Hu Di responded with a low and intelligent hum.

She looked at Xiaozhi, a subtle admiration in her calm eyes. "The bond between you and your Pikachu is equally deep and powerful. I envy your feelings, but... there is more than one path to a higher realm."

She paused, as if weighing her words, then continued, "Your battle is filled with infinite possibilities, like an uncut diamond. Perhaps there is a place where you can fully unleash these possibilities."

"There's a place?" Xiaozhi's curiosity was completely aroused.

"Yes." Lila nodded. "In fact, there's a gentleman who watched all your competitions and is very interested in your potential. He asked me to pass on his invitation if I meet you."

"Sir? Invitation?" Xiaozhi was even more confused. Who would invite him through Lila?

At this moment, a hearty and bold laugh came from behind a tree not far away.

“Hahahahaha! Well said, Lila! That’s right, it’s me!”

A figure walked out at a leisurely pace, accompanied by laughter. He was wearing a brightly colored, tropical Hawaiian shirt, loose shorts, and a pair of sunglasses, even though it was night.

He was a slightly chubby man with a warm and infectious smile on his face, and he was holding a tablet-like device in his hand.

"Mr. Yashida." Lila nodded slightly and gestured to the person who came.

The middle-aged man called Yashida walked up to Xiaozhi with a smile and looked him up and down without any hesitation. His eyes were sharp and full of interest, as if he was admiring a treasure.

"Hey! You're Xiaozhi, right? Congratulations on winning the Quartz Tournament! What a fantastic match! Lila and I watched it from beginning to end, without missing a minute!" Yashida's voice was loud and full of energy. He reached out and patted Xiaozhi's shoulder vigorously. "Especially that last Mega Showdown, it was amazing! Earth vote! You're amazing!"

"Thank...thank you..." Xiaozhi was a little confused by his enthusiasm, but still thanked him politely, "Who are you?"

"Me? You can call me Ashida!" The old man put his hands on his hips and smiled brightly. "I'm a 'battle enthusiast'. I love to discover trainers with potential and show them a way to become stronger and more interesting!"

He shook the device in his hand, and some complex icons and maps appeared on the screen. "And you, Xiaozhi, you have the kind of 'possibility' I've been looking for! So, I asked Lila to introduce you to someone."

Xiaozhi looked at Lila, who nodded slightly, confirming what Yashida said.

"The path to becoming stronger?" Xiaozhi's attention was firmly drawn to this word.

"That's right!" Yashida waved his hand vigorously and his tone became excited.

"Do you think winning the league championship is the end? Absolutely wrong! For the truly powerful, this may just be a new starting point! In the Johto and Hoenn regions, there exists a special area that transcends league norms and is designed for trainers who pursue the ultimate in combat—the 'Battle Frontier'!"

"Battle Frontier?" Ash and Pikachu on his shoulder tilted their heads at the same time, curious about this unfamiliar term.

"That's right!" Yashida excitedly operated the device in his hand, calling up the information of the Battle Frontier and showing it to Xiaozhi. "There are no gyms there. Instead, there are seven battle facilities with different styles and extremely challenging battles! Each facility is presided over by a powerful leader known as the 'Brain of the Frontier'!"

His tone was full of incitement: "Each of these pioneering brains is a monster-level powerhouse! They are not just ordinary trainers who care about attributes and skill power."

"Everyone has their own unique skills and special battle rules! Some excel at calculations, as precise as playing chess; some are unparalleled in strength, pursuing head-on crushing; and some, like Lila, possess unparalleled tacit understanding and abilities! There, you will encounter unprecedented battle types that will challenge every limit of your trainer!"

Yashida put away his equipment, crossed his arms, and stared at Xiaozhi with a burning gaze. "How about it, Xiaozhi? Are you interested in accepting this challenge? Go to the Battle Frontier and fight those monstrous guys. Test how high you and your Pokémon can climb. I believe that there must be battles and growth waiting for you there that you have never experienced before!"

Beyond the Alliance's territory... Seven powerful pioneering minds... Unprecedented battle rules...

Yashida's words were like a raging fire thrown into dry wood, instantly igniting the trace of thought in Xiaozhi's eyes caused by his defeat to Lila, and completely ignited it into a burning fighting spirit and desire!

The honor of the league championship is still hanging hotly on his chest, but he has already seen the next peak to climb!

New opponents, new ways of fighting, new growth! All of this made his blood boil!

He raised his head without hesitation, his eyes as firm as a rock, his voice loud and full of determination: "I will go! Please let me challenge the frontier! I want to become stronger, I want to fight more different powerful opponents!"

"Pika pika!"

Pikachu also jumped down from Xiaozhi's shoulder, clenched his little fists, and his electric sac burst out with crackling sparks, expressing the same wish!

"Hahahahaha! Great! Very good! I knew I had the right person!" Yashida laughed happily and patted Xiaozhi on the back. "Well, then, I officially accept this invitation! I'll send you the specific map and introduction later. I look forward to your performance in the Battle Frontier, new champion!"

Lila watched quietly from the side, seeing the familiar pure desire for battle and becoming stronger in Xiaozhi's eyes, the very faint smile at the corner of her mouth seemed to deepen a little.

She knew that Mr. Yashida had found another challenger who could stir up a storm in the battle against the Frontier.

Under the starry sky, a new blueprint for adventure has unfolded.

The championship trophy of the Quartz Conference has not yet cooled down, but its owner has already set his sights on a more distant and challenging place - the Battle Frontier!