The next morning, he entrusted the care of the ranch to the Indeedee siblings, then set out with his Pokémon for the Galar region.

At 8 a.m., Naoki smoothly arrived at Wyndon City.

From a distance, he could already see the sprawling urban landscape, the largest and most prosperous city in Galar, surrounded by vast plains and crowned with a towering outer wall.

The hexagonal perimeter of Wyndon shimmered in the morning light. The city walls, tiled in brown and lined with light-colored eaves and small windows, looked both fortified and elegant. Beneath the great outer wall, a majestic archway decorated with a golden crown marked the main entrance into the city.

Just inside, the skyline stretched tall, filled with sleek skyscrapers and bustling monorails.

Above, flocks of Corviknight soared in formation, their black feathers gleaming like steel in the sun.

The streets below were lively and packed with people, each one accompanied by a Pokémon. The shopfronts sparkled with lights and hanging banners featuring pictures of Leon, Galar's Champion. Even the digital billboards on the city towers flashed images of the Masters Eight, cycling through familiar faces like Cynthia, Steven, and Lance.

Naoki stood at the entrance, taking it all in.

"Incredible," he whispered, awestruck.

For someone used to the peaceful scenery of his ranch, the rolling hills, grazing Wooloo, and berry groves, this scene felt like stepping into an entirely different world.

A place pulsing with energy.

No wonder Pokémon battling was the heart of this world… This atmosphere is like the Pokémon world's version of the Olympics!

He smiled, then called out to his partner.

"Koraidon, let's head to Wyndon Stadium. Leon should be waiting for us there."

"Ah, gah!"

With a proud cry, Koraidon lowered his back.

Naoki hopped on, pulled up Rotom's GPS, and together they took to the skies.

Under the guidance of Rotom's navigation, Koraidon glided over the city, flying straight toward the center of it all.

Within minutes, they reached their destination.

This was a massive, flower-shaped building, the Galar region's famed Wyndon Stadium. In front of the arena, there were all sorts of facilities bustling with activity: Pokémon Centers offering healing services for trainers, shops selling all kinds of battle items and medicines, and colorful stalls hawking Poké Balls and regional souvenirs unique to Galar.

Banners fluttered in the breeze outside the arena, and crowds of people stood around, happily chatting about yesterday's matches.

As soon as Koraidon touched down near the arena, several trainers nearby turned their eyes in Naoki's direction.

Even from a distance, these seasoned trainers could sense the powerful aura radiating from him and his Pokémon.

Naoki, however, remained unfazed. He casually pulled out his Rotom Phone and was about to text Leon when a familiar, energetic voice called out before he could hit send.

"Naoki! Over here!"

Naoki looked up to see Leon, Champion of the Galar region, standing at the main road not far ahead, enthusiastically waving him over.

Gasps spread through the crowd around them.

"Wait, is that the Champion?!"

"No way! I can't believe I'm seeing Leon in person! This is amazing!"

"Champion Leon, could you sign this photo for me?!"

"Of course!" Leon grinned, kindly accepting the photo and pen. He quickly signed it with his usual flair and handed it back to the wide-eyed fan.

Then, without missing a beat, he jogged straight over to Naoki.

"You finally made it!" Leon said with a bright smile.

Naoki smiled back. "You really live up to your title, Champion of Galar!"

Hearing the compliment, Leon scratched his head sheepishly. "Come on, you're making me blush. Anyway, everything's already set up. I've registered your profile, just follow me and I'll walk you through the rest!"

"Appreciate it," Naoki replied with a nod.

As they began walking toward the stadium, Leon turned to Koraidon and grinned. "Long time no see, Koraidon!"

"Graaaah!" Koraidon responded with a pleased roar.

Their arrival didn't go unnoticed.

Many passersby stared in amazement.

"Who's that guy? He looks super close with the Champion!"

"Leon came out to meet him in person?!"

"Could he be a Champion from another region?"

"Who is he…?"

Inside Wyndon Stadium, a Pokémon battle was already underway, echoing through the vast dome with the roars of Pokémon and cheers from the audience.

Leon led Naoki to one of the VIP viewing platforms overlooking the battlefield, giving them a clear view of the current match.

"Oh, by the way," Leon added, "you should download the official Trainer App. You'll be able to check your ranking, schedule, and any upcoming matches. According to your profile, you've got a battle this afternoon, so be ready!"

Naoki gave a small nod, took out his Rotom Phone, and quickly installed the Trainer App. Once he registered his Trainer ID, his profile and match information popped up:

[Trainer Name: Naoki]

Ranking: 99

Level: Advanced

Next Match: July 28th, 2:00 PM – Wyndon Stadium

Entry: Participant Tunnel No. 5

Rotom Tips: Battle hard to raise your rank! Once you reach 9th place, you'll be eligible for a position-challenge match against one of the Masters Eight!

"I see," Naoki nodded, taking in the information. It was only 2:00 in the afternoon, plenty of time left before his match.

Since this would be his first battle, he decided to send out a team of Pokémon that could ease into the tournament environment.

"By the way, have you decided which Pokémon you're going to use?" Leon asked, visibly excited.

He was planning to watch Naoki's match in person that afternoon. Actually, not just that one, Leon had already decided he wouldn't miss any of Naoki's battles going forward!

But Naoki only offered a playful smile and said mysteriously, "That's a secret."

Leon blinked. "…Really?"

Naoki chuckled but then changed the topic. "By the way, have any of the other Champions arrived yet?"

Leon nodded. "I've already seen Lance and Cynthia around. I haven't spotted the others, but don't worry, when the Masters Tournament starts, they'll definitely all show up!"

So, Lance was already here?

Naoki suddenly recalled Lance's famous all-Dragon lineup. A thought popped into his mind, a slightly mischievous idea: should he use a full team of Dragonite just to mess with Lance?

Dragonite x6

"..."

No. That might come off as a bit too cheeky.

Shaking the thought from his head, Naoki tucked away his Rotom Phone and said sincerely, "Thanks for everything, Leon."

Leon leaned forward with an eager grin. "So, seriously, are you really not going to tell me who you're sending out this afternoon?"

"You'll see when the battle starts," Naoki replied, still keeping it under wraps.

Leon let out a dramatic sigh. "Fine, fine. I guess I can wait a few more hours."

After getting a clear understanding of how the World Championship was structured, Naoki said goodbye and left the stadium. He rode off on Koraidon to scout a few more matches from the general seating area, taking mental notes of his potential opponents. Afterward, he planned to return to the ranch for a relaxing lunch before heading back.

Meanwhile, the battles at Wyndon Stadium were in full swing.

The stands were packed, the crowd roaring with excitement as the next round of battles was about to begin.

After the previous trainers finished their match and exited the field, the referee stepped to the center of the stage, checked the battle info on his Rotom device, and raised the mic to his mouth.

"Ladies and gentlemen, it's time to welcome the next two competitors in the Advanced Bracket!"

"First up, representing the Kalos region, we have… Omiren!"

A young man dressed in extravagant, high-end fashion stepped confidently onto the battlefield. His proud expression and confident stride earned some murmurs from the audience.

"And next, representing the Sinnoh region, the winner of the Lily of the Valley Conference… please welcome Tobias!"

A man with long, slate-blue hair and a flowing crimson shawl walked slowly out from the opposite tunnel. His presence was calm and collected, drawing a wave of cheers from fans who recognized his reputation.