Pokemon: The Legendary Trainer

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Matis was unlike many of the wealthy second-generation elites of Lilycove City. 

His father, the "Shipping King," had placed high expectations on him from an early age, hoping he could become a strong trainer capable of supporting the family business. 

As a result, Matis received systematic and rigorous training as a Pokémon Trainer from a young age.

To ensure Matis gained a wealth of Pokémon knowledge, his father spared no expense in enrolling him at the finest trainer academy in the Hoenn region. 

He also made substantial annual donations to the League, allowing Matis to acquire the League-affiliated Trainer qualification at the age of ten, along with a starter Pokémon of commendable aptitude.

In truth, Matis, who was a bit sharper than his brothers, excelled at fulfilling the tasks set by his father. He eventually graduated with solid marks from the advanced Trainer academy and, as a result, earned himself a spot in this year's Hoenn League Tournament.

However, Matis hadn't traveled extensively through the Hoenn region. He hadn't collected a single Gym Badge but had still participated in the Hoenn League Tournament.

As for the notion Sato had assumed—imagining Matis traveling the region and earning eight Gym Badges to qualify for the League—that was purely Sato's own embellishment. 

Matis had never clarified, nor would he admit that he hadn't undertaken a proper journey through the region. After all, Matis was more than happy to let others build a more favorable impression of him.

Although Matis hadn't achieved stellar results in the Hoenn League, reaching the Top 16 in his first-ever League Tournament was enough to brag about. 

His father was so impressed by this accomplishment that he had decided to buy him a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.

Upon learning this, Matis became exceedingly self-assured. He believed that his lack of a pseudo-legendary Pokémon was the sole reason for his quarterfinal elimination. 

Seeing a previous classmate win the championship with a Salamence only deepened his jealousy.

Matis's ardent pursuit of Elsa wasn't just because of her breathtaking beauty but also due to her inheritance of Lilycove Gym's Pokémon training knowledge. 

As a student at a prestigious academy, Matis was privy to secrets many weren't. 

Most of what he learned was common knowledge; truly advanced Pokémon training techniques were monopolized by the League and powerful affiliated families.

Matis had discovered that Elsa held an invaluable inheritance of water-type Pokémon training knowledge passed down through generations at the Lilycove Gym. 

This knowledge represented years of research and was of immeasurable value.

The Gym had declined in recent years, but Matis dreamed of marrying Elsa, not just for her beauty but also for the priceless training legacy she possessed.

Unfortunately, despite relentlessly pursuing Elsa for over a week, using every trick he learned from his academy seniors, she remained indifferent. 

Were it not for the fact he couldn't best her in battle, he might have resorted to more underhanded means.

Still, his efforts weren't entirely fruitless. 

At least Elsa no longer treated him with disdain, and after he facilitated the reacquisition of two fishing boats she had pawned off, she was now willing to speak to him.

When Sato unexpectedly appeared, Matis initially saw him as a threat. But after some conversation, Matis dismissed the idea that Sato could be a rival for Elsa's affection.

The reason? 

To Matis, Sato was clearly a civilian trainer—perhaps doing reasonably well financially, given his ability to sustain his Pokémon's substantial food costs, but still a commoner.

In Matis's worldview, commoner trainers were akin to toads wishing to eat swan meat—utterly impossible. While rare prodigies occasionally emerged from the masses, they were exceptions. Matis firmly believed he wasn't unlucky enough to encounter one.

Confident in his superior background and trainer skills, Matis saw no reason to worry about Sato. Instead, he viewed him as a stepping stone to winning over Elsa.

The mere thought of Elsa gazing at him admiringly after this upcoming battle sent Matis into a fervor. 

He couldn't deny her beauty—it far surpassed any woman he'd ever met. If he could win her, he'd gladly trade ten years of his life for it.

"Marry the perfect woman, inherit Lilycove Gym's Pokémon legacy, obtain a pseudo-legendary, and ascend to the pinnacle of life." 

That was the dazzling vision in Matis's mind.

Unaware that Matis had relegated him to being the first stepping stone in his grand plan, Sato simply smiled. 

Right now, his focus was on testing the strength of a League tournament-level trainer to gauge the gap between himself and those who had earned eight Gym Badges through travel.

Unfortunately, he was bound to be disappointed.

As word of their Pokémon battle spread, a crowd quickly gathered, forming a human wall that created a makeshift battlefield. A burly man volunteered as the referee for their one-on-one match.

As the challenger, Sato released his Pokémon first. Unsurprisingly, he chose his Marshtomp.

"A Marshtomp, huh? Perfect. I'll use this battle to teach this commoner a lesson," Matis thought with a smirk. He pulled out a Luxury Ball and released his chosen Pokémon.

A beam of white light revealed a much larger, blue-skinned Pokémon towering over Marshtomp.

The onlookers gasped in unison, their attention drawn to Matis's Pokémon. 

Sympathy flooded their expressions as they glanced at Sato and his Marshtomp. Even Sato's supporters, like the young Akira and his friends, appeared crestfallen. 

In their eyes, Sato was doomed to lose.

Matis had sent out none other than Swampert, Marshtomp's evolved form.