Faced with his dilemma, Yuma finally made his decision.
The second option: gamble. Bet on his remaining two Pokémon to take down Luo Yuan's Mimikyu.
It wasn't an impossible feat.
Luo Yuan's Mimikyu, while undeniably powerful, wasn't invincible. After multiple intense battles, it must have expended significant energy.
Based on his experience, Yuma believed he had a chance.
If he could defeat Mimikyu, even if he immediately lost afterward, he would still break Luo Yuan's undefeated streak.
Such a feat would cement his position as the second-strongest trainer in this year's Indigo League. It wouldn't be shameful to talk about later—quite the opposite.
But what if he failed?
If he didn't defeat Mimikyu and ended the match 6-0, there would be no one else to share the blame. Yuma would forever be remembered as a failure, an example of what not to do in Pokémon schools across the region.
Fight or forfeit?
Yuma was caught in a storm of indecision.
Then he noticed a pair of eyes watching him.
Turning, he saw Jun, his previous competitor in the semifinals. The same Jun he had mocked so openly.
"That guy must be dying to see me crash and burn."
The realization brought a surge of clarity.
Yuma straightened up, his face resolute.
"I forfeit!"
The crowd gasped.
The referee blinked, visibly taken aback. He had been expecting a dramatic declaration or strategic shift, not... this.
"Forfeit? Are you certain?"
In his ten-plus years of officiating, this was the first time he'd encountered a trainer surrendering in the final match of the Indigo League.
Yuma nodded firmly. "I'm certain."
Initially, he had leaned toward taking the risk, but seeing Jun reminded him of his true purpose. He wasn't here for a personal grudge or to save face.
His goal was to win the championship and earn a spot in the Kanto-Johto Elite Four selection process.
With only two Pokémon remaining, his chances of victory against Luo Yuan were effectively zero. Continuing the battle would be meaningless. Even if he managed to take down Mimikyu, it would only be a shallow, temporary win.
On the other hand, if he lost 6-0, the humiliation would haunt him for years.
Fighting for pride at the cost of his reputation? That wasn't a price Yuma was willing to pay.
---
Luo Yuan clicked his tongue, shaking his head with mild disappointment.
"Surrendering already? What a pity."
He had hoped for a clean 6-0 victory, but it seemed Yuma wasn't foolish enough to play into his hands.
In truth, Yuma's assumption that Mimikyu was running low on stamina couldn't have been further from the truth.
Thanks to its affinity with ground-type energy, Mimikyu had been passively regenerating health throughout the battle. As long as it wasn't taken out in one hit, it could theoretically fight all day.
With three Swords Dance buffs, Mimikyu was practically unstoppable.
Even if Luo Yuan hadn't relied on Mimikyu, his other Pokémon were more than capable of securing his undefeated streak.
---
After triple-checking Yuma's decision, the referee raised his flag and declared the match over.
"Congratulations to Luo Yuan! He wins the match!"
The announcement left the crowd in stunned silence for a moment.
It's over? Just like that?
The energy in the stadium shifted, but commentator Kyosuke quickly stepped in to fan the flames.
"This year's Indigo League Champion has been crowned! Let us congratulate Luo Yuan on an unprecedented undefeated victory!"
As Kyosuke's words sunk in, the audience erupted into cheers.
Though the finals hadn't been as intense as they'd hoped, the outcome was exactly what they wanted to see. Luo Yuan, a native Kanto trainer, had defeated challengers from other regions to claim the championship.
Kanto had kept the title on home turf!
---
This time, Luo Yuan didn't leave on Dragonite's back as he usually did after a match. The awards ceremony was about to begin, and he needed to stay on-site.
Returning to the trainers' lounge to wait for the preparations, Luo Yuan noticed Jun and Yuma sitting across from each other.
Their tense postures suggested some unresolved conflict, but Luo Yuan paid it no mind. Their personal disputes weren't his concern.
Instead, he headed to his private room, where Sabrina and Misty were already waiting.
"Congratulations, Champion!" Sabrina greeted him with a rare smile, gently wiping the sweat from his brow with a damp towel.
Not wanting to be outdone, Misty handed him an opened bottle of water.
"Here, you must be thirsty!"
Luo Yuan hesitated, clearly uncomfortable with their sudden enthusiasm.
He glanced at Sabrina, his expression plainly asking, What's going on? Can't we act normal?
Sabrina paused mid-motion, her psychic voice chiming in his mind: "Don't you like it?"
Danger signals flashed in Luo Yuan's brain.
This was, without a doubt, a trap.
Choosing his words carefully, he replied telepathically, "I like it."
Then he swiftly changed the subject.
"Do you know who's presenting the awards this time?"
"Probably Lance," Sabrina replied. "President Damalanth was called away to Hoenn due to some political tensions, so he left the responsibility here to Lance."
Luo Yuan nodded in understanding.
He was already aware of the escalating issues in Hoenn, thanks to Hunter J's reports.
The conflict between Team Aqua, Team Magma, and the Hoenn League had reached a boiling point.
Although Team Rocket posed a greater overall threat in Kanto and Johto, they were far more subtle in their activities, avoiding any large-scale incidents. As a result, Damalanth's decision to prioritize Hoenn made sense.
"So, Lance is also overseeing the restructuring of the Kanto and Johto Leagues?" Luo Yuan asked, curious.