Chapter Fourteen: The Lost Champion, Armor Island, Martial Arts School

Looking at the Centipede King lying on the ground, incapacitated and unable to fight, Su Yi felt a bit conflicted. Should he capture it? The main issue was that he wasn't particularly interested in this Pokémon, and his capture balls were quite precious at the moment.

"What's wrong? Not planning to catch it?" Leon came over and asked.

"Actually, I didn't battle it with the intention of capturing it. It was because of Chansey..." Su Yi explained the reason for fighting the Centipede King.

"You defeated an evil Centipede King for Chansey's peace of mind during its travels?" Leon laughed, understanding.

"I really don't want to capture it, but if I do, I must be responsible for it," Su Yi said, though he still took out one of his precious capture balls.

"Sigh, better capture it, lest the Centipede King continue causing trouble." Su Yi tossed the ball and successfully caught it.

At that moment, the Pokémon who had suffered under the Centipede King's tyranny cheered with joy upon seeing it captured. They all rushed over, surrounding Plucky and Su Yi.

"Quack? Waa?" Plucky was suddenly surrounded by a group of little ones and didn't quite know what to do. One Pichu even climbed onto Plucky's back, happily interacting with it.

"Everyone is so enthusiastic." Surrounded by these adorable creatures, Su Yi felt a little awkward, not sure what to do with his hands and feet.

"It seems they are very grateful to you," Leon said with a smile, watching the scene.

Seeing how warmly these Pokémon welcomed him, Su Yi relaxed and began gently stroking these real, lovable lives.

"So this is Pikachu's cheek, soft and..." Suddenly, Su Yi felt a slight tingling. Startled, he quickly withdrew his hand and apologized. Pikachu, unbothered, grinned and offered its head for Su Yi to pet.

Seeing Su Yi having so much fun with Pikachu, the other Pokémon eagerly joined in as well.

"So you’re a Goomy—slippery and wet, hahaha." Su Yi laughed as he picked a Goomy off his head.

Meanwhile, Plucky ran cheerfully with a group of Pokémon on its back, making them wobble and squeal with delight.

"This is what it means for humans and Pokémon to be together. Getting lost this time was truly worthwhile—I've seen Pokémon I never knew, witnessed a spectacular Dynamax battle, and experienced the heartwarming interaction between humans and Pokémon. This is what I want to protect." Leon, as if all his recent exhaustion had been swept away, sighed softly.

"Rawr," Charizard responded to Leon.

"Chansey," Chansey walked forward. Some Pokémon beside it brought over a few berries and handed them to Su Yi.

"Chansey says this berry grove used to be cared for by all these Pokémon. If the berries were gone, they'd have no food, so they are very grateful to you," Lurigrass translated.

Even though these were their only food source, the Pokémon still chose to share with him out of gratitude.

Su Yi picked out four Oran Berries and gave them to Cat, Plucky, and Leon.

"These are enough," Su Yi returned the remaining berries and patted the Pokémon who had brought them, smiling.

"Rawr!" Cat wolfed down the berries in two bites.

Plucky ate the berry, savoring it as the fruit of victory.

"Is this a thank-you gift from the Pokémon?" Leon looked at the Oran Berry, then took a bite.

"It's sweet, isn't it?" Su Yi savored the sweetness, feeling deeply satisfied.

"Let me introduce myself formally: I am Su Yi, a fifth-term hunter from the New Continent Survey Team," he said with a smile.

...

Su Yi and Lurigrass sat on Plucky's back, who trotted lightly across a wetland prairie. A few Drednaw submerged in ponds poked their heads out warily, only to sink back down lazily once Su Yi and the others had passed.

Above, Charizard carried Leon, leading the way.

Soon, the wetland prairie gave way to a lush, verdant plain.

Taking in the beauty of the wilds, Su Yi couldn't help but take a deep breath and then shout at the top of his lungs.

A few Rookidee took flight, and some Greedent scrambled up the trees in alarm.

Though Leon was prone to getting lost, thankfully his partner Charizard was not. Not far ahead, a huge gym appeared in the landscape.

"Isle of Armor, Master Mustard's Dojo."

During his conversation with Leon, Su Yi finally confirmed his location.

The Galar Region, Isle of Armor—a remote island purchased by Galar's former Champion, Master Mustard, Leon's mentor.

"I never expected to end up here," Su Yi said, jumping off Plucky with Lurigrass and returning it to its ball.

"This is my mentor's dojo. Grand, isn't it?" Leon looked at the main entrance with a nostalgic smile.

"It truly is grand," Su Yi replied. If you can buy an entire island, how could it not be impressive?

Moreover, this island was extraordinary: wild plains, wetlands, forests, caves, deserts, meadows, beaches, and archipelagos—all packed into a single small island. What a gathering place for Pokémon!

"Come on, let's go in. I'm sure Mentor will be interested in you, and you can also try Miss Honey's cooking," Leon said expectantly, pushing open the door.

"Mentor, I'm here to see you!"

"Little Leon, you finally remembered to visit this old man," an elderly, hunchbacked man in dojo attire greeted Leon with a beaming smile.

"Sorry, I've just been so busy," Leon scratched his head apologetically.

Master Mustard chuckled, "It's good for young people to be busy, but health is just as important."

"By the way, is this your friend? It's rare for you to bring someone here," Mustard glanced at Su Yi, dressed in his distinctive leather hunter's outfit.

Su Yi, meanwhile, was observing the former champion. Though Master Mustard appeared aged and bent, there was a lively spirit in his words and laughter, and his long white eyebrows gave him a kindly appearance.

But in Pokémon Sword and Shield, when he got serious in battle, he would shed his jacket, reveal his training gear, and strike a martial pose—truly an old master still filled with vigor.

"That's a long story. By the way, where's Miss Honey?" Leon asked.

"Haha, she's been preparing things for a while. Let's eat and chat," Mustard replied.

Passing through the spacious hall, they turned into a dining room, where a well-groomed, elegant woman was setting food on the table.

"Leon, you're here—oh? And you brought a guest?" Mustard's wife, Honey, said in surprise.

"Sorry for the intrusion," Su Yi said politely.

Honey smiled, "No need to apologize. The more, the merrier."

"Where's Hyde?" Leon asked, not seeing Honey's son.

"He already ate and is resting in his room. You're well past mealtime, our wandering champion," Honey teased.

"Sorry, sorry!" Leon finally realized that the Mustard couple had waited for him to eat, but his wandering had delayed their meal.

"And you, young man, are you Leon's friend? He rarely brings anyone to our dojo," Honey asked.

Su Yi scratched his head. "Well, I only just met and got to know Leon, and I'm here on the Isle of Armor simply because, um, I got lost."

"Lost?" Mustard and Honey looked at Leon, then at Su Yi, in surprise.