Chapter 284

When Brook stepped off the stage after defeating Morty, he was informed that Mihawk had withdrawn from the tournament. This unexpected news meant that Brook advanced directly to the semifinals and secured a spot as one of the Elite Four.

For a moment, Brook was baffled.

He… somehow became one of the Elite Four?

The news of Mihawk's withdrawal sparked an uproar among the audience and other contestants.

"The first Pokémon Battle Tournament—a historic event that may go down in history—and 'Dull-eye' Mihawk just up and quits?!"

"Unbelievable! He doesn't even know what he's missing out on!"

"Damn it! I bet 10,000 gold on him making it to the Elite Four!"

"If he was going to quit, couldn't he have done it sooner? Did he have to crush my bets first?"

"Being an Elite Four without earning it is hardly meaningful; I could do that, too."

"Just plain lucky."

"Do you think it might be because of his odd Pokémon? Maybe he got banned for using some kind of illegal enhancement?"

The speculation was wild, stirring up excitement in League City and throughout the seafaring world. Morgans even dispatched reporters immediately, determined to catch this news wave and secure the front page.

But Mihawk had no interest in the chaos.

He was already headed to the Pokémon Center in League City with his beloved little "dull" Pokémon.

Mihawk had changed dramatically.

Once, he roamed the seas looking for worthy challengers or entertained himself by taking down weaker pirates, relishing in their frantic escapes.

Now, he simply didn't have the time.

Swordsmanship, once a daily regimen, had become more of a hobby; he practiced when he had time, but if he didn't, so be it. He no longer even took his signature black blade, Yoru, everywhere.

It wasn't that Mihawk's view of swordsmanship had changed; rather, he had found something even more important.

His companions.

Or, to be precise, his family.

Every day, his six "dull" Pokémon caused all sorts of problems. Psyduck and Slowpoke, with their usual vacant stares, were manageable.

But Totodile was a pure troublemaker.

Its mischief was almost involuntary; for instance, it had little control over its bodily functions. When it first hatched, it couldn't even distinguish between hunger and fullness, leading Mihawk to buy a large supply of Pokémon diapers from the local store, much to the clerk's surprise.

Mihawk was well on his way to earning the title of the world's best dad.

In his bustling, often chaotic daily life, Mihawk's once-burning ambitions and desires had mellowed, and he was beginning to find joy in the simple things.

While walking to the Pokémon Center, he suddenly heard his Pokédex beep.

Mihawk had only a few contacts in his Pokédex, most of whom he'd met through his Pokémon.

His Pokémon occasionally played with others in the neighborhood, sometimes even wandering into other people's homes, leading to Mihawk and other "parents" exchanging contact information to stay informed.

Beep beep.

Mihawk opened his Pokédex and read the message.

[Peeping King]: Oh, one more thing—Sceptile asked me to let you know he'd like to meet you at XXX in the outskirts of League City when you have time.

[Dull-eye]: 1.

From the nickname, it was clear Mihawk had grown fond of his new moniker.

This meeting would have to wait.

Mihawk still had to get to the Pokémon Center.

…

The next day, the results of the top-sixteen matches were in, and there were plenty of surprises.

The first match was Newgate vs. Hannyabal, taking place on a plain—perfect for head-to-head clashes.

Both Newgate and Hannyabal were straightforward fighters, shunning trickery.

Newgate's team included Blissey, Magcargo, Crustle, Heracross, Exploud, and Ursaring—all built for direct, intense battles.

Hannyabal's team, on the other hand, was a lineup of rogues: Zoroark, Krookodile, Absol, Cacturne, Houndoom, and Crawdaunt.

Most of Hannyabal's Pokémon were swift, with Cacturne and Crawdaunt being the exceptions.

In a straightforward brawl, a Pokémon's move pool and level were paramount. Newgate's casual approach to training left his Pokémon unprepared against Hannyabal, who had aimed for an Elite Four position from the start.

Even though Newgate had learned from his previous battle with Kuzan and acknowledged his shortcomings, it wasn't enough. In this match, Hannyabal's Dark-type team completely outmatched Newgate.

Hannyabal, to prove his strength, swapped his Pokémon after defeating each of Newgate's, keeping the match strictly one-on-one.

The only exception was Heracross, who managed to win against Cacturne due to a huge type advantage, but the rest of Newgate's team was swept.

After winning, Hannyabal couldn't resist taunting, "This era has no place for scum like you. Time to step down."

It wasn't personal against Newgate; Hannyabal treated all former pirates this way. Only Hancock escaped his scorn, owing to her beauty. Any other male pirate would get the same treatment.

Newgate ignored him entirely.

He had already accepted the defeat.

His battle with Kuzan had shown him that he wasn't a proper trainer. He didn't understand his Pokémon's personalities or species advantages.

Reaching the top sixteen was solely due to his Pokémon's efforts; as their father, he had only held them back.

If he had invested in his Pokémon from the start, Whitebeard's crew might have been powerful contenders for the championship. But there were no "ifs."

"Oyaji," Sasuke said, approaching Newgate with uncertainty.

"Gurarara! Why the gloomy face? A loss is a loss; there's always next year!" Newgate chuckled, tapping Sasuke's forehead lightly.

"Haha, it's rare to see Oyaji lose, so I don't feel as lonely," Sachi joked, only to receive a playful punch from Newgate.

The other Whitebeard crew members were equally unfazed.

They joined the Pokémon Battle Tournament for fun, without any particular ambition or desire for victory.

But while the Whitebeard crew shrugged it off, the seafaring world was in an uproar!

Newgate, once the "World's Strongest," had fallen, leaving countless underground bettors in shock. The New World, where many nations were under Whitebeard's protection, was filled with his fans.

But the result was final: Newgate was defeated.

In the second match, Vista faced "Competitor B."

Vista narrowly won, securing a chance to avenge his father.

Unlike Newgate, Vista had always trained his Pokémon earnestly, and his team's combined strength far outclassed the more casually raised Pokémon on the ship.

The third match featured Kuzan vs. Marco.

Kuzan won easily, as Marco's attitude toward raising Pokémon was similar to Newgate's, albeit slightly more attentive.

Overall, Whitebeard's top two, Newgate and Marco, ranked near the bottom among the top sixteen, weaker even than Sachi, Morty, and Sabo.

The fourth and final battle of the round was a fierce showdown between Charlotte and Law on a lake.

Charlotte and Law both fought until they had only one Pokémon left, and Charlotte won by a narrow margin with her advanced tactics.

The match lasted over an hour, leaving both competitors and spectators drenched in sweat, with everyone on their feet cheering by the end.

Law, however, couldn't hear it anymore. Defeated, he left the stage, disappointed to have lost his chance to revive Rosinante or his sister, Lami.

He would be back next time, determined to achieve his goal.

With that, the top eight were decided.

The list from top to bottom:

Boa Hancock

Jaguar D. Saul

Dracule Mihawk (crossed out)

Brook

Hannyabal

Vista

Kuzan

Uzumaki D. Charlotte

I think by now, you can probably guess who the Elite Four will be! Any predictions for the champion?

(End of Chapter)

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