Here's a cleaner version with the monthly vote request removed and a teaser for future developments added:
I'd like to address some of the recent concerns about the story.
One reader pointed something out that was actually quite fair:
Recently, the plot has felt a bit dull. The story has become more ensemble-focused, and Chen Mo has started feeling more like a supporting character whose role is mainly to highlight the side characters.
So, allow me to explain my thoughts a little.
With a premise centered around Pokémon education and public outreach, the early part of the story naturally focused on introducing Pokémon to humanity, gradually helping people accept their existence and stop viewing them with hostility.
But once the world reached a certain stage of development, an unavoidable question appeared:
Should Pokémon battles and tournaments become part of the story?
I thought about this for a long time, and in the end, I felt the timing was right.
While writing the Pikachu Cup arc, I faced another important decision:
Should Chen Mo remain in Anping City, or continue traveling?
This ultimately determined whether the Pikachu Cup would be written in detail or simply summarized.
Given Chen Mo's current status, it wouldn't make much sense for him to enter the tournament himself and dominate a field full of rookie trainers. But if the protagonist doesn't participate, another issue naturally appears—the story inevitably shifts toward an ensemble cast.
To avoid that, I considered sending Chen Mo on another journey while briefly summarizing the Pikachu Cup in the background. Once a champion was crowned, Chen Mo could return, battle the winner, and conclude the arc.
However, one of the things I've always wanted to write is the progression of the era itself.
I want to show how the world changes because of Chen Mo's influence, and an event like the Pikachu Cup is exactly the kind of milestone that would leave a lasting mark on history.
If Chen Mo barely appeared during such an important event and only showed up at the end, it would have felt strange.
So after a lot of consideration, I chose to write the Pikachu Cup in detail.
To increase Chen Mo's involvement, I had Gible participate in the tournament, which also served as an important growth opportunity for Gible.
However, as the story progressed, I ran into a significant problem.
Once the narrative perspective began shifting between multiple characters, the protagonist's presence naturally decreased.
I completely understand why some readers feel this way.
In fact, I've already been trying to keep the side-character content as limited as possible.
The tournament preliminaries started around Chapter 240, and we're currently around Chapter 286. Even including the Zapdos storyline, the entire tournament arc has lasted roughly forty chapters.
Within those forty chapters, only a handful of battles were actually written in full detail:
Wan Yushu's Snubbull vs. GibleXiao Fan's Graveler vs. Gao Tianming's CharmeleonGible vs. AxewAh Hui's Butterfree vs. Zhao Xue'er's Frosmoth
Those are essentially the only battles that received extensive focus.
Among them, Gible's matches were included to maintain the protagonist's involvement, while Gao Tianming and Ah Hui received more attention because they represent important trainers who embody different aspects of this new era.
My goal has always been to keep the tournament concise while still:
Increasing Chen Mo's participationShowcasing the unique trainers emerging in this new ageLaying groundwork for future developments
Unfortunately, my writing ability is limited, and I haven't been able to meet everyone's expectations.
That's something I fully accept.
The Pikachu Cup arc has now entered its final stage and will be coming to an end very soon.
As for what comes next, there is still a lot more story left to tell. The world is continuing to change, new challenges are on the horizon, and many plotlines are only just beginning to unfold.
I hope you'll stay with me and look forward to what's coming next.
🌟 Early access (60+ chapters ahead): [email protected]/plotwired💬 10 Reviews = 1 Bonus Chapter🔷 100 Power Stones = Another🔥 You decide how fast the story unfolds.