In practice, most Trainers choose the first path to enter the League, challenging Gyms for badges, because earning a degree through a Pokémon University entrance exam is significantly more difficult.
Because Ash was always traveling and training in the original series, it gave the illusion that formal education wasn't really a thing in this world.
But that's far from the truth. Every city has its own schools, ranging from foundational institutions to advanced academies. These schools are often the fastest way for aspiring Trainers to improve, not just through academic theory, but through regular battles that steadily raise their Pokémon's level.
More importantly, many techniques can only be learned through systematic training. It's rare for self-taught Trainers to master advanced moves on their own.
Back when Ash was still easily distracted by pretty girls, there was even an episode where he visited a Pokémon school and ended up battling a star upperclassman whose partner was a Cubone.
Typically, graduates of beginner-level schools can bypass two Gyms entirely. And top-tier students from places like Goodshow Pokémon University or Rainbow University can earn direct entry into the Pokémon League, no badge collection required.
"Ugh, what a pain. This kind of thing is the worst," Karen muttered, flipping her ash-gray hair with a look of clear irritation.
As one of Johto's Elite Four, she had been assigned to oversee security during the Silver Conference.
"Haha, you're always complaining," said Will, the Psychic-type Elite Four member, laughing behind his trademark mask and purple hair.
"Easy for you to say. Your job's way lighter than mine," Karen snapped, shooting him an annoyed glance.
Will had been tasked with analyzing the contestants and identifying promising seeds, potential talents to cultivate for the League's future.
During the preliminary rounds, this process was handled by computers. But once the top 48 had been decided, the Elite Four stepped in to personally observe.
And among them, Will, with his exceptional mental strength and psychic acuity, was especially well-suited for the task.
For the traditional League, talent scouting was critical. Discovering and nurturing skilled Trainers played a huge role in its operations.
But ever since Hive's complete takeover, even loyalty didn't need to be built up anymore. With near-complete intel on each Trainer, it had become easy to decide how best to steer their future.
"Well, once the Silver Conference wraps up, there's still the Indigo Conference. You'll all have your hands full," Lance chimed in.
To avoid scheduling conflicts between regional Leagues, each area staggered their tournaments. The Indigo Conference would kick off a month after the Silver Conference ended.
Since Alder had taken over as Kanto Champion, he'd mostly been off wandering and ignoring official duties, so Lance still handled much of the actual work around the Indigo League.
Though Lucius was one of Kanto's Elite Four, he had arrived in Silver Town as a special guest for the event.
Standing atop a platform, Lucius watched the crowds flood in, the air filled with cheer and excitement.
Everyone looked so confident before the matches even began. That would change after a few elimination rounds…
Silver Town might technically be a "town," but in terms of scale and development, it was no less impressive than a city.
These international-level events were crucial for a region. Their success served as a reflection of a region's overall capability.
The winner of the Silver Conference would earn the right to challenge the Elite Four. If they won, they'd become a candidate to join the Elite Four themselves.
Of course, the odds of actually beating an Elite Four member were slim.
"They're here, they're bringing the Flame!" someone shouted, and all heads turned to see a torchbearer sprinting onto the field, flames dancing above the torch as the crowd erupted into cheers.
The Sacred Flame...
Lucius looked at the fire held aloft and smirked inwardly.
According to legend, the flame was said to be blessed by Ho-Oh itself, but in truth, it was just a normal flame. Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire was a radiant, almost pure white; this one burned an ordinary orange-red.
Still, all registered Trainers had arrived on schedule. As the "Sacred Flame" was lit atop the altar of the Silver Conference, the event was officially underway.
The preliminaries took place at a special public arena built in Silver Town.
The rules were similar to those of the Whirl Cup: one-on-one, single-elimination matches.
But since all the participants had at least eight Gym Badges, 1v1 battles weren't always enough to showcase a Trainer's full strength. So the tournament allowed some flexibility.
Even if a contestant lost a match, if the referee judged their performance outstanding, they might be granted a second chance.
Of course, such decisions had to be reviewed by the Tournament Committee, who would rewatch the match footage before approving it, otherwise, referees would wield too much unchecked power.
Ranking highly in a League tournament meant everything to a Trainer, so plenty tried to bend the rules.
Watching the Trainers give it their all and the tournament running smoothly, Lucius couldn't help but feel a complicated mix of emotions.
Even with the League, Hive, and Mythical Pokémon locked in brutal conflict, cataclysmic events shaking multiple regions, these ordinary Trainers still happily chased their dreams.
They had no idea the crisis loomed right over their heads. If Hive or the League failed to withstand the Mythical Pokémon, humanity could very well be wiped out.
And they didn't know they were already infected, secretly parasitized by the virus. Maybe they just felt healthier, with stronger immune systems, but they didn't realize they'd been turned into living batteries.
How peaceful this age seems…
If only the Mythical Pokémon would settle down a bit, Lucius thought, he could focus on being an Elite Four member, mentoring younger Trainers, basking in the admiration of fans, maybe even taking on a film project in PokéHollywood when he got bored.
With his past life's knowledge of countless classic movies, he could single-handedly revive Kanto's crumbling film industry, turn it into a studio that rivaled Unova or Kalos.
But he wasn't just here to pass the time. He was carefully observing the competing Trainers.
So far, he'd already spotted several with a faint, golden aura surrounding them, barely visible to the naked eye. They were under Arceus's protection.
Hive continued its infiltration of Unova, just as Unova was trying to counter-infiltrate Hive. But as it stood, the League still had no real cure for the virus, only ways to suppress it.
Lucius had no doubt: if the League ever discovered a way to purge the virus, Hive would face the full force of the League's wrath.
Because many of those who knew the truth weren't truly loyal to Hive. Especially those at the top, few would willingly let their lives rest in someone else's hands.
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