Chapter 80: The Beginning

Chapter 80

At the Silver Crest City Stadium, nearly two hundred thousand seats were now completely filled with spectators. The roaring waves of noise, lively and chaotic, echoed throughout the arena. Thanks to the stadium’s excellent design, even those seated in the highest stands could clearly see the battles unfolding below. Still, some seats were too remote for a good viewing experience, so the organizers had placed screens in the open areas to allow everyone to catch the details of the matches.

Along the perimeter of the field, countless cameras captured every angle, and high above, drones hovered, providing aerial shots. Since the elimination rounds began, the League Tournament had been broadcast live to the world. After all, Pokémon were the very heart of this world, intricately woven into daily life. Thus, this grand event, officially organized, drew the attention of people everywhere.

While the League Tournament might not match the Champions Cup or regional competitions in terms of battle level or quality, its approachable nature made it the most-watched program in the Pokémon world. It was akin to the Spring Festival Gala from Lu Yun’s previous life; whenever the tournament took place, families everywhere would gather together, chatting and watching the broadcast.

At this moment, in the prime spot near the center of the stands, a luxurious box with vast floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the stadium. A middle-aged man stood quietly before the glass, arms folded, his deep gaze fixed on the field below. His short, dark-purple hair was neatly trimmed, his features sharp and defined, with lines etched across his brow and the corners of his eyes—scars left by the passage of time. His thin lips pressed tightly together, hinting at a certain severity.

There was a faint resemblance between this man and Ziling, who was now preparing to battle in the stadium.

“Haha, Ayan, with your daughter’s strength, the championship should be all but secured this time!” came the aged voice of President Damalanqi from behind.

“Not at all,” Ziyan replied, turning with a modest smile and a shake of his head. Still, a glimmer of pride shone in his bright eyes.

...

Far away in Stone Edge Town, in a house at the heart of a vast ranch...

“Dad, come quick! The match is about to start!”

Hearing his son’s clear call, Barley smiled helplessly. “Coming, coming!” He retrieved a few chilled beers from the fridge and made his way to the living room, sinking into the softness of the leather sofa. Ruffling his son’s round head, he pulled his gentle wife close.

As he listened to his wife’s chatter, his gaze drifted casually toward the television, where the League Tournament was being broadcast. A warm, peaceful atmosphere filled the room.

...

“Hello, everyone, and welcome to this year’s League Tournament.”
“I’m your commentator, Audrey.”
“And I’m Shuda.”

In the studio, the two commentators, dressed in formal attire, introduced themselves in turn.

“Today marks the round of sixteen,” Audrey’s voice rang out, clear and melodious as a golden oriole. “The format for this match is a 6v6 rotation battle. The outcome will be decided when one side’s entire team loses the ability to battle. The battlefield will be randomly drawn—today, it’s the ‘Grassland Terrain.’”

Audrey smoothly ran through the match arrangements while Dr. Shuda, silent beside her, watched the camera intently.

“As the field still requires some adjustments, let’s be patient for a while. In the meantime, let’s check in on our competitors.”

The scene shifted to the spotless, orderly players’ lounge. Ziling lounged lazily in her seat, her long, smooth purple hair cascading over her shoulders. Her curvaceous figure was half-reclined, one leg crossed over the other, her expression relaxed and absorbed in an unknown book.

“Oh? It seems Ziling is quite confident about today’s match!” Audrey commented from off-screen.

“There’s indeed a considerable gap in raw strength between her and her opponent,” Dr. Shuda added seriously.

The director then cut to Lanny. He sat rigidly, eyes closed in a brief rest, but the furrow of his brow betrayed his inner tension.

“He looks a bit nervous, haha. Let’s hope Lanny gives his all in the match and delivers a perfect performance for the audience,” Audrey said with a playful lilt.

Back in the studio, Audrey straightened her notes and cleared her throat. “There’s still some time before the official start. Next, let’s thank our sponsors!”

“They are...”

...

Lanny sat with his eyes closed, unable to quiet his mind. This match was critical—he had to win to achieve his goal of reaching the quarterfinals. Even though he’d borrowed Pokémon from the organization, he still felt uncertain about the outcome.

A gentle knock sounded at the door, and a staff member in a black League uniform peeked inside. “Lanny, it’s time to get ready.”

“All right.” Lanny nodded, drew a deep breath, and stood. Pushing open the door, he strode with determined steps toward the stadium entrance.

...

The first thing that greeted him was a vast expanse of lush, emerald grass. Unlike before, the latest technology had been used for this match; in order to recreate the terrain as accurately as possible, the grassland’s flora and environment had been transplanted directly from natural habitats.

A torrent of noise from the hundreds of thousands of spectators crashed into Lanny’s ears, making his head buzz. He winced, shaking his head slightly, and took a few deep breaths to steady himself.

Looking across the field, he saw his opponent, Ziling, already in place. She appeared especially focused now. Her flowing hair danced in the breeze, and in those deep-purple eyes, star-like and clear, there was no trace of disdain—only the purest passion for Pokémon battles and the utmost care for each carefully trained companion.

For a moment, Lanny found himself stunned.

“Begin!” The referee’s voice carried on the wind, snapping him back to reality.

Lanny bit his tongue softly, the faint pain grounding his thoughts. His gaze grew resolute. He drew a red-and-white Poké Ball and hurled it forcefully toward the sky.

“Clang!”