Pokémon from Galar

This year, four people broke through, and together with the nine dojo masters, a total of thirteen people participated in the elimination rounds. The competition adopted the highest-level 6V6 format. The first two rounds were two-on-two duels, and then one person was randomly given a bye to determine the top four.

Overall, it's a very common format. Because the number of participants changes every year for various reasons, it's common for people to skip a turn.

Mary's first opponent... is quite subtle, it's Nie Zi. It's such a coincidence that Mary even has a slightly malicious suspicion that there might be some kind of cheating involved in the draw.

However, after seeing the first round of matchups, others had all sorts of discussions. Yuri was matched against the fourth player who had also cleared the gym challenge, which was considered very lucky.

……

On the first day of the knockout stage,

The knockout stage only has two matches a day, one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mary's match is on the third day, but she still got up early today and arrived in Gongmen City with Nie Zi. Today is the opening day, and all the participants have to make an appearance.

However, after arriving, Mary parted ways with Nie Zi and went to the agreed square alone, where she waited for Yuri, whom she hadn't seen for a while.

The brief separation did not make the two strangers; Yuri even ran towards Mary as soon as she got out of the taxi.

Mary caught Yuri's body with her arms and hugged her tightly. She lowered her head, squinted her eyes, and took a few deep sniffs before letting go of Yuri's body.

Are you still nervous?

He took Yuri's hand in his own, feeling its slightly cool temperature.

"Ugh—that's why I said I'd go to your place yesterday! I couldn't fall asleep for ages last night because I was alone!"

Mary couldn't possibly stay at Yuri's house for more than a month, so after disturbing her for a while, she returned to Spiketown alone, which was a measure to be able to devote herself to training.

"...But you look quite energetic."

Holding Yuri's left hand and putting it in her pocket, Mari laughed and complained as she led Yuri away from the square.

"No, it's because I saw Mary-chan that I perked up!"

Yuri's righteous rebuttal amused Mari, who exhaled a puff of white mist. As the year drew to a close, the temperature in Galar gradually dropped, and pedestrians on the street began to wear much thicker clothing.

"Wouldn't it be terrible if you weren't there on the field?"

"Yes, yes! This is really bad! So Mary-chan absolutely has to stay within my sight~"

"That's a bit much to ask. I don't even know which passage you'll come out from."

"I'll message you!"

"Ugh—this is so troublesome,"

"Marie-chan~"

Before Mary could finish complaining, Yuri pitifully hugged Mary's arm and started to whine.

"..."

Even now, Mary, still somewhat unable to resist Yuri's coquettishness, immediately chose to give in.

"Okay, okay... I promise you, alright?"

"Hehehe~"

Yuri chuckled a few times, then suddenly changed the subject, saying:

"Speaking of which, when are you planning to take on the special training at the Isle of Armor? I thought you went to the Isle of Armor a month ago just to attend that martial arts school."

"No, I'm just going there to find some opponents for special training. I learned the Meteor Beam move, and that technique originated from there. As for officially participating, we'll wait until after the elimination rounds. We'll go together then."

"Should I go too? But I think Aya-neechan's group is enough."

Yuri also asked Aya and Meirong for help again during this time. These two gym leaders, who have a fairly good relationship, conducted intensive training together. The training intensity might even be stronger than that of Mari.

Mary thought for a moment, then tilted her head and whispered in Yuri's ear:

"It's different now. Let me tell you a secret, but don't tell anyone else. It seems that the previous champion bred a powerful Pokémon that's really strong."

"Oh...really? Where did you hear that from?"

"Of course I heard it from Pokémon. Others won't tell you, but Pokémon are different~ Anyway, you can send Hop to the Isle of Armor, but don't go around telling people the details."

Hep is quite capable, and would be a good sparring partner. Mary wouldn't mind having him come along.

"Okay, I understand. I won't tell anyone."

Yuri nodded and made a closure gesture. If the news leaked out and was investigated, it might damage Mary's image. She understood this. So, it was better not to tell Hep; at least there would be one less competitor.

P.S.: Speaking of which, before the elimination rounds in the game, there is a preliminary round, which determines the strongest player from the gym battles so that they can participate in the battles against the gym leaders.

However, I was afraid of the hassle, so I just put them together. My main goal was to have Mary and Yuri fight each other in the final round.

Chapter 382 The Opening Ceremony, and Unexpected Challenges

Palace Gate Arena.

Unlike the bustling arenas in other towns, the arena in Miyamon City is rarely open on weekdays, only serving as a competition venue when hosting the World Championship or the Champions Cup knockout stage.

Behind the arena, a little distance from the city center, lies the Tower of Loz, a towering structure with a futuristic design that is said to be over 300 meters tall.

It is the largest landmark building in Gongmen City.

However, that tower was rarely used, and President Loz usually worked in the office building in the city center.

Mary and Yuri arrived at the already bustling arena, which was as lively as a festival. The two squeezed through the crowd and entered the arena, where busy staff members were moving around. They were indeed very busy.

"Marie and Yuri, the opening ceremony is starting in half an hour. Do you want to register?"

The staff member, who seemed to have been waiting there, strode up to the two of them with a tablet computer. Although he asked a question, he had already handed the tablet to them, without giving them any other choice.

"Sorry, I was a little slow on the way."

Mary smiled sheepishly, took out her and Yuri's ID cards and swiped them, then looked at the young lady and breathed a sigh of relief.

"The others are already in the waiting room. You should hurry over there too. Just go in through that passage."

Perhaps they had other things to attend to, because the staff led the two people to the entrance and then left.

"I feel so busy."

"Well... after all, this is the most important competition of the year. Let's go inside without further ado."

The waiting room for the contestants was spacious, and even with more than a dozen people sharing the room, it didn't feel crowded. There were staff members nearby, seemingly ready to step in and solve any problems at any time.

However, since nine of the people present were gym leaders, it's unlikely that the staff member would need to be present.

"You two are so slow! I've already finished my warm-up!"

Hop, who was coming towards them, raised his hand and waved, still with his usual loud voice.

"It's not your match today, so why are you warming up?"

Yuri bluntly retorted, "Anyway, it's probably some stupid reason again."

"I couldn't calm down. But I'm much better now."

"……really."

Just as Yuri and Hep were talking, and Mari was about to go talk to her brother, Chibana suddenly raised his hand from his seat and waved to Mari.

"Marie, go for it! Try to beat Nie Zi to a pulp!"

"Ah ha ha……"

"Don't act like you're so close to my sister, you frivolous man."

"Huh? Your sister's matches are much more interesting than yours. I'm really looking forward to officially facing Mary on the field."

……

When the time came, the contestants walked into the passage under the guidance of the staff. The cheers of the audience could be heard from afar, and Yuri still seemed to be in a daze.

"Let me introduce myself again, I am Champion Dandi!"

Dante appeared first in the center of the arena, and several cameras focused their lenses on the man from different angles.

The audience erupted in cheers at the mere sound of that confident self-proclaimed title.

"Due to certain reasons, I will be temporarily filling in for President Lorz at this opening ceremony—"

The faint sound made Mary frown slightly. This shouldn't be happening. Even if President Rose wanted to do something else, it should be after the elimination rounds. Why is Dante presiding over it now?

However, the current situation left Mary no time to think. Suddenly, everything became clear, and the fourteen contestants filed out, echoing Dan's statement:

"To guide Pokémon Trainers in the Galar region to even greater heights! And for my own sake!"

The giant screen on the field switched, showing the faces of the fourteen contestants one by one. At this moment, the audio switched to the commentators off the field, who began to concisely introduce the names of all the contestants.

……

"Yuri! One of the rising stars who has emerged this year, her ace Pokémon is Inteleon, and her excellent control abilities allow her to always calmly control the battlefield!"

Mary tilted her head back, and a specially taken photo appeared on the screen, making Yuri and the Thousand-Faced Beastman look even more handsome and confident.

"Finally, and also this year's hottest challenger, Marie—the contestant! She debuted last year but endured the loneliness, and soared to the top in this year's Gym Challenge with her Ace Pokémon, Dragapult! With her ghostly speed and dominant aura, she is like a true phantom, absolutely the most dangerous assassin on the battlefield!"

Watching the fleeting edited footage with a slightly unsettling feeling, it's clear that the official Pokémon selections are finalized by the organizers and after consulting with the players. Originally, Marie was supposed to be replaced by Eevee... but in terms of performance, Eevee's battles were clearly not as visually appealing as Palmon's.

After being persuaded by the staff, and since Ichigo herself prefers to keep a low profile, Mari let him go.

The scene abruptly ended after Mary's introduction, and then switched again.

"Let's decide the strongest challenger!"

On all the screens in Galar that were broadcasting the match, the image of Dante's confident and passionate face was switched on. He raised his hand imposingly, his gloved index finger pointing directly at everyone watching the screen.

"Ladies and gentlemen! I hereby solemnly announce that the final match has begun!"

"Awoooooo—!!"

Waves of sound followed one after another, and with the official start of the elimination rounds, the atmosphere on the field reached its peak.

Just as the commentator took the microphone and the players were about to leave the stage, a voice suddenly came from the loudspeaker.

"and many more!"

A young voice swept across the area, drawing everyone's attention.

A boy dressed in a pink and white fairy-themed outfit walked out of the passage.

"Everyone, please hear me out. Do you all remember me? I'm Peter, who quit halfway through a gym challenge, leaving behind a great deal of regret!"

As the camera moved, Peter's face appeared on the big screen, sparking a heated discussion.

Peter turned around and his gaze swept back and forth between Mary and Yuri a few times.