Pokémon, Ash's art style is off!

On both sides of the pool are standard athlete command areas, complete with referee seats and athlete seats, with red and blue signs that are particularly eye-catching under the lights.

Xiaoxia looked around and couldn't help but sigh.

"There are definitely fewer people now."

Compared to the main venue, which is bustling with tens of thousands of people, the audience seats here are indeed much quieter, with only about a hundred or so people scattered around.

And look at how they're all in groups of three or five.

Most of them are probably like Xiao Gang, Xiao Xia, Lili Ai, and their friends and family.

As for the other small group of spectators with binoculars, they were probably die-hard fans of the water park.

After all, it's a fight in the water, so getting wet is quite normal.

If both trainers are female, it would be quite entertaining to watch.

“There’s more than one venue for the Quartz Convention,” Xiao Gang explained after hearing Xia’s words. “During the preliminary rounds, matches are held simultaneously at multiple venues, so the audience naturally disperses to watch the matches that interest them.”

"And I heard that last year's runner-up is competing at the Grass Field today, so I guess most of the audience has probably gone there."

In addition, the water area is quite far away, so naturally very few people come here.

Xiao Zhi, however, had no interest in these matters.

He had already reached the players' waiting area, pondering his next tactics.

Just then, another person walked into the Water Field.

The man was short, wearing a dark green jacket, and his hair was messy and hung down over his forehead.

He took large strides, looking quite confident.

The moment he entered, his gaze fell on Xiaozhi's face.

The man was taken aback.

The expression on his face quickly changed from confident to a complex emotion that was hard to describe.

"Didn't expect my opponent to be you again?"

He walked quickly to Ash, his voice filled with obvious surprise, and even a hint of gritted teeth.

"Ah... um? Ash?" The man frowned upon seeing the battle information. "You changed your name? It wasn't this name last time?"

Are you talking to me?

Xiao Zhi was taken aback when someone approached him.

He blinked and stared intently at the other person's face for several seconds.

"We...know each other?"

Xiao Zhi asked tentatively, his tone full of confusion.

Duo Wu's face darkened instantly.

"you--"

He took a deep breath, as if suppressing a fire.

"Good! Good! Good!"

"Are you pretending not to know me again?!"

Dowu gripped the Poké Ball tightly in his hand.

He remembered very clearly that when he participated in the previous Quartz Conferences, he was defeated in one round by this person in front of him using Pikachu!

Two days ago, he ran into this person in the food court outside the venue and waved to greet him, but the other person acted as if he didn't recognize him!

Without even saying a word, he turned and left!

What's even more infuriating is that this person was accompanied by... a big-breasted beauty!

What a winner in life!

Why do you have everything?!

Xiao Zhi was completely dumbfounded.

He subconsciously turned his head to look at Xiaogang and Xiaoxia.

Xiaoxia shrugged, indicating that she didn't remember either.

Xiao Gang frowned slightly, seemingly trying to recall, but ultimately shook his head.

"Um... I really don't—"

"okay!"

With a wave of his hand, Dowu decisively interrupted Xiaozhi's explanation.

"Now that things have come to this, I have no interest in right or wrong!"

Whether you genuinely forgot or were just pretending, it doesn't matter!

"I was careless when I lost to you last time, but this time, after years of experience, I won't make the same mistake again!"

"Just watch closely, I'll show you how powerful I am!"

.......

"In the first round of the qualifiers, Ash will face off against Takeru!"

Soon it was time for the battle, and the referee raised his flag, his clear voice echoing throughout the stadium.

"Boys, please take your positions!"

Completely bewildered, Xiao Zhi and furious Duo Wu headed towards the command areas of the red and blue teams, respectively.

"The rules of the match are 3v3. A team loses if all of its Pokémon are unable to battle." The referee's voice was steady and strong, every word clear and distinct. "Both players, please send out your Pokémon simultaneously!"

"Go, giant crab!"

Ash yanked the Poké Ball off his waist and threw it forcefully.

A red light exploded above the water's surface, and a bright red crab fell into the water.

A small splash of water appeared.

"Go! Exeggutor!"

Dobu also threw out a Poké Ball at the same time, his movements swift and decisive, showing a bit of the air of a general.

A red light flashed.

A short, stout Pokémon shaped like a coconut tree suddenly appeared on the platform in the pool.

Its thick trunk supports a few green leaves that sprout outwards, and beneath the leaves, three coconut-shaped heads hang side by side on the tree.

Each head has a different expression.

The one on the left has a simple and honest expression, the one in the middle has a slightly furrowed brow, and the one on the right has a wide grin as if it's smiling.

"So this is what the coconut palms in the Kanto region look like!"

Lillie gasped in surprise from the audience, covering her mouth with her hands, her green eyes filled with astonishment.

"Good, good short one!"

Exeggutor: "?!"

All three heads turned to Lillie at the same time, and all six eyes stared at her, their gazes filled with disbelief.

No?

Is this a tree attack?

Is it under pressure that's a coconut palm?

Lillie blushed immediately, realizing she had said the wrong thing, and quickly waved her hand.

"I...I...I didn't mean that..."

"What I mean is you're not tall... no, no, I mean the Exeggutor in Alola is taller than you... oh dear!"

The more she explained, the more confused she became, and in the end she simply covered her face.

Seeing this, Ash, the best translator, scratched his head and spoke.

"She meant that the Exeggutor trees in the Alola region are different from those here, and that they didn't mean to attack you."

Lillie nodded repeatedly with a sigh of relief.

"Yes, yes!"

"Moreover, the reason why the plants are taller over there is simply because of the stronger sunlight, which is an environmental factor and has little to do with other factors."

Ash, a master of impartiality, spoke up for Exeggutor once again.

Upon hearing this...

Exeggutor's three heads turned to Ash at the same time, looking at the trainer who had spoken up for them, and their expressions immediately became much kinder.

The heads on the left and right sides nodded at him in a friendly manner and made a "Na Xi~" sound.

Although the middle head was still frowning, the hostility in its eyes had largely dissipated.

Duowu: "?"

Wait, why are you interacting with my Pokémon?!

We're fighting! Fight!

The referee was still standing there watching!

Duowu felt the muscles in his face twitching.

This script is wrong.

Why do things always go wrong whenever I encounter this person?

He took a deep breath and slapped his cheeks hard, trying to bring his attention back to the battle.

"Ah!"

Duowu, who wanted to get revenge, sneered.