Aspiring to become a Pokémon trainer

"Let me check. Nan Yin's opponent in the last match was Ai Lan?"

Korne exclaimed in surprise, only then realizing that social media was flooded with condemnation of the young man.

"Using an earthquake inside the stadium, and then chasing after them while Diancie is protecting the audience, is just too much!"

Standing up for her friend, Korrina never imagined that the excellent trainer who had once defeated her would be so obsessed with victory.

"That's all in the past."

The outcome of the competition was important, but that was not the reason for her anger at that time. Nan Yin was simply displeased with the other party's words and actions that had hurt the princess.

"Let's go."

Taking the initiative to change the subject, the girl got up and walked towards the outer ring of the venue, even pausing to wait for her friend to catch up.

Xiao Zhi's battles with the original characters didn't interest her much, even though they occupied a large part of the story and were part of her memories. Nan Yin never went against her own wishes to get close to them; she only cared about herself and the children who were by her side.

As the journey progresses, the points-based competition continues in rounds, with familiar and unfamiliar opponents clashing one after another to vie for victory.

However, both Nan Yin and Ke Erni secured first place with absolute victories, thus confirming their advancement in advance.

Returning to the courtyard and then into the small house, the night deepened and the chill intensified, yet the warm fireplace provided comfort, and gentle whispers lingered.

Holding Jirachi in her arms, the white-haired girl closed her eyes tightly, letting drowsiness carry her into a deep dream.

......

As the Cold Dew season passed and winter deepened, the next day's clear skies drew all of Carlos's attention back to the arena in Miare City.

This city of light may not have a long history, but it holds the future and hope for this land.

Now, the points tally for the tournament has concluded, and the elimination round of sixteen to eight has officially begun.

"Time flies, and the knockout stage is now underway. Thank you all for taking the time out of your busy schedules to cheer for them and for Carlos's future stars!"

With a bright smile, the regional league president held the microphone and introduced the trainers who were taking the stage to the audience one by one.

"Breaking through the competition and winning the top spot, they are undoubtedly Carlos's most outstanding trainers!"

The cheers were like a tsunami, instantly engulfing the entire venue.

“Strive, sweat... Everyone knows how hard they have gone through, but fortunately, I and we are able to witness the results of their studies on such a big stage.”

Despite his pride, the old man's smile never faded.

"We should be proud, and we should feel honored!"

He kept quiet and waited until the clamor of voices subsided before speaking again.

"The rules of the knockout stage are very similar to those of the points-based system. The only change is that this tournament will be a six-on-six all-out battle. Whether it is singles or doubles is up to the participating teams to decide."

The old man raised his arm and pointed to the giant screen above his head; his meaning was clear.

"First of all, our goal is to draw lots for the sixteen contestants to advance to the eight."

The countdown slowly ticked away, and Nan Yin felt the girl beside her trembling, a sign of tension.

She gently patted the back of the former's neck, then intertwined her fingers, and spoke in a soft tone.

"Don't be nervous, Korne. Just like you said that day, I believe in you."

"Ah."

Although she remained silent, the girl's tense back gradually lost its stiffness.

Three, two, one.

As the countdown came to an end, the large screen was covered by a brand new page, with one group after another being created.

Holding your breath, the entire venue became even quieter.

The contestants prayed for a fair matchup, fearing they might encounter Nan Yin, who had performed exceptionally well in the points battle. Meanwhile, the viewers anticipated intense clashes and a fierce battle between top contenders.

[Ash vs. Shota]

[Tierunorno vs. Doroba]

[Korne VS Shana]

The upper bracket is roughly as described; it is relatively evenly distributed, leaving enough suspense while also clearly defining the strengths of different players.

only......

As she stared at the last line of text, Nan Yin's pupils constricted slightly. It was someone who shouldn't have appeared at this Miare Conference, and also her opponent this time.

Only two Pokémon have been revealed so far, and the trainer possesses multiple legendary Pokémon and several mysterious Pokémon.

——Dakdo.

Chapter 144 A Clash of Legends, Who Will Win?

Dacto.

The winner of the Lily of the Valley Tournament, and a legendary and powerful trainer.

In the series, he used Darkrai to sweep through Sinnoh's gyms, defeating almost all the players. Even the boy from Pallet Town couldn't get past Latios's high walls and see the rest of the Pokémon.

Clearing her mind, she shifted her gaze to the distance, where a man with half of his black hair hanging down, obscuring one eyebrow, also turned his head to look at her as he passed through the gathered crowd.

Their eyes met, and as if by telepathy, both sides realized the special connection and similarity between them.

Without uttering any provocative words, the handsome figure simply bent down, placed his hands on his chest, and gave a respectful bow.

Defeating the king and aiming straight for the championship, the former's strength is undoubtedly an unsolved mystery.

This can be considered the first time the girl has felt real pressure in a formal competition.

But will she become restless, lamenting the unpredictability of life, bowing her head, and thus feeling constrained?

Absolutely not.

On the battlefield where everyone stands, regardless of who they are or how strong they are, their only identity is that of a so-called opponent, and the only thing to consider is—

Go and win.

With a slight nod and a slight bow, Nan Yin also gave a simple greeting to Da Ke Duo.

Perhaps she didn't know why the former participated in this competition, but to this day, no matter how tough the boulder standing in front of the mountain is, the girl will work with the children to overcome obstacles and prove what they have achieved.

So what if they are legendary figures, or their lineup is unknown? The knowledge and practical experience they have accumulated over the years are enough to put them on both sides of the scale, allowing them to decide the winner on fair terms.

Darkrai's winning streak and the fact that it has never used a third Pokémon is indeed a powerful force, but isn't the girl named Nan Yin also like that?

The unpredictability of Evil and the unwavering stability of Diancie easily calmed the turmoil in the points race. In terms of their relative positions and the unknown lineups of each other, they were completely similar.

Therefore, there is no need to worry, and the trust remains unchanged.

The director behind the scenes gave the camera a timely shot of Nan Yin and Da Ke Duo looking at each other across the crowd, and many live streaming platforms were immediately flooded with all kinds of bullet comments.

“I remember this Dacto, he won the championship in the Lily of the Valley tournament with a crushing victory.”

"Just like before, that guy never used a third Pokémon, or rather, his previous opponents couldn't force him to use his backup plan."

"Hey, Dakdo is no pushover. In the upcoming battle, Nan Yin is unlikely to have an easy time, and may even suffer a crushing defeat."

"Nonsense. Didn't Mengmengda also dominate the points competition with an overwhelming advantage? Her rhythm was crisp and clean, leaving no chance for the opponent to fight back."

Standing on the high platform of the venue, the blonde beauty stretched her eyelashes, crossed her legs, and seemed to be watching a good show with a look in her eyes.

This deliberate act was noticed by the gray-haired woman beside him, who then voiced her doubts.

"That Dakdo, could it be your doing, Zhulan?"

"Well, you could say that. There are many candidates for the vacant Elite Four position in Carlos's head, but a trainer's strength is still the most important factor."

"Perhaps, Dakto's participation is too high a level for those fledgling kids, but only he, who is not a world champion, can disregard the generational difference in status, test the level of this year's contestants, and examine whether the winners are qualified. Do you understand what I mean, Karuni?"

Smiling without saying a word, Zhu Lan simply raised her knuckles and placed them against her neck.

"You've really gone to a lot of trouble."

The title of Heavenly King cannot remain vacant for long, but candidates who possess both virtue and strength are extremely rare, so Karuni naturally worries about the future of the land beneath her.

"Trust that girl. If even she can't win, there probably isn't a more suitable candidate."

Their every smile and gesture revealed a tacit understanding between them. They were not worried about the white-haired girl's victory or defeat. Clearly, Nan Yin had already gained a place in their hearts that was equal to or even higher than Da Ke Duo.

In the bustling arena, the audience cheered enthusiastically for their favorite trainers.

As the gaze shifts, two figures can be seen hand in hand, chatting leisurely in the back corridor.

"Nanyin, Mr. Dakdo is truly amazing, you absolutely mustn't—"

Before the blonde girl could finish expressing her worries, a slender white finger touched her lower lip, and her delicate features drew closer to her neck and shoulder.

"No, that won't happen." The firm statement came first, followed by words of encouragement for her friend, "On the contrary, Korne, promise me you won't lose before the finals, before you meet me."

The division into upper and lower brackets determined the postponement of the match between Nanyin and Korrina. If they were to fulfill their previous agreement, Nanyin would have to overcome the formidable obstacle of Darkrai, while Korrina would have to defeat Ash, a powerful opponent.

"...I will try my best."

Slightly lacking in energy, the difficulty of the points race made it hard for Kornie to believe that she could win consecutive battles, overcome her attribute disadvantages, and step onto the final stage.

It was precisely because their resolve was still wavering, and the shortcomings in their lineup were difficult to overcome, that they could only grit their teeth and move forward with trembling steps. This undoubtedly caused the girl's mentality to become somewhat unbalanced.

Fortunately, Nan Yin timely provided the former with motivation through her words and actions, a motivation that was of paramount importance.

"There's no need to belittle yourself. Show me the same confidence you had when you introduced yourself to me in the past—as the headmaster of the Sara Dojo, and even more so as my friend, my—"

"A strong enemy."

For the first time, Nan Yin extended her five fingers and placed them on Korni's forehead. She gently embraced the former and patted her back with her palm.

Hair strands covered hair strands, and silvery trickles flowed slowly down the shimmering gold fabric.

This is not something outside of friendship. The girl has always kept her promises and is willing to lend a helping hand within what she considers 'reasonable' boundaries, encouraging others with sincere words and actions.

Although Korne's clumsiness and laziness did not help her with housework during this period, her energy and vitality allowed her to see another side of life.

This contrast between them is like a spice in life, allowing Nan Yin to feel the ripples and ups and downs of travel.

She didn't think she had done anything excessive, and denied that she had crossed any lines. She just couldn't help doing these things, let alone speaking up afterwards.

"See you in the finals, Korni."

After saying these words, the girl brushed her stray hairs behind her ear and strode towards the competition venue, leaving behind only her dashing figure.

It's just normal concern, nothing to worry about.

Watching her friend walk away until the dull thud of the heel hitting the ground faded from her ears, Korni gave a soft self-acknowledgment, as if she had made up her mind.

"Ah."

Close conversations ceased. As our gaze passed through the narrow corridor and arrived at another spacious venue, cheers surged like a tsunami, completely overwhelming our senses.

With the favorites clashing against the dark horses, which spectator could suppress their anticipation and not devote their full attention?

Seeing such a battle is worth the ticket price, even if it takes a lot of effort.

"I will be the referee for this match."

Raising one arm, the shapely blonde beauty stood on the high platform, pursed her lips, and spoke in a deep voice.

"The match is a six-on-six all-out battle. According to the draw, the first half is a grassy field. When half of the Pokémon on either side are unable to battle, the match enters the middle stage and changes to a rocky field."

Click, click——

As the woman's voice rose like waves, the mechanical platform slowly opened, revealing a lush, green plain, where the ever-present breeze stirred up ripples.

"Now, please have both players take their positions."

Amidst the cheers of the crowd, Zhu Lan raised the flag high, as if about to swat it down.

This battle was something she had deliberately arranged, so naturally she had to go to the scene herself and observe every detail.

Without needing words, the man with dark blue hair flicked his sleeves, his hands behind his back, holding the red and white sphere, his direct gaze revealing his fighting spirit.

Without any intention of dodging, the white-haired girl also opened her eyes, withdrew her fingers from stroking the child, and let her clear purple eyes radiate arc light, proclaiming her own existence.

Singles or doubles?

He took the initiative to speak up and inquire about the format of the match, which would lead to a full-scale knockout stage. The choice between singles and doubles would be decided by both sides. Dakdo, entrusted by Zhulan, considered himself to have an advantage in information and was unwilling to take full advantage.

Therefore, he relinquished the initiative.

"Double."