"Jirachi? Why aren't they attacking the humans first?"
On the participant benches, Lin Feng held an Alolan Vulpix in his arms, while Jirachi hovered beside him, tilting its head in curiosity. The two trainers in the arena below stood on opposite sides, each commanding a Hitmonlee and a Hitmonchan.
Both Pokémon were pure Fighting-types, leaving no flashy long-range attacks. The battle was a straightforward clash of physical strength, punch against punch, muscle against muscle. Every strike carried weight.
But Jirachi didn't understand something.
If they were fighting, why didn't they go after the humans standing behind them first?
It had been a question lingering in its mind since yesterday.
"Humans?" Lin Feng repeated, momentarily confused. Then it hit him. Jirachi had last awakened a thousand years ago. At that time, human history was very different, and the Pokémon League didn't exist yet. Battles between Pokémon were mostly about survival or conflicts between tribes and species.
He spoke patiently. "Today, battles between Pokémon are no longer just about territory or survival. Most Pokémon partnered with humans never go hungry."
"So why do they still fight?" Jirachi asked.
"It's because some Pokémon are naturally competitive and energetic. Fighting is their way of releasing that energy. They don't need to risk their lives the way they used to."
"Jirachi? You're saying everyone can get enough food now?"
The little wish-granting Pokémon paused, thinking back to what it had seen yesterday and today. Indeed, tall and sprawling buildings, numerous food vendors, and shops meant everyone could eat well. No one needed to fight just to survive. The logic was simple.
Jirachi fell silent, and Lin Feng let his thoughts wander. He marveled at the sheer productivity of this world. It wasn't just about providing food. Pokémon contributed to electricity, construction, textiles, and countless industries connected to human society.
A single Electivire, with a few other Electric-types, could power an entire city. Hundreds of Caterpies, or dozens of Mareep, could produce tens of thousands of garments made of silk or wool. Roads spanning dozens of kilometers could be repaired in mere weeks with enough Pokémon helping.
In this world, hard work and cooperation between humans and Pokémon made life remarkably comfortable. Standard jobs followed a routine schedule, typically nine to five, and everyone lived in relative ease.
Even the work Lin Feng had recently handled at his breeding facility far exceeded the average workload of a plantation owner in this world. By previous-world standards, he would be called a "grind king."
Yet even in such a productive world, survival struggles hadn't disappeared entirely. Early on, conflicts over resources were inevitable, not because production was lacking, but because knowledge and logistics for efficient resource management didn't exist yet.
Shaking his head, Lin Feng refocused on the arena. The fight between Hitmonlee and Hitmonchan was nearing its conclusion. Hitmonchan appeared slightly weaker in energy levels, and as a result, sustained heavier damage, leading to its loss.
Each battle lasted five minutes. In an hour, around twenty matches could be completed. The first round, therefore, would take roughly three hours.
Qin Shu, sitting beside him, cheered enthusiastically, not bothering to hide for whom she was rooting. Alolan Vulpix, too, watched intently, clearly intrigued by the spectacle. The lively atmosphere naturally stirred emotions even in Lin Feng.
One match after another passed, and Lin Feng observed a wide variety of Pokémon battles from the nearby participant bench. The experience was markedly different from the Baby Cup. At the Youth Cup, every trainer here had already passed a selection process, giving them a stronger understanding of Pokémon battles and requiring quick decision-making under pressure.
In such a competitive environment, some trainers even issued commands that were genuinely impressive, demonstrating creativity and strategic thinking.
Time flew by, and soon it was Qin Shu's turn. She took a deep breath before glancing at Lin Feng and Jirachi.
"Jirachi, Feng…"
"Yes." Lin Feng responded.
"Jirachi?"
"Cheer for me, please!" Qin Shu said nervously.
This tournament was on a much larger scale than the Baby Cup, where only a few hundred spectators had attended. Now, thousands, maybe even tens of thousands, filled the stands. Her parents were also watching, adding to her tension.
"Cheer up. Trust your Wartortle, at least," Lin Feng encouraged, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.
"Jira~" Jirachi chimed in, as if offering a wish to help.
"No, I'll do it myself!" Qin Shu waved off the little Pokémon and ran toward the arena.
Lin Feng wasn't worried. Based on his experience with Youth Cup battles, it was usually not until the semifinals or top sixteen that Gym-level Pokémon made an appearance. Unless Qin Shu encountered a Pokémon with a hidden Water-resistance ability which her Wartortle might not handle well or a trainer who had focused on raising a Gym-level Pokémon specifically, her chances were solid. Even then, her Wartortle could hold its own.
Sure enough, her opponent sent out a Charmeleon, around level 22 to 24. Lin Feng raised an eyebrow. In the Donghua region, Charmeleon were relatively rare and mostly inland, not along the coastal regions. Coastal areas were sunny, favoring Bulbasaurs instead.
With type advantage and energy-level superiority, Qin Shu didn't need any complex strategies. She simply used Rain Dance and Water Gun to win.
Yet even in this simple victory, the thrill was visible on her face. For a novice trainer, each win was a memorable milestone.
While lost in thought, Lin Feng noticed a slight movement from a nearby Poké Ball at his waist. He looked down to see it was Serperior.
"You want to come out, Serperior?" he murmured.
The match atmosphere, the scale of the tournament, and the energy of the battles reminded Lin Feng that even in a world with high productivity and ample resources, the spark of competition and the drive to grow were timeless. Here, effort and skill still mattered, and each battle was a chance to test the limits of both trainer and Pokémon.