"Viridian Metro Line 7: Brocade Station→ City Battle Arena.
City Battle Arena—now arriving!"
"We are arriving at Urban Arena!"
"Passengers disembarking, please mind the gap between the platform and the train."
As one of Kanto's top-tier megacities, Viridian City possessed an incredibly well-developed underground metro network. The moment they stepped out of the food street, a subway entrance was right there.
After just a little over seven minutes on the train, Ash and his group had already traveled from the food street to Viridian City's City Battle Arena.
In the very heart of the city—where every inch of land was worth a fortune—stood an enormous, majestic structure surrounded by a wide plaza, commanding attention from all directions.
Its exterior resembled the "Bird's Nest" stadium from Ash's previous life, formed by interwoven support beams creating a massive lattice framework.
What made it even more striking was that, like many of Viridian City's skyscrapers, the arena's outer walls were planted with low trees and evergreen shrubs. Compared to the Bird's Nest of Ash's former world, this place looked even more like an actual nest.
Buildings of this scale—sprawling like sports complexes—were exactly what people called City Battle Arenas.
At this moment, the plaza outside the arena was bustling with activity.
Elderly people twisted their waists and stretched their necks as they exercised. Office workers in quick-dry sportswear jogged and trained. Children ran around joyfully, wrists tied with Jigglypuff helium balloons, laughing as their parents chased after them.
Vendors sold glowing plastic dragonflies, balloons, and all kinds of toys. Street stalls, performers, and even automated vending robots blended together, giving the plaza a lively, everyday atmosphere.
Many of the people exiting the subway alongside Ash were also heading toward the City Battle Arena—and almost every one of them had a Pokémon by their side.
Some were spectators coming to watch battles.
Others, like Ash, were Trainers here to compete.
Not every Trainer chose to travel the world after turning ten.
Some pursued higher education to deepen their theoretical knowledge. Others felt they weren't yet ready to travel alone and preferred staying in the cities they had always lived in.
And then there were those who had already traveled in their youth, grown older, entered the workforce—but whose dreams of being a Trainer still burned bright. In their free time, they would come to the City Battle Arena to compete once more.
No matter the reason, one thing was certain—
The City Battle Arena was a place every urban Trainer frequented.
"Pikachu, let's go," Ash said.
After briefly surveying the plaza and its surroundings, Ash carried Pikachu and headed toward the magnificent structure ahead—the City Battle Arena itself.
Having learned from his previous visit to Viridian City—when he'd been recognized and surrounded by people asking for autographs and photos—Ash was much more cautious this time.
He recalled Pidgeotto, Charizard, and Frogadier—Pokémon that clearly marked his identity—into their Poké Balls. Then he pulled on a white baseball cap to hide his highly recognizable black hair, followed by a mask.
Whether strolling through the food street earlier or riding the subway just now, Ash hadn't been recognized at all.
Still, a few people glanced at him curiously—after all, he looked under ten yet was walking around with a Pokémon.
Crossing the plaza, Ash reached the entrance of the City Battle Arena.
One entrance was marked for spectators.
The other was clearly labeled for participants.
Because of his height, age, and Pikachu's undeniable cuteness, Ash naturally drew attention. Most people assumed he was here to watch a match—
Until they saw him walk straight toward the participant entrance.
Nearby citizens, spectators, and Trainers all stared in stunned surprise.
A messy-haired youth, around fourteen or fifteen, kindly called out to him:
"Hey, little kid, the spectator entrance is over there. The one you're heading into is for competitors."
"I know," Ash replied, turning back with Pikachu in his arms and smiling.
"I'm here to compete."
"Uh…" The youth hesitated.
"To participate in the City Battle Arena, you need to be a registered Trainer with your own Pokémon officially recorded by the League. You can't compete using a Pokémon borrowed from your parents or family."
Thinking Ash was a first-timer unfamiliar with the rules, the youth patiently explained.
Hearing this, Ash's smile only widened.
"Thank you, big brother. But this Pikachu is my Pokémon, and I'm a Trainer officially registered with the League."
"After all," he added playfully,
"Even if you're under ten, you can still own your own Pokémon and be recognized as a registered Trainer by the League—right?"
Without waiting for a response, Ash waved politely and continued along the participant corridor, Pikachu in his arms, heading into the arena.
Behind him, the youth—and many others—watched his back with curiosity and disbelief, replaying his words in their minds.
"Under ten… owning a Pokémon… officially registered…"
"Wait—!"
Suddenly, realization struck the youth like lightning. Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp had only ended recently, and this year's camp had drawn massive attention.
He looked again—carefully—at the boy carrying Pikachu as he walked toward the City Battle Arena's registration hall.
When he spotted the hint of black hair peeking out from beneath the white baseball cap—
The youth's eyes widened in excitement and realization.
"I know! I know who that kid is!"
"It's Ash!!"
"Ash? Which Ash?" people around him asked in unison.
"Which Ash?! The Ash from Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp—the one who scored full marks in all ten trials and took first place with a perfect 100 points!"
"The Ash who opened a Skill Shop on the League's official trading platform—who broke the so-called curse and can use psychic powers to help Magikarp learn Tackle!!"
"Holy crap—it's really him?!"
"No way—he was standing so close to me just now and I didn't even recognize him!"
"I really wanted his autograph on my Poké Ball…"
"I want him to teach my Magikarp Tackle!"
"He said he's here to battle—what arena is he fighting in? I want to watch his match!"
"He probably hasn't even registered yet."
"Then I'll refund my ticket first. Once I find out which arena Ash is competing in, I'll buy a ticket for that one."
"Same here—let's go together!"
Meanwhile—
Ash, carrying Pikachu into the City Battle Arena, had no idea that his identity had already been exposed.
Nor did he know that several fans—whose existence he wasn't even aware of—were already planning to buy tickets for his arena, ready to cheer him on.
The spotlight—
Was quietly beginning to turn toward him once again.
--------------
T/N:
Access Advance Chapters on my
P@treon: [email protected]/PokePals