On the contestant platform, a massive holographic screen hung in the center of the stadium, clearly projecting the avatars and real-time odds of the four contestants into every corner.
Lance, 1.5 odds.
Cynthia, 3 odds.
Steven, 4 odds.
Ariel, 22 odds.
Ariel moved his gaze away from the glaring "22" and cast it toward the roaring, tsunami-like crowd below.
Ariel shook his head, a faint, imperceptible curve playing on the corner of his lips.
To stir up the enthusiasm of the entire Hoenn region, this most primitive and direct method was indeed the most effective.
The massive commission the League officials would take from this would probably make the finance department grin from ear to ear.
"All betting channels are now closed!"
Following the cold electronic voice on the broadcast, a momentary silence fell over the venue, followed by an even more violent roar.
The bets were cast, unchangeable. Everything that followed would be decided by the contestants on the field, which would also determine the wealth or poverty of countless people.
Amidst the clamor, the drawing process officially began.
The four avatars on the central screen began to rotate rapidly, lights and shadows interweaving, until finally, two avatars suddenly locked into place.
Ariel.
Steven Stone.
Boom!
The entire stadium exploded!
"The first match is the main event!"
"A dark horse versus the noble prince of Hoenn! This is going to be interesting!"
"It's over, it's over. I bet on Ariel, but meeting Steven in the first round? Isn't that just throwing the match?"
"Bullshit! Steven will definitely win! My entire fortune is on him!"
Discussions, cheers, and wails mingled together.
On the contestant platform, Steven's eyes, usually filled with a touch of laziness and composure, became sharp.
He looked at Ariel and nodded slightly.
Ariel returned a calm gaze, and then, without a word, both stood up and walked toward the tunnels at either end of the arena.
The path to the arena was long, flanked by cold alloy walls, and the overhead lights stretched their shadows long.
The outside noise was isolated, leaving only his own footsteps and heartbeat.
Ariel's mind was exceptionally clear as information about Steven flowed through his thoughts.
The successor to the Devon Corporation, a rock enthusiast, a master of the Steel-type and Rock-type; his gorgeous and solid tactical system left him with almost no shortcomings.
His ace was Metagross, a terrifying existence with a brain like a supercomputer.
But that was his final trump card.
What would the first one be?
As he stepped out of the tunnel, blinding sunlight and deafening cheers poured in.
The massive battlefield was composed of hard rock and lush turf, capable of withstanding the full-force bombardment of Elite Four Level Pokémon.
Opposite him, Steven was already standing there. His well-tailored suit seemed out of place on the battlefield, yet it perfectly complemented his noble temperament.
He calmly adjusted his cuffs with an elegance that made it seem like he was attending a banquet.
"The first match of the semi-finals! Contestant Steven Stone versus Contestant Ariel!"
The referee raised his flag high, and his voice echoed throughout the stadium via the microphone.
"The match rule is a six-on-six full battle! Now, both contestants, please send out your first Pokémon!"
Steven's movements were light as he took out a Luxury Ball and tossed it gently.
"Go, Skarmory."
With a flash of white light, a giant bird made entirely of metal appeared in the air.
Its wings shimmered with the cold light of steel, their edges as sharp as blades. With a rebellious look in its eyes, it circled in mid-air, kicking up a gust of wind that sent grass clippings flying.
Skarmory, Steel-type and Flying-type, possessed extremely high physical defense and was a notorious nightmare for physical attackers.
In the spectator stands, many who had bet on Steven breathed a sigh of relief.
"It's stable! Starting with Skarmory means he's going for a war of attrition!"
"In Ariel's Pokémon data, most are heavy physical attackers. This Skarmory directly counters him perfectly!"
Ariel looked at the circling Skarmory, his expression unchanged. He reached back and took out a Poké Ball.
"I'll leave it to you, Greninja."
A flash of red light appeared, and a deep blue figure landed silently on the field.
It crouched, hands clasped together, its scarlet long-tongue scarf swaying slightly in the wind, its sharp eyes fixed on the opponent in the air.
Greninja!
Seeing this Pokémon, a ripple finally appeared in Steven's eyes.
He knew Ariel had a Greninja, and this Greninja's combat style was extremely versatile and unpredictable.
"Then, let the match begin!"
The referee's flag swung down sharply!
"Skarmory, Spikes!"
Steven's voice was calm and decisive; he started with a classic hazard-setting tactic.
Skarmory let out a sharp cry and flapped its wings, and countless triangular iron nails shimmering with cold light rained down, scattering across Ariel's side of the field like a storm.
Once Greninja switched out, the subsequent Pokémon would take damage.
"Dodge it, Double Team."
Ariel's voice was low, yet it reached Greninja's ears clearly.
Greninja's figure instantly blurred, splitting into two, then four, then eight... In the blink of an eye, the entire field was filled with Greninja's figures. They moved at high speed in dazzling trajectories, easily passing through the gaps where the Spikes were falling; not a single nail could touch their bodies.
The audience gasped; this level of Double Team was no longer just a skill, but had been integrated into its movement technique.
"Oh?" Steven's eyebrows raised slightly, seemingly very interested in this scene. "Interesting. Then, Whirlwind."
The Skarmory in the air took a deep breath, its chest swelling, and then it flapped its wings violently, a visible hurricane sweeping toward the ground!
The violent airflow was enough to flip a tank; Double Team was meaningless against such a wide-range attack.
However, just as the hurricane was about to touch the ground, Ariel's voice rang out again.
"Water Shuriken."
All of Greninja's phantoms acted simultaneously. High-speed spinning Water Shuriken condensed in their hands, and without the slightest hesitation, they threw them all at the Skarmory in the air!
In an instant, dozens of Water Shuriken cut through the sky, bringing with them a whistling sound that cut through the wind, sealing off all of Skarmory's escape routes from all directions.
Steven's pupils shrank slightly.
This wasn't a probe; this was an attempt to decide the victory right from the start!
"Steel Wing!"
Skarmory remained calm in the face of danger. Its wings were instantly covered in a layer of metallic luster, becoming indestructible.
It gave up Whirlwind and crossed its wings in front of itself, forming an absolute shield of steel.
Ding! Ding! Ding! Ding!
The dense sounds of impact connected into one; the Water Shuriken shattered upon the Steel Wing, turning into a mist of water.
Under the cover of the water mist, a real figure erupted from the phantoms, moving with extreme speed, almost leaving an afterimage in its original spot!
It was the real Greninja!
It stepped on a phantom that had been blown away as a stepping stone, completed an incredible double jump in mid-air, and instantly closed the distance with Skarmory!
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