In the early morning, the sunlight gently spilled, casting a thin golden veil over the asphalt road in front of the school gate. A gentle breeze carried a hint of coolness, rustling the leaves by the roadside, as if whispering the stories of dawn.
At the school entrance, a group of energetic students gathered, about to embark on a journey to the county town to participate in a significant competition, and Chen Kai was one of them.
Chen Kai was dressed in the standard Dragon Kingdom sports uniform, predominantly white. His pristine white shirt was spotless, and the purple stripes on the collar resembled lively, dancing musical notes, adding a touch of vibrancy and playfulness to his overall attire.
The cuffs and hem of his white jacket were meticulously adorned with purple trim, which shimmered with a soft, charming luster in the sunlight, complementing the Miraidon beside him.
Not far away, other classmates, both male and female, wore the same style of uniform.
Everyone was gathered, discussing the competition rules and potential opponents with great enthusiasm, their faces showing a mix of nervousness and irrepressible excitement.
Zhao Wenbin held a document in his hand, gesturing as he explained the situations of other high schools. Wang Yi and Su Yuexi listened quietly and attentively, a slight frown on their faces.
As for the blond-haired student, he still had that carefree, devil-may-care look, lost in thought, or perhaps not thinking at all. For some reason, Chen Kai felt that the blond-haired student would be put in his place again this time.
Unlike the second-year students, the third-year seniors beside them, though also wearing similarly styled uniforms, appeared noticeably more fatigued.
Some leaned listlessly against the wall, while others looked down, fiddling with their phones. Moreover, their participation numbers were sparse, with only five individuals in total, making the entire team seem somewhat meager.
Chen Kai felt a pang of doubt. Why did they seem so reluctant to participate? He focused his attention slightly and heard a few seniors chatting desultorily:
“Ugh, I don’t know if participating in this competition is even useful. I’d rather spend more time doing practice exams and preparing well for the college entrance exam.”
“Exactly. Even if we go, we can’t beat the students from the county. We’re just going through the motions, wasting time for nothing.”
“No choice, the homeroom teacher insisted on making up the numbers and dragged us along…”
Their voices were low and despondent, as if enveloped by an invisible pressure.
The third-year team leader stood by, looking at the unenthusiastic students with a worried expression. He cleared his throat and raised his voice, saying:
“Students, this competition is a rare opportunity for learning and exchange. Regardless of the outcome, everyone will gain something from it. Especially for the third-year students, consider it a chance to relax and unwind. Who knows, you might even accumulate some experience for the college entrance exam…”
However, despite the teacher’s lengthy speech, it did not ignite much enthusiasm. The seniors merely nodded symbolically, their eyes still holding a hint of indifference.
A large bus was quietly parked at the school gate, its body wiped clean and new, gleaming silver in the sunlight. The bus door was open, like a warm embrace, welcoming the students with their varying thoughts.
At the teacher’s urging, the students boarded the bus one after another.
On the bus, Teacher Xu and the third-year teacher began to explain the competition precautions again. Chen Kai couldn't help but yawn, feeling a bit drowsy as he listened. In reality, what the teachers were explaining could be summarized as nothing more than “random draw for matches” and “second-year and third-year students competing together.” For Chen Kai, it was just about battling.
Before long, the bus stopped near the Qu County competition venue.
Before them stood a modern building, grand and magnificent in appearance, its glass curtain wall shimmering with golden Radiance under the sunlight. In the plaza in front of the building, participating students from various schools had already gathered. They wore school uniforms of different colors, chatting in small groups, the atmosphere both lively and tense.
And these county students had a rich and diverse range of Pokemon, many of which had already evolved once, such as Charmeleon, Croconaw, and others.
There were also many foreign Pokemon never seen in town, such as Floette, Mareanie, and others.
The Zining High School students disembarked. Chen Kai stood by the bus, looking up at the venue and the many contestants, a strong fighting spirit surging within him. He clenched his fist tightly and said:
“This is more like it! Right, Grovyle!”
Grovyle’s eyes lit up, and he nodded vigorously:
“Cha!” (Yes!)
The blond-haired student was even more flamboyant, directly jumping off the bus. Once he landed, he yelled loudly:
“Champion! Your grandpa is here!”
His voice echoed around, drawing strange looks from students from other schools who had come to compete.
The third-year seniors looked at the blond-haired student’s demeanor, some shaking their heads helplessly, others frowning, and couldn't help but sigh:
“It’s good to be young…”
Teacher Xu awkwardly covered his face, afraid of being seen by teachers from other schools. However, a few familiar teachers walked over, laughing and teasing:
“Old Xu, your students are quite lively, haha.”
“Old Xu, is your school going to take first place in Qu County this year? This is the first time I’ve heard that!”
Wang Yi couldn't bear to watch any longer and quickly covered the blond-haired student’s mouth, dragging him away.
Subsequently, Chen Kai and his classmates, guided by teachers and staff, queued up to enter the venue.
Inside the venue, there were several competition fields in the center, allowing multiple matches to take place simultaneously. The area outside the competition fields was packed, with contestants from various schools. Some were doing warm-up stretches with their Pokemon, while others closed their eyes in concentration with their Pokemon. An invisible tension permeated the air.
Chen Kai and his classmates, led by their teacher, arrived at the school’s contestant lounge area for final preparations.
At this time, inside the venue, 512 contestants from various high schools in Qu County gradually gathered.
On the large screen, the computer began to randomly assign opponents.
Chen Kai stared intently at the screen and saw that his turn to compete was relatively late, and his opponent was a student from Qu County No. 1 High School.
The blond-haired student was also watching the screen nearby. After seeing his opponent, he still had a look of disdain on his face. Chen Kai truly didn't understand where he got such confidence.
Wang Yi was drawn to compete in the first round. Competitions in small county towns weren’t so particular. Wang Yi walked on her own to Battle Field No. 8, where her opponent was already waiting.
Seeing that Wang Yi was unfamiliar, the opponent asked, “Second-year, right?”
Wang Yi didn’t say much, just nodded.
“Then my luck is pretty good,” the opponent said with a smile. “And don’t say a senior is bullying you. I’ll send out my Pokemon first!”
With that, he sent out his Pokemon—Drednaw.
Wang Yi remained calm and simply said, “You don’t need to go easy. Go, Dubwool!”
Dubwool emerged from its Poké Ball, proudly raising its head and glancing at its opponent.
Seeing both sides ready, the referee blew the whistle, and the match officially began.