"Boss, it'll be fine, right?"
At the track entrance, Mark asked excitedly yet nervously.
Today was Sato's second match in the Elite Four Ranking Match.
His opponent was the Ice-type Elite Four—Ryu!
Sato said nothing. He merely nodded gently to everyone from the Dark Night Gym before turning and walking toward the battlefield.
After passing through the narrow contestants' passageway, Sato was greeted by deafening cheers the moment he entered the arena.
Even his originally calm heart couldn't help but feel somewhat stirred.
"Sato! Sato! Sato...!"
Since the match was being held in Dark Night City, ninety-nine percent of the audience supported Sato.
When everyone in the arena was calling your name, no one could remain unmoved.
Thus, Sato's Fighting Intent soared higher than ever before! This is my turf!
Before long, Elite Four Ryu also walked onto the battlefield at an unhurried pace. Cheers rose up, but they were far less enthusiastic than when Sato had entered.
Those cheers seemed to be nothing more than the people of Dark Night City showing respect for an Elite Four Expert.
When it came to admiration, they recognized only the more handsome, younger, and stronger... Sato!
Elite Four Ryu slowly arrived at the trainer's Command Position, unmoved by the shouts around him.
Perhaps because he had used Ice-type Pokemon year-round, even his personality had become colder than that of ordinary people.
So whether he had Home Ground Advantage didn't matter to him at all.
Of course, not caring didn't mean he was unaware. The extent to which all of Dark Night City highly regarded Sato even surpassed the admiration the people of Mahogany Town had shown him and Sen when they had both become Elite Four members.
One worth two?
Ryu shook his head and refocused all his attention on the battle.