At this moment, all eyes around the world were focused on Spikemuth Arena.
Backstage.
The person in charge watched the data with a flushed face, brimming with excitement.
"It's exploded! It's exploded!"
Just one second after the official match broadcast began, it had already drawn over a hundred million viewers!
Video streamers from the major websites sponsoring the event had also begun commentating on the match in unison.
As for television ratings in households, there was no need to elaborate further.
There were only two things to know.
A brand-new record!
An instant climb to the top!
Above Spikemuth Arena, through loudspeakers developed by studying Exploud and Noivern, the host's excited voice rang out across the stadium.
"Ladies and gentlemen!"
"The first round of the greatest and most spectacular event in the world is about to begin!"
"In this dream event where Champions from every region have gathered, who will emerge as the final victor?"
"Let us welcome the two competitors of the first match in the upper bracket—"
"Ranked eighth in the Masters Eight, Trainer Ash!!"
"Ranked fifth in the Masters Eight, Trainer Caronne!!"
Under the spotlights, the two Trainers, who could in a sense be called fated opponents, slowly walked toward the Battle Arena.
Many spectators, especially those who had once followed the Lumiose Conference, began looking forward to it.
After Ash defeated Alain and became the Lumiose Conference Champion, he immediately chose to challenge the Elite Four and Champion.
After consecutively defeating the other three Elite Four members besides Malva, who had turned herself in, Ash faced Kalos Pokémon League Champion Caronne.
However, because Greninja, his ace at the time, was absent, Ash had regrettably fallen before Caronne.
Back then, many had said that if Ash had been given a little more time, the Kalos Pokémon League