The 150th day after leaving the Orange Islands, cloudy.
Thin clouds drifted across the sky, like paint casually brushed onto a blue canvas with a white brush.
"Bang! Bang! Bang—"
The ceremonial cannons boomed through the azure sky like thunder, making the air tremble faintly. The Silver Conference's opening ceremony had finally begun in grand fashion. Colorful fireworks bloomed across the horizon, bathing the entire venue in breathtaking beauty.
Yu Hai had just stretched and crawled out of his warm bed. Those old perverts who knew him well understood that he disliked such lively, noisy crowds and had never planned on attending the opening ceremony.
After washing up, he prepared a hearty breakfast for his Pokémon. Watching them eat happily put him in a good mood, and his eyes were filled with affection for the little ones.
Then, with Umbreon in tow, he leisurely made his way to the large dining hall in the Competitor Village. The hall was filled with the aroma of food and bustling with people, most of them contestants and staff members participating in the tournament.
He casually picked out some food he liked, quickly finished eating, and headed toward the Silver Conference's main lobby.
The previous night, all contestants who had advanced had completed their group assignments. This preliminary round used a three-person Group Stage format, with contestants facing one another in two Three-on-Three battles.
The rules were simple. The winner received three points, while the loser received none. If the battle ended in a draw, each side received one point. In the end, the contestant with the highest score among the three would advance.
He had come to the Group Stage lobby to see who the other two opponents in his group were and to learn the exact schedule for the matches.
The moment