The 154th day after leaving the Orange Islands, sunny.
The weather was clear, and the morning sunlight poured without restraint into the large dining hall, shining so brightly on the white floor that it was almost dazzling.
Yu Hai walked out of the Competitor Village's large dining hall and narrowed his eyes slightly as he adjusted to the bright outdoor light.
Today, he wore a simple black Trainer T-shirt, dark blue jeans, and white sneakers, giving him a sharp, energetic appearance.
Umbreon stood obediently on his shoulder, its sleek fur carrying a soft sheen under the sunlight. He could not resist reaching up to stroke it, just like petting a cat.
It had been three days since the Group Stage ended. Today marked the important start of the Knockout Stage. The sixteen competitors who had emerged from the Group Stage would soon battle fiercely in the main arena, making their final push toward the championship.
According to the rules, during the round of sixteen knockout stage, every competitor still had one final chance to battle Three-on-Three. Once they entered the quarterfinals, the format would become a full six-on-six battle.
As he headed toward the main arena, he glanced at Umbreon on his shoulder. His hand kept kneading it as he quietly pondered whether his little ones could really endure the later high-intensity full-team battles.
With his current strength, it would not have been difficult for him to assemble a team of Elite-class Pokémon and win the championship. But for a baby tournament like this, he felt there was no need to go that far. Put simply, he did not want to bully newcomers or become too famous.
The opening ceremony at the main arena had already begun, and the venue was bustling with excitement. Yu Hai did not care about