Suicune Cup Officially Begins (Please Bookmark, Vote, and Send Monthly Tickets!)

"Fine, I think giving it our best is enough. It'd be nice to win a prize, but I don't have much confidence anyway."

July 25 arrived in no time. Early that morning, Liu Bin called.

Liu Bin said, "Brother Jing, get up! Today's the Suicune Cup Pokémon Challenge. There'll definitely be a lot of people later, and it'll be crowded. Let's head over early."

Jiang Jing said speechlessly, "But the battles don't start until nine, and it's only seven-thirty now."

"Besides, I checked the Matchup Table yesterday. The earliest our matches will be is ten, so what's the rush?"

Liu Bin said, "I'm excited, okay? I barely slept at all last night!"

Jiang Jing said, "..."

After hanging up, Jiang Jing got up unhurriedly, woke Aron, then washed up and ate breakfast.

Once everything was ready, he put on his backpack and headed out.

His backpack contained towels, Pokémon Food, Pokéblocks, and Potions.

Even the most ordinary Potion at Cerulean Supermarket cost two hundred yuan a bottle. He had bought three just in case.

At the entrance of Taiyu Residential Complex, Liu Bin had already been waiting for a while.

When he saw Jiang Jing come out, he handed him a bottle of mineral water. "Let's go. We'll take shared bikes."

A few minutes later, while they were still over twenty meters away from Cerulean Supermarket, they could already see how lively it was outside. Countless people had gathered there.

A battle field the size of a basketball court had been set up in a large open area outside the supermarket, raised a meter above the ground.

The space below had been divided into two sections: the spectator stands and the challengers' waiting area.

The host's voice could also be heard clearly. The challenge had not started yet, and music was playing over the broadcast.

Four or five high-end drones were being adjusted in the sky.

After parking their shared bikes, the two walked over to the battle field. Two security guards stopped them at the waiting area entrance, and they had to show their contestant IDs before they could enter.

More than half the contestants had already arrived. Most were children, mainly boys and girls between eleven and sixteen.

There were very few adults, and there was almost no one who looked like a Trainer.

Everyone was excited and nervous, so they vented their emotions by chatting loudly.

Liu Bin and Jiang Jing found two empty chairs and sat down. Looking at the lively surroundings, Jiang Jing could clearly sense Liu Bin's nervousness.

It was not just Liu Bin. Jiang Jing himself was nervous too. This was his first time participating in an official Pokémon competition—a maiden voyage for him.

Liu Bin took out his phone and asked, "Brother Jing, do you know who your opponent is?"

Jiang Jing took out his phone, opened Cerulean Supermarket's official account, and checked the Matchup Table. "My opponent looks pretty young, maybe only around ten."

Liu Bin said, "Mine looks even younger, maybe eight or nine."

"The first round shouldn't be a problem. It looks like 176 people are participating this time, so there'll be several rounds. No need to rush."

As time passed, more and more spectators and contestants arrived, making Cerulean Supermarket even livelier. It was also running a promotion today: everything in the supermarket was twenty percent off for three consecutive days.

At nine o'clock, a beautiful hostess in a black dress stepped onto the battle field.

"Good morning, spectators and contestants. I'm Qiqi, the host of this second Suicune Cup Challenge."

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"The summer heat is blazing, and everyone's enthusiasm has been ignited... With the National Championship's excitement still lingering, Cerulean Supermarket refuses to be outdone. We're bringing everyone some cooling benefits..."

Jiang Jing in the contestant area did not like listening to this, so he could only keep observing the contestants around him.

"Now, I announce that the second Suicune Cup Pokémon Challenge has officially begun!"

"Clap, clap, clap!"

"Whoosh! Boom!"

The moment she finished speaking, four fireworks shot into the sky and exploded overhead.

The competition officially began, and the broadcast announced the first battle.

"First match: Li Yiming versus Zhou Jiaxuan."

Two nervous boys of twelve or thirteen walked onto the Arena.

A middle-aged Referee announced, "Each contestant may use one Pokémon in this challenge. Items are prohibited. The battle will continue until one side loses the ability to fight or the Trainer verbally admits defeat."

"The battle begins. Please release your Pokémon."

The battle officially began. The moment both Pokémon appeared, Jiang Jing activated Data Eye.

Pokémon: Butterfree

Attribute: Bug, Flying

Talent: Below Average

Level: LV10

Ability: Compound Eyes

Pokémon: Zigzagoon

Attribute: Normal

Talent: Below Average

Level: LV9

Ability: Gluttony

Sure enough, they were just ordinary pet Pokémon that had been brought in to compete.

Moreover, it was the first time the two children had stood on such a stage. They were extremely nervous, their commands unclear, and they even gave the wrong orders at times. Mistakes happened constantly.

The battle itself was a complete mess. When their Pokémon were knocked to the ground, they actually forgot how to command them and forgot their moves.

After two minutes, the battle ended. Butterfree barely won, while the opponent burst into tears the instant he lost and was led off the field.

The next battle continued.

After watching the next few matches, Jiang Jing could hardly bear to look. No, it was not that he could not bear it—it was that he did not want to. They were fighting so badly. What a bunch of rookies.

But the weaker his opponents were, the happier he was. The weaker they were, the greater his chances of making the top six.

Liu Bin had been nervous at first, but after seeing that the opponents were all at this level, he regained his confidence and felt like he could do it again.

Jiang Jing, who often watched the National Championship and knew more about battling, did not enjoy matches like these. But the aunties in the audience watched with great delight. The atmosphere was lively, and they were probably just enjoying seeing the Trainers embarrass themselves onstage.

Soon, the fifteenth match arrived.

The huge screen beside the contestant area displayed: Next Match, Jiang Jing (Right) VS Ruan Xianglong (Left)!

"Let us congratulate contestant Li Xinhe on his victory. Next, please welcome the contestants for the following match."

Hearing the hostess, Jiang Jing stood and said to Liu Bin beside him, "It's my turn. I'll be right back."

Liu Bin said, "Good luck!"

As he walked onto the field from the left, he could take in the entire spectator stands at a glance. Everyone looked at him curiously, their eyes all fixed on him.

This was his first time stepping onto a stage like this. It was impossible not to be nervous.

But his mental age was no longer that of a sixteen-year-old boy. He took a deep breath and suppressed the tension in his heart.

He looked at the contestant walking up opposite him, a skinny ten-year-old boy. That boy was even more nervous, his face stiff and his entire body trembling visibly.

The Referee announced, "The battle begins. Please release your Pokémon."

Jiang Jing pulled out a Poké Ball from his pocket and threw it. "Go, Aron."