"Sorry, there were too many people getting their medical checkups, so I got back a little late. My Lucario didn't cause you any trouble... did it?"
Korrina, who had just returned from the Pokémon Center, stopped herself from saying what she wanted to say.
Because she saw two Lucario surrounding Roy at that moment.
Korrina recognized the slightly larger Lucario as hers at first glance, but she was shocked to see her Lucario performing tricks around Roy.
Suddenly, a blue energy staff appeared in Roy's hand, Lucario then performed a set of staff techniques in front of Roy.
Even after performing his stick fighting routine, he stuck close to Roy, begging for Pokéblock.
What exactly did Roy do?
Normally, she doesn't allow anyone but her to touch her Lucario.
He won't let anyone touch him?
Roy said, "You're still too young."
Korrina's Lucario is now being petted, hugged, and kissed.
After handing the Pokéblock to Lucario happily ate Pokéblock.
In Lucario's eyes, how could Roy, who could make such sweet-smelling Pokéblock, possibly be a bad person?
Korrina, realizing what was happening, rushed over, looking at Roy and her Lucario with a suspicious expression.
Did these two suddenly develop an affair?
Just now, Lucario was ignoring Roy.
Lucario, what are you eating?
Upon seeing that Korrina had returned from the Pokémon Center, Lucario's first reaction was not to go find Korrina, but to Swallow the Pokéblock in its hand in one gulp.
Korrina was both amused and exasperated by her Lucario's actions; was he afraid she'd steal the Pokéblock?
"Lucario, didn't I tell you not to eat other people's Pokéblock?"
"Luca~"
Lucario rubbed his head, indicating that he had suddenly lost his memory, forgot what he had just done, and that he didn't have Pokéblock.
Seeing Lucario stubbornly denying it, Korrina had no choice but to look at Roy with curiosity, wondering how he had managed to seduce her Lucario.
Roy then gave Korrina another live demonstration.
"Do you want more, Lucario?"
"Luca!"
Seeing her Lucario eating so happily, Korrina was puzzled.
That's really strange.
Lucario wasn't this greedy before...
This was the first time Korrina had ever seen Lucario so gluttonous.
"Lucario, do you really like eating these Pokéblock?"
Lucario nodded sheepishly. He didn't understand what was wrong either, but he just found the Pokéblock in Roy's hand incredibly tempting.
Furthermore, Maylene's Lucario also enjoys eating Roy's Pokéblock.
Roy, whose legs were getting numb from sitting, got up and asked Korrina if she had found a place to stay for the night.
"Found it! Nurse Joy said she can make room for us temporarily."
Korrina looked relieved as she spoke of how Nurse Joy at the Pokémon Center offered to provide Korrina with a room, saving her and her grandfather from having to sleep on the streets.
By the way, I still don't know your name.
Roy.
"Roy?"
After muttering something to herself, Korrina thanked Roy:
"Thank you so much, Roy, for helping me so much today. If you ever come to Shalour City in the Kalos Region, feel free to come visit me, it'll be on me!"
After saying that, Korrina turned to look at Lucario.
"We should go, Lucario."
"Luca!"
Korrina took Lucario to the Pokémon Center, waiting for the Martial Arts Tournament to officially begin tomorrow.
Chuck from the Gym came up to Roy and bumped Roy's arm with his shoulder.
"You brat? Didn't I set a rule that latecomers wouldn't be allowed to participate in the competition?"
You actually abused your power and broke the law for me? Or... have you taken a fancy to that young girl?
Roy rolled his eyes at Chuck.
"You can't beat me, so I'm in charge."
After saying that, Roy turned and walked into the Gym.
The phrase "You can't beat me" left Chuck, who was about to make a joke about Roy, speechless.
More importantly, Roy was telling the truth.
The Martial Arts Tournament officially began the next day.
Nearly a thousand combat trainers who had registered the day before gathered at the Azure City Dojo.
As both an official member of the event and a participant, Roy already knew that very few of the other participants posed a threat to him.
The Martial Arts Tournament is open to both men and women, who all compete and sweat it out in the same Arena.
Roy looked at the Annihilape beside him.
"Annihilape, we only have one goal this time. Are you confident?"
The Annihilape clenched his fists. After watching so many episodes of the Martial Arts Tournament, today was finally his turn to take the stage.
"Abandoned!"
Roy raised his fist and collided it with the Annihilape's fist.
This Martial Arts Tournament is the best test for them after all this time.
According to the rules of the Fighting type Martial Arts Tournament, the Pokémon Trainer and Pokémon compete separately.
The judges for the Fighting type Pokémon Trainer were Mustard, Chuck, and Chairman Damaranch.
As for the Pokémon side, Urshifu, Machamp, and Conkeldurr will act as referees.
For the new generation of Fighting type Pokémon Trainer, Mustard is a name of the past, but for a few who still remember Mustard's reputation, they froze on the spot the moment they saw him, and then cheered.
This left the unsuspecting contestants looking completely bewildered.
Mustard stood up, waved his hand, and announced the rules of the Martial Arts Tournament, including that the use of special moves was prohibited during Pokémon battles, private trading was prohibited, and so on...
After Mustard announced the rules, Chairman Damaranch announced the start of the game.
The preliminary elimination rounds began on more than twenty arenas throughout the Gym.
The more than twenty referees applied for from the Indigo League were all in place.
After easily sending his opponent off the stage with a knee kick, Roy went to the Pokémon Arena and looked at the stage where Annihilape was located.
Abandoned Monkey's first opponent is the sumo wrestler Iron Fist Warrior from the Azure City Dojo.
Upon seeing the Hariyama, who was much larger than himself, the Annihilape used a Vital Throw to bring the charging Hariyama to the ground.
Just as Hariyama was about to get up, Annihilape instantly pressed down and wrapped Hariyama's neck with a rear-naked choke.
Hariyama tried to retaliate, but the Annihilape was clearly stronger, so Hariyama had to Pound on the ground to indicate that he was giving up the match.
The referee blew his whistle, and only then did the Annihilape release Hariyama.
Roy could tell that the Annihilape also enjoyed this battle without using any special abilities.
In Roy's opinion, the preliminary rounds were almost meaningless. The only match Roy found interesting was the mirror match between two Lucario.
Maylene's Lucario versus Korrina's Lucario.
The two Lucario each created an Energy Bar and engaged in a battle of wielding it in the Arena, unleashing horizontal slashes, downward sweeps, and horizontal punches...
The two Energy Baton collided, producing a clear and long "hum!" sound.
The two sticks crossed paths, Korrina's Lucario stepped forward first, its long stick slashing down with a gust of wind.
Maylene raised his Lucario to block, taking the hit head-on. Then, with a flick of his wrist, he thrust the tip of the stick forward, aiming a sharp strike straight at his opponent's chest.
However, Korrina's Lucario seemed to have anticipated this move, dodging to the side and then quickly closing in on Maylene's Lucario, kicking it.
When Maylene's Lucario was forced back, he turned around and countered with a backhand strike, almost knocking Korrina's Lucario off the ring before she could react.
Seeing this, Maylene's Lucario didn't back down. Off the Arena, he and his opponent were friends, but now they were rivals. When facing an opponent, giving it your all is the best way to show respect.
Korn Lucario parried with his staff, then raised it to lock onto the opponent's blue energy staff. He followed up with a powerful downward thrust, lifting the staff upward and sending Ali's Lucario flying off the ring.
The referee, seeing that Maylene's Lucario had left the ring, immediately blew his whistle, announcing the result of the match.
Korrina's Lucario won.