Time passed second by second.
When the hands of the clock on the wall pointed to 2:58 p.m., the referee's voice came from the center of the venue and reached everyone through the speakers.
"First match of the finals—Xinhai Bai Mu versus Ryosuke Onodera!"
"Contestants, please enter the field!"
Ryosuke Onodera rose from the sofa, rolled his wrists, then turned to Xinhai with a wide grin, revealing his signature sunny smile.
"Xinhai, it's finally our turn."
"Yeah." Xinhai nodded, a faint smile on his lips. "Let's go."
The two walked side by side toward the contestant tunnel, their steps steady and perfectly matched.
The moment they emerged from the tunnel, the venue lights and everyone's gazes fell upon them.
In the VIP section, Allen Dicolik and the brothers Diska and Moska remained seated in their original spots.
Diska held a glass of champagne, its golden liquid gleaming faintly beneath the lights. His gaze rested on Xinhai, and an expectant smile touched his lips.
Moska watched Xinhai and Ryosuke Onodera with a calm expression, his emotions unreadable.
In the middle-rear section of the stands, Yuma Kamiya and Rika Yuzuki sat side by side.
Yuma Kamiya had both hands in his coat pockets, leaning slightly forward as he stared intently at the field, his expression focused and serious.
Rika Yuzuki held Roselia in her arms. Her Pokémon had already been treated by Chansey, white bandages wrapped around its wounds, and it seemed to be in better spirits.
The referee stood in the center of the field, shifting his gaze from Xinhai to Ryosuke Onodera and confirming that both sides were in position.
"First match of the finals—Xinhai Bai Mu versus Ryosuke Onodera!"
"Contestants, send out your Pokémon!"
Xinhai removed a Poké Ball from his waist and pressed the release button.
A flash