"Excellent! Please follow me, everyone!" Nurse Joy led them forward as she spoke. After only a few hundred meters, they emerged from the hot spring's steam, and a towering mountain came into view.
"So that's it. Because of the steam from the hot spring, the mountain silhouette we saw earlier wasn't Mt. Coronet!" Liu Qing said, realization dawning on him.
"That's right!" Nurse Joy nodded at Liu Qing's words. "This mountain is part of a spur of Mt. Coronet. On this side, the hot spring keeps the lower slopes free of snow, but everything from that point upward, as well as the other side, stays frozen all year round. The first stage of this event will take place here. You'll climb this slope, which is about eighty-five degrees, and make your way up the mountain to above the snow line. I'll be waiting for you there!"
"Climb the mountain?!" someone exclaimed in surprise. "Can we use our Pokémon?"
"Yes, you'll be climbing the mountain! It's over four hundred meters from here to the snow line!" Nurse Joy looked at the person who had asked. "But there's one thing you must remember: this climb is your own athletic challenge. You cannot rely on your Pokémon's strength, or you'll be breaking the rules. Now, please choose where you'd like to climb, get ready, and wait for the organizers' signal! Likewise, anyone who wishes to withdraw may do so here!"
After overcoming "countless trials and tribulations" just to reach this place, who would give up now?! Nobody paid any attention to Nurse Joy's final words. They began searching for their preferred climbing spots. Liu Qing chose one, tested his grip, then leaned against the cliff to steady his breathing!
"Excellent! After our warm-up before the main event, we have twenty-two contestants remaining. Defense