At the Eight-Leaf Lotus Hotel on Manro Island, Liu Qing and Cynthia leisurely finished breakfast and had their morning tea. They glanced at the clock on the wall and saw that the agreed time for their battle was drawing near, so they left their room hand in hand and took the elevator straight to the hotel's top floor.
The Eight-Leaf Lotus Hotel was shaped like a lotus, with its top floor resembling a seedpod. Seen from above, individual lotus seeds dotted the pod-each one was actually a Battle Arena covered in transparent glass. Since A Hen had issued the challenge, booking the Battle Arena, arranging a referee, and handling everything else had been left to him. A staff member was already waiting when Liu Qing and Cynthia stepped out of the elevator and led them toward the Battle Arena A Hen had reserved. A Hen and Caitlin emerged from another elevator and were likewise escorted toward the Battle Arena.
Perhaps because both sides were strictly punctual, Liu Qing and Cynthia arrived outside the Battle Arena at almost exactly the same time as A Hen and Caitlin. After exchanging greetings, they went inside together.
Upon entering the Battle Arena, Liu Qing noticed that May and Max had not arrived yet, but he thought little of it. They were on Sol Island, after all, and could easily run into traffic on the drive over. He had already informed the hotel's lobby desk yesterday, however, so May and Max would be sent straight up when they arrived.
"Liu Qing, let's skip the small talk and get straight to the battle!" A Hen's gaze was sharp, his fighting spirit on full display. The electric sacs on the cheeks of the Pikachu perched on his shoulder were already flickering with sparks, showing just how eager