Early the next morning, Liu Qing, Ash, Misty, and Brock arrived at the competition venue on time. Looking down from the hillside, they saw that the entire venue resembled a vast pool. Several large whirlpools then appeared in the water, and the water level slowly dropped, revealing first the spectator stands and then the entire arena to the arriving competitors.
"So this is the Whirl Islands arena..." Ash stared at the newly revealed venue in astonishment.
"A competition held once every three years, with over two hundred participants—the scale of the Whirl Islands Competition really is impressive." Liu Qing involuntarily clenched his fists, his eyes burning as he stared at the battlefield.
As competitors, Liu Qing, Ash, and Misty were directed by the staff onto small wooden boats that carried them into the venue by water. Brock took another route with the spectators to the stands, which soon filled to capacity.
"The opening ceremony of the Whirl Islands Competition will now begin!" the Announcer announced over the loudspeakers. "Ladies and gentlemen, the people before you have all passed the preliminary rounds and aspire to become a Hero of the Sea. Since ancient times, the Whirl Islands have possessed their own unique civilization and culture, worshipping Water-type Pokémon and living alongside them, as they still do today. This culture has not disappeared. It continues through Miss Maya, the priestess of the sea, who upholds these ancient traditions. Now, let us invite Priestess Maya to declare the competition open!" On the raised platform in the center stood a purple-haired woman dressed in ancient priestly robes. She held a red staff topped with an enormous blue gemstone. She looked noble and solemn, yet retained her beauty and grace. Her eyes seemed to hold the ocean's boundless acceptance, leaving Liu Qing at a loss