Before long, Principal Li stood on the platform, gazing at the teachers and students below with immense satisfaction. Under everyone's horrified stares, he pulled out his carefully prepared speech and began reading it with passion, hoping to fire up the students' fighting spirit.
The students' faces fell as soon as they saw the thick stack of pages in his hands!
How long would it take him to read all that? Until the end of time?
Hu Bin's face darkened. Oh, come on! When are we going to start? Principal, you'll be talking until school lets out!
The principal did not disappoint their expectations. The longer he spoke, the more enthusiastic he became, showing no intention of stopping. Only after his assistant reminded him did he smack his lips and bring his speech to an end, moving on to the tournament rules!
"Students, for this school tournament, we'll be learning from advanced battle formats and introducing a new way to compete. We can't keep sticking to the old ways! Today, sixteen of the one hundred students who signed up from our graduating class will advance to the main tournament! Those who reach the top eight can receive the school's recommendation to compete in the Spring City Rookie Tournament!"
A student spoke up. "Wait, that doesn't add up! We're going from a hundred to sixteen today, but those numbers don't divide evenly. How many matches will each of us have to fight?"
The principal gave a mysterious smile. "That's exactly why I said we should learn from advanced battle formats and make things more efficient! We'll be adopting the Alola League's hundred-person battle royal. All one hundred competitors will battle at once, and the last sixteen remaining will advance to the main tournament. Doesn't that sound exciting?"
The students sucked in a breath. A hundred-person battle royal? Good grief! At least they wouldn't have to fight a whole bunch of matches, but it sounded like it would really put the students through the wringer!
The principal was very pleased by their astonished expressions. This was exactly the reaction he wanted, and he silently congratulated himself on his ingenuity!
"For everyone who makes the top sixteen, the school has prepared prizes," the principal said. "And the eventual champion will receive a particularly generous reward!"
He continued, "Students, the tournament will take place right here on the sports field in one hour. Don't worry about damaging anything. Just fight to your hearts' content! The school has already hired a large team of skilled builders to repair the grounds, so all competitors can rest easy. You're dismissed!"
With that, the principal strode off the platform, head held high, picked up his chrysanthemum and Goji Berry Tea, and took a few sips. Once a man reached middle age, chrysanthemum and goji berries were practically essential.
The students left the sports field one after another and returned to their classrooms for their final preparations. Some of the more quick-thinking students had already begun forming groups, planning to gang up on their opponents in the Hundred-Person Team Battle!
One drawback of this format was that those who always strutted around school with their noses in the air were bound to be targeted by plenty of people. Naturally, Lin Chen was one of them!
That was right—Lin Chen was panicking. He really was panicking. He had never imagined the principal would screw him over like this, trying some trendy new Hundred-Person Team Battle. He had offended more than half of those hundred competitors! I'm not afraid of anyone in a one-on-one, but this could turn into one against fifty!
Cold sweat began running down Lin Chen's face. He noticed that quite a few people were already watching him with ill intent and whispering among themselves!
He had offended far too many people. In a situation like this, he was definitely going to take a terrible beating!
Meanwhile, Hu Bin, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi began discussing their strategy. Worried expressions clouded their faces—or rather, Wu Jin's and Liu Yi's faces. Hu Bin looked perfectly composed.
Wu Jin sighed. "This is going to be really tough! One careless moment and someone could knock us out!"
Liu Yi chimed in, "Yeah, this battle is going to be so hard!"
Hu Bin smiled. "You two, seriously, can't you have a little confidence? It's just a hundred-person battle. What's there to be scared of? Keep your heads down and build up your advantage. Hang in there until the end, and you win! Besides, some annoying people probably won't even make it into the main tournament!"
Wu Jin's eyes lit up. "That's right! An obnoxious guy like Lin Chen is definitely going to get mobbed!"
Liu Yi was so delighted that the corners of his mouth twitched. "Good luck really does favor honest people who keep a low profile!"
Looking out the window, Hu Bin said, "Maybe that's what the principal is aiming for. After all, you can't become an outstanding Pokémon Trainer by being arrogant and throwing your weight around."
"Principal, won't this tournament be a little unfair? Some students might end up getting surrounded and attacked by a lot of people!" In the principal's office, his young assistant asked curiously.
"Battles have never been fair. Even raising Pokémon is the same. Your family circumstances determine a great deal. Ordinary families may only be able to buy inexpensive Pokémon that are easy to raise, while wealthy families can obtain rare ones. There has never been any fairness to speak of. What you need to become a Pokémon Trainer is a strong heart, not a swaggering attitude that says, 'I'm the best in the world!' That's the whole purpose of this tournament—to let everyone know that being a Pokémon Trainer isn't so easy!" the principal said calmly, looking at the goji berries in his cup.
In that instant, the assistant was filled with respect. The principal truly was a remarkable man!
Meanwhile, Hu Bin was resting with his eyes closed, though he was actually working out his strategy for the upcoming battle. He and Vulpix still had a secret weapon they had yet to use. The system had awarded it to him after he defeated the PE teacher, and little Vulpix had spent a long time learning it.
Poor baby Vulpix had really had a hard time!
The break passed quickly. Everyone left their classrooms and arrived at the sports field, which had already been set up as one enormous battlefield. Many teachers had released their powerful Pokémon to act as referees and carry out rescues, while a large team of medical personnel stood ready off to one side to provide immediate treatment!
Everyone swallowed. Was all this really necessary? This feels like a bit much!
The second- and third-year students who weren't competing had already picked up their popcorn and ice-cold cola, ready to watch the battles. They had come thoroughly prepared!
The competitors in the hundred-person battle began drawing numbered tags from the teachers, then moved to their corresponding positions to get ready for the battle.
The school's sports field was the size of three soccer pitches. Soon, a hundred people would be battling across it—a grueling test of both stamina and reaction speed for Pokémon Trainers and Pokémon alike!
Hu Bin drew number 66, a very lucky number, and took his place at position 66. Wu Jin and Liu Yi drew 56 and 72 respectively, putting both of them fairly close to Hu Bin!
As for the supremely arrogant Lin Chen, he drew number 44. Despair washed over him. No matter how he looked at it, that number was unlucky! He also noticed the students around him watching him with ill intent. Even Hu Bin, Wu Jin, and Liu Yi were staring at him.
It was easy to imagine the miserable fate awaiting poor Lin Chen and his poor Pokémon!
Before you continue