Hearthome TV Station.
The Pokémon doing the judging were not revealed on-site. That would be another selling point when the footage was made into a variety show.
The round ended.
"Next, we'll rank everyone from highest to lowest score. Please look at the big screen."
Li Wei's photo appeared first.
Next came Lalami, Ge Li, and Sasha.
Then Kaguya, Kui Luo, and Heiji.
Finally, Renji scraped through in eighth place.
Akin's name was nowhere to be seen.
The heart Akin had held in suspense finally gave up hope.
Akin, in whom they had placed such high hopes, had fallen in the round of sixteen.
Li Wei had completed the initial stage of his side quest, Make a Name.
Reaching the Top 8 was the quest's minimum requirement.
But Li Wei had always been aiming for the championship.
If they had been in the Chat Group, Li Wei would definitely have mocked Akin mercilessly, just like Whitney.
After all, Akin couldn't crawl through the internet cable to beat him up.
But they were face-to-face right now.
Although, to be fair, Akin might not be able to beat him anyway.
He had intermediate Close-Quarters Combat and was a Super New Trainer.
What could Akin possibly fight him with?
"You doing okay?"
Akin was still fairly calm.
"I'm fine. I was just here for fun anyway."
That wasn't an excuse. During the three days they had to prepare, Akin hadn't practiced anything. He had just been having fun.
He had entered the earlier rounds with the same just-give-it-a-try attitude, but his talent alone had carried him this far.
A faint blush crept onto Akin's face. "They all worked so hard. There's no reason someone like me, who's been playing around the whole time, should make the Top 8."
"I think the judges' suggestion