The ground shook again. Soon, amid a dull, grating rumble, an enormous battlefield rose from the clearing in the middle.
Short grass, shrubs, Low Mountain.
Instead of a monotonous expanse of color, it was a complete grassland with natural variations!
Sōsuke and Bruno stepped onto their command platforms.
Neither had any objection to facing someone from the same region. After all, in pursuit of the ultimate victory, they could be matched against each other at any time.
It had simply happened sooner than they had expected.
Smiling at Sōsuke across the field, Bruno asked curiously,
"I've always heard you called 'Cianwood City's bottom line.' What does that mean? Are you the weakest person in Cianwood City?"
Sōsuke's face darkened, and he snapped,
"That's none of your business! We're battling! Cut the chatter!"
Bruno laughed, planted his hands on his hips, and declared,
"It's fine! We're both from Johto! I won't look down on you. I give my all against every opponent! Hahahaha!"
Up in the stands, the contestants burst out laughing.
"Sōsuke's going to die of frustration! Hahaha!"
Seeing the curious faces around them, one of the helpful Johto contestants explained,
"Sōsuke is called 'Cianwood City's bottom line,' but that doesn't refer to his strength. It represents the limits of what the people of Cianwood City will tolerate!"
"In other words, the citizens of Cianwood City will let you bully them, but if you bully Sōsuke, they'll beat you up!"
One contestant asked curiously,
"Why?"
"I'm not really sure, but everyone in Cianwood City knows him!"
Everyone grew even more curious.
On the Grass Field,
Sōsuke couldn't be bothered to say anything else. He took out a Pokémon Ball and tossed it lightly.
Pop!
White light spilled out and gradually gathered on the ground, forming a Pokémon.
His skin was