Kiawe's sudden surrender caught the audience off guard. Yet he wore a smile right up until he left the field.
Unlike Volkner, Kiawe did not leave the venue outright. Instead, he returned to the competitors' seats, ready to watch the remaining matches.
Lana looked at him with concern. Kiawe gave an easy smile and sat down, that slightly devil-may-care grin returning to his face.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Kiawe... you..."
"Hahaha! Don't worry about me, Lana! Facing powerful opponents is exactly what I want! Yong put me under enormous pressure, but he also showed me the way forward..."
Kiawe looked toward Yong, who was sitting on the other side, an indescribable emotion flickering in his eyes.
"Maybe that guy's strength... isn't far behind Lady Lillie's..."
"Huh? What did you say, Kiawe?"
"Ah?"
Kiawe had been lost in thought. Seeing Lana lean closer, he hurriedly smiled.
"Nothing. I was just saying... we need to work even harder! Lana, your opponent won't be easy to handle either..."
Lana nodded and looked at Silver sitting ahead of them. His body was stiff, like a puppet, and his long red hair stood out vividly.
"I'll do my best!"
The previous match had left the battlefield so thoroughly devastated that it could no longer support another battle, so President Charles Goodshow called a halt to the competition.
A group of Geodude, Machop, and Sandslash were clearing the battered ground and carrying away the rubble scattered everywhere.
There was no other choice. Black sand had clogged the lift tracks beneath the battlefield, preventing the reserve field from being brought up. They had to borrow the Pokémon's strength.
Yong sat in his seat with his eyes closed, resting.
In his mind, however, he was reviewing the system's earlier notifications.
``` "Ding! Aggron