Bang! Bang! Bang!
Fireworks bloomed in the sky once more.
This time, repairing and replacing the battlefield took longer than anyone had expected. People even had plenty of time to leave their seats and relax before the announcements and fireworks called them back.
Yong opened his eyes. A whole morning of battles had inevitably left him mentally drained, but the brief respite seemed to have eased some of that fatigue.
In the competitors' passageway, Miss Diantha had also returned to the venue.
As the stands gradually filled and the crowd's clamor rose again, the host's voice echoed through the venue once more.
"Welcome, everyone! Sorry for the wait!"
His rousing words brimmed with enthusiasm and anticipation.
"After our break, the battlefield for the grand final has finally been replaced!"
At the very center of the venue, a huge, regulation-size rectangular battlefield appeared before everyone! Its thicker, sturdier surface seemed to be made from some rarer material.
Rocks, grass, and a river divided the field into three roughly equal sections. Along the forked riverbanks lay patches of marshland and gravel.
In the competitors' seats, Lana studied the mixed-terrain field curiously and asked in confusion,
"It doesn't look any different from the previous battlefield. Why did it take so long?"
Miss Diantha smiled and said softly,
"The previous field was built to the standards of an ordinary tournament. Although it was an upgraded battlefield of a new design, its earthquake and impact resistance were only rated at level four... But this one..."
Miss Diantha turned her gaze toward the dark edges of the field.
"This field was prepared for the final battle of the Pokémon World Championships, with a higher durability rating. Not only have its earthquake and impact resistance been raised to level six, but it also has a new feature...