The venue for the Fighting type Tournament was an open-air circular arena in the center of Somek Town.
Although the arena did not look particularly large from the outside, with a capacity of ten thousand at most, it was already enormous for this small town.
On the day of the tournament, Xia You, Dawn, and Makomo made a point of getting up early. After having breakfast with Bea, they escorted her to the competitors' entrance.
Dawn had only just broken, and the air still carried the lingering chill of the night, but they could already tell it would be a clear day.
The area in front of the venue was already packed.
Standing at the entrance, Bea turned to look at the three people who had accompanied her. Her gaze moved from Dawn's face to Makomo's before finally settling on Xia You's.
Her lips moved slightly, as though she wanted to say something.
Knowing that she was cold on the outside but warm within, Xia You spoke first, his tone carrying an easy casualness that put people at ease. "Go on. Don't overthink it. Just perform the way you do in training, and you'll definitely wipe the floor with them."
The corners of Bea's mouth lifted slightly, and she nodded.
"Good luck, Bea!" Dawn raised her little fist as well. "We'll be cheering for you from the stands!"
Makomo also chuckled. "Good luck."
Looking at them, Bea nodded earnestly. "I'll do my best to win."
When Xia You and his two companions entered the arena, half the seats were already occupied, and spectators were still streaming in to fill the other half.
Some were companions of the competitors, some were local residents, and others were Pokémon Trainers who had come specifically to watch high-level battles. Most, however, were spectators