The thick flakes of snow drifting down did nothing to cool the audience's enthusiasm.
As the tournament's livestream continued to explode in popularity, tickets for the third round onward became almost impossible to get!
Someone had even posted online about the VIP box ticket they had bought from a scalper for a six-figure sum!
Of course, this was not simply hype. The quality of this year's academy tournament was genuinely that high.
If time moved forward just a little-not too far, only three years-
People would be astonished to discover that every contestant in this tournament had become one of the top Trainers in their regional League.
Not to mention Xia Chi and Red, who would already be battle legends by then.
It was just like the tournament eight years ago, which had brought together Cynthia, Leon, Steven, Diantha, and many other Champions-the Trainers now known as the [Golden Generation].
People always marveled at why such extraordinarily gifted Trainers seemed to shine together in the same era.
But back to the present.
The young geniuses whom future generations would call the [Platinum Generation] were only just beginning to make their mark.
Xia Chi's match against Drayton was the first of the day.
(Drayton and Archaludon)
By the time the two took their places at opposite ends of the broad battlefield, a thick layer of snow had already accumulated over the rocky terrain.
Dressed more warmly than usual, the referee checked that everything was in order, then blew the whistle to signal the start of the match.
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Before the whistle had faded, Xia Chi and Drayton had already thrown their first Poké Balls!
"I choose you, Misdreavus!"
"Kingdra, get ready to battle!"
Two flashes of white light revealed a blue-gray ghost and an azure seahorse with dragon horns and a