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The next day was designated for rest while the Trainer Association prepared the battlefields according to the number of participants. That evening, they would announce the matchups for the first round, with the Gym Leader Ranking Tournament officially commencing on the third day.
The number of participants this year was indeed lower than Alexis had predicted—only sixteen competitors compared to twenty from the previous year, not even half of all Gym Leaders.
But this arrangement simplified the schedule, eliminating the need for any byes.
Sixteen would become eight, eight would become four, four would become two, and finally one champion would emerge.
Winning all four matches would secure first place in this year's Gym Leader qualifying tournament.
The first round—reducing sixteen to eight—consisted of eight matches spread across two days.
Four matches per day, two in the morning and two in the afternoon. The battles were kept private, with spectators limited to Gym Leaders and senior Trainer Association officials.
Chris was scheduled for the second afternoon session on the first day. His opponent would be Remi from the Cloud Gym—the young man with the camera whom he'd just met.
What an unexpected first matchup.
"Good luck to both of you!"
As the two Gym Leaders from the first match concluded their battle, Alexis, watching from the audience, cheered for Chris and Remi as they stood and headed toward the preparation room.
Both nodded in acknowledgment without much conversation.
In the waiting room, they followed the standard procedure: waiting, checking in with staff, registering their Pokémon, and then proceeding to battle.
By the time Chris and Remi stood on the battlefield, half an hour had passed. The terrain, left in disarray from the previous match, had been replaced with a fresh battlefield.
Looking around, Chris noticed nearly thirty Gym Leaders observing the battle.
Though only sixteen Leaders had entered the competition, approximately thirty were present as spectators. In addition to high-ranking Trainer Association members, twenty-seven Gym Leaders had come to watch.
Not participating in the ranking tournament didn't mean they weren't interested in watching the battles, especially duels between their peers.
These were rare opportunities to witness high-level combat.
The "Wild Battle" rules allowed for a more intuitive display of strength between Gym Leaders. Moreover, this particular duel featured a rising star.
Word had spread about Chris defeating Master Keaton and conquering twelve consecutive challengers in just over a month. The spectators were eager to see the skill level of the youngest Gym Leader in China's history!
"The match beginning now is part of the first round of the Gym Leader Ranking Tournament. The rules are Wild Battle format with six Pokémon permitted per Trainer. The battle ends when one party surrenders, all Pokémon lose their ability to fight, or a Trainer becomes unable to continue!"
"Both Leaders, remember to use False Swipe techniques when appropriate!" the referee cautioned both competitors, raising his hands. "The terrain will be randomly selected. Begin!"
As his words echoed, an icon panel on the side of the battlefield began flashing rapidly, eventually stopping on a blue tree symbol.
Immediately, the battlefield started to transform, being replaced by forest terrain.
Lush vegetation obscured Chris and Remi's vision, surrounding them with trees as if they'd been transported to the wilderness.
Wild Battle meant simulating actual wild terrain for combat. Besides forests, options included caves, oceans, volcanoes, and other natural environments.
Each battle featured a randomly determined venue.
Additionally, the battlefield for Wild Battle spanned five times the size of a standard arena, providing Trainers and Pokémon ample space to demonstrate their combat abilities.
Therefore, Wild Battle tested not only fighting prowess but comprehensive tactical skills!
Trainers adept at environmental applications gained natural advantages.
The referee, positioned at an elevated vantage point, confirmed both Trainers were in position. Since this was Wild Battle format, he didn't wait for them to release their Pokémon before making his announcement.
"Battle start!"
Chris immediately threw three Poké Balls.
Gardevoir, Garchomp, and Hariyama appeared.
Gardevoir would closely protect its Trainer, Hariyama would serve as the primary attacker, and Garchomp would burrow underground as both barrier and backup.
"Use your aura sensing to locate the target," Chris instructed Hariyama.
He avoided using Psychic-type detection because a veteran Gym Leader like Remi would certainly anticipate such a common tactic.
Dark or Ghost-type Pokémon could easily counter psychic detection!
Aura sensing was different—it could lock onto an opponent's position regardless of circumstance. Only death could prevent detection.
Hariyama immediately leaned forward and delivered a powerful palm strike.
Its massive hand slapped the ground, leaving a huge palm print from which an invisible light-blue wave radiated outward.
"Hari!" Soon after, Hariyama signaled to Chris that it had found their target.
"Lock onto the target's position and prepare a Spiral Aura Sphere!" Chris commanded without hesitation.
Hariyama extended its arm, gathering aura energy in a spiraling pattern.
Giant Spiral Aura Sphere—an upgraded version of the regular Spiral Aura Sphere.
The difference was its larger size and greater power, though it required more time to condense the aura energy and demanded twice the control ability!
Currently, this was a special technique customized for Hariyama, whose full stamina was sufficient for only one shot.
As for Greninja, neither its aura control nor its physical endurance met the requirements yet.
In approximately ten seconds, the aura energy in Hariyama's right hand had condensed into an Aura Sphere the size of a basketball! Around this massive sphere, afterimages appeared similar to those seen when viewing a spinning electric fan.
The effect produced after the spiral rotation reached a certain speed demonstrated its terrifying power!
The Gym Leaders watching from the stands observed this development with surprise.
"He's developed Aura Sphere into an even stronger move? I hadn't heard that Chris was an aura specialist before."
"With aura concentrated to that degree, I suspect the power of this move will be extraordinary..."
"I have a feeling Remi is about to face serious trouble today!"
"Release it!" Chris commanded sharply.
Hariyama complied immediately, thrusting its arm forward and launching the Aura Sphere with tremendous force.
The massive glowing Spiral Aura Sphere hurtled forward, piercing straight through the forest. It sliced through a large tree in its path without interruption or explosion—simply penetrating through!
Complete penetration—the effect of aura energy concentrated in spiral form.
The sphere punched through the tree, through the grass, through anything in its path, flying directly toward Remi himself.