The first selection round was about to begin, and every Trainer's heart swelled with anticipation.
This wasn't an open competition, and there was no superfluous opening ceremony.
The real stage was the world championship, and now was merely a battle for a group of people striving for the opportunity to stand on that stage.
At the referee seats, ten judges, all hailing from different regions, with at least professional-level strengths, were ready.
Even though the first phase of selection was akin to a warm-up, it was also an opportunity for the Trainer Association to gain a clearer assessment of the contestants' strength.
The method of selection that would follow, as well as the rewards for this selection round, were all to be based on the Trainers' performance and the abilities of their Pokemon.
On the presidential platform, Master Ma Chenzong quietly observed; he was the President of the College Student Competitive Games Committee, familiar with most of the contenders and looking forward to many familiar faces and their performances.
Miss Liu Qin, the Secretary-General of China's Trainer Association, also had quite the discerning eye.
Dragon King Yun Kui, seated upon the presidential platform, watched indifferently below; he didn't pay special attention to anyone, as it seemed only the emergence of strong contenders would catch his eye.
"Let's just wait and see first,"
Although the official application channel was open, Fang Yuan thought it over and decided not to be the first to take the challenge.
It was better to watch others attempt to breach the barrier first, then based on the difficulty of each level, decide which three Pokemon to use in battle...
Many people shared Fang Yuan's mindset, cherishing each of the three opportunities they had.
............
Among the ten-person panel of judges, each took turns presiding over the challenge on the field. The huge Domed Arena was just a purely ordinary field, with no special features.
The first to walk to the center of the field was a somewhat dark-skinned middle-aged examiner.
He held a tablet, synced with the giant screen opposite the presidential platform, to announce the upcoming contenders and display their progress.
"The first challenger... Fubo!"
As soon as the middle-aged examiner finished, a giant screen outside the arena displayed the first name with ten glowing Poké Balls beneath it.
The Poké Balls signified the number of levels. For each Pokemon a challenger defeated, one Poké Ball would dim.
In the contestant seats, the Trainer whose name was called looked troubled... He hadn't applied proactively. So, were they proceeding in order?
Being the first to take on the challenge meant significant attention but also tremendous pressure...
"Never mind... I have three chances anyway."
With a sigh, Fubo, who was in his late twenties, stood up and headed towards the field.
"Fubo, the one from the King tournament?" As Fubo stepped forward, many recognized him.
Fubo was a Trainer who performed well in the first half of the King competition, with potential to challenge in the latter half and the Four Heavenly Kings, especially adept with Grass type spirits.
"It's Fubo! I remember that all six of his main Pokemon have reached Master Level, right? I wonder how far he'll get." As Fubo walked out, many eyes were on him. Fang Yuan also watched this young expert emerge, casually stepping out as a renowned King tournament contestant, a young Master Level Trainer, which meant he would definitely choose Difficulty at Master level...
"Fubo, choose the challenge difficulty."
"Master Level."
Fubo spoke decisively. There was no suspense at all; if he had opted for Professional level, people who knew him could have laughed themselves to death.
According to the rules, challengers were to send out their Pokemon first. After a few moments of thought, Fubo pressed the Poké Ball, and with a flash of white light, a Pokemon that looked like an armoured dinosaur, its broad flat shell covered with a large tree, appeared on the field.
"Aggron!" As the Earth Plate Turtle appeared on the field, it was observed by countless eyes. Judging by its size and luster, this Earth Plate Turtle seemed to be well-cultivated.
Other contestants focused intently on the match as, at the same time, with a thunderous rumble, the stone doors at the edge of the arena wall slowly opened. Two blue lights lit up inside the dark stone door, and with a roar, a large monster Pokemon, its body encased in hard silver armour, Aggron, slowly stepped out from the opposite side.
Aggron, with its blue pupils, looked at its opponent and roared furiously, full of wildness. Its body bore numerous scars from battles, looking like it had been through many fights.
"It doesn't seem like a Pokemon cultivated by a Trainer but rather like the overlord of a Secret location or a perilous area." Fang Yuan observed Aggron. A powerful overlord from a Secret location that could endanger a Professional Trainer had now become the weakest boss in the first selection round?
This Aggron was no weakling, likely honed to the limit through battle to have Master Level combat abilities. Feeling the pressure from Aggron, quite a few young Professional level Trainers showed solemn expressions.
A boss of this magnitude at Master Level difficulty was already putting great pressure on them...
"Once a Pokemon enters the field, the battle begins. Please prepare yourself,"
Meanwhile, the middle-aged referee reminded them.
The next moment, Aggron took heavy steps toward Earth Plate Turtle, and its weighty footsteps made clear the terrifying power it possessed.
However, facing an opponent of Master Level right away, Fubo didn't show any special expressions but rather felt fortunate his opponent was Aggron...