The performance of the Pokémon sommelier captivated the audience as he eloquently spoke about the bond between Trainer and Pokémon. He compared their love to the mellowness of fine wine, their mutual understanding to the smoothness of chocolate, and their battles to the intensity of dry wood igniting into flame.
His poetic descriptions left many wondering if, alongside his sommelier training, he had also mastered the art of rhetoric. Meanwhile, Senior, a sophomore, stood deep in thought, contemplating the Jynx beside him.
The wine provided by the Pokémon sommelier was agreed upon as delicious by those who tasted it, though the thousands of spectators in attendance could only imagine. Some freshmen began considering the path of becoming a Pokémon sommelier themselves, while others were curious to experience the sommelier's assessment of their own relationships with their Pokémon. Conveniently, a small bar run by a Pokémon bartender stood near the harbor by the east gate of Dragon University, ready to serve.
Business for the Pokémon sommelier seemed to be booming at the welcome party.
Once the sommelier's performance ended, the battlefield was swiftly cleared, leaving it spotless. The lights brightened, illuminating the entire arena as the audience's anticipation grew.
Though the host had not yet taken the stage, everyone knew what was coming—the long-awaited finale of the welcome party: an intense showdown between the freshman representative, Chris, and upperclassmen from the sophomore and junior years. Some were eager to see a thrilling battle, while others looked forward to seeing Chris falter, envious of his combination of good looks and talent.
A select few held hope that Chris would triumph, representing the freshmen and giving them a much-needed morale boost.
At that moment, a stunning host with flowing black hair and elegant, bare shoulders took the stage.
"Let's give another round of applause for Senior's wonderful Pokémon sommelier performance!"
The audience responded with applause.
"Thanks to everyone's enthusiasm, our orientation party is drawing to a close. As per tradition, the freshman representatives, specifically the winners of the freshman military training competition, will be given the opportunity to challenge a Senior."
"So, with the warmest applause, let's welcome freshman Chris and sophomore Noah for the most exciting battle to close today's event!"
The freshmen clapped enthusiastically, but the applause from the rest of the crowd was more scattered. Many were visibly surprised upon hearing the name Noah.
"Wait, are they really letting Noah fight? Is this supposed to be a welcome party, or a setup to crush the freshmen?"
"I think the Battle Club got desperate. It's been years since a freshman won the military training competition, and this year's winner is from the Breeding Department."
"But to pit a freshman against the sophomore chief? That's just unfair! There's no way Chris can win!"
"Same old story. The Battle Club always pulls this stunt. They can't dominate the national college league, so they pick on us here. Why doesn't Noah take the breeder's exam and challenge the Breeding Department for a change?"
Before the competitors even took the stage, the audience buzzed with heated conversation. Members of the Breeding Department frowned, condemning the Battle Department's tactics as shameless, while the Battle Department students exchanged uneasy glances.
The decision to pit Noah against Chris was made by the President of the Battle Club, Adam. While there were some murmurs of disapproval within the club, with a few members feeling that the president was using excessive force for an easy win, Adam firmly believed in his approach. For him, it wasn't about the optics of bullying the weak—losing was the real embarrassment.
As the discussion continued, Chris and Noah made their way to the battle arena, walking down the familiar training path, each stepping into their respective Trainer positions. Once in place, they sized each other up.
Noah's first impression of Chris was simple: "handsome." The rumors on the campus website were true—whether or not Chris was strong was debatable, but his looks were undeniably striking. Noah mused silently, "I just hope that face doesn't look too bad after he loses."
Unbeknownst to Noah, Chris wasn't aware that his opponent was not only a sophomore leader but also one of the strongest in the Battle Department—a fact that made him an elite in the Battle Club. But to Chris, the term "elite" meant little.
**Elite?** he thought. **I've got my own edge.**
Chris had been using his own "secret" for a month now and wasn't intimidated by the idea of facing a Rival with just one more year of regular training. He was confident, maybe even overconfident.
As the side referee prepared for the battle, he confirmed that both Trainers were in position and announced the rules.
"This is a performance battle at the welcome party. Trainer Chris will face off against Trainer Noah. Both sides may use four Pokémon, but the match ends when two of either Trainer's Pokémon lose their ability to fight."
"Now, send out your Pokémon!"
The rules differed from the Rookie military training competition that Chris had experienced. This battle was a two-out-of-four match, meaning both Trainers could rotate through four Pokémon, with no restrictions on the number of switches. However, once two Pokémon were knocked out, the battle would conclude. This format was typical for exhibitions or casual battles, unlike the 4-out-of-6 format used in major competitions like the professional Trainer cups, national leagues, or international events.
Both Chris and Noah simultaneously grabbed a Poké Ball from their belts and tossed them into the air. As the balls opened, two Pokémon emerged.
Noah's first choice was **Throh**, a muscular, red humanoid Pokémon with skin as tough as rock. With its broad face and massive frame, Throh was a natural in wrestling—an obvious choice for a pure Fighting-type contest.
Chris, in response, sent out **Hariyama**.
With both Trainers opting for Fighting-type Pokémon, it was clear this battle would be a clash of raw strength and technique.
The referee, satisfied that both Pokémon were ready, swung the flag down and called, "Battle begin!"