The next day, the long-awaited day for Pokémon fans across the country finally arrived: the opening of the China Championship Tournament. The main stadium in Beijing was packed with spectators who had come from all corners of the country, while millions more watched the live broadcast from their homes, including Yang Chen and his family on the farm.
In the cozy family room, Yang Chen, Reba, and their daughter Yang Xiaoyi gathered in front of the television. The table was filled with snacks, and a relaxed atmosphere enveloped them. The family's Pokémon also joined in watching, with Pikachu sitting on Xiaoyi's lap, while Dragonite and Gardevoir stood behind them, observing calmly.
Reba said enthusiastically, "The tournament looks magnificent, doesn't it? Look, the Champions and Elite Four from all regions seem very strong."
Yang Chen just smiled slightly, nodding while looking at the screen. He remained vigilant, even though the day seemed to be going normally.
The main stadium in the heart of Beijing was filled with cheering spectators. The large screen displayed visuals of every moment of the battle, while the commentator continuously heated up the atmosphere with an enthusiastic narrative. The Championship Tournament has reached the round of 16, and the first match pits the Champion of the Northern Region against the Elite Four of the Eastern Region.
On the farm, Yang Chen sat with his daughter, Yang Xiaoyi, watching the battle unfold on the TV broadcast. Nine-year-old Xiaoyi, wearing her favorite Pokémon hat, couldn't hide the curiosity and excitement on her face.
In the center of the arena, the Champion of the Northern Region, a young trainer named Liangyi, stood confidently. Her first Pokémon was Metagross, which looked shiny with its sturdy body. Meanwhile, her opponent, the Elite Four from the Eastern Region named Yuan Min, chose Togekiss as his first Pokémon.
The battle began with Metagross attacking first, using Meteor Mash that shot forth with tremendous power. However, Togekiss deftly dodged using Air Slash, then countered with Thunder Wave, immobilizing Metagross's movements.
Yang Chen watched with sharp eyes, analyzing every move. Xiaoyi looked at her father with great curiosity.
"Dad, who do you think will win?" she asked innocently.
Yang Chen smiled and patted Xiaoyi's head. "The Champion from the North is quite tough, but the Elite Four from the East have a more organized strategy." Let's wait and see, okay?
Liangyi immediately changed strategies by withdrawing Metagross and sending out Infernape, which immediately pressured Togekiss with Flare Blitz. The attack forced Togekiss to retreat, but Yuan Min did not lose control. She replaced Togekiss with Milotic, which used Scald to dampen Infernape's attack.
The battle intensified when Liangyi brought out his trump card, Garchomp, and initiated Mega Evolution. With its newfound power, Garchomp dominated the arena, attacking Milotic with Dragon Claw and forcing Yuan Min to switch Pokémon again.
However, Yuan Min remained calm. He sent out Aegislash, which was able to withstand Garchomp's attack using King's Shield before counterattacking with a precise Shadow Sneak.
The battle reached its climax as both trainers were left with their last Pokémon. Liangyi relied on Garchomp, which also underwent Mega Evolution, while Yuan Min chose Gardevoir and did the same.
The arena bore witness to an epic duel between two Mega Evolution Pokémon. Garchomp attacked with Earthquake, shaking the entire arena, but Gardevoir countered with Moonblast. The attacks clashed, creating an explosion of energy that made the audience cheer in amazement.
In front of the TV, Xiaoyi gripped his father's arm enthusiastically. "Dad, look! That's amazing!"
Yang Chen smiled faintly, but his eyes remained focused on the battle. "Look at how Gardevoir is using its distance." That's a very clever strategy.
Sure enough, at the last moment, Yuan Min took advantage of a small gap when Garchomp ran out of energy to launch Psychic, ending the battle with a narrow victory.
As the referee announced Yuan Min's victory, the stadium erupted with cheers from the spectators. On the big screen, Yuan Min's calm face appeared smiling, while Liangyi applauded as a sign of sportsmanship.
Xiaoyi looked at his father with sparkling eyes. "Dad is right! The Elite Four of the East won!"
Yang Chen nodded with a smile. "He won because of patience and strategy. That's a good lesson for you, Xiaoyi. Victory is not just about strength, but also about using your head and heart."
Although entertained by the battle, in his heart, Yang Chen knew that the strength of the battling Pokémon was still far below the level of his own Pokémon. The aura of permanent Mega Evolution power from his team, such as Charizard X, Dragonite, and Gyarados, places them in a completely different class.
However, he did not reveal this to Xiaoyi. For him, moments like this are about learning and enjoying the wonders of the Pokémon world with his daughter.
"Well, the first battle is over," said Yang Chen as he stood up. "Let's watch the next battle."
With a cheerful smile, Xiaoyi watched the live broadcast, ready to witness more epic battles in the top 18. Meanwhile, in the distance, the bright sky bore witness to their journey towards a greater story.