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Ash's entrance completely overshadowed every other competitor. All eyes were fixed on him alone.
There was only one way to describe it: he was dazzling.
Compared to Ash, Kai's entry and those of the other trainers felt ordinary, their spotlight stolen.
At that moment, the host received word in his earpiece and explained to the audience:
"According to the latest update, the previous torchbearer injured his ankle and was unable to finish the relay. The young man now running into the stadium is none other than Ash Ketchum, who passed the preliminary selection and advanced to the Silver Conference!"
The announcer paused, then added with great emphasis:
"And the flame in his hand is the eternal fire of Ho-Oh the Sacred Flame! It is said this fire ended wars and restored the land and forests to life. And now, Ash is carrying it to the cauldron…"
Inside the stadium, Ash raised the torch high, sprinting across the field, climbing the steps, and approaching the great brazier. As the torch touched the basin—
Whoooosh!
The cauldron ignited in a brilliant blaze. The Silver Conference had officially begun!
The crowd erupted in wild cheers. Even Kai and the other competitors couldn't help but clap, raising their eyes to the Sacred Flame burning proudly above them.
Every trainer's heart surged. Not just Kai all of them silently prayed for success in this grand tournament.
At that moment, League President Mr. Goodshow stepped to the podium.
Though small in stature, the lights and atmosphere made him appear towering. Clearing his throat with a smile, he said:
"Competitors of the Silver Conference, the Sacred Flame of Ho-Oh now burns before you. Give everything you have, and battle with honor. Leave no regrets behind!"
True to Mr. Goodshow's style, there was no long speech just simple, powerful words that roused the spirit of everyone present.
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By the time the ceremony ended and the trainers left the stadium, the moon was high, stars glittering across the sky.
Outside, Kai regrouped with Ash, Misty, Brock, and Erika only to hear a familiar chorus calling from a distance.
"Boss!!"
Even from far away, the voices carried, drawing the attention of tourists and fans nearby. Many who had been eager to ask Kai for an autograph or photo quickly backed off when they saw the source: a whole gang of rough-looking bikers, led by Martha and Misha.
Their intimidating presence worked like a shield, keeping strangers away.
Kai shook his head with a wry smile. "You guys… You came all this way without even telling me? If I hadn't seen you in the stands, I'd still be clueless!"
Martha scratched her head awkwardly. "This was too important we had to be here to cheer for you!"
"Yeah, exactly!" Misha chimed in. "We wanted to give you a surprise. And since we knew you had your qualifying match yesterday, we didn't dare disturb you."
Misty, Ash, and Brock weren't surprised that they had met the gang back at the Indigo Plateau. Erika, however, looked between Kai and the bikers in disbelief.
She simply couldn't connect the refined Champion she knew with these wild, leather-clad riders.
And why were they calling him "Boss"?
"How did you even get here?" Kai asked.
"We biked the whole way from Vermilion!" Misha said proudly.
"Thanks to your investment, the club's turning a profit now," Martha added with a grin. "We're not the same as before. We even traded in our bicycles for motorcycles. A real upgrade!"
Kai nodded. Trading pedal bikes for motorcycles suited them far better. Still, riding all the way from Vermilion City to Silver Town was no small feat. Their loyalty touched him deeply.
"Come on," Kai said, waving them forward. "Let's go eat."
The group, nearly thirty people in all, counting Ash's friends, marched into a nearby restaurant. The owner almost fainted at the sight, thinking a gang fight was about to erupt, but soon realized it was a friendly crowd.
Two massive tables groaned under the weight of food and drink. The adults ordered plenty of alcohol, and even Ash and Brock joined in the festive atmosphere.
Over dinner, Ash explained how he became the substitute torchbearer. Team Rocket had tricked him, captured Pikachu, and locked him in a room.
Fortunately, Gary appeared in time to rescue him. While escaping, they ran into the original torchbearer, who had been injured. With no one else available, Ash had stepped in.
Misty laughed. "So that's how you ended up stealing the show!"
Ash blushed, embarrassed but proud. He knew being a torchbearer was an honor, though since he had carried the flame once before at the Indigo League, it wasn't quite as overwhelming this time.
Meanwhile, Martha and Misha exchanged glances, sizing up Erika. Back at Indigo, they had known the Boss's woman was Sabrina, the beautiful Psychic. Now it was Erika, the elegant Celadon Gym Leader.
They gave Kai subtle thumbs-ups under the table. Champion, respected leader, Gym Leader girlfriends… their Boss really had it all.
The feast lasted until late at night. When they finally parted ways, Kai and Erika returned to their dorm.
With the matches beginning tomorrow, both were restless. Kai lay awake, tossing and turning, unable to sleep. He knew Ash, Gary, and many others were likely just as restless.
Finally, when the nerves became too much, Kai turned to Erika, losing himself in her embrace until exhaustion finally carried him into sleep.
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