At 9:58 in the morning, the central arena of Wyndon was already overflowing. Early spectators had filled every corner of the nest-shaped stadium. The seats were packed so tightly that even the stairways and entrance corridors had people squeezed in, sitting or leaning wherever they could. There was no space left.
Even standing tickets were sold out. The crowd made the stands look messy, but the cameras never showed that part. They stayed focused on the challengers and the seated audience.
A moment later, two Corviknight flew across the open roof, pulling long ribbons through the air.
Despite the daylight, the row of lights above the stadium still shone bright.
Two sharply dressed hosts stepped out from a passage behind a raised platform. Their voices echoed through the speakers, reaching not only the arena but the whole city.
"Everyone, the long-awaited Champion Cup is about to begin. Outstanding trainers from all over Galar have battled and trained through countless matches. Today, they will bring you a breathtaking show. As always, this tournament is led by Chairman Rose..."
"Finally, after careful discussion, Chairman Rose has made an important decision. Starting from this year's Gym Challenge, both Gym Leader and Champion positions will rotate. The top nine contestants of the Champion Cup will become Gym Leaders and Champion."
"And starting from the next tournament, any registered trainer can join the event by earning a recommendation from an official Galar-approved Pokémon Professor, Researcher, any Gym Leader, the Champion, or the Chairman himself. All trainers with recommendations will be allowed to compete!"
As soon as the words fell, the loud arena fell into silence. A pin dropping would have been heard.
The Gym Leaders and the League's upper management already knew, but the audience and the ordinary citizens of Galar had never never guessed it.
The Gym Challenge and the Champion Cup… had been completely reformed.
"I… I didn't hear that wrong, did I? My son can enter the Champion Cup in the future?" A middle-aged League employee asked, confused. He had worked most of his life to help his son become a registered trainer.
A spectator next to him laughed and shook his head. "Only if he gets a recommendation and clears all eight Gyms. Do you even have that kind of pull?"
"I know a researcher in Macro Cosmos!" The father shouted with excitement, his voice quickly drowning out the discouraging words beside him.
The Gym Challenge and Champion Cup had changed. Even children of regular League and company staff, or even ordinary townsfolk, now had a chance to earn a recommendation, enter the tournament, become a Gym Leader, or maybe even claim the title of Champion.
Who knew if their child would be the next prodigy?
"Long live Chairman Rose!" A spectator jumped up and yelled.
The stands erupted like a firestorm. People laughed and jumped around. Even those who didn't fully understand what it meant were swept up by the energy and joined in.
"Then I can enter the Champion Cup too?" An old man with only a few teeth left trembled as he spoke.
"You can, you can!" Someone beside him answered happily.
* * *
The cheers and the League's announcement spread through every camera and broadcast line, reaching every home in Galar with a television or radio.
In seconds, the entire region seemed to fall into the same feverish excitement.
The two hosts had never seen anything like it. Their hearts raced as they kept checking the time.
When the clock struck exactly ten, one of the male hosts stepped off the platform, leaving only a single host behind. The man in the black work uniform was Ryan, now a well-known referee and commentator.
He calmed the crowd a little before speaking.
"Everyone, the Champion Cup has officially begun. The main screen will now show the match order and participant list. Today, we will complete the first round of the Top Sixteen."
The moment he finished, the giant screen lit up with the brackets. In the first match of the first round, Leon would face the Motostoke Gym Leader.
Ryan raised his voice. "Alright! The opening match will be the undefeated Leon, against the fiery heir of Motostoke Gym—!"
Before he could finish, the stadium exploded with cheers.
"Leon! The undefeated Leon! He's the first to appear?"
"This is worth it. I came to Wyndon just to see the legendary Leon in person..."
"Undefeated Leon! You must win!"
"Ahhh! Leon! I love you, Leon!"
"And Charizard! The unbeatable Charizard!"
Hearing the crowd, Ryan let out a helpless smile and turned to look toward the passage at one side of the field.
From the dim entrance, Leon stepped out in a black shirt and white pants, his gaze sharp. His red cape lined with gold swayed behind him. It was his signature victory cloak, made specially by the company.
Its back was covered with dozens of sponsor logos from Macro Cosmos' many branches.
The bright lights shifted onto him as he walked forward. His steps paused for a moment as the arena fell silent, then the cheers rose again like a tidal wave.
After years of heavy promotion, the prodigy trainer had countless fans across Galar. People who admired him could form a line from Wyndon to Hulbury.
On the opposite side, Gym Leader Bobby walked out quietly. He wore a plain yellow shirt and shorts that drew no attention. His face was so ordinary that he looked like someone pulled out of the audience.
Seeing both trainers in place, Ryan announced, "Our undefeated Leon versus Motostoke's Gym Leader, Bobby! Both trainers are present. The battle format is a 6-on-6 rotation match. Please send out your first Pokémon!"
Leon had stepped onto the grass and reached the white Poké Ball mark on his side of the field, already gripping a Poké Ball in hand. Bobby also raised his own.
The crowd finally got a good look at the latter and started to whisper.
"Who is he again?"
"Who cares. He's a Gym Leader anyway."
"Is he? Wasn't it supposed to be Kabu?"
"Kabu is sick. He can't battle. This is his younger cousin, Bobby."
"Ah, I see…. These Gym Leaders all seem to be in poor health these days."
After a short round of discussion, everyone went back to cheering for Leon.
Red light flashed on both sides of the field. A bright orange Charizard burst into the air with a roar, its breath sending two streams of flame from its nostrils.
Across from it, Centiskorch lowered its body and pressed against the turf. Fear showed in its eyes.
"The battle begins!"
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