"..."
"Ladies and gentlemen in the arena, the 2V2 match has concluded, and up next is the 3V3 battle!"
"Let us welcome our next two competitors with the loudest applause and cheers—Contestant Harlan, and Contestant Ash!"
"Wait a moment—according to the backstage data, Contestant Ash is six years old and lives in Pallet Town. Could he be the Ash who shone brilliantly at the recent Pokémon Summer Camp?"
"The very same Ash who opened 'Ash's Move Mastery Room' on the official League trading platform, and who used psychic powers to help Magikarp learn Tackle?!"
Inside the arena, the match commentator hovered above the battlefield on a flying platform, microphone raised as his voice rang out powerfully.
But the moment the commentator saw Ash's profile displayed on the electronic panel mounted to his aircraft, surprise and shock flashed across his face.
Before the commentator could even finish speculating, the spectator stands erupted.
A group of youthful, energetic girls suddenly leapt to their feet—this was exactly who they had been waiting for.
After sitting through countless dull matches, the Ash Support Squad finally got what they came for. They instantly pulled out glowing light boards and hand-written banners they had prepared in advance.
"Go, Ash!!"
"Ash—fighting!!"
"Aaah—Ash!!"
"Ash—Ash—Ash!!"
The arena, which had briefly fallen into silence after the commentator's speculation, was instantly filled with deafening cheers as Ash's mini fan club exploded with support, their voices echoing clearly across the entire venue.
"Ohhh!!"
"It looks like we don't even need Ash to step onto the field to confirm his identity!"
"This contestant is undoubtedly Ash, the prodigy who stole the spotlight at the Pokémon Summer Camp!"
"The trainer who created a miracle in Pokémon academia using psychic powers—helping Magikarp learn Tackle—and the owner of Ash's Move Mastery Room!"
"Today marks Ash's first-ever appearance in a City Arena. In other words—this will be his official debut match!"
"Ladies and gentlemen who are fortunate enough to witness this historic moment—let's give our loudest applause and cheers to this young genius trainer!"
Hovering above the battlefield, the commentator raised his microphone high, his voice impassioned and resounding.
The audience responded with overwhelming enthusiasm, erupting into thunderous applause.
Clap—clap—clap—
Clap—clap—clap—
"Ash!!"
"Ash!!"
"Tap—tap—tap—"
In the shadowed darkness at the end of the entrance tunnel, Ash stared at the brilliant lights ahead and listened to the roaring cheers outside.
It was his first time competing in a City Arena, and faced with such an atmosphere, even he couldn't help feeling a trace of nervousness.
But after taking two deep breaths, Ash quickly steadied himself.
"Pikachu, Frogadier, Pidgeotto—this is our first time battling in such a big arena. Let's all stay sharp and don't lose, okay?"
He gently rubbed Pikachu's head in his arms, then tapped the Poké Balls holding Frogadier and Pidgeotto.
"Pika—! (^0^)/"
"Gua—!"
"Bibi—!"
"Since you're all itching to go, then let's head out. I just hope that uncle from earlier isn't too weak."
With that, Ash hugged Pikachu close and stepped forward, walking straight into the brilliant lights of the arena amid the deafening cheers of the crowd.
"Waaah—!!"
"Ash!!"
"Ash!!"
"Ash, Sister Celeste loves you!!"
Ash emerged from the entrance tunnel at one end of the battlefield, Pikachu in his arms. The cameraman immediately zoomed in, giving him a close-up.
As Ash's image was magnified through holographic projection across the arena, the stands instantly boiled over.
Professor Oak's Pokémon Summer Camp had already drawn massive attention—especially on the third day, when a television crew from Saffron City broadcast the event live around the clock.
Ash's dazzling performance back then had instantly turned him into a household name across Kanto.
Originally, his fame should have slowly faded after the camp ended.
But then he opened Ash's Move Mastery Room.
From that moment on, Ash's name was permanently etched into the minds of trainers across Kanto.
Especially after the "Magikarp + Tackle" service officially launched, Ash's reputation skyrocketed to the point of being universally known, riding the momentum of the internet and spreading toward other regions as well.
"Ash?!"
"Damn it—this brat is actually Ash!"
Hearing the deafening cheers from the stands, the burly man emerging from the opposite entrance—Harlan—froze for a moment.
But the shock on his face quickly twisted into excitement.
This was Ash's first match in the City Arena—its significance was extraordinary.
"And with this kid's popularity and reputation, if I can defeat him here today…"
"…I'll become famous in a single battle!"
Greed and ambition filled Harlan's thick-featured face.
"I don't care whether you're Ash or 'Trash.' You dared to humiliate and mock me back in the waiting hall—so prepare to pay the price."
"In a moment, I'll beat you so badly even your own mother won't recognize you! Hahahaha!"
Both contestants had entered the field and taken their positions. Harlan's loud, arrogant taunts rang across the arena.
But his provocation received no response.
On the opposite side, Ash stood calmly at the command platform, Pikachu in his arms, smiling brightly as he waved to the cheering audience.
His handsome, youthful face and sunny smile immediately sent waves of female spectators clutching their hearts and screaming.
"Damn that brat!!"
Seeing himself completely ignored, Harlan stomped the ground in fury.
"Next is the match between Contestant Harlan and Contestant Ash! The rules are 3V3—when all three Pokémon on one side are defeated, or the trainer concedes, the match will end!"
"Now—both trainers, please send out your first Pokémon!"
Amid the roaring cheers, the referee standing at the center line raised his hand and officially announced the start of the match.
"Come out, Machop! Beat that brat's Pokémon into the ground!"
"Pidgeotto—let's go!"
As the signal was given, both trainers simultaneously threw their Poké Balls, releasing the Pokémon that would open this long-awaited battle.
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T/N:
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