"Gu Qiu!"
The two words exploded like a chain reaction.
In an instant, he became the center of Arena Six.
Almost every gaze turned toward him.
"So that's Gu Qiu? He's handsome."
"Hmph. Battles aren't won with looks. He's probably just hype."
A few average-looking boys muttered sourly.
The official participant list had been released at 8 PM the night before—pages and pages of names.
Naturally, people searched for the famous ones.
Gu Qiu was among them.
The mayor's move had been brilliant.
Recall elite heirs from major families.
Use the Secret Realm as bait.
No family could resist.
Even Lorelei had once benefited from that Secret Realm.
This year's Viridian tournament—
Was the strongest in years.
A ranking of championship favorites had already circulated.
Gu Qiu ranked sixth.
Coincidentally—
He was assigned to Arena Six.
"You're Gu Qiu?"
A girl in white approached.
Simple athletic outfit.
A wooden sword strapped to her back.
"You are?"
"I'll defeat you and take first place in Arena Six."
"According to tournament rules, we might not even meet."
"…What?"
Her confident declaration collided headfirst with Gu Qiu's logic.
The surrounding contestants looked at him strangely.
Technically correct.
But that wasn't how trash talk worked.
"That's Bai Ruobing from the Bai family. Not direct lineage, but incredibly talented."
"Nickname: Ice Reaper."
"Ice Reaper?"
"See that wooden sword? She's trained in martial arts since childhood. Uses wood because she's afraid of killing someone."
Viridian's political structure was unique.
No Gym Leader.
After Giovanni left, three major families vied for control of the Gym.
None would yield.
Thus, the position remained vacant.
To break the stalemate—
Either one family must produce a dominant prodigy.
Or an external talent must pass League approval.
Both unlikely.
The families were deeply entrenched.
"Bai Ruobing…"
Gu Qiu recognized the name.
One of Viridian's two school beauties—alongside Serena.
"Anything else?"
"No."
"But now I want to cut someone."
Her expression was icy.
"I'd suggest finding somewhere cooler to stand."
She moved.
Fast.
Draw.
Swing.
Fluid.
The entire arena held its breath.
Then—
Clack.
Her wooden sword stopped.
Between two fingers.
Gu Qiu's fingers.
Her pupils contracted.
She hadn't even seen his movement.
She tried to pull back.
The blade didn't budge.
The crowd went silent.
What—
Was that real?
"Matches begin. Arena Six, Match One: Bai Ruobing vs. Li Hongyu!"
The announcement broke the tension.
In the next moment—
She was sent flying.
"Consider it a warning. You controlled your strength. If I were an ordinary trainer, I'd have only taken minor injury."
Gu Qiu remained seated calmly.
She struggled up.
Officials rushed over.
"You're saying Bai Ruobing was struck?"
Panic flashed across their faces—
Until they heard the other name.
Gu Qiu.
Their attitude shifted instantly.
This was someone favored by Lorelei.
No one wanted trouble.
Since Bai Ruobing struck first—and wasn't seriously injured—
The matter was dropped.
No one dared sit near Gu Qiu afterward.
Catching Bai Ruobing's sword barehanded—
Then launching her away—
That wasn't normal.
Though—
In this world, Pokémon still ruled.
Few cared about personal martial skill.
Gu Qiu leaned back, relaxed.
His thoughts drifted to the Pokémon Living Space.
Yesterday he'd upgraded his Trainer rank—
But forgot to expand the space.
Time to fix that.
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