Pokémon: When the World Changed

"I already told you: be more low-key. Why didn't you listen to me?"

Looking at Sanada Ichiro, whose face had turned completely dark, Ethan shook his head.

"Damn it! Why are you here?!"

"Don't tell me you followed me all the way here just because of me?!" Sanada Ichiro said, already on the verge of being unable to hold himself back. It was truly hard for him to believe that this was a coincidence.

"What are you imagining?"

"This really was just a coincidence. Besides, I was also a quarterfinalist of the Cross Cup. If I hear you looking down on that tournament, I'm not going to just stand by and do nothing."

A mocking curve formed on Ethan's lips as he spoke in a sarcastic tone.

"A quarterfinalist of the Cross Cup?!"

"If you're this strong, how were you only a quarterfinalist?!"

Sanada Ichiro opened his eyes wide, his face full of disbelief.

He had just defeated the champion of the Cross Cup, and now he had been defeated by someone who had only reached the top eight!

Could it be that the ranking of that Cross Cup was reversed?

"Ah, in the last edition, I only made it into the top eight. That's no secret. If you look it up, you'll find out right away."

Ethan looked at him with a smile. What he was saying was truly true.

It was just that, back then, his three Fire-type Pokémon had only just been trained.

If they were talking about real strength, if he had sent out his true main Pokémon at that time, the championship would have been practically certain.

"Yes, I can testify to that."

"I still have the videos of that tournament."

"That's right, that's right. That is not a secret at all."

Ethan's words made the spectators immediately begin backing him up.

Before, Sanada Ichiro's arrogant and haughty attitude had made them furious.

Now, Ethan defeating that guy so decisively had allowed them to truly vent their anger.

At that moment, seeing that Ethan kept insisting on the fact that he had been a quarterfinalist, they understood that his goal was to restore the dignity of the Cross Cup, so naturally they began to cooperate.

And furthermore, what Ethan said was not false. In that tournament, he really had reached the top eight, so there was no problem with it.

Those who knew the situation from back then knew perfectly well what had happened, and besides, all the spotlight of that competition had been taken by Ethan.

"Damn you... you... just wait for me!"

Sanada Ichiro had to restrain himself until his face turned red just to barely manage to say that sentence.

Naturally, at that moment he also understood that Ethan was slapping him in the face in public.

After leaving that threat, he stepped down from the stage with his tail between his legs, provoking general laughter among the audience.

"If everyone from the World Championship is like this guy... With my current strength, even I could obtain a very good ranking. Although two years is neither too long nor too short... perhaps people who make a great leap will really appear."

"As for training overseas... it seems it can already start entering my plans."

Looking at Sanada Ichiro's back, a thoughtful expression appeared on Ethan's face.

"Ethan, this time we really have to thank you."

When Ethan stepped down from the stage, Naira approached with a smile.

At the same time, a hint of emotion also appeared in her eyes.

During this time, Ethan's strength had grown too quickly, surpassing everyone by far.

"It was nothing. I only did what I should."

Ethan smiled slightly and then went with Naira to find Master Leo.

During that period, Champion Leo had been researching Solar Fire, so perhaps he could help Charizard's strength improve even further.

...

"May lovers last and singles disappear!"

"The biggest price war in history...!"

"XX store, like never before, incredible offers...!"

While walking through Ironvale City, those familiar advertising voices reached his ears.

"Sha!"

Beside him, Sandslash was carrying a good number of snacks in its arms.

Crunch, crunch.

While putting a chicken wing into its mouth, Sandslash's eyes showed an expression of happiness.

Very soon, human and Pokémon arrived at the Ironvale City stadium.

Although the tournament had not yet begun, the entire stadium was already packed with spectators.

When Ethan verified his identity and entered the venue, someone immediately turned their gaze toward him.

Very soon, Ethan was recognized, and everyone's gaze tightened.

"Is that Ethan, right?"

"In this competition for Gym qualification, he is considered one of the eight favorites."

One of the spectators also saw him and took out a notebook where he had written down information about the Gym Leader candidates.

In that notebook, Ethan's name was in eighth position, just inside the eight predicted names.

"Among the top eight? That can't be."

"A great many powerful veterans have come to this competition!"

Another spectator showed doubt. Ethan really looked too young.

"That's because you don't know. I heard that this time many of those veterans participated precisely because of Ethan."

"Otherwise, do you really think a competition for a Pokémon Gym spot could attract all those guys?"

"Normally, they are busy with the Elite Tournament; they wouldn't come participate in a regional competition like this."

Another spectator joined the conversation. Before, he had made a count and calculated that there were 17 people present who had competed in the Elite Tournament.

Even so, for such a number of participants of that level to appear in a regional competition could already be considered a lot.

"Yes, there really are too many. In reality, there is an unwritten rule: participants of the Elite Tournament usually do not compete in regional tournaments. After all, most regional tournaments are designed for newcomers."

"But this time it is about fighting for Gym spots, so the forces behind those clubs have also moved."

Another nearby spectator nodded. After all, the interests surrounding a Gym were too great; even those Elite Tournament competitors needed enough benefits to sustain their path of strengthening.

"Look carefully, the tournament is about to begin."

While the spectators commented among themselves, the opening ceremony had already begun in the stadium.

Once the ceremony began...

The leaders of Ironvale City went up onto the stage one after another to give their speeches.

After all the complicated protocol, the rules of this competition were finally revealed.

The rules were very simple: they still followed the arena battle format that the clubs knew best.

The organizers would set up 8 arenas inside the stadium, representing the 8 Gym spots.

As long as an arena leader managed to hold their platform until the end, they would obtain one of those eight spots.

In addition, in this format, each battle would be 1-on-1, but before each round began, the arena leader could change Pokémon.

In other words, if an arena leader organized their resources well, they could largely avoid the exhaustion of a continuous chain of battles.

However, since this competition was to dispute Gym qualification, the participants who went up onto the stage had to use Pokémon related to the core of their Gym, and the maximum number was limited to six.

In addition, each participant could challenge twice, but could not challenge the same arena leader twice.

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