"May everyone find love and may there be no more singles!"
"An unprecedented price war...!"
"XX Store launches unprecedented crazy prices, enjoy to the fullest...!"
On the eve of the 11/11 shopping festival, promotion broadcasts from all kinds of shopping centers already filled the streets and alleys.
In Ironvale City's stadium, the preliminary stage of the 'Million-Dollar Coupon Tournament of 11/11' organized by the Devon Company was being held with great enthusiasm.
"Wow, so many people!"
"Wasn't this supposed to be only for intermediate-level trainers under 22 years old?"
Alex Baxter, seeing the competitors' zone of the stadium packed with people, couldn't help but complain a little.
"And this isn't even everyone. If it weren't for the fact that many rich kids aren't interested in coupons, even more people would have shown up." Ethan Black also sighed helplessly.
At first, he thought becoming an intermediate-level trainer before 22 would be difficult, but seeing the competitors present, there were probably already more than a thousand!
"Welcome everyone, to this 11/11 carnival..."
After the opening ceremony, several top executives of the Devon Company went on stage to give their speeches, and after all the formal protocols, the tournament rules were finally revealed.
The rules were simple: a king of the ring style tournament!
The organizers had set up 8 platforms inside the stadium. Each platform would have a "king of the ring" who had to defeat 10 challengers to advance to the next round, where the kings would face each other.
The winner would advance directly to the semifinals the next day; the loser would be eliminated.
"If you lose even once, you're out. And on top of that, you have to deal with continuous battles. Do you already have a strategy, Ethan?" Alex Baxter asked casually.
He wasn't participating in this million-dollar coupon competition. His only goal was to help Professor Harris record battle data from Ethan Black's Sandslash.
"These rules are pretty similar to those of the battle club. The most important thing is conserving energy. But after each battle, the Devon Company will provide nutritious juices for recovery. As long as there are no serious injuries, ten battles should be manageable."
Ethan Black nodded slightly and turned his gaze to the giant screen on stage, where the kings of the first round would be drawn.
"Platform 7, Ethan Black!"
In no time, the screen displayed the eight selected kings, and Ethan Black got lucky again: he was assigned to number 7.
"Ethan, I didn't expect to see you participating as well."
Just then, a voice rang out. A handsome and elegant young man was approaching.
"Lucas? You're competing too?"
Alex Baxter was a little surprised to see Lucas Silver. He hadn't expected a rich kid like him to be interested in this competition.
"Well, what can I do?"
"After all, the Devon Company is my family's. At events like this, I have to show my face."
Lucas Silver shrugged, and his words surprised both Ethan Black and Alex Baxter.
Although they already suspected Lucas Silver came from an influential family, they hadn't imagined he was the heir of the Devon Company!
"No wonder he has a Metang, a pseudo-legendary Pokémon."
Ethan Black understood. The Devon Company's logo was a Beldum, so it wasn't strange that Lucas Silver had one.
"Do your best. I'll be waiting for you in the semifinals." Lucas Silver smiled.
"Sure." Ethan Black nodded and headed to platform 7.
"Hey, hey, hey! What was that, Lucas? Are you ignoring me?" Alex Baxter complained when he saw Lucas Silver pass him by.
"Relax. When your Charizard is recovered, I'll deal with you." Lucas Silver shrugged again and went off toward his platform: he was the king of number 1.
Very soon, the eight kings stood on their respective platforms. When the host announced the start of the competition, many challengers rushed to the registration area to sign up against their chosen opponent.
Ethan Black didn't have to wait long. A young man in a blue shirt stepped onto his platform.
When the referee gave the signal, both threw their Poké Balls.
In an instant, Ethan Black's Shiny Sandslash and the rival's Machoke appeared on the field.
"A Sandslash with red spikes!"
As soon as Sandslash appeared, everyone present was left speechless.
Compared to the typical Sandslash with brown spikes, the Shiny Sandslash with red spikes was far too eye-catching. That vibrant red made all the spectators squint.
"Could those spikes be stained with blood...?"
The challenger, seeing Sandslash, tensed up. He felt an inexplicable, oppressive fear.
"Tch! I don't care what you are, Machoke, crush it!"
The challenger shouted, trying to shake off the fear.
"Sandslash, face him head-on!"
Ethan Black, unconcerned with what was going on in the other's mind, ordered the direct attack.
Boom!
The two Pokémon lunged at the same time. Fist and claw clashed with such force that the air exploded with a loud boom.
The next second, Machoke was sent flying, barely managing to land without collapsing completely.
"What!?"
"He pushed him back with raw physical strength alone, overpowering Machoke, a Fighting-type Pokémon?!"
The entire crowd was stunned again. It was obvious the two Pokémon weren't on the same level.
"Incredible! Is that really the same Sandslash?"
Among the competitors, a young man was watching Ethan Black in astonishment.
That young man was the former ring leader of the Pokémon Island Adventure Club, who had once forced Ethan Black's Sandslash into a tough fight with his Primeape.
But now, after two months, Sandslash's progress was terrifying, almost unbelievable.
"Could this be his true strength?"
At the same time, the ring leader of the Pokémon Nightstar Club—who used Persian—was also watching closely, fists clenched. Her past defeat still stung!
"Captain, that guy seems stronger than he was in the tournament."
In the stands, some students in Ironvale City Pokémon University uniforms were also watching the battle between Sandslash and Machoke.
"Not bad. Although he still doesn't meet our standards, he has a lot of potential. Perhaps in a short time that Sandslash will reach advanced level."
The student they called "Captain" nodded and, after thinking for a moment, said: "Tell Mark to face him. If he manages to beat him, consider him a candidate for the school team."
(End of chapter)