Pokémon: Hard work pays off, moves can be upgraded infinitely.

Just as Mu Yun was pondering, Wang He and the other teachers leading the team came out of the meeting room.

Each person also had a small bag in their hand.

"These are your serial numbers, from one to ten, each corresponding to a different small-scale battleground within the venue."

As he spoke, Wang He took out ten number plates from the bag one by one and distributed them in the order of the matches selected by the school team.

Mu Yun is number 1, and Wu Tu is number 10.

After delivering the instructions, Wang He briefly explained the rules for the group stage.

Each group of 22 players will be randomly matched in five games. Winners will receive two points, losers will receive zero points, and draws will receive one point. The scoring mechanism is a very common one.

Ultimately, the three players with the highest scores advanced to the second round of selection.

"The official start time for the competition is 9:30. If there are no problems, please go to the designated meeting point," Wang He said in conclusion.

Mu Yun and the others nodded, put on their number tags, and headed to their respective venues.

Battleground 1 is located in the southwest corner of the city's battle arena.

Although it's not as large as the largest battle arena in the arena, it's still much larger than the average battle arena.

Mu Yun roughly calculated that it was slightly larger than a standard small arena, about the size of two basketball courts.

This size is friendly to some large Pokémon, so that they don't have too little room to move around.

Just as Mu Yun was observing the site, students from the other 21 high schools arrived one after another.

The most eye-catching one was the girl with the lip piercing—Feng Ya.

As for the other twenty people, they were all dressed normally, and at least they looked like students.

"Welcome everyone to Arena Number One. I am the referee for Arena Number One in this competition. Please come here to draw a new number to determine the order of the matches."

Once everyone had arrived, a middle-aged man in work clothes walked over with a small, adorable Butterfly with big red eyes.

Next to the butterfly, a sealed red square plastic box was floating.

Mu Yun glanced at Butterfly's data panel.

Level 45, mid-Elite level, with the Compound Eyes ability that increases observation skills, and its move pool includes Psychic moves, which are essential for referee Pokémon.

Clearly, this is a standard referee sprite.

In most cases, the referee Pokémon are non-Psychic type Pokémon that possess Psychic moves.

The reason is simple: people with superpowered spirits have many part-time jobs they can do, so there's absolutely no need for them to be referees.

After glancing at Butterfly a few times, Mu Yun looked away and followed the line, drawing a number from the red plastic box.

"Number 6, a good number."

Looking at the small red ball in his hand, Mu Yun murmured something.

Next, Mu Yun took the numbered ball to the referee to register his school, name, and ball number.

After the preliminary preparations were completed, the referee collected all the red balls, poured them into a plastic box, shook it gently a few times, and then, under the rather surprised gazes of Mu Yun and the others, drew out two balls.

No, is the lottery process for a city-level selection competition really that primitive?

Mu Yun didn't understand, but he didn't dwell on it.

Left and right are just a matter of determining the order; they don't have a significant impact.

"let me see......"

After taking out two small red balls, the referee carefully examined the numbers, then picked up the form containing the registered information, checked it several times, and continued:

"The first match will feature contestant number 6, Mu Yun, from Songjiang No. 1 High School, and contestant number 14, Feng Ya, from Huaxing High School. Both players whose names are called, please assemble at the match venue!"

"What a coincidence?"

Upon hearing that his opponent was the girl with the lip piercing, Mu Yun murmured to himself and immediately stood up.

The same applies to Feng Ya on the other side.

However, compared to Mu Yun, Feng Ya's expression was very indifferent, as if she didn't care who her opponent was.

Soon, the two stood on opposite sides of the battlefield.

Mu Yun is on the red team, and Feng Ya is on the blue team.

"The maximum number of Pokémon that can be used in this competition is one. Voluntarily recalling a Pokémon midway through the competition will be considered an automatic forfeit. Trainers entering the battle arena will also be considered to have automatically forfeited..."

The referee gave a brief explanation of the rules, which were basically the same as those for a regular one-on-one match.

After explaining the rules, the referee waved his small flag and announced:

"Please release your spirits!"

"Go on, Little Du."

Mu Yun still habitually used Xiao Du to lead the charge.

After all, this kind of small-venue battle is still very suitable for Xiaodu.

Upon hearing the referee's words, Feng Ya, on the other side, expressionlessly threw out a pure white Poké Ball that didn't match her appearance at all.

She didn't flaunt her personality, and she didn't even speak. She didn't seem like a punk girl who would cause a ruckus in the streets, but rather like a troubled child with autism.

Awesome!

As the Poké Ball opened, a gaping maw appeared in everyone's view.

It was a peculiar sprite whose mouth, when opened, occupied two-thirds of its body size.

It has dark purple skin, short and stout limbs, and a pair of ears that resemble speakers.

..............................

【Sprite: Roar Bomb】

[Gender: Female]

【Attribute: Normal】

[Level: 21 (Senior)]

[Ability: Courage (Normal and Fighting-type moves can attack Ghost-type Pokémon)]

[Techniques: snoring, seductive voice, slapping, echoing, startling, long howl, piercing sound, ultrasound, biting]

【Item Carried: Echo Stone (Beginner)】

[Potential: Dojo Level]

[Racial stats: 360]

[Echo Stone (Basic): A special amplification-type treasure. A mineral with a sound-amplifying structure, formed under special power, creating an item with an echo structure. When the wearer uses sonic attacks, the power is increased by 18%.]

..............................

The Roaring Bomb is a type of creature whose roar is as deafening as an exploding bomb.

Its evolved form, Explosive, can shatter wooden planks simply by roaring, even without using any special moves.

As for ordinary people exposed to sound waves, their brains would probably be shaken to their core.

"Level 21, gym-level potential, and a beginner-level Pokémon treasure—they're certainly not short of money."

Looking at the data panel of the Roaring Bomb, Mu Yun thought to himself.

The total cost of using the Spirit and the Secret Treasure is about two to three million Alliance Coins.

Families with this financial resources should be considered among the wealthiest in Songjiang City.

I don't know how she came up with this outfit. Is it some kind of niche hobby for rich people?

Just as Mu Yun was thinking, the referee's voice rang out again: "Both Pokémon are in position, the match begins!"

"Roar bomb, with a piercing sound!"

..............................

[A piercing sound: Emits a piercing sound that can significantly reduce the opponent's defense.]

..............................

As the referee's voice faded, Feng Ya finally opened her tightly closed, dark purple lips.

The voice came from her mouth, which had three lip piercings. It wasn't a hoarse, unpleasant roar, nor was it a sharply contrasting, crisp sound; it was just a very ordinary voice.

She's so ordinary that if you didn't look at her appearance, she wouldn't be any different from any other girl.

"roar!!"

Upon receiving its trainer's command, Roar Blast raised its small arms into fists, opened its massive mouth wide to inhale deeply, and its round belly swelled slightly under the influence of the air, ready to unleash its power.

However, just as she was all ready, a bright yellow streak of light suddenly appeared in front of her.

Along with him came Mu Yun's calm voice.

"Cross-cut shears!"