Bottom-tier trainers in the Pokémon world

Both Crimson and Green started playing without the ball.

How did they rush up there so quickly?

but.

Back then, in order to become the Gym Leader of Viridian City, Qinglv could work day and night for two months, training a new team of Pokémon until they were capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of a Gym Leader.

Needless to say, crimson red.

A person who spends all year round active within the Silver Mountain, constantly battling the powerful wild spirits within.

"Even Akin is in the top 30!" Kona exclaimed in surprise.

"Ah Jin?!"

Du's eyes widened slightly.

He could tolerate crimson and turquoise, but even that guy Akin managed to break into the top thirty?

With his clumsy fighting style and habits?

How many people were hospitalized after being beaten?

"Xia Yan, come and fight!"

Du shouted urgently to Xia Yan.

"I'm not eating." Xia Yan glanced at him disdainfully. "Your scores are too low, I'm too lazy to eat."

Watari: "..."

He opened his mouth, but for a moment he didn't know what to say.

Although he had never played in a points-based tournament, he was still a high-level player, which made him seem worthless in Xia Yan's eyes.

He glared at Xia Yan, flicked his cloak, and turned to leave.

Where are you going?

"Give it a score!"

As he spoke, Lance summoned Dragonite, mounted it, and left.

I don't know why.

He didn't react much when he heard that Crimson and Azure were in the top ten, but when he heard that Kin was already in the top thirty, Wataru couldn't hold back anymore.

Maybe... it was Ah Jin calling out "Little Dodo"?

Xia Yan, Daigo, and Kona exchanged bewildered glances.

They know.

Another top player is about to join the ranks of the "grind masters" in the Gallar region.

Dan Di, Crimson, Green, Little Silver, and now Du.

Just hearing the names of these people is enough to give you a sense of just how fierce the struggle for control of the Gallar region is.

"And what about you?"

"Us?" Daigo smiled gently.

"We're not in a hurry."

Kona adjusted her glasses, appearing very calm and composed.

Their thoughts were the same as Xia Yan's: their current ranking didn't matter at all; as long as they could make it to the knockout stage and finish in the top 32, that would be enough.

This is the format of this tournament.

although.

Only the top eight players are considered Masters, but anyone who can reach the top thirty-two can enter the knockout stage to compete for the final "Eight Masters" and even the ultimate championship title.

"This is what the old man asked me to bring to you."

As Daigo spoke, he took out a compressed metal block that gleamed with a metallic sheen.

"This is......."

"Devin's latest achievement: alloy coating."

Then, Daigo explained the function of the item to Natsuhiko.

Simply put, it's a super-upgraded version of the ordinary "metal coating," which can significantly increase the body density and defense of Steel-type Pokémon. However, because the alloys used are very rare and precious light metals, it doesn't have much of an impact on the Pokémon's agility.

Upon hearing this, Xia Yan's eyes lit up instantly.

This is good stuff.

With this achievement, Devon will surely make a fortune again, right?

"What are you thinking? The metals fused in this thing are extremely rare. Even our Devon Company cannot mass-produce them. In fact, let alone mass-produce them, it is unknown whether we can even make ten."

Xia Yan clicked his tongue in amazement.

Even with the capabilities and financial resources of Devon, they might not be able to produce ten.

“Here. Wataru left this with me, asking me to give it to you.” Kona suddenly pulled out something as well.

"Du?" Xia Yan blinked. "Why doesn't he just give it to me himself?"

Kona shrugged.

"Who knows. He probably originally wanted to fight you first, and then give it to you. Or maybe from the beginning, he was prepared to just say hello to you and then go rank up."

That suits his personality very well.

"He said it. This fruit comes from the ninth cave of the 'Dragon's Cave'. He was only allowed to enter the ninth cave after becoming the champion, and he finally managed to get it after a lot of trouble."

What Kona held quietly in her hand was a bright red fruit.

She continued, "He didn't know what kind of fruit it was. But he said that after his Dragonite ate it, its Dragon-type energy received an exaggerated boost."

Xia Yan nodded thoughtfully.

He took the fruit.

It feels slightly warm to the touch.

We need to think about it.

Is this thing for Dorambaruto or Latios?

Alternatively, Salamence and Goodra are also within the selection range.

"Let's go inside and get something to eat. We'll wait for them to climb the ranks, and then we'll go and steal their points."

Daigo and Kona exchanged glances.

At the same time, a knowing smile appeared on his face.

They knew that Xia Yan was definitely planning this.

...

...

Night falls.

The shimmering moonlight bathed Quan Guan City, shrouding the entire city in a thin veil and adding a touch of mystery.

The villa where Xia Yan is temporarily staying.

The lights in the study flickered.

Xia Yan, who was quietly reading an ancient book from the Galar region and occasionally covering the cups of the Pokémon lying beside him, looked up slightly.

The corners of his mouth lifted up almost imperceptibly.

finally come.

In a brightly lit room, in some seemingly insignificant shadowy corners, a pair of slightly gloomy eyes slowly opened.

His gaze swept across the room, finally settling on the young figure sitting at the desk with his back to him.

A hint of confusion, a faint hostility, and a touch of curiosity flashed in those eyes.

In the shadows.

The man slightly turned his wrist.

A chilling gleam, intertwined with specks of purple fluorescence, flashed by in an instant.

next second.

Whoosh whoosh—

Several shuriken flew at an extremely tricky angle, making little noise, toward Xia Yan's back in front of the desk.

After throwing the shuriken, the man's gaze was fixed on Xia Yan.

His expression was extremely serious.

His feelings at that moment were very complicated.

I both hoped that Xia Yan hadn't discovered the shuriken, and yet I also had a slight hope that he would react at the last moment.

just.

Under his watchful gaze, the shuriken struck the figure without the slightest hindrance.

Disappointment immediately appeared in his eyes, mixed with a faint sense of melancholy.

puff--

but.

He suddenly paused, then paused again.

Because Xia Yan's figure vanished instantly after being hit by several shuriken.

Knock knock knock—

The shuriken he threw were neatly arranged on the wall.

The toxins applied to it stained the wall, immediately emitting a hissing sound and a faint, fishy odor.