The last hour of the event had begun. Miles darted across the field, eyes locked on the thick branches of the nearest berry trees. He moved with purpose, scooping berries as fast as he could—every one valuable. The area buzzed with activity. Trainers scurried from tree to tree, trying to gather as many berries as possible before the fight concluded.
Not far from him, he saw two large groups crowding some of the high-output berry trees. Their members barked orders and kept others at bay, elbowing and shouting to secure the best spots. Trainers pushed and shoved, pushing each other aside to reach the berries first. It was an all-out scramble that created chaos.
"Push back, that's our spot," one trainer shouted, shoving past a rival.
"Yeah, we got in first," another barked, waving a hand. "You're not getting near unless you join us. We're in it to win."
"I've already taken a few berries," another added—loud and boastful—"but we're focusing on the top. The leaders are gonna get the big rewards. We gotta keep the momentum."
They weren't just collecting berries—they were building alliances, inviting others into their groups, sharing resources in a haphazard way. Miles saw how these trainers, instead of solely competing, were trying to form networks. It was a clever strategy. Instead of splitting their efforts and competing against everyone directly, they aimed to pool their resources, boost their scores as a team, and increase their chances of victory.
"Honestly, that's pretty smart," Miles thought. 'Instead of fighting each other, they're working together. Maybe I should join a team… especially the one Jake was talking about. But I don't think I want to get stuck in a place like this too long. There's so much more out there waiting for me.'
Despite their bold efforts, the system already had plans for the event. The scoreboard only displayed the top ten players, with no detailed scores shown to anyone else. Berries that a trainer personally collected and turned in would count toward their score. But if they just gave berries to others or shared resources, those berries wouldn't add to their scores. The game tracked only what each individual player had truly gained and submitted. The leaderboard was all that mattered, and it only revealed the rankings—not the exact score or quantity.
Miles kept moving, weaving through the chaos, collecting berries from trees he'd already discovered—and some new hidden spots in the area. His Pokémon, a well-trained Shroomish, worked flawlessly beside him, dodging and grabbing berries with ease. They'd fought and trained for weeks, and now the relentless focus paid off. He had already secured enough berries to maintain his stamina and conserve resources late into the event.
He kept his eyes on his rank. His name hovered near the top of the leaderboard. With only fifty minutes left, he was confident he could hold his position—if he stayed sharp. Every berry, every encounter, every calculated move brought him closer to victory.
Suddenly, his device pulsed with a new alert.
[WARNING BOSS FIGHT INCOMING]
The message flashed brightly across his field of view, pulsating with urgency. The countdown clock appeared at the top right of the screen, ticking down from ten minutes. A large arrow materialized, pointing sharply toward the designated area where the boss fight would occur—the final challenge of the event.
In that moment, the environment seemed to hum with anticipation. The system was signaling that only the best would survive the upcoming battle. Miles's heart rate quickened. A tense energy spread across the battlefield. Every trainer was rushing to gather berries, but only those who remained calm and focused could stand a chance.
He followed the arrow, moving swiftly. His Pokémon was alert and ready. The competition had pushed him to his limits, but he no longer relied on chance. His strategy was precision. Every berry he picked, every move he planned, brought him nearer to the final showdown.
The countdown neared zero. The environment pulsed once more. The atmosphere grew tense—expectant—and waiting for the fight to commence.
In this moment, Miles knew that victory belonged to those with patience, discipline, and control. Only the strongest, who kept their cool under pressure, could hope to claim the ultimate rewards.
The arena lit up with a powerful glow, and a roar of challenge echoed through the space. The boss fight was beginning.