"So this is the Indigo Plateau. It's truly magnificent!"
Gu Yuan gazed ahead. As far as his eyes could see, the land was covered in vibrant, lush grass, resembling a vast green ocean. A gentle breeze blew, filling the air with the refreshing scent of greenery.
After arriving at the Indigo Plateau by plane, Gu Yuan was informed that contestants were expected to travel to the competition site on foot. While this was a default tradition, one could still take a plane directly if they wished. Gu Yuan, however, chose not to take any shortcuts and decided to walk.
It was said that the purpose of making the contestants walk was to allow them to reflect on every detail of their journey along this path. This was meant to help them showcase their full potential during the tournament and honor the hardships they had endured.
As he strolled across the plateau, Gu Yuan's first thought was of his time as a vagrant. It was his most deeply ingrained memory. Back then, he truly believed he would die in that narrow alleyway. He never imagined he would not only survive but become a trainer with Ace Rank strength, and even be accepted as the disciple of Elite Four Agatha.
Walking forward, Gu Yuan felt as if he could see the scenes of his entire journey playing out. By now, he was known to a certain circle of people, and perhaps they were anticipating the moment he would claim the championship. For Gu Yuan, this was the stage where he would finally make a name for himself across the world.
At some point, his goal had shifted from merely surviving to becoming the strongest in this world! Helping Shadow was a way to repay him for saving his life and giving him a chance at rebirth. However, what Gu Yuan truly desired was power—the kind of strength that would allow him and his Pokémon to look down upon the entire world.
With such ambition in his heart, he stepped forward with determination. A gust of wind swept past, yet it could not shake the resolve in his eyes.
Before long, Gu Yuan reached the resting area. To accommodate the massive influx of people, the area had been transformed into a small, highly developed town. After picking up a map, he headed straight to the registration point. Although he had arrived quite early, it wasn't nearly enough. A long queue had already formed at the registration desk. Fortunately, the League's efficiency was commendable, and Gu Yuan did not have to wait too long.
"Hello, here is my Pokédex and the eight badges I have earned."
Upon reaching the service counter, Gu Yuan followed the procedure and presented the required items. The Pokédex served as his identification, recording his history of challenging various Gyms, while the badges were the proof of his victories. If a trainer possessed a badge without a recorded challenge at the corresponding Gym, it would be treated as cheating.
The verification process was swift. The staff member soon smiled and returned the Pokédex along with a number plate to Gu Yuan. With this number plate, he could enjoy free accommodation, which was one of the conveniences the League provided for the contestants.
As for the eight badges, they were returned directly to him. Every badge contained a small sensor that would be deactivated once verified. Furthermore, tampering with or dismantling the badge would also disable the sensor, so there was no concern about people reusing them.
Holding his number plate, Gu Yuan headed to the designated housing for contestants. Of course, those who were unsatisfied could pay to stay in better locations. For Gu Yuan, however, a place to sleep was enough; he didn't need anything else.
More importantly, his detection system discovered that there were many powerful Pokémon in the vicinity. These must be experts arranged by the League to protect the safety of the contestants. With this hidden benefit in place, Gu Yuan naturally wasn't going to waste money elsewhere.
After settling into his room, he sent a message to Agatha to report his status. Following Isei's ambush, Agatha was now more nervous about his situation than he was, fearing an accident might prevent him from competing.
Gu Yuan would be lying if he said he wasn't moved by her concern. What he didn't know, however, was that there was another reason for Agatha's anxiety: she had already bragged to others that her disciple, who had only been traveling for a year, would definitely place in the top three. This showcased her experience; she hadn't made a definitive claim that he would win the championship right off the bat.
After chatting for a while, Gu Yuan hung up and went out to find a training room for rent. At this stage, he wouldn't demand his Pokémon push their limits further, but daily training was still necessary to ensure Charizard and the others remained in peak condition.
This was where the differing philosophies of various trainers became apparent. Although some had arrived earlier than Gu Yuan, they chose not to let their Pokémon train before the tournament, opting for rest instead. Others, primarily those from trainer schools, were busy analyzing their Pokémon's data to devise various tactics. Those like Gu Yuan, who intended to maintain their daily routine, were also numerous. Fortunately, there were plenty of training rooms available; otherwise, they might have run out.
Inside the training room, Gu Yuan did not remain idle either. He sat cross-legged and began cultivating his psychic power. Time slipped away, and soon, the opening ceremony of the Indigo League arrived!
Originally, given his status as Agatha's disciple, Gu Yuan could have secured a position as a torchbearer, but he politely declined. He preferred to let people see his strength first before they learned he was her student. Though it was merely a change in order, the final impact would be completely different. Agatha wasn't surprised by his plan; she also wanted others to recognize him through his sheer power.
During the final opening ceremony, Gu Yuan stood among the crowd, watching as the sacred fire was ignited. The flames roared into the sky, taking the shape of a firebird and spreading its wings in the air. A clear, crisp bird cry echoed throughout the stadium before the firebird, condensed from flames, returned to the massive torch. The flame would burn continuously until the conclusion of the Indigo League.
In the crowd, Gu Yuan could clearly feel it. When the firebird soared into the sky, the Moltres's Feather in his pocket radiated an incredible amount of heat. Ever since it had proven useful during his encounter with the giant Gyarados, he had kept the feather on him as a lucky charm.
With the conclusion of President Charles Goodshow's speech, the Indigo League officially began. Before leaving the venue, Gu Yuan received a message detailing which battlefield his preliminary rounds would take place on tomorrow. Only when the field was narrowed down to 256 players would the secondary rounds begin to determine the final champion!
Looking around, Gu Yuan could see that the people around him were growing excited. Even he couldn't remain entirely calm as he looked forward to the start of the preliminary rounds tomorrow.