"Alolan Vulpix, come on stage!"
"People from all walks of life are welcome to challenge!"
Everyone in the group knew Tartaglia (Childe) well. He was a man obsessed with battle, keen on studying the elemental matching, resonance, and reactions between Pokémon and their Masters. The Pokédex revealed that his Alolan Vulpix had reached Level 25, matching Hu Tao's Gabite.
They weren't surprised. As a master of "daily cute pet" videos, Tartaglia posted training routines to the group chat almost every day. The group members knew that while this pure white fox was elegant and fairy-like, it was also incredibly hard-working.
This high level, however, discouraged many. People like Beidou, Yoimiya, and Eula were interested in fighting, but they didn't want to be level-stomped and tortured in the arena—except, perhaps, for those with a bit of a masochistic streak.
Seeing that no one answered the challenge, Hiroshi decided it was time to throw out an "introduction" to stimulate the crowd. He looked around the venue and smiled slightly.
"Actually, Pokémon competition has two sets of official rules."
"One set is what Hu Tao and Xiangling just demonstrated: in the command area, Trainers each use up to six Pokémon to compete for victory. This is the 'Standard' format."
"The other set is the original rules of the Pokémon world—wild, primitive, and often called Unrestricted Combat..."
"In this mode, Trainers can enter the fray themselves! Pokémon attacks are allowed to target the opposing Trainer to knock them down!"
The Barbarian's Rule: Unrestricted Combat
Barbaric! Unrestricted! No need for Hiroshi to explain further; the scent of blood and excitement naturally filled the air.
Zhongli nodded solemnly. "The first set of rules is appropriate for cities and safe zones. It maintains order."
Venti grinned. "Hehe, I actually prefer the second set. After all, the people of the Kingdom of Wind have dandelion wine in their veins; we're free and uninhibited!"
Zhongli countered, "Based on universal rationality, that reckless streak is exactly why your Mondstadt population has always remained so small."
The corners of Yelan's mouth curled up. "That's right. In the wild, the fist is always the biggest. There isn't much room for 'Standard' rules when life is on the line."
Tartaglia, who was already on stage, was stunned for a moment before shouting excitedly, "GOOD! I am willing to be the pioneer of the second set of rules! My Alolan Vulpix and I advance and retreat as one. WHO WILL FIGHT?!"
He couldn't hold back his battle-hungry "Qilin Arm" any longer. Now that he knew Trainers could influence the battle with their own martial prowess, he was ecstatic. This was a dream come true for a battle maniac!
But despite his shouting, silence followed. No one responded. Everyone knew that a Tartaglia who could use his Hydro Vision alongside an Ice-type Pokémon was a nightmare.
"Freeze reaction directly... one person and one pet can achieve a 'Permanent Freeze' loop," someone whispered. "Who wants to be a frozen statue for the whole match?"
The Torrent of the New Era
"It's so interesting..." Off the field, Yelan became completely captivated. She heard the others discussing how a Pokémon's attributes could resonate with the elemental power of a Vision. The formula was never just $1 + 1 = 2$; it was a multiplicative force!
Hiroshi glanced over at the powerhouses: Madame Ping with Gengar, and Xiao with Blissey. That kind of combination was pure "abuse" for regular Trainers. Noting Hiroshi's gaze, Madame Ping simply smiled and shook her head, content to watch.
Finally, Tartaglia let out a regretful sigh of "loneliness at the top" and stepped off the stage. "Vulpix... it seems we can only go to the Ecological Zone for a real challenge."
He turned to Hiroshi. "Manager, I request permission to use my full combat power to challenge the Overlord Pokémon in the wild."
Hiroshi tilted his head. "As long as there is no malicious poaching, you are free to do so. However, bring some Potions and Energy Cubes. Don't just treat the Overlords as punching bags; give them some benefits in return."
Before Tartaglia could dash off, Hiroshi raised his voice to address the entire crowd.
"Since everyone is here, I will announce a piece of news: In two weeks, the first 'Trainer Sword Trial Conference' will be held in Liyue Port!"
"There will be stages for both sets of rules, but you can only register for one. The rewards for the Top Ten will be announced soon!"
Liyue's Mobilization
As the crowd dispersed to digest this news, Hiroshi stood with Yelan and Signora, who had stayed behind to extract their own partners.
Meanwhile, Ningguang, Keqing, and Ganyu were already deep in discussion on their way back to Yujing Terrace.
"Liyue must build a landmark Pokémon Arena within two weeks," Ningguang commanded. "It must accommodate tens of thousands. Keqing, I leave the construction to you. Mora is not an issue!"
Keqing rubbed her eyebrows. "A difficult task on such short notice... but we can make it happen."
Ningguang turned to Ganyu. "Regarding the Sword Trial Conference, this will establish Liyue as the origin of the new era. Draw up the detailed operation rules and a script for the process."
The ahoge on Ganyu's head bobbed. "Yes! I will work overtime today to prepare it."
As they returned to the square, the giant screens were already playing the highlights of Xiangling vs. Hu Tao. At the end of the clip, Hiroshi's announcement about the tournament appeared.
The square exploded. All across Liyue Port, where the screens were installed, a roar of excitement rose into the sky.
"The Conference! The Tournament!"
"Who will be the Champion?!"