Chapter 461: The Opening! Gathering of the Sovereigns!
Zhurong Yun had underestimated Kenji's mental fortitude. Having lived two lives,
Kenji's psychological age was far beyond his years; he wasn't some hot-headed
teenager who would be rattled by a few paid internet trolls and tabloid hit
pieces.
"Don't worry," Kenji said, closing his phone with a faint, effortless smile. "If
they have doubts, I'll just have to break them all."
Seeing that Kenji was truly unaffected by the global smear campaign, Zhurong Yun
finally let out a long sigh of relief.
The qualifiers for the Asia Region of the World League Championship were to be
held in the Goryeo League (Korea). As Huaxia's immediate neighbor, the Goryeo
League was a familiar face, but Kenji's impression of them wasn't particularly
high.
The Goryeo League had a "reputation." They were known for being incredibly
pedantic and, at times, downright biased in their officiating. Kenji recalled a
famous incident where a high-level Huaxia trainer was penalized because his
Pokémon shifted its foot a fraction of a second before the referee's flag had
reached a perfect 90-degree angle. They were the kind of hosts who took
"home-field advantage" to an ugly extreme.
On the flight to Seoul, Zhurong Yun noticed Kenji's pensive expression and
offered a reassuring grin.
"Relax. The Goryeo League wouldn't dare pull those blatant stunts on a stage
this big. The tournament isn't being run by them; the World League Committee is
in full control. Goryeo is simply providing the stadium."
Kenji nodded and leaned back in his seat, closing his eyes to rest during the
two-hour flight.
As soon as they touched down, a high-level escort team led them to a fleet of
sleek black cars. They were whisked away to the main venue for the Asian
qualifiers: the High-Sovereign Battle Arena.
Huaxia had sent a powerhouse delegation. Aside from Kenji and Zhurong Yun, the
three current regional Elite Four—Mason Chu, Yuna Su, and Li Xisheng—were all
present.
While Zhurong Yun spent the car ride meditating, Kenji looked out the window.
His interest in the local scenery faded quickly; the Goryeo League was
relatively small, and its architectural style was remarkably similar to
Huaxia's.
When the convoy pulled up to the arena, Kenji was greeted by a wall of sound.
The entrance was flanked by thousands of local citizens and international fans.
As Kenji stepped out of the car, the cheering reached a deafening pitch.
"Your fame is no joke, kid," Zhurong Yun teased, nudging Kenji's shoulder. "Half
of these people are here just for you."
Kenji glanced at the crowd. He saw dozens of banners fluttering in the wind,
emblazoned with his name and the Huaxia flag. Under the protection of the League
security detail, the team moved smoothly into the arena's inner sanctum.
"Oh! Champion Zhurong! It has been too long."
They were met in the hallway by a group of trainers. Their gear was high-end,
but the League logo on their chests and their sharp accents gave them away: the
Neon League (Japan).
"Matsumoto-kun, a pleasure," Yun replied.
While the Neon and Huaxia Leagues had a long, complicated history of friction,
Shigesuke Matsumoto was one of the few high-ranking Neon officials who favored
cooperation. Zhurong Yun respected him as a peer.
However, the four trainers standing behind Matsumoto—two women and two
men—didn't share their leader's warmth. They appraised Kenji's team with cold,
guarded eyes, their gazes lingering on Kenji with a mixture of suspicion and
suppressed hostility.
Kenji's brow furrowed. He didn't appreciate the attitude.
"And this must be your young superstar, Kenji-kun," Matsumoto said, looking at
Kenji with genuine admiration before extending a hand. "A man of truly
exceptional talent!"
Kenji maintained his professional "Champion" persona, shaking the man's hand and
exchanging polite greetings. The exchange was brief; Matsumoto soon led his team
toward their own designated prep room.
As they continued through the hallway, they passed several other delegations.
Most were cordial—at least on the surface.
Then, they met the Bharat League (India).
Champion Gange, the man Zhurong Yun had warned Kenji about, didn't bother with a
handshake. He stood in the middle of the hallway, looking at the Huaxia team
with an intensely uncomfortable, lingering stare.
In Gange's arms, he held a Salazzle in a literal "princess carry." The
Poison-type lizard had its arms wrapped around Gange's neck, nuzzling against
him. Kenji felt a wave of secondhand embarrassment and revulsion wash over him.
Gange let out a dismissive snort, gave them a final, sweeping look of disdain,
and walked away without saying a word.
"He's still bitter about the last World Championship," Yun explained, unfazed.
"He's a Fire-type specialist, just like me. I knocked him out of the bracket in
the early rounds, and it was a landslide. He's the type to hold a grudge until
his dying breath."
Kenji shook his head and retreated to his room. As he lay on the bed, he
realized that despite the scale of this stage, he wasn't nervous. Two years of
steady growth and the knowledge of his team's true power had granted him a level
of confidence that bordered on tranquility.
Three days later, the qualifiers officially began.
The High-Sovereign Arena was packed to capacity. Fans from all fifty-nine
participating Asian nations filled the stands, creating a mosaic of national
flags and roaring chants.
After a series of long-winded speeches by World League officials, the opening
ceremony concluded, and the participants were presented.
The Goryeo League, as the host, entered first to a polite roar.
The Huaxia League followed.
As Kenji led his team onto the field, the atmosphere changed. The cheers weren't
just "polite"—they were seismic. It wasn't just the Huaxia fans; trainers from
across the continent were standing up to catch a glimpse of the "Supernova."
The Goryeo trainers on the sidelines looked sour. The organizers had made a
mistake in the scheduling; by putting Huaxia immediately after Goryeo, they had
made the host nation look like a warm-up act.
The Bharat League entered next, but their reception was mixed. Gange's
reputation for "eccentricity" preceded him, and several sections of the crowd
actually hissed as he passed.
Once all 295 participants from the 59 nations were assembled, the first round of
the bracket was randomized on the massive stadium screens.
"I hope I don't draw you in the first round," Zhurong Yun joked back in the
Huaxia lounge.
Mason Chu, Yuna Su, and Li Xisheng didn't say anything, but their expressions
said enough. No one wanted to face Kenji early.
"Don't worry," Kenji said with a playful smirk. "If we meet, I promise to be
quick about it."
The first day of matches was a slaughter for the "Major Powers." Mason Chu was
the first Huaxia member to take the field, facing an Elite Four member from a
smaller League. Mason's Steel-types were immovable walls, dismantling the
opponent's Level 98 Mamoswine with clinical efficiency.
By the end of Day 1, most of the Huaxia team had advanced. Only Kenji and Yuna
Su had yet to be called.
On the morning of the second day, the bracket refreshed. Kenji's eyes lit up
when he saw the matchup.
Match 3: Grand Champion Kenji (Huaxia) vs. Elite Four Rio (Neon League).
"Rio," Kenji whispered, his lips curling into a grin.
He looked at the dossier on his tablet. Rio was an Ice-type specialist and a
massive celebrity in the Neon League, often referred to as their "National
Goddess."
In the Neon League prep room, the atmosphere was tense.
"Kenji is a monster," Matsumoto warned Rio, his arms crossed. "My advice?
Approach this match as a learning experience. Don't focus on the win; focus on
his patterns."
Rio's face darkened. She knew Matsumoto was right, but his blunt assessment of
her inevitable defeat stung. It felt like he was surrendering before the match
even started.
"Hmph. Just another arrogant mainlander," sneered Shinji Oda, another Neon
League participant. He was a man of average height but possessed an oversized
ego. He watched Kenji's name on the screen with naked jealousy. "He's only
strong because he was lucky enough to find high-potential partners. Put those
Pokémon in the hands of a Neon master, and they'd be twice as efficient."
Kenji, meanwhile, was already headed toward the tunnel. He didn't care about
their goddesses or their masters. He had spent two years in the lab. It was time
to show the world what happens when a God-tier team finally gets to cut loose.
♧♧♧
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