Edmund led the group to the front-row preparation area beside the battlefield, where a large sign read:
Pokémon League University — Contestants' Preparation Area
Across the field, matching signs marked the sections reserved for the other two universities.
Among the Defense Academy students, Aaron quickly spotted Liora, Blaze, and Frost. The first two immediately waved when they noticed him and Braveon.
"Aaron! Braveon!"
Blaze's voice carried clear across the arena.
The two waved back. Friends were friends, but once the battle started, there would be no favors.
Aaron grinned to himself.
Sorry, Blaze. If we get matched up, you're getting the full treatment.
As for little Liora? If she ended up facing him, she would probably surrender on the spot.
What could he say?
Some people were simply blessed with natural charm.
...
By now, the ten-thousand-seat arena was completely packed. Not a single seat remained empty.
This was easily the biggest stage they had stepped onto so far.
[Ding~ Quest Triggered!]
[Quest: Win first place in the Intercollegiate Freshman Tournament.]
[As the King of Show-Offs, how could you possibly stay quiet on a stage like this? Go on, young man—show them what the King of Show-Offs can really do. I'm counting on you!]
[Win first place in the Intercollegiate Freshman Tournament to complete the Quest!]
[Quest Rewards: Pokémon Candy (Elite) ×2, Special Skill Card: Hundred Ghosts: Wraith!]
Aaron smiled to himself.
He had been expecting a Quest from the moment a competition this big was announced, and sure enough, the System had delivered.
"Finally... I've been waiting for this."
His attention immediately shifted to the final reward.
"Hundred Ghosts: Wraith..."
Most likely some kind of Ghost-type special skill.
Aaron's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Looks like my next Pokémon is decided."
...
A burst of microphone static suddenly crackled through the arena as the giant screen overhead came to life.
Moments later, a large Pidgeot swooped into the center of the venue carrying a sharply dressed host with an impressive pompadour and a microphone in hand.
He raised the mic toward the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen... good afternoon!"
"Welcome to this year's Intercollegiate Freshman Tournament! I'm Kenny—your favorite host!"
His voice boomed through the arena, drawing thunderous applause from the stands.
Kenny grinned and continued without wasting any time.
"First, let's meet the representatives from Crown City's three premier universities!"
"Representing Pokémon Elite Defense Academy: Blaze, Liora, Frost, Mason, and Marina!"
"From Pokémon League University: Aaron, Braveon, Dorian, Ivy, and Gage!"
"And finally, our perennial powerhouse and this year's host—Imperial Elite Pokémon University! Kellan, Faye, Asher, Zane, and Galen!"
He swept one arm toward the stands.
"Let's hear it for our contestants!"
The crowd erupted.
"Imperial Elite's taking it again!"
"We're number one!"
"Kellan's the strongest! He's winning this whole thing!"
"Imperial Elite! Imperial Elite! Nobody can touch us!"
"League University and the Defense Academy are trash! Go home!"
"Why even bother holding the tournament? Imperial Elite's taking first place again anyway."
"Seriously. Those two came all this way just to get embarrassed again."
"I heard League University recruited the top two Trainers from the Hidden Dragon Rankings this year. Maybe they've actually got something."
"The Hidden Dragon Rankings? Please."
One student laughed loudly.
"Isn't that mostly for nobodies without family backing?"
"Exactly. People from real elite families don't need some ranking to prove who they are."
"I've never even bothered going there. Half the people there are desperate nobodies trying to make a name for themselves. Why waste the time?"
...
The stands thundered with cheers, but that was hardly surprising.
Most of the spectators were Imperial Elite students, and they made sure everyone knew whose home turf this was.
Some did not even bother hiding their contempt for the visiting universities. The insults came freely, mixed with the casual arrogance of people who had grown up believing status and family background placed them above everyone else.
It was a side of Imperial Elite that outsiders rarely saw displayed so openly.
Aaron listened to the jeers with the same faint smile on his face, but the warmth had vanished from his eyes.
Elite university, huh?
Fine.
Today, he would knock them off their pedestal himself.
"You heard them."
Edmund kept his voice low, but the anger underneath it was obvious.
"That's what arrogance looks like when people grow up believing everyone without money or status is beneath them."
His gaze swept across the five students.
"If people like that are the ones who end up shaping Hualis's future, foreign enemies will be the least of our problems."
He paused.
"So don't lose."
"If nothing else, win for every ordinary Trainer they just spat on."
Dorian remained silent, his expression unchanged, while Ivy only gave a faint smile. Both came from prominent families themselves, so although they agreed with part of Edmund's point, there were some things neither of them was in much of a position to comment on.
Gage, on the other hand, clenched his fists.
"President... I'll give it everything I've got. I won't let them look down on us."
Edmund immediately smacked him on the back of the head.
"Good. But your life comes first, idiot."
"Stop talking like you're marching off to war."
Gage rubbed the back of his head with an awkward smile.
"Yes, President."
He knew Edmund was only looking out for him.
Even after getting smacked, he could not stop smiling.