The official activation of the holographic battle platforms sent the Luofu into a fever pitch. As Julian Reed's base of operations, and with the Artisanship Commission holding a vested interest in the project, the advertising for Pokémon was inescapable. On the Luofu, it wasn't just a game; it was a cultural phenomenon that had unified pet lovers, hardcore gamers, and weekend adventurers alike.
Julian had constructed a thousand units in the Cloudford district alone, yet the queues stretched around city blocks. While he had set the usage fee to a bare minimum—just enough to cover maintenance and the jade-gate power consumption—the sheer volume of players meant the platforms were never cold.
"Wow, look at this crowd!" March 7th chirped, her eyes wide as she navigated the bustling thoroughfare. The area around the battle stages had transformed into a vibrant festival grounds, with neatly lined stalls selling everything from glazed berries to hand-crafted Poké Ball charms. "Uncle Yang, do you think people will be mad if we use our priority passes to jump the line?"
"The people of the Luofu are quite disciplined, March," Welt Yang replied, his gaze sweeping over the orderly rows of vendors and the official Sky-Faring guides assisting the tourists. "I suspect they've been briefed on the tournament's importance."
Himeko stepped up beside them, a knowing smile on her lips. "Julian Reed is quite the strategist. He hasn't just built a game; he's leveraged a cultural conflict. By making the Luofu the heart of Pokémon, he's effectively turned every player into a silent ally against the IPC's narrative."
"I have to respect the craftsmanship," Welt added. "He's seized an opportunity that most would have missed."
As they reached the foot of a primary stage, a Sky-Faring Commission staff member approached them. "Pardon me, Master Welt of the Astral Express? We have a reserved slot for the finalists. If you're ready to calibrate with the new AI system, please follow me."
The staffer led them through a specialized lane. The crowd, realizing who was stepping onto the stage, erupted in cheers.
"Look! It's one of the Express Trailblazers!"
"I heard his point ranking is in the top five. He's a tactical monster!"
"Pick me, Master Yang! Let me be your warm-up!"
March 7th laughed, nudging Welt's arm. "Look at you, Uncle Yang! You're a galactic superstar!"
Welt tried to maintain a stoic, scholarly expression, but the subtle twinkle in his eyes betrayed his enjoyment. He stepped onto the platform, the holographic projectors hummed to life, and the first of many practice matches began.
Elsewhere on the ship, the other finalists were finding their own ways to prepare.
Guinaifen was in her element, weaving through the stalls with her live-stream camera floating beside her. "Family members! For the next three days, I'm your official tour guide for the Luofu! We're going to see the sights, taste the food, and maybe spy on some other contestants' training sessions!"
Her chat was a blur of playful accusations. "Gui is getting lazy!" "Focus on the tournament, or you'll be out in the first round!"
"I've already calibrated with the new AI," she whispered conspiratorially to the camera. "I just need a few matches a day to keep my form. The rest of the time, I'm helping Boss Julian show off the scenery!"
In the quiet sanctuary of the Divination Commission, Fu Xuan was far from the crowds. She was conducting her training internally, sparring against her own diviners. However, the matches were unsatisfying. Her subordinates played with too much caution, and their lack of high-level experience meant they couldn't push the new AI to its limits.
"The AI is responsive, but I need a variable I can't predict," she muttered, frustrated.
"Then perhaps I could offer a bit of assistance, Master Diviner?"
Fu Xuan turned to see Jing Yuan leaning against a pillar, a Poké Ball spinning casually in his hand.
"I didn't realize the General had so much free time," Fu Xuan remarked dryly. "Shouldn't you be reviewing the cloud-gate defense logs?"
"Even an old general needs to keep up with the trends of the youth," Jing Yuan chuckled. "So, Fu Xuan, are you confident enough to test your 'Fortune' against me? I promise not to make excuses if I lose."
"Hmph. Don't regret this when your Kingambit is in the dirt."
Near the docks, Silver Wolf had already bored herself by sweeping a dozen challengers in under ten minutes. She tapped into the server backend, identified the "Fruit Shop Part-timer," and used her priority override to force a matchmaking request.
The 2D cartoon avatar appeared on the screen opposite her.
"Warm-up time, Part-timer!" Silver Wolf declared. "I'm not losing to a fruit-peeler twice."
To her surprise, the avatar didn't cower this time. It struck a high-spirited "Battle Pose," its digital eyes burning with a sudden, sharp intensity. The challenge was accepted.
Across the district, Topaz was engaged in her own series of "Stress Tests." She was intentionally making suboptimal moves, testing how the AI would compensate for human error.
"The soul of the game... it really is different," she whispered, watching her Numby-inspired Pokémon react with a level of autonomy she'd never seen in Aether Warfront. "Those elders in the Traditional Department are fools. Julian Reed is the future. I wonder if he's still open to a private investment... or if the Alliance has already locked him down."
The stage was set. The players were ready. And in three days, the galaxy would witness the birth of its first Master.
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