"Aaaand just like that ladies and gentlemen, the fourth battle of the Trainer Initiation Duels has concluded."
In the open stadium of the Shadow Arena, the hot sun beat down on hundreds sitting in the stands, giving up a round of applause for the two duellists.
The young men left the arena. One had his head held high, and battlemon still full of strength, whilst the other sulked, battlemon beaten and bruised.
He would have to wait another year before he could try out for his Trainer Badge again. A year that no initiate ever wanted to have to wait.
Chatter spread throughout the crowd as they waited for the next duelists to arrive.
Announcer Mark and Lucy sat in their booth, both reading from the paper in front of them.
Their brows raised when they read out the name of the child coming up next.
"Ooh boy," Mark whispered away from the microphone, so only Lucy could hear. "This next fight will be a treat! Have you seen Trainer #9?"
Lucy wasn't listening. Her chin was propped on her hand as she scanned the paper below.
Her eyes lingered on a certain name.
"#10... I've never seen this name before. Emerald? Have you heard of him?"
Mark waved a hand dismissively. "Forget about #10. Look... here."
Mark pulled the microphone away from Lucy and closer to himself.
If she was too busy to announce the next fight, he'd steal the honour for himself.
"And now, introducing the next trainer who dares to step into the arena..."
The crowd went silent as his voice echoed proudly through the stadium. The crowd could hear in his tone that this next trainer was special.
"This is a young man that many—no... all of you should know. Not only because of the potential that he holds within the Nature Battlemon type, but also because of his father, the Current Champion of Nature, Yoyo."
Gasps echoed through the crowds, as their eyes shot towards the champion seats of the arena, a location where current and former champions could sit and get a closer look at the duels.
Only two men sat in these stands, and one was a man with bright yellow hair, followed by a bright yellow beard. He wore loose-fitting robes of the same colour that draped over his hands.
However, if his hands were visible, you'd see a glowing green ring on his pinky finger, and perhaps a yo-yo in the other.
The man's lips twisted into a smirk, and the crowd went crazy.
They knew who was fighting next.
"Entering the arena, can I please introduce... Kite!"
The applause grew louder as a young man stepped foot into the arena, a battlemon following beside him at every moment.
Kite was short even for a 13-year-old. Unlike his father, he always liked to dress formally. His white buttoned shirt was tucked into his black trousers, and his pointed shoes clicked on the ground beneath him with every step.
His hair, a blinding yellow like his father's, was slicked backwards with oil and sat atop a smooth, serious face.
Besides him walked his Battlemon.
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Battledex Entry No.189
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「 Name ~ Synthsword」
「Type ~ Nature」
「Level ~ 13]」
「TotalStats ~ 191」
「Temperament ~ Confident」
Battle Style: Grounded striker – specializes in ranged nature attacks.
Known Skills: N/A
Ability: Enhanced Senses - Cannot be blinded by other Battlemon.
Preferred Terrain: Grass fields
Trainer Bond: ★★★☆☆ (Stable)
Origin: Found in grassy fields.
Classification: Wolf
Height: 0.7m
Weight: 30kg
---
Synthsword was a green-furred wolf, strutting elegantly beside Kite. Protruding from his back were two wings that looked like large leaves. With every step, they swayed gently, as though being blown by the wind.
Its face was sharp and angular, and it's eyes were green as it's fur. The Battlemon stood tall enough to reach Kite's shoulders, and its wings stretched even taller.
"Woahhhh!"
The crowd cheered loudly as Kite and Synthsword took the centre of the arena.
The smartly dressed boy stood there with his arms crossed, a steady, confident look on his face, mirrored by his battlemon.
There was a valid reason for his confidence.
Being the child of a current champion, Kite had all the tokens in his hands.
His starter, whilst only level 13, had almost broken into the 200s for its power level. Its skills and abilities would be incredibly strong, and most importantly, Kite would have learned battle tactics from his father.
Mark nudged Lucy on the shoulder, as the crowd continued to roar.
"Sucks for his opponent, huh." The announcer said, but Lucy wasn't listening.
Her eyes were still focused on the name in front of her, trying to figure out why she had never heard of such a child, yet for some reason seemed to be familiar with him.
Emerald...
Suddenly, her eyes lit like candles.
"Emerald... that's it!"
Lucy snatched the microphone back from Mark and cleared her throat.
She couldn't believe what she was reading.
Mark looked at her with confusion. The name Emerald meant nothing to him.
"L-Ladies and gentlemen! It seems that Kite is not the only noteworthy trainer that will be entering the arena today."
"Huuuuh?"
Sounds of confusion muttered amongst the crowd. Another noteworthy trainer?
Kite was by far the greatest prodigy fighting in this year's duels. So just who could it be?
"I tell no lies people, Kite is not the only child of a champion entering the arena!"
The chatter grew louder, and louder with every announcement.
It wasn't possible. A battle between two champion children in a simple Initiation duel?
Just who could Lucy be talking about?
The anticipation was palpable. Everyone sat at the edges of the seats, awaiting the final announcement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, if my memory serves me correctly, then this trainer is none other than the child of the former Champion of Nature, Jade!"
The eyes turned towards the man sitting beside Yoyo in the champion's stands.
His hair was long a green, flowing to his seat elegantly. He wore a dark green long coat with black pants and boots. His face was hard, with a green moustache sitting atop his thin lips.
He no longer wore a champion's ring, ever since retiring, but no one was focused on his fingers.
It was his eyes. They were wide in shock, and his cheeks were painted red.
The crowd grew further confused.
The son of the former Champion of Nature Jade...
Yes... They did remember such a child.
The child who was expected to be a future champion of nature from the day he was born. A true prodigy, with potential greater than the young Kite himself.
Until the day that his starter battlemon rejected him.
Not just the first, but the second time.
He became a laughing stock to the world. A disgrace to his family name.
So he ran away.
For three years, there had been no news of him. Not a soul in the Lostlight region knew where he went.
...
Could such a child truly have returned?
The pressure rose in the room.
Yoyo whispered something in Jade's ear.
Former friends of the boy shouted excitedly in the crowds.
The audience almost fell from their seats.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Lucy's voice bellowed. "Please welcome to the Arena. Emerald, the Runaway Prodigy!"