As they hoped and hoped.
The competition that determined Baimu's future destiny slowly began.
Despite Ayana, who seemed to be the team leader, showing up last night and asking them to go to bed early and wake up early, only a few could truly sleep peacefully. After gathering at the venue, thirteen out of fifteen people were dozing off.
Of the other two, one was asleep standing, while the other silently checked his equipment, and that was the energetic Baimu.
"You're so full of energy?" Otsuka was quite surprised.
Today, he wore a headband with crooked patterns on it, seemingly a sign of determination.
"Just using a Pokémon move."
Baimu glanced at him and continued to tidy up his attire.
Chansey's singing was simply a divine skill for insomniacs, requiring only a few notes to take you into the world of dreams, sending you into a night of blissful sleep.
"Huh?" Otsuka was a bit perplexed, but before he could ask further, Ayana clapped her hands.
"Alright, everyone, perk up!"
The voice was not particularly loud, but it was enough to wake the dozing crowd, and even the one sleeping standing opened his eyes.
Ayana looked at everyone and said, "There will soon be a bus to take you. Remember, this competition allows only winning, no losing, no bargaining. Understand?"
"Understood!"
There was a unanimous response.
After finishing her speech, she spoke no further until a hovering bus arrived, gently honking twice.
Baimu looked on, and the driver turned out to be a strong woman, with arms so broad that they seemed like horses could run on them. If it weren't for the obvious rise and fall of her chest, this short-cropped hair and rather rugged facial lines would indeed make her difficult to discern.
"Hehehe! Little brats! Ready to head to Hell? Hahaha!"
She let out a wild laugh.
Ayana kicked open the bus door and went up, "I'll rely on you this time!"
"Rest assured! My driving skills won't be stopped even if ten Pokémon ambushed us!" The female driver robustly honked, "What are you dawdling for!"
Baimu followed up, and seeing this, Otsuka quickly followed, with the rest emulating them.
The space inside the bus wasn't huge, but it could comfortably seat all fifteen of them. After the last person boarded, the female driver didn't care if they found a seat and immediately started driving.
The interior instantly began to shake violently.
"This time it's secure."
Otsuka, barely seated, whispered, "Last time, it was this lady taking Sand Group to the competition; we'll definitely arrive safely at the venue."
Beside him, Baimu: "???"
Seeing his confusion, Otsuka quickly explained, "You might not know, there were instances before where forces participating were attacked midway, and they all ended up in trouble.
"It resulted in ambushes happening every time such competitions were held. A few years ago, the boss went out and verbally agreed on a peace alliance, somewhat easing the situation. But those scumbags from Evil Dog Team might just ambush us!"
"Really? To be called scumbags by you, Otsuka, they must be quite a bunch!"
Baimu pretended to be shocked.
"..."
Otsuka looked like a choked goose, his enthusiasm for conversation evaporating completely, his face turning gloomy and embarrassed, turning away in silence.
Baimu maintained his calm demeanor, slightly smiling at the latter.
Having once thought bullying the weak was natural, now facing related ridicule causes him to feel ashamed and embarrassed. This even subconsciously leads him to believe such methods are low-class, even if it's just an act to save face, it's a significant improvement in his eyes.
He wasn't the first to be bullied by Otsuka, but he hoped to be the last.
Not only did he need to empathize and care for those bullied, but he also couldn't let the bullies go unchecked, leading to more victims.
Both physical obliteration and consciousness transformation are viable tactics, and Baimu is tentatively experimenting with the latter, leveraging his debt of over a million to Otsuka to ensure he doesn't easily turn against him.
Yes, the one in debt is the true master.
On the other hand, he heard rumors about Evil Dog Team, a second-tier force in Pyrite Town just like Quicksand Team, who have had grudges for a long time, engaging countless times in Pokémon battles.
Currently, Quicksand Team even has a mine they took over.
Both sides engage in verbal warfare, with Quicksand Team accusing Evil Dog Team's members of being the ruthless scum of humanity, not even sparing the labor of a ten-year-old child, forcing them down mine shafts to work.
Evil Dog Team considers Quicksand Team as a bunch of mercenary lackeys, who will beg like dog-like Pokémon if given enough money, even biting their companions, without a shred of a bottom line.
Whether true or not is another story, just throw out the vilest insults.
Buzz——
Amidst a low hum, the hovering bus swiftly entered an underground tunnel, and soon emerged again onto the surface, revealing a vast barren desert through its filthy glass.
Gray, brown, and red were the primary colors here; rocks, gravel, and huge boulders layered on top of each other, even drought-resistant plants carried a withered aura, barely clinging to life on this land.
In the distance, a few bare cliffs could be seen, the sun above gazing down making one's throat dry just by looking at it, instinctively replenishing moisture.
For ambushes in such terrain, hiding in the sand might be the way?
Baimu scanned his surroundings, his hand gripping the Pokeball just in case.
At this point, Ayana, sitting at the front, stood up and said:
"Let me say a few words, listen carefully. This time the match will be broadcasted live; this means every movement of yours, even going to the bathroom, will be under someone's surveillance. But I'm not asking you to restrain your behavior.
"On the contrary, you can try whatever entertains the audience, be it mocking opponents, helping opponents, or directly attacking people. Once you win the favor of the viewers, you'll receive monetary rewards, from which Sand Group will only take seventy percent."
Live broadcast rewards?
Top fan 666? Otsuka, give people a performance?
In a competition aiming to bash each other's brains out, creating theatrical effects and earning money was something Baimu hadn't expected.
Could he make money from rewards through antics?
No, better to first consider how to safely fight till the end; his strength is far from strong enough to ponder how to please the top fan.
"Baimu! Did you hear? Only seventy percent taken!"
Otsuka suddenly grabbed his arm excitedly, "Previously, they took ninety percent! Now only seventy! Great chance to earn money! Maybe you'll soon be able to repay me!"
"Do you know what the 'audience' likes to watch?" Baimu poured cold water on him, "And rather than focusing on rewards, you should focus more on your strategy once the competition begins.
"Speaking of which, what's your plan?"
"Plan?" Otsuka paused, "What plan? We'll dash in two hundred yards apart; if we meet someone, we'll figure out a way to wheel battle them, what other plan is needed?"
Baimu: "... Two hundred yards?"
Otsuka spread his hands, "Right, we're prohibited from team actions, so we just keep two hundred yards apart; coincidentally heading the same direction doesn't mean we're teamed."
"Are you sure such actions are allowed?"
"I asked previous participants; that's what they did!" He looked at Baimu smugly, a face saying, "you didn't expect this, did you?".
Baimu was about to ask something when Ayana suddenly cast a gaze over.
"Oh, I almost forgot, Otsuka just reminded me. The competition rules have been updated; there'll be dedicated Pokémon surveillance preventing team convergence and traps during early and mid-stages. Follow their guidance, or face attacks without my concern."
Otsuka's smile suddenly froze, while others whispered nervously, restless and anxious.
The taste of 'audience' sure is peculiar; no wheel battles allowed.
Baimu comfortingly patted his shoulder, but the "bad news" wasn't only one; Ayana added a new entry about the entrance.
Namely, the usual sequential departure system will be canceled, and "special personnel" will randomly place them somewhere in the venue based on their whims, with the potential for unlucky landings surrounded by three or four enemies.
Upon hearing, the Quicksand Team members turned pale with fear.
Someone couldn't help but ask if there's any other new content, Ayana thought for a moment and then waved, saying:
"If I remember anything, I'll let you know later."
What!?
——Do they really want to see them win? Delivering such crucial information now, not even stating them all at once, that's unreliable!
At this point, not only others, but Baimu also sighed.
He lived a previous life under the constraint of laws, and if not for the memories of this body, he'd find it difficult to integrate into this environment where the upper ruling class has torn off the fig leaf and is indulging recklessly with power.
No wonder it's known as an Extreme Path city of crisis and opportunity in the words of certain merchants—Pyrite Town.
Through the window.
The desert canyon representing the arena slowly came into view.