In the second-floor viewing box, Tsunade's reaction to the announcement of the top-tier rewards was anything but subtle—she shot up from her seat the moment Cynthia revealed the prize for the highest-ranking competitor in the advanced group.
Of course she recognized that kind of item. How could she not, after spending so much time around Ryo and the others? If she didn't know what that reward meant, then all her time around them had truly been in vain.
The others in the room noticed her sudden movement and exchanged puzzled glances. Even Mabui furrowed her brow slightly and addressed her directly.
"Lady Hokage," she asked, her tone polite but pressing, "what exactly is this 'attribute-enhancing item' Cynthia mentioned? If you could enlighten us…"
Tsunade blinked and composed herself. Seeing all eyes fixed on her, she gave a short nod and answered, "It's a special item that enhances the power of elemental moves. Every Pokémon has an inherent type—Fire, Water, Grass, and so on. When they equip this type of item, their skills associated with that type deal more damage. It's a direct boost to combat power."
The room fell into stunned silence.
No one had expected something so… overpowered.
"How much of a boost are we talking about?" Ao asked, his expression growing increasingly serious.
"I don't know all the variants," Tsunade admitted with a shrug, "but Ryo uses one that boosts damage output by twenty percent."
"Twenty?!" The word came out as a collective shout.
Several of them stood up in disbelief. A 20% increase in damage? That was more than just a small edge—it was a complete game-changer. In battles where opponents were evenly matched, that kind of boost could tip the balance dramatically.
And it wasn't just a short-term edge, either. If an elite-level Pokémon had such an item, they could leap from mid-tier performance straight into top-tier, easily outclassing rivals in the same rank.
"No way something like that exists…" Ao muttered, still not quite believing it.
Tsunade rolled her eyes. "It does. You heard Cynthia announce it just now, didn't you?"
She turned back toward the arena, not even bothering to entertain their skepticism further. Truth be told, even she was a bit envious. That kind of item could tip the scale in any battle, and here it was being given away as a prize.
The others slowly sat back down, their expressions shifting from doubt to simmering desire. Clearly, all of them were now thinking the same thing—how could they get their hands on such an item for their own village?
Meanwhile, down in the arena, Cynthia addressed the crowd again, explaining the details of the item in question for the benefit of the general audience.
And just like that, the entire arena buzzed with heat.
Contestants from the advanced group clenched their fists with renewed vigor. The fire in their eyes had been lit—winning wasn't just about pride anymore. That item could change everything.
"Twenty percent boost… That's insane."
"Right? With that, you'd be basically unbeatable among equals."
"I feel like I'm dreaming. Are we sure this tournament's not just a cover for some huge treasure giveaway?"
Cynthia allowed the audience to murmur and buzz for a few more moments before gesturing for silence.
"I've covered both the rules and the rewards," she said, stepping back toward her Garchomp. "Now, the real event begins. Good luck to all competitors—I hope to see some impressive battles."
With that, she leapt onto Garchomp's back and took off, soaring gracefully toward the sky and disappearing from the arena floor.
Eliza took the cue and stepped into view, wearing her usual gentle smile. "I know many of you are probably still overwhelmed by the prize announcements," she said, "but let's shift that energy into excitement for the matches ahead."
The audience's eyes gleamed.
While the rewards were jaw-dropping, most people in the stands weren't participants—they were here for the show. Their excitement quickly transitioned from envy to anticipation.
Eliza continued, "Today's matches will proceed in rotation—one round each from the beginner, intermediate, and advanced groups. And to ensure fairness, matchups will be drawn randomly."
As she spoke, three staff members emerged from the edge of the arena, each carrying a small box labeled with a character: beginner, intermediate and advanced.
Eliza pointed toward them. "Inside each box are folded slips with the names of competitors in that group. For each match, we'll draw two names. I'll handle the draw for the first round myself. From the second round onward, the winner of each match will draw the names for the next."
That last part got a reaction—gasps, excited murmurs, and a few chuckles rippled through the crowd. Random draws? That added a delicious layer of unpredictability.
The contestants, however, were not quite as thrilled.
Most of them would've preferred knowing their opponents ahead of time. With advance notice, they could strategize, research their enemy's Pokémon, plan counters. Now? They'd have to be ready for anything.
Eliza stepped forward, heading toward the box marked with a beginner.
The crowd leaned in. Even the most laid-back spectators were now perched on the edge of their seats. As Eliza approached the box, she raised her hand and plunged it in, stirring the papers inside with a practiced flourish.
Some of the beginner contestants had turned pale. Others gripped the edges of their seats or their knees, trying not to shake.
And then—two slips of paper in hand—Eliza slowly turned to face the audience.
All breath in the arena seemed to catch.
The first match was about to begin.
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