"Even if he is a world champion and his individual strength is truly high, this is still a team battle. What use is great individual strength in a group that has not even trained together?"
Another student also began to mock them, and his words made the students of Ironvale City Pokémon University show angry expressions.
"In reality, even if Ethan had trained with the team, it still wouldn't matter. He is only the champion of the youth group. The members of our university team are all students about to graduate."
"And if we're talking about Quasi-Elite-level trainers, our Rivergate City Pokémon University has one too!"
The students of Rivergate City Pokémon University continued provoking them, making it clear that they did not put Ironvale City Pokémon University in their eyes at all.
"Rivergate City Pokémon University?"
"The university that is in fourth place?"
The students of Ironvale City Pokémon University felt a jolt inside.
In the group stage of this tournament, Daleron Imperial Pokémon University was still in first place, Duskwell City Pokémon University in second, Arcaia City Pokémon University in third, and Rivergate City Pokémon University in fourth!
Meanwhile, Ironvale City Pokémon University had ended up in eighth place, practically the last team to qualify.
"Ha! Ironvale City Pokémon University only ended up at the bottom because Ethan wasn't there. Now that Ethan has returned after finishing the World Championship, Ironvale City Pokémon University is no longer the same!"
The students of Ironvale City Pokémon University also began to return the provocations, and the students of both universities ended up arguing noisily.
At that moment, the big screen also displayed the matchup bracket.
According to the rules of the playoffs, the eight participating teams were divided into two groups according to their rankings.
The teams ranked 1st, 4th, 5th, and 8th were placed in one group.
And the teams ranked 2nd, 3rd, 6th, and 7th were placed in the other.
Within each group, the first battle was between 5th and 8th, and the winner would challenge 4th, then finally face 1st.
The other group worked the same way: 6th faced 7th, the victor challenged 3rd, and then 2nd.
In the end, naturally, the two winners from each group would fight the final battle to decide the champion of the summer tournament.
In addition, the format was single elimination: each team only had one chance!
"We hope you manage to defeat Redrock City Pokémon University's team, which is in fifth place, and then come challenge our Rivergate City team."
Looking at the bracket on the big screen, the students of Rivergate City Pokémon University threw out their final mockery.
"Ha, you'll see!"
The students of Ironvale City Pokémon University immediately responded.
Once the opening ceremony ended, the first battle would begin right away.
"The opening ceremony just ended. As for timing, I arrived perfectly."
Ethan entered Phoenix Stadium from the competitors' area and smiled slightly.
It was now 9:45, and there were still fifteen minutes before the battle began. It could be considered that he had arrived on time.
He yawned and rubbed his eyes.
In reality, he should have met with the university team in the capital the day before. But who would have imagined that, just before leaving, a small unexpected incident would arise?
He had no choice but to start the journey riding Charizard before dawn.
Now that he had finally reached the destination, once he relaxed, all that drowsiness fell on him at once.
"Ethan, you finally arrived."
In the competitors' area, Captain Jason breathed a sigh of relief when he saw him.
"Sorry, something came up yesterday."
Ethan spoke somewhat apologetically, because in principle they had agreed to discuss the strategy together the day before.
"It's fine, as long as you arrived."
Jason smiled and then took out the tactical plan.
There were still fifteen minutes before the battle, so he had to hurry and arrange the final things.
"Ethan, these are the tactical templates of the four of us. Take a look at them."
As he spoke, Jason passed the tactical templates to Ethan so he could choose which Pokémon he would use.
"I think I'll keep using Lucario. The opponent in the first round isn't that strong; although their team has a Quasi-Elite-level Kommo-o, that's all."
"Let's face them directly. Don't worry, there's no way we'll lose."
Ethan smiled faintly and spoke with great confidence, simply explaining his idea to Jason and the others.
First, they could try the normal strategy. If it really did not work, Lucario could also intervene.
And if something truly unexpected happened, they could always have Lucario megaevolve directly.
"A Quasi-Elite Kommo-o... 'that's all'?"
"Only you could say something like that." Jason smiled helplessly, and then added after thinking for a moment: "But remember what we agreed on. In this battle, don't steal too much of the spotlight."
It was evident that he was recalling the previous battle against Arcaia City Pokémon University, where Lucario had annihilated the entire opposing team in one sweep, to the point that they had not even had a chance to act before the battle ended.
"Alright, I know. I'll leave the main front to you. I'll have Lucario support you."
Ethan shrugged indifferently. After all, it was only Redrock City Pokémon University's team, so he really did not need to take it too seriously.
With Mega Lucario as a guarantee, it was impossible to lose this battle, so it was enough to let Jason and the others do whatever they wanted.
Very soon, fifteen minutes passed.
Amid the deafening cheers of the entire stadium, Redrock City Pokémon University, ranked fifth, and Ironvale City Pokémon University, ranked eighth, made their entrance.
(End of chapter)