69novels Chapter 116 Opening Ceremony
Chapter 116 Opening Ceremony
Chapter 116 Opening Ceremony
The hall was also packed with people, with the calls of Pokémon rising and falling, but the atmosphere was orderly.
The elevators leading to the spectator level are extremely fast and smooth.
When the elevator doors opened again and they actually stepped into the stands, the two of them gasped in unison, completely stunned.
This is a vast space that they had never imagined and that transcends their understanding.
The audience seating was perfectly circular, cascading upwards like the ancient Roman Colosseum, seemingly without end. The space, capable of holding at least 200,000 people, was being rapidly filled, forming a vast sea of people and Pokémon.
A low-frequency hum, a mixture of excitement, anticipation, and a sense of solemnity, filled the air.
Their seats were located on the lower middle level, offering an excellent view.
Each seat is like an independent technological unit, with a curved, semi-transparent interface in front of it displaying various information: the event schedule, player information, sponsor information (designed rather restrainedly, more like background decoration), and several different viewing mode options.
The most breathtaking part is the center of the field.
It was a huge, somewhat mysterious circular area.
Because the lighting inside the tower was not fully turned on, the central area was shrouded in deep shadow, and only its smooth, mirror-like surface and the outline of its complex mechanical structure could be vaguely seen.
It is like a sleeping behemoth, waiting to be awakened.
The gaze tried to pierce the darkness, but returned in vain, which only added to its majesty and sense of the unknown.
"I thought—the arenas in the capital and Chengdu were already the best—"
Wang Jiajia murmured, holding Nidolan tightly, as if she needed something to confirm the reality of the scene before her.
Yu Qin nodded in deep agreement, his throat feeling a little dry: "This place—it's not even in the same dimension."
.
They received a pair of lightweight, high-tech glasses as a gift when entering the tower. Once they put them on, the world before their eyes changed.
The interface has become clearer, and five different live stream options have appeared.
They tried switching between the two, and the video was incredibly smooth, making them feel as if they were actually there.
The clock ticked closer to nine o'clock. The audience gradually filled up, but the sound of their voices strangely subsided, turning into a tense, expectant silence.
Everyone held their breath, staring intently at the darkness in the center.
Suddenly, all the lights inside the tower went out.
It wasn't a malfunction, but the arrival of utter and absolute darkness.
Before any exclamations could be heard...
—
A deep, resonant vibration, seemingly emanating from the depths of the earth, echoed throughout the space.
At the same time, the dark area in the center suddenly lit up!
It wasn't just a simple matter of lights turning on; instead, countless beams of pure white, azure, and gilded light shot into the sky from the numerous cracks in the floor, intertwining, colliding, and swirling in the air to form a dazzling sea of energy! In the center of this sea of light, a massive platform, accompanied by an even more magnificent mechanical roar, slowly and steadily rose up!
On the platform are the 256 main contestants of this year's rookie competition!
They were arranged in a certain order, dressed in various styles. Some wore professional sportswear with sponsor logos, looking spirited; others wore carefully prepared formal attire or ethnic costumes, looking dignified and eye-catching; and still others, like Hong You, wore only ordinary and decent casual wear, appearing particularly simple and genuine in the glamorous setting.
The lights are focused on the center of the platform.
A soft blue light shone down, and a figure formed from countless particles of light quickly became clear.
reality.
It's Su Yu!
That young singer who became famous throughout the country for singing the theme song for the Pokémon anime, with a clear, ethereal, and powerful voice.
At this moment, her holographic image is so lifelike, it's as if she were there in person.
She bowed slightly towards the audience, and then the familiar, moving prelude resounded throughout every corner of the battle tower.
It's that anime theme song!
The song began, carrying with it a longing for the unknown and unwavering courage.
At first, there were only a few scattered sing-alongs, but soon, like a wildfire, more and more voices joined in.
Hundreds of thousands, two hundred thousand—countless voices, from unfamiliar to skilled, from soft to loud, finally merged into a breathtaking ocean of choral singing!
Many people had tears in their eyes, regardless of age or status, all moved by the same song at that moment.
They were connected by the same emotion.
The singing gradually faded, but its lingering melody still echoed around the beams.
Su Yu's image smiled and waved before dissipating into specks of light.
Immediately afterwards, the holographic image changed again, and several representatives from the official and event organizing committees appeared in turn. Their speeches were brief and powerful, emphasizing the efforts of all participants and trainers, highlighting the spirit of "fairness, friendship, and striving" of the event, and finally being announced by a respected elder in a loud voice.
"I hereby declare the inaugural China Pokémon Rookie Trainer Competition officially open!"
There was thunderous applause.
Amid cheers, the image changes again.
This time, it was Lin Dao who appeared before everyone.
They were not standing on a high platform, nor were they wearing formal attire.
He stood in what seemed like an ordinary outdoor scene, just like always, with his companions beside him: Pikachu curiously peering out from his shoulder, Arcanine standing tall and proud at his feet, a gentle Kangaskhan with its little Kangaskhan, a Shellder as steady as a mountain, and Riolu with sharp eyes.
Lin Dao didn't speak, but simply smiled slightly at the camera, then raised his hand and pointed gently forward.
It was as if some ultimate switch had been pressed.
The scene behind him vanished instantly, replaced by a rapidly zoomed-in shot of the entire exterior of the battle tower!
The view suddenly "crashed" into the tower, and then the scene exploded like a bomb, turning into countless rapidly flashing fragments!
Each fragment is a real moment from the past month of the points-based competition across China!
The background music is "In the End," a powerful and pivotal piece.
The music begins with an electronic sound that carries a hint of melancholy and struggle.
The scene somberly shifts to a muddy rural clearing where a boy's small punching bag is knocked down. The boy rushes to hug it, tears mingling with the rain. In a small town's makeshift arena, a girl's Bellsprout collapses, exhausted. The girl kneels beside it, burying her face in her hands, her shoulders shaking. Under the lamplight, a trainer angrily pounds his head, while his Poliwag wearily pats his leg, trying to comfort him. The referee, expressionless, raises his flag, declaring victory. The loser's eyes dim instantly, and he silently recalls his battered companion.
These moments are real and poignant, showcasing the setbacks and burdens on the road to pursuing dreams.
As the music progresses, the tempo gradually quickens, and the music becomes more exciting!
The pace of the scenes suddenly quickens, showing trainers in dire straits, their eyes sharpening as they shout out a do-or-die command; trainers and Pokémon displaying perfect teamwork in fierce battles, their skills clashing and sparking dazzling displays; trainers embracing their exhausted yet exhilarated Pokémon as the referee finally raises the arm of victory after a long and arduous fight, their faces beaming with a relieved and radiant smile; the cheers of their winning companions; and the helping hand of friendship extended by their defeated opponents—
In the climax, the music and visuals blend perfectly, with a series of victorious, striving, and vibrant moments flashing by, finally settling on close-ups of young and determined faces appearing on this platform today.
As the music fades into the distance, it gradually calms down, yet leaves a lingering, pleasant aftertaste.
A line of text slowly appeared on the screen, accompanied by a clear question mark: "In the End?"
The scene then cuts back to reality.
It was the 256 proudly standing trainers on the central platform of the Battle Tower, surrounded by trainers of various shapes and sizes.
A panoramic shot taken by Pokémon partners who are equally energetic.
Sunlight streamed through the dome, casting a soft glow over them.
At this moment, Lin Dao's voice rang out again, not loud, but clear and firm, spreading to every corner.
"Welcome, all you passionate trainers."
"Battles have winners and losers, and journeys inevitably come to an end."
"But right now, here, with your most important partners."
"Let's go all out and ignite this battle of youth, passion, and bonds."
"Let us work together for that new future that we both believe in and are building with our own hands."
As soon as he finished speaking, Pikachu on his shoulder raised its little face and let out a loud "Pikachu!"
Immediately afterwards, Arcanine raised its head and howled, Kangaskhan responded in a low voice, a blue light flashed through the cracks in Shellder's shell, and Riolu let out a short and powerful battle cry!
"roar-!!!"
The 256 trainers on the platform seemed to be completely ignited by these final words and the fighting spirit of their Pokémon. Someone shouted first, and then hundreds of young voices, filled with the courage of a do-or-die battle and boundless anticipation, merged into a heart-stirring wave of sound, breaking through all the complex emotions brought about by the promotional video, leaving only the purest, endless anticipation and desire for the battle that was about to begin.
"oh-!!!"
The audience was completely ignited! Applause, cheers, whistles, and all sorts of Pokémon shouts swept through the space like a tsunami, and even the thick outer walls of the Battle Tower seemed unable to completely block this boiling energy.
Outside the tower, in the various holographic projection plazas scattered throughout Xinyuan City, the gathered audiences also erupted in thunderous cheers.
Online, the live stream was flooded with comments like "It's so exciting!" "For the future!" "Go for it, trainers!" and viewership soared.
Far overseas, countless people watching the opening ceremony via broadcast were deeply moved by the captivating presentation that perfectly blended setbacks and glory, personal dreams and a grand future, regardless of whether they could fully understand the language.
The first China Pokémon Rookie Tournament kicked off amidst this intense emotional fervor and the shared anticipation of the nation.