113: Selected as the Seed Team! The First Rival
As Qin Yun stepped into the competition venue, Xiaoya's eyes immediately locked onto him, a playful glint flashing across her face.
In the finals, teams were no longer identified by numbers but by unique names. The names of the sixteen competing teams, along with the names of their participants, were prominently displayed on a massive digital screen at the center of the stadium.
Unlike the earlier preliminary rounds, where matches were split across four different arenas, the final battles would take place in the main stadium on a grand central stage. Massive screens positioned throughout the venue ensured that every spectator could witness the intense Pokémon battles with perfect clarity.
The atmosphere was vastly different from the preliminaries. The sheer scale of the event was intimidating. Even Zhang Haochen, who was usually composed, seemed slightly tense. As for Ma Tao and the others, their nerves were practically visible.
Though their individual strengths were solid, this was their first time reaching a major tournament final. The weight of thousands of eyes watching them was both thrilling and nerve-wracking.
Ma Tao, however, felt something different excitement. Standing under the spotlight, feeling the heat of competition, he realized he enjoyed this kind of attention.
The announcer's voice boomed through the stadium:
"Now, let's welcome the sixteen teams that have fought their way to the finals give them a round of applause!"
A deafening wave of cheers, applause, and shouts erupted from the audience. The excitement was electric.
"Now, it's time for audience voting! Everyone here will have a chance to support their favorite team by casting one vote."
"The team with the most votes in each of the four groups will be selected as a seed team, giving them an advantage in the tournament."
"Seeded teams will not have to face each other in the first round!"
This voting segment wasn't just about picking favorites; it was a way for the audience to engage directly with the competition. The sixteen teams were divided into four groups, and every audience member had a voting device linked to their section.
Ma Tao and the others clenched their fists in anticipation.
For their team, securing a seed position was crucial. Unlike Qin Yun, whose strength was undeniable, the rest of them weren't individually overwhelming. If an opposing team devised a strategy to neutralize Qin Yun early in battle, the rest of the team could be eliminated swiftly.
Their best chance at survival? Avoiding strong opponents in the first round.
The voting commenced.
As numbers began to populate the leaderboard, everyone's eyes shifted to the massive screen. The rankings were displayed in real-time based on total votes rather than group placement.
The first-place team was the Yurong Gym team, surging past 1,200 votes within seconds.
Qin Yun smirked slightly. "No surprise. This is Yurong Gym's home turf. Of course, they'd be the favorites."
His gaze flickered toward Xiaoya, standing confidently as the captain of her team. "A direct disciple of Yurong Gym... No wonder she had the authority to help me get an early match slot."
Still, their own performance in the vote was nothing to scoff at. Yongji University, Qin Yun's team, secured second place with over 800 votes.
Votes continued pouring in, and soon the one-minute voting period ended.
The four teams chosen as seeds were:
Yurong Gym Team
Yongji University Team
Wuxin University Team
Petalburg University Amateur Team
Among them, Wuxin University was a powerhouse, ranking among the top three universities in Petalburg Province. Known for its exceptional Pokémon trainers, it was a 211 Project university a prestigious classification in academia.
Then there was Petalburg University, the most dominant institution in the province. Ranked at the 985 level, it stood at the pinnacle of Pokémon research and competitive training. If their official varsity team had joined, the tournament wouldn't even be competitiventhe result would be a foregone conclusion.
Even Qin Yun, despite his confidence, wouldn't dare challenge Petalburg University's sophomore team, which was rumored to be composed entirely of trainers with professional-level Pokémon.
Some of Petalburg's strongest students had even passed the professional trainer assessment in their second year.
Fortunately, the Petalburg University team competing today was composed of freshmen. While still formidable, they weren't at the terrifying varsity level.
With the four seeded teams decided, the rest of the tournament bracket was drawn. Lin Rouyu, the team's mentor, let out a breath of relief.
She had extensively researched the teams before the competition and was well aware that the three other seeded teams were monstrous threats. If Qin Yun's team had drawn one of them early, their odds of victory would have been slim.
What concerned her most were the team captains of those squads. Though their Pokémon had not yet reached professional level, they were on the verge of breaking through.
These trainers weren't holding back due to lack of ability; they were deliberately accumulating power before evolving to the next stage.
In the Pokémon world, it was well known that the more power a Pokémon amasses before evolving, the stronger it will be upon breakthrough.
Many trainers who owned professional-level Pokémon failed to qualify as official professional trainers because their Pokémon hadn't reached peak power before advancing.
This was why true geniuses delayed evolution, stockpiling power until the last moment.
Qin Yun's Lurantis was already terrifying at elite mid-level, but it was still far from the next evolutionary threshold.
Lin Rouyu silently hoped for a favorable draw. If they could at least reach the quarter-finals, it would be an achievement.
The bracket randomization began.
The first rule of the draw was that seeded teams wouldn't face each other in the first round. The second rule ensured that teams from the same preliminary group wouldn't be matched up immediately.
Every competitor held their breath as the system processed the matchups.
Then
The results flashed onto the big screen.
Yongji University's first opponent: Nancheng University.
Qin Yun narrowed his eyes.
Nancheng University was on par with Yongji University in terms of academic rank.
Unlike Qin Yun's team, however, Nancheng had fielded their official school team, meaning they had been training together for much longer.
While team battles were a major aspect of university tournaments, the strongest Pokémon trainers often didn't join. They preferred individual competitions where teamwork wasn't necessary.
"So, they're a specialized team battle squad, huh?" Qin Yun mused.
In university-level competitions, team battles required extensive cooperation. A team that had spent months or even years practicing together would naturally have a significant edge over those assembled last minute.
Ma Tao frowned. "They've been a team for a long time. That's gonna be a pain to deal with."
Qin Yun simply smiled.
"Then let's break them apart."
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