NOVEL NEXT Chapter 317: The Preseason Tournament
In early November of this year, the professional circuit would host a small, secondary league tournament called the Devon Cup.
This was a small competition held only in years when there was no Champions Cup or World Cup. It was generally referred to by fans as the preseason tournament or the warm-up.
Every four years, there are two Champions Cups and one World Cup. The remaining year has neither, which can make the latter half of the season feel empty. So, the Devon Cup was added to fill the gap.
But because this competition was just for filler, and because it didn't have a long history or much prestige, not all teams participate.
Usually, it's the teams that have undergone major personnel changes that take part, using it to build team chemistry and test out new lineups.
But this year was a bit special—because a lot of teams had made big moves.
Many of the top-tier teams had changed their rosters, which directly resulted in a full twelve teams signing up for this year's Devon Cup. Two of the "big three" powerhouse teams were participating, and major playoff teams like the Blaze, Otter, Sea Carp, and Starlight and Frost teams were also in attendance. The level of competition was instantly elevated!
What was originally expected to be a preseason appetizer had turned into a full-course French dinner!
The fans were ecstatic!
"Although the Devon Cup is a minor tournament, it's still essential to gather as much intelligence as possible. Many of the teams in this tournament are worth watching! For example, the Blaze Team. Although they haven't changed their starting doubles lineup, according to reliable sources, their player Chloe's Clefable has now learned Follow Me. This means their team's tactical style might undergo a major transformation."
That morning, during class, Bella was listening half-heartedly as the team coach explained the key points for the upcoming Devon Cup.
Although she knew this year's preseason was different and needed to be taken seriously, she couldn't help but let her mind wander.
Because to this day, Arthur still hadn't shown up for a single training session!
In fact, the coach was about to start setting the starting lineup for the Devon Cup, and Arthur was still missing in action!
"What on earth is that brat doing?!"
By now, Bella no longer had the inclination to beat him up.
She was even starting to have wild worries, like had Arthur been kidnapped? Or had he been hidden away in a golden cage by the little bosses here?
Just then, the coach tapped the table in front of Bella, signaling her to snap out of it.
This left Bella feeling incredibly embarrassed.
Getting caught zoning out is always humiliating, no matter how old you are.
"Pay attention! If the Blaze Team changes their strategy this year and has Chloe's Clefable play the taunter role, then you, Bella, will be the tactical point responsible for countering her!"
"Yes, coach! No problem, coach!"
Then she asked, "So who will be my partner for damage output?"
A taunting Pokémon generally has to focus on self-preservation, so the damage dealing has to be left to its teammate.
She was asking this question as an indirect way of asking when Arthur would be back to partner with her!
But to her surprise, the coach simply replied.
"Both Justin and Kevin can do it. For the first match, we'll try having Justin's Pidgeot team up with you."
"???"
This left Bella completely stunned.
What's going on?
Are these two rookies really going to be in rotation with me?
What about Arthur?
Where is my big Arthur?
Even Justin was taken aback.
"I get to be a starter in the first match? What about Brother Arthur? Is he not playing in the Devon Cup?"
The doubles division's head coach frowned slightly. He wasn't entirely clear on the situation himself. Arthur's name simply wasn't on the starting roster that had been handed to him.
It wasn't until Ivy, whose status was even higher than the coach's, spoke up in a calm, measured voice. "This year, Arthur will not be starting in the doubles matches."
"What?!" Bella was the first to jump up, her eyes glaring at Ivy. "What are you guys doing?! Not letting Arthur start? Are you kidding me?! Don't you know how strong he is? He's—"
Her words caught in her throat.
Because Ivy then added another sentence.
"This season, he will be competing as a main singles player."
"..."
In an instant, the room fell silent. Everyone was stunned.
As luck would have it, all five players in the Starlight and Frost doubles division now knew Arthur. They had all witnessed his journey of growth, which only made this news more unbelievable.
"Arthur… he's only been in the professional circuit for a year… and he's already… a main singles player?" Bella stammered.
"Brother Arthur… is amazing!" Justin's eyes were shining. He vividly remembered that Arthur had joined the youth camp at the same time as him. Now, he was just stepping onto the professional stage, while Brother Arthur could already carry the team in 1v1 matches!
Kevin was more reserved. After a long pause, he finally managed, "As expected of him!"
He had witnessed Arthur's true strength on that rainy night a year ago, so he wasn't particularly surprised. He was just amazed that his ability to train Pokémon was as astonishing as his own personal combat power!
Only after having captured a Honedge himself did Kevin truly understand how difficult it was to fight while holding one, as Arthur had done that night.
The man was like a cheat code!
To say he was going to be a main singles player, after the initial shock, Kevin actually felt it was reasonable.
Perhaps he had just gone numb…
Seeing their shell-shocked expressions, a small sense of satisfaction welled up in Ivy's heart.
The reason she had waited until now to tell them was indeed due to a bit of her own scheming, but seeing her teammates' shocked reactions, just as hers had been, made her feel a lot more balanced.
As expected, this kind of shock shouldn't just be experienced by her and her sister. It needed to be shared equally.
After processing this news, Bella looked at Ivy and Bianca with a knowing gaze.
It was obvious that this had been decided right after they had acquired Arthur, but the two sisters had dragged it out until today.
In fact, she suspected that the reason she hadn't been able to see Arthur these past few days was also their doing!
Damn it! Just because you're the boss, you think you can do whatever you want?!
Unfortunately, Ivy's knowing smile had already answered her.
Sorry, but yes, the boss can do whatever she wants.
That night, Arthur was inexplicably bombarded with a series of messages from Bella.
He held his vibrating phone, completely bewildered.
What's going on? I was just busy with Old Flame's mate for a month. How did so much happen in the meantime?
At this moment, he felt like he had been watching a TV series and had somehow missed thirty episodes in the middle…
But in all fairness, Bella had a point. Now that he had handled his business, it was time for him to return to the team base.
He would definitely be participating in the upcoming Devon Cup. It would be a good opportunity to experience the intensity of the main singles scene firsthand.
Specter had been nagging him to get back on the field for a long time. And as for Old Flame's daughter, after seeing her mother's Mega Evolution, it was like some strange switch had been flipped in her. She had suddenly become very close to Arthur. Her rebelliousness was gone, she stopped skipping training, and her personality had become much more obedient, which Arthur found very unsettling.
After a chance encounter, he finally understood the rebellious teenage dragon's request—she also wanted to compete, she wanted to get stronger, and she even wanted to Mega Evolve, just like her parents
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