Pokémon: When the World Changed Chapter 12 - 11: Pokémon Club

"Huh?"

"What's going on here?"

Ethan Black blinked in confusion as he walked toward what had once been an internet café.

The first thing that entered his field of vision was a set of battlefields drawn on the ground. They were exactly the sa as the battle arenas he rembered: like basketball courts, but with a large red-and-white Poké Ball symbol painted in the center.

Evidently, these fields also ca from the Pokémon research institute in that Secret Kingdom, which had caused a convergence between the two worlds, mixing cultures and technologies.

"Looks like internet cafés are starting to transform too..."

"But with Pokémon integrating into society, Pokémon battles have already beco the most popular sport. It makes sense that internet cafés lost their clientele."

Ethan Black quickly accepted the fact that the Pokémon Club had replaced the forr internet café.

After all, in public areas of the cities it wasn't allowed to release Pokémon freely, much less organize battles.

That's why Pokémon Clubs were born: to offer battle fans a place where they could fight legally. No wonder they beca so popular.

Next, Ethan Black approached a map of the Club. The old internet café had three floors: a basent and two upper levels, which had once housed a gym, a billiard hall, and the internet café itself.

Now, the underground gym had beco a Pokémon training room; the billiard hall, a free battle area; and the upper floor, an official arena for Pokémon battles.

Looking more closely at the club's price list, he noticed that the Pokémon training room charged 100 Pokédollars per hour, and an overnight package starting at 10 p.m. cost 300 Pokédollars. If you wanted to hire a professional trainer, you had to pay extra.

It was similar to internet café fees... but ten tis more expensive!

The free battle area worked like a billiard hall: it charged per match, and each fight cost 50 Pokédollars.

Finally, the most interesting part was the Pokémon Battle Arena.

If you wanted to enter as a spectator, it only cost 10 Pokédollars per hour.

But if you wanted to participate in the arena battle, you had to pay an entry fee of 100 Pokédollars. However, if you managed to defeat the current ring leader, you would win a 1,000 Pokédollar prize!

And not only that: if you beca the new ring leader and managed to defend your title for ten battles in a row, you would win a total prize of 10,000 Pokédollars and an honorary club mbership, with free access for one year!

"So you just have to beat the ring leader to win 1,000 Pokédollars?"

"And defending the title ten tis gives you 10,000?"

Ethan Black's eyes shone with excitent. With just a 100 Pokédollar entry fee, the prize was ten tis greater. A bet with excellent risk-reward ratio.

And if the rewards were so well distributed, that ant the ring leader's level couldn't be unreachable.

Still, after thinking for a mont, Ethan Black decided not to jump in imdiately. He paid 10 Pokédollars to enter as a spectator and first observe the strength of the current leader.

Upon entering the venue, Ethan Black looked around. The battlefield was like a basketball stadium, with stands full of spectators. Maybe because of the low entrance price, or because of the popularity of Pokémon battles, the place was packed.

At that mont, a Scyther was fighting fiercely against a Tauros. Both clashed head-on, and the atmosphere was burning hot.

In the end, the ring leader's Scyther prevailed, using Fury Cutter to bring down Tauros and finish a battle that had been very even.

"Victory! The ring leader has successfully defended his position!"

"Now we'll have a ten-minute break before presenting our new ring leader."

With the announcer's excitent, the crowd exploded into applause and cheers.

"That Scyther is so strong!"

"If my Sandshrew faces that guy, it would practically have no chance..."

Seeing Scyther greeting the audience from the field, Ethan Black's expression changed slightly.

"If all the ring leaders are that strong, then Sandshrew isn't ready yet."

He frowned, realizing that his plan to make quick money through battles might be harder than he thought.

The ten minutes passed. Amid the general euphoria, the new ring leader ca out: a burly man dressed in yellow clothes, known as "Electric Beast."

"Electric Beast?"

Hearing that nickna, Ethan Black's eyes lit up.

Just from the na, you could already guess that this leader used Electric-type Pokémon, which was perfect for Sandshrew, who was a Ground type, completely immune to Electric-type moves.

And indeed, under Ethan Black's expectant gaze, the new leader released a muscular Electabuzz. As soon as it appeared, sparks of electricity burst into the air with a thunderous crack.

"It's Electabuzz!"

"Electric Beast brings out his Electabuzz again!"

The announcer's excitent once more fired up the crowd.

"Now, who wants to challenge our new ring leader: Electric Beast?!"

At those words, several trainers began to move restlessly.

Soon, a challenger paid the fee and stepped onto the stage.

The battle officially began. The challenger's chosen Pokémon was a Pidgeotto, a Flying type.

Seeing his opponent, Electric Beast simply smiled. He ordered his Electabuzz to use Thunderbolt... and Pidgeotto was instantly defeated!