The venue of the Vortex Islands Cup is different from the qualifiers, it is a huge round water arena, with a strong ancient Greek style, and every brick and stone in it has been around for an unknown number of years, and it looks like it is full of history.

The arena can accommodate up to 20,000 spectators at a time, and at its center is a fluid sea with more than a dozen stone pillars of varying sizes and heights for trainers and Pokémon to stand on.

Compared with the perfunctory qualifiers, the specifications of the opening ceremony of the main competition have undoubtedly improved a lot, not only fireworks and salutes, but also a female priest who looks elegant and beautiful with a scepter in her hand is presiding over this competition!

At nine o'clock in the morning, the entire stadium was full, and countless spectators had been waiting for it early and looking forward to it.

Xia You, Xiao Zhi, Xiao Xia and the other 61 players took a dozen narrow and long wooden boats to sail into the stadium from the sea.

Looking at these players, the audience gave great applause and cheers.

It was in such an atmosphere that the thick and clear voice of the male host began to echo over the arena, which also meant that the opening ceremony officially began!

"Ladies and gentlemen, please see! These are the players who have passed the qualifiers once every three years and aim for the position of the Brave of the Sea! Since ancient times, the Uzumaki Islands have had their own culture and civilization, and we worship water-type Pokémon and live with them to this day! This culture has not disappeared and continues to be passed down by Miss Maya, the goddess of the sea, who has been guarding the tradition since ancient times!"

What the host said, in fact, it wasn't until last night that Xia You knew that the Vortex Islands Cup Tournament was not just a Pokémon competition, but also a warrior of the sea to participate in this ceremony according to the tradition since ancient times!

Listening to the host's introduction, Xia You couldn't help but turn his head to look at the officiating table in the distance again.

Because it was not very far away, he could see it very clearly, the female priest was wearing a long blue dress, holding a golden scepter in her hand, and her long purple hair fluttered gently in the wind, even if she didn't look at her facial features, she was already very noble and elegant in terms of temperament alone.

However, Xia Yu has already experienced this kind of ritual once on the island of Asia in the Orange Islands, and has also met the festival girls there, so he is not too unfamiliar with such a gimmick.

It's nothing more than a formality, he thought to himself.

And Xiao Zhi and Xiao Xia beside him saw Xia You turn their heads, and the two of them couldn't help but follow his gaze, and they also saw the great priest.

Xiaoxia put her hands on her cheeks and was very envious: "It's so beautiful!"

Xia You didn't know if she was envious of the Great Priest's temperament, or the Great Priest's attention, or if she was envious of anything else.

The great god is indeed very beautiful, but Xiaoxia has always thought that she is the most beautiful girl in the world, and naturally she is not an ugly duckling, she is only young now, and she has not fully grown up, if she waits for the same age, Xia You believes that she will definitely not be much worse.

At this time, I heard the host say again, "Then, now I have to ask the priest Miss Maya to make a declaration of the conference!"

In the midst of his words, I saw the Grand Priest take a step forward, she raised her scepter, and said in a loud voice, "Everyone, the triennial water-based Pokémon Festival has begun, and I welcome everyone on behalf of the Vortex Islands! Here, we live with the water Pokémon, and those who control the sea and Pokémon have been praised as the heroes of the sea since ancient times, and every sea warrior will be blessed by the "soul of the sea"! Given the ability to connect with all water-type Pokémon!

」

The soul of the sea? Heart-to-heart?

Xia You's gaze couldn't help but move to the scepter in the priest's hand.

The scepter was made of pure gold, shimmering golden in the sunlight, and at the top of it was a fist-sized blue round gem that glowed so blue that it didn't look like it was anything mundane.

"So, I wish you all the best of luck and receive the blessing of the soul of the sea!"

As the Great Priest raised the scepter, the soul of the sea instantly burst into brilliant light, which was soft and not dazzling, enveloping the entire stadium!

Including Xia You, when they saw such a person for the first time, they all showed surprise.

Is this the soul of the sea......

The light shining on Xia You's body reflected people in blue, although there was no effect on anything else, but Xia You couldn't tell whether these lights were stage effects, or if this blue gem really had some magical power!

After all, this world is not normal, and even if there is any blessing or something, it is not surprising.

At least judging from the more excited and frenzied reactions of the audience, they seem to really feel that the players in the arena have become a little different at the moment!

Behind him, Ash raised his hands, looked at the blue light on his hands, and muttered, "Are we really blessed?"

"Are you stupid?" Xiao Xia beside him couldn't help but glance at him, "Didn't that priest just say that only the last brave man of the sea will be blessed, and now this light is just showing off the power of that gem!"

"Huh? Is that so?" Ash fully understood the rules, and he sighed in disappointment, "What, although I like the name of the Brave of the Sea, this kind of thing is just a false name, if you win the game in the end, won't there be nothing?"

Xiaoxia sighed helplessly: "Please, did you watch the process before the game!" After the final, the winner will receive the title of Brave Champion, as well as a huge prize and even a mysterious drop! That's the real reward, but... Hmph, this kind of thing is destined to have nothing to do with you, and it will definitely be Brother Xia You who wins the final victory!"

Xiaoxia is a staunch Xia Fuki, but whenever Xia You participates in a game or battle, she supports Xia You without brains and without hesitation!

As for Xiaoxia boasting about herself so much and frantically planting a flag for herself, Xia You could only smile and shake her head.

But he didn't stop her, after all, this is also his goal, since he participated, his goal is to be the champion, if he doesn't want to win the game, then what kind of trainer should he be!

Although he also knew that Xia You was very powerful, Xiao Zhi was naturally unconvinced by Xiao Xia's belittling of himself, and reasoned with Xiao Xia angrily.

Listening to the fight between the two people in the back, Xia You couldn't help but think of the mysterious droplet.

Just like Xiaoxia said, in addition to the prize, the winner will also get a mysterious water droplet, which is a magical stone, after wearing, it can make the Pokémon's water moves more powerful to a certain extent, which is indeed a good thing!