Chapter 121

"Excuse me, I would like to register for the Machop tournament" said a young man after he had reached the end of an enormous line.

"Of course sir. Please pay the registration fee of 100 Poke, and put this number tag around your Machop's neck, for identification purposes. The tournament will begin shortly. You can download the app specially designed for the Machamp Festival to see when your number is up. Or else, you can pay attention to any one of the screens above, or listen for your number on the loudspeakers. Please do enter the correct arena when it's your turn" said the staff.

Alex had just signed up for the Machop tournament, and was number 1312. There were approximately 2,300 Machop participating in the tournament this year, according to Nathaniel, whom he had spoken to earlier.

"Well Machop. It's finally beginning. I don't see that trainer and Machop who bullied you anywhere, but I am sure they will show up. Be sure to do your best" said Alex as he hung the tag around Machop's neck.

"Chooppp" cried Machop affirmatively.

Alex then went to the participant area, and waited for the tournament to start. He decided to download the app for the festival and see what was up with that.

The app was a simple one. It just had the time for all the events taking place, a tab for ongoing events, and the prizes for the competition. The Machop tournament was a knock-out tournament, where 256 Pokemon would participate in knockout matches, until the top 32 were determined. Then, lots would be drawn again to decide the next matches. The top 32 would all receive some kind of prize, but they weren't anything valuable. The top 8 would receive a significant amount f money, and supply to some food that was good for Machop. The prizes for the top 2-4 were held items that would help increase the fighting power of Machop. The top prize was a special recipe that was good for the development of Machop. Alex did not care for any of the rewards, except the top reward he was slightly interested in. But even for that, he didn't value it so much because he could get better recipes from Oak Corall if he wanted to.

The preliminary round, to determine the competing 256, was a 1 among 10 battle royal. 10 Machop would enter a ring, and would fight to toss each other out. The last one standing in the ring would advance to the knockout stage. Out of the 2300 or so participating Machop, 230 would gain qualifications this way. The remaining 36 spots would be awarded to those who performed well in the battle royal, but happened to be unlucky enough to come across a better competitor in it.

"The first round is about to start. We have to wait until the 131st round to compete. So let's go watch the other round first" said Alex to Machop.

Machop agreed, and they both went to the spectator stands of the Machop Tournament.

After a while, numbers 1 through 10 were called on to the stage. The 10 participants ascended the stage, and released their Machop.

"Let Round 1 of the elimination round of the Machop Tournament begin!" said the battle officiator, and the 10 Machop leapt at each other.

After a few minutes of all trainers yelling, Machop pummeling each other, and dozens of moves being enhanced, all but one Machop had either fallen off the ring or had circles in its eyes.

"No. 4 advanced" yelled the battle officiator. Everyone on stage withdrew their Machop and went off.

Alex observed a few more battles that went strikingly similar. People would release Machop on the stage and start yelling. The Machop would fight on their own because not one of them could clearly hear their trainer. Usually the stronger ones would be able to overpower the weaker ones and todd them out of the ring.

"Well Machop, it seems like you are on your own. Thankfully, training with master Fumamito, your autonomous fighting ability is decent" said Alex, to which Machop nodded.

After nearly an hour, Alex's number was up for the knockout rounds. Alex took Machop with him, and after showing the tag on Machop, he ascended the stage.

"Remember to defend yourself well, and toss out opponents instead of fainting them" said Alec as Machop went onstage.

"Let the round begin" yelled the battle officiator. Alex's Machop did not move, instead, it stood in place regarding the other Machop.

The other few Machop on stage collided with each other strongly, and started raining punches on each other. The fist's of some started shining with flames or thunder, due to them using Fire Punch and Thunder Punch.

A lone Machop that wasn't caught in a battle locked eyes with Alex's Machop and started walking towards it.

"Choppp" it challenged, and Alex's Machop responded by getting into a fighting stance.

The opposing Machop tried to use a Brick Break, but Alex's Machop dodged and landed a Mega Kick. The opponent Machop was sent flying, and was knocked clean out of the arena. Alex's Machop looked around to see most other Machop still fighting. It waited for a fight to end, before knocking the winner out of the arena using Seismic Toss. One by one, all Machop were tossed out of the arena.

"Chopp!" yelled Machop as it tossed the last Machop left outside the arena, and became the only one left.

"No. 1312 advanced" announced the battle officiator.

"Nice work Machop. Let's go have some food. There is still some time left for the elimination round" said Alex as he patted the head of the ecstatic Machop.