The tournament venue hummed with energy as competitors gathered, discussing strategies and testing their skills on practice terminals. Rows of battle stations were lined up, each screen flashing rapid-fire digital duels as spectators cheered.

Lan adjusted his P.E.T.strap as he and Maylu stepped into the main hall, taking in the sheer size of the event. “This is way bigger than I expected,” he admitted.

Maylu nodded, scanning the crowd. “Yeah, I thought the school competition was a big deal, but this? This is on another level.”

Before they could take another step, a loud chime rang through the venue’s speakers. A holographic announcement materialized above the main stage.

“All registered participants, please report to the stage for the official tournament briefing.”

Lan smirked. “Guess that’s our cue.”

As they made their way through the crowd, competitors exchanged confident grins and quiet challenges. Some were already deep in conversation, discussing strategies and sharing Battlechip combinations. A few eyed Lan and Maylu with curiosity, clearly recognizing them from the school event.

They reached the main stage, where an official in an Arcade NetBattle Tournament badge stood alongside a team of tournament staff. The moment all participants had gathered, the official cleared his throat, adjusting his microphone.

“Good morning, NetBattlers! Welcome to the Arcade NetBattle Tournament!” The crowd erupted into cheers before quieting down as he continued. “Before we begin, we are sending the official tournament rules to your PETs. Please review them carefully.”

A soft chime rang from both Lan and Maylu’s devices. Rock and Roll appeared on their P.E.T.screens, scanning through the incoming guidelines.

---

Tournament Rules and Structure

Qualifying Rounds: Day One

• Participants must secure 10 victories within the day to qualify for the semi-finals.
• Losses do not result in elimination, but failing to reach 10 wins means disqualification.
• Players can challenge any participant, but cannot battle the same opponent consecutively.
• Battlechips can be swapped between matches, but once a battle begins, no changes can be made until it concludes.

Semi-Finals: Day Two

• The tournament shifts to a single-elimination bracket.
• Match-ups will be determined by a lottery system to ensure fairness.
• Each match consists of a single round—win to advance, lose and you’re out.
• Battlechips must be selected before each match begins, with no changes mid-battle.

Finals: The Championship Match

• The last two remaining participants will face off.
• The final match is best-of-three, allowing for strategy shifts and adaptability.
• Winning two out of three rounds will determine the tournament champion.

Additional Notes

• Ties or draws will result in a rematch.
• Cheating or rule violations will lead to immediate disqualification.
• Spectators are encouraged to cheer for participants, but interfering with a match will result in removal from the venue.

---

Lan whistled, leaning back slightly. “So, 10 wins in a day, huh? That’s gonna be intense.”

Rock, his arms crossed in thought, analyzed the format. “The single-elimination round is where things get serious. One mistake, and it’s over.”

Maylu, scrolling through the rules, nodded. “Yeah, Roll and I will need to stay sharp. There’s not much room for error once we hit the semis.”

Lan’s grin widened as he clenched a fist. “Then let’s make a deal—we both make it to the finals.”

Maylu chuckled, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. “You better not lose before then, Lan.”

Before Lan could fire back, Roll flickered onto Maylu’s P.E.T. screen, stretching her arms. “Whew… that last battle took a lot out of me. I could use a recharge.”

Maylu nodded. “Exactly. That’s why we’re here.”

Lan tapped his chin in thought. “Actually, I think there’s a way to speed that process up. Let’s check in with Higsby.”

Maylu crossed her arms. “You mean instead of stuffing your face first?”

Lan smirked. “Well, I wouldn’t mind a snack first.”

Maylu rolled her eyes. “Focus, Hikari.”

With their destination set, they made their way toward the chip vendor, where an old friend might just have the solution they needed.

---

A Fishmonger and a Chip Dealer

As Lan and Maylu approached the chip shop, the savory scent of sizzling fish filled the air, making Lan’s stomach rumble. The tournament’s food court was packed, vendors shouting over one another to draw in hungry competitors and spectators alike. Right beside the chip shop stood a small but bustling seafood stall, its grill hissing as fresh fish hit the hot surface.

“Ahh, now that’s a smell I can get behind,” Lan said, inhaling deeply.

Maylu chuckled. “I thought we were here for Battlechips, not lunch.”

Before Lan could retort, a deep, booming laugh rang out from behind the counter of the seafood stall. A broad-shouldered man with a thick apron and a towel slung over his shoulder stood there, flipping a large fillet with a practiced flick of his wrist. His skin was tanned from years of working an outdoor grill, and his salt-and-pepper mustache twitched as he grinned at them.

“Ah-ha! Look who the net dragged in!” he called out. “Couple of NetBattlers sniffin’ around, but I don’t see a single Battlechip in those hands! You sure you don’t want something with a little more substance?”

Maylu raised an eyebrow. “And you are?”

The man wiped his hands on his apron before jabbing a thumb at himself. “Name’s Maysa! Best fishmonger in the city, and don’t let that nerd Higsby tell you otherwise!”

“HEY!” came an indignant voice from the chip shop next door.

A tall, lanky man with round glasses and an ever-loosened tie stepped out, glaring at Maysa with exaggerated offense. “Are you tellin’ my fine customers that fresh fish is better than fine Battlechips?!”

Maysa smirked. “I’m sayin’ that real warriors use their hands—not their fancy digital friends!”

“HAH! What do you know about NetBattling?! You can barely use a P.E.T. without setting off a fire alarm!” Higsby shot back.

The two men squared up, arms crossed, noses nearly touching.

Lan leaned toward Maylu. “Should we… do something?”

Maylu only blinked in confusion before giving a helpless shrug.

After a beat of tense silence, Maysa burst out with a hearty chuckle and clapped Higsby on the back. “Aw, you know I’m just messin’ with ya!”

Higsby adjusted his glasses with a huff. “Yeah, yeah. Just don’t go spreadin’ lies about the superiority of fish over chips!”

“Depends on the kind of chips!” Maysa quipped, holding up a deep-fried fillet wrapped in paper.

Maylu shook her head, smiling. “Well, we actually do need some Battlechips, Higsby. And more importantly, we were hoping you could help us out with the refreshing machine?”

Higsby perked up at that, pushing his glasses up as he gestured for them to follow him into the shop. “Ah, now that’s something I do know about!”

---

Inside the Chip Shop – The Refreshing Machine

The air inside the shop was much cooler, the scent of electronics and fresh wiring filling the space. Rows of Battlechips lined the shelves in glowing cases, each one neatly organized by type. In the corner, a sleek machine hummed softly, its interface glowing with an inviting blue light.

Higsby motioned toward it. “This, my friends, is the Refreshing Machine. Essential for any serious NetBattler who doesn’t wanna waste time between fights!”

Lan studied the device, intrigued. “So… how does it work?”

“Simple!” Higsby said, grinning. “Jack in your Navi, and the machine restores their hit points. Any damage they took in battle? Gone. Good as new.”

Maylu tilted her head. “And the chips?”

“Ah, that’s the best part!” Higsby adjusted his tie dramatically. “Pop in your Battlechips, and in five minutes, they refresh—ready to use again.”

Lan’s eyes widened. “So we can’t use the same chip twice in one battle without this?”

“Right,” Higsby confirmed, pushing up his glasses. “That’s why the pros swear by it—stay sharp, stay loaded.”

Maylu crossed her arms, considering it. “So that means we’ll have to think carefully about which chips we bring into battle since we can’t just spam the same ones.”

“Correct!” Higsby pointed at them. “It’s all about strategy. Knowing when to use, when to save, and when to refresh.”

Lan grinned. “Good call, Higsby.”

With their Navis refreshed and their Battlechips ready, they stepped out of the chip shop and back into the growing excitement of the tournament floor.