The soul penetrates Xiaozhi and destroys Gou Hao at the beginning

The city is divided into two levels, requiring elevators to travel between the upper and lower levels.

There are two elevators: one connects the city's main road to the Motorsports Arena, and the other is located on the west side of the city, connecting the Motorsports Fashion Store and the Galar Station.

The open, muddy ground beneath our feet has been replaced by a smooth stone path, and the scent of grass and earth in the wind has been dispelled by a warm, steamy aroma carrying the faint fragrance of engine oil and coal.

Before me stands this steam-powered industrial city, with layers of red-brick buildings, steel bridges spanning the river, and huge gears and steam engines slowly turning on the rooftops. White steam rises from the pipes, spreading into soft mists against the gray-blue sky.

The distant clock tower's spire pierces the clouds, exuding the weight and solemnity of the Industrial Revolution. Steamships on the river sound their deep whistles, propelling themselves slowly forward on the waves, a stark contrast to the sounds of the wind and Pokémon calls in the wilderness.

The prelude to Ash and his friends' gym challenge will slowly unfold in this city where steel and steam intertwine!

"Hey, Ash, Yu, Sonia, over here."

As soon as the three stepped into Motostoke, Hop's shout reached their ears. Looking in the direction of the sound, they saw Hop standing at the entrance of the Pokémon Center, waving and shouting at them.

Upon seeing the three approaching, Hep excitedly spoke up.

"You wouldn't believe it, I encountered so many wild Pokémon in the Wild Area, and I even battled them. It exhausted me."

“Battles with wild Pokémon are nothing. We encountered a Gigantamax Snorlax in the Wild Area,” Sonia said.

"What?! Gigantamax Snorlax?! What happened?! Tell me quickly!"

Hop was astonished to hear that Ash had easily defeated a Gigantamax Snorlax without even using Dynamax.

"I see. By the way, if I remember correctly, Urshifu is the Pokémon you caught through training with Master Mash on the Isle of Armor, right? That's wonderful," Hop said enviously.

"Alright, Machine City is a big place. After you all rest for a bit, let me, Sonia, show you around."

The opening ceremony! I still remember the feeling of being overwhelmed with emotion and excitement when I first stepped onto the field; just thinking about it makes me incredibly excited.

Sonia was lost in memories, recalling the time when she and Leon, just like Ash and his friends were now, signed up for their first gym challenge, a memory that still thrilled her to this day.

Ash and his two friends were also looking forward to it, and they didn't need to rest at all.

Sonia then led the three out of the Pokémon Center and onto the main street of Motostoke, where a huge red elevator stood at the end of the road.

"Alright, you three trainers who have crossed the Wild Area, do you still remember why you came to Motostoke City?" Sonia asked with a smile.

"Of course, it's for the gym challenge," Hop replied instantly.

"That's right, it's for the opening ceremony of the gym challenge."

The opening ceremony for this year's event will be held tomorrow at the Motorsports Arena.

"We can get to the Machine Arena by taking that elevator over there," Sonia said.

“Okay, let’s go register now,” Hep said impatiently.

The entire city can be divided into two levels, with the two levels connected by two large elevators in the city.

"Then I'll have to part ways with you here for now. This is a rare opportunity, I'm going to go browse some clothing stores."

Don't forget to register at the Mech Arena first.

“We will remember, thank you for guiding us along the way, Sonia,” Ash said.

After saying goodbye to Sonia, the three boarded the elevator in Machine City. This elevator was gear-shaped; a single rotation took them to the top.

Ash felt it was very similar to the mechanical town of the Kingdom of Azot in the Kalos region.

The elevator's metal platform rose smoothly, the gears and steam pipes humming softly, gradually leaving the hustle and bustle of the lower streets behind.

After walking around, the three of them arrived at the upper level of Machine City.

The elevator happened to stop at the entrance of the Mech Arena, the three's destination.

The Mech Arena, a colossal building imbued with the spirit of steel and fire, is the ultimate embodiment of industrial aesthetics in Mech City.

A massive dome is supported by a dark gray and crimson metal frame. The exterior walls, composed of countless red bricks, are covered with crisscrossing pipes and ventilation grilles that gleam with a cold, hard luster in the sunlight. The flame-shaped decoration at the top is like an inextinguishable flame, proclaiming the fiery soul of the Fire-type gym.

The massive glass main entrance is solemn and imposing, with clean and powerful metallic lines. The entire venue resembles a lurking steel behemoth, awaiting the arrival of gym challengers.

The courtyards on both sides are covered with grass, and there is a sculpture fountain shaped like a Poké Ball on each side.

Five long flags were hung on each of the left and right sides of the building, dangling down from the roof.

The five flags on the left feature patterns of white icicles, sharp nails, pink flowers, black dragon heads, and green leaves.

The gyms represent the five elemental attributes: Ice, Dark, Fairy, Dragon, and Grass.

The five flags on the right feature red flames, blue water droplets, orange fists, black ghosts, and gray rocks, representing the five elemental gyms: fire, water, fighting, ghost, and rock.

This is the banner of the ten dojos in the Galar region.

"We've finally arrived. This is the Mech Arena, the venue for the opening ceremony."

The opening ceremony of the dojo challenge isn't just something my mom will watch; audiences all over the world will be watching it.

I'm incredibly excited right now, so excited my whole body is trembling.

Ash, Yu, we're about to become the center of the world's attention! We absolutely have to do our best!" Hop exclaimed excitedly.

“Yes, our journey in the Galar region has begun,” Ash said.

"I'm starting to get nervous," Xiaoyou said.

The three of them then pushed open the door and entered the inner hall of the Mech Arena.

A whiff of air, a mixture of leather protective gear and the faint scent of smoke, immediately wafted towards us.

Underfoot was an orange-red patterned carpet that stretched like flowing lava from the entrance to the service counter at the end of the hall, each step feeling like walking on scorching embers.

The brick walls on both sides are polished smooth as a mirror and are covered with ancient Galilean inscriptions.

Several huge floor-to-ceiling windows are embedded in the brick wall, and outside the windows are the towering chimneys and steel jungle of the machine city.