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With Tobias securing his victory, the remaining two quarterfinal matches quickly came to an end. Soon after, the giant screen on the battlefield randomized the pairings for the semifinals.
Thanks to the "assistance" of the head of the Goldenrod Department Store, the bracket was arranged so that Sato and Tobias would not meet until the finals—provided both of them won their semifinal matches.
The audience was thrilled with this setup. The moment they saw the finalized bracket, the crowd buzzed with excitement, most of the discussion naturally centering around the anticipated clash between Sato and Tobias.
Even though many spectators weren't deeply knowledgeable about battling, from what they had seen in the quarterfinals, it was obvious that Sato and Tobias were on a completely different level compared to the other two semifinalists.
Those trainers had only advanced through grueling matches that dragged down to their last Pokémon. By contrast, both Sato and Tobias had swept their opponents with a single Pokémon in dominating fashion.
Thus, in the minds of most viewers, the finals between Sato and Tobias were a foregone conclusion.
But Sato didn't allow the chatter in the stands or the endless speculation online to distract him. Once the quarterfinals concluded, he immediately returned to the Pokémon Center to study his next opponent's battle data, carefully analyzing both her team and her fighting style.
The next morning at 9 a.m., Sato met his semifinal opponent in the grand arena. The stadium was once again packed to capacity, with even the aisles crowded by ticketless fans.
His opponent, a female trainer from Sinnoh named Yalan, was someone Sato had no prior memory of. Yet, for her to break through a pool of 2,400+ trainers to reach the semifinals, she was clearly no ordinary competitor.
Still, after reviewing her past matches, Sato concluded her strength fell short of Brawly's. Her path to the semifinals had been aided heavily by luck.
Once the battle began, Sato quickly seized the advantage. With just his Shiny Pelipper and Nidoking, he systematically knocked out four of Yalan's Pokémon.
Yalan wasn't without skill, however. With her fifth Pokémon, Magnezone, and her ace, Empoleon, she managed to take down both the Shiny Pelipper and Nidoking. That forced Sato to send out his Shiny Beautifly to finish the match.
"Mr. Hayashi, I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Good luck in the finals—I'll be cheering for you from the stands," Yalan said firmly as she shook Sato's hand after the battle.
"And one more thing. I hope you defeat that freak Diaz. The way he uses those legendary Pokémon… it's as if they have no soul at all. I can't stand it. Please, bring your very best team against him in the finals."
Sato was slightly taken aback by her words, then nodded seriously.
"Thank you for your support. I'll do everything I can to defeat Diaz. Even if he uses legendary Pokémon, I won't let that intimidate me."
Indeed, from observing Tobias's battles from the stands, Sato had noticed the same unsettling detail: those legendary Pokémon fought like lifeless machines, following commands but showing no passion, no will to battle—only a hollow emptiness.
After parting ways with Yalan, Sato once again slipped away from fans and reporters, removed his disguise, and quietly returned to the audience seating where Daisy and Whitney had saved him a spot.
Soon, Tobias's semifinal began. To Sato's mild surprise, his opponent this time showed considerable strength.
Though ultimately defeated, this trainer managed to push him further than expected: after losing three Pokémon, he still succeeded in defeating Tobias's Houndoom and Regirock. Then, with his Slowbro's exceptional recovery and mastery of Rain Dance, he even forced Moltres out of the field, making Tobias bring in Zapdos as his third legendary.
While he still lost in the end, the trainer's spirited performance won him thunderous applause from the crowd and greatly boosted his reputation.
It's worth noting that after this match, Tobias was ambushed by an unknown high Elite Four level trainer. He survived unscathed only because a mysterious figure intervened to save him from what could have been a fatal strike.
This incident fueled wild rumors online, with some even accusing Sato of hiring an Elite Four level trainer to assassinate Tobias—though the claims were baseless.
More than anything, people speculated about his background. The fact that someone of such immense strength had stepped in to protect him convinced many that Tobias must belong to some powerful family or hidden organization.
Sato ignored the gossip entirely. After the semifinals, he focused solely on studying his opponent's footage and preparing for the finals.
So far, Tobias had revealed five non-legendary Pokémon—Houndoom, Electivire, Ludicolo, Magmortar, and Skarmory—as well as three legendary Pokémon: Regirock, Moltres, and Zapdos.
Sato suspected that Darkrai and Latios were also in his arsenal, even though they had yet to appear. With that in mind, he resolved to bring his absolute best lineup to the finals.
After careful deliberation, he chose six: Shiny Pelipper, Flygon, Crobat, Arcanine, Shiny Gyarados, and Swampert.
The night passed quickly, and the long-awaited morning arrived.
The finals were scheduled for 9 a.m., but by 8 o'clock, the stadium was already filled to the brim, aisles overflowing with restless fans. The air buzzed with excitement.
At exactly 9, fireworks lit the sky to mark the grand finale. Amid deafening cheers, Sato and Tobias emerged from opposite tunnels and stepped onto the battlefield.
They locked eyes, silent, yet the intensity between them was palpable. The audience, watching their expressions on the giant screen, could almost taste the tension in the air.
"At last—the finals we've all been waiting for!" cried the glamorous announcer, soaring above the arena on her Pidgeot. Holding her microphone high, she shouted, "Audience, let's say it together—let the battle begin!"
The crowd roared the words in unison. The massive battle display lit up, spinning two roulette wheels to determine conditions.
Within seconds, the results appeared: the battlefield would be rocky terrain, and Sato had the first move.
"I'm counting on you, Pelipper! Summon a torrential downpour!"
With the referee's signal, Sato hurled his PokeBall. In a flash, his massive Shiny Pelipper spread its wings high above the arena. Its Drizzle ability activated instantly, calling forth thick, roiling storm clouds.
Within moments, the entire arena was shrouded in darkness, and with a sharp cry from Pelipper, rain began to pour in torrents.
"Take the stage, Zapdos! Crush them with your thunder!"
Tobias threw his PokeBall, his expression cold. Lightning cracked as Zapdos burst onto the battlefield, electricity arcing across its form as it faced the Shiny Pelipper head-on.
"Return, Pelipper!"
"Go, Swampert—time to fight!"
Before Zapdos could unleash its power, Sato recalled Pelipper and sent out Swampert.
"Swammmmppperrrrt!!"
The mighty Pokémon stomped onto the rain-slick rocks, glared up at Zapdos, and bellowed a challenge. His aura surged, exuding the primal pressure of a dangerous beast. The weight of it made even the spectators in the stands feel a chill run down their spines.