The Sinnoh Tournament had reached its climax, entering the final stages with expectations at their highest.
The winners of today's battles would need to return to treat their Pokémon and prepare, as the semifinals, scheduled for the following day, would bring a significant change in the rules.
From the semifinals onward, the format would change to a full battle. Each trainer could use six Pokémon, and all would be allowed on the field at different times. Victory would go to whoever managed to defeat all of the opponent's Pokémon.
This change required meticulous preparation, especially for participants like Cain and Steven. Meanwhile, Wallace and Phoebe would only have to cheer from the stands.
After tending to his Pokémon at the recovery center, Cain decided not to conduct any more training. Instead, he chose to give them a well-deserved rest. The ongoing high-intensity battles had been exhausting, even with the support of his healing abilities.
Already lying in bed, Cain reflected on strategies for the next day.
Now that Poliwhirl had evolved into Politoed, he faced a dilemma: he didn't have a Pokémon with the Swift Swim ability that could fully take advantage of the rainy conditions Politoed could create. This significantly reduced its usefulness in battle.
Given this situation, Cain considered another option: leaving Politoed out and opting for Altaria. Although Altaria wasn't officially one of his Pokémon, after the incident with Regice, he had managed to establish a basic level of communication and control over her.
As a high quasi-elite level Dragon-type Pokémon, Altaria could have a significant impact in battle—far greater than a rain-based team without its full potential.
However, the lack of synchronization between Cain and Altaria was a difficult obstacle to overcome, even with the help of his telepathy. It wasn't so much the fear of criticism from other trainers, who might claim that using a Pokémon not technically his was cheating. Cain was more concerned with maximizing his performance in such a crucial battle.
The Sinnoh Tournament, after all, wasn't just a competition. It was an event designed by the League to mark the beginning of its expansion. While final placements weren't the only objective, they carried important symbolic weight for each region.
For trainers like Cain and Steven, reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals was already enough to prove their worth.
Cain understood that, beyond the result, the tournament was an opportunity for regional leaders to identify promising talent and decide how to allocate resources in the future. At this point, results mattered less than the evaluation of each trainer's potential.
For example, even though Diantha didn't make it to the semifinals, her skill and potential were undeniable. Her loss to Lorelei didn't necessarily mean that Lorelei was better—circumstances had simply favored her.
If Cain had faced Diantha, he estimated his chances of victory would have been less than twenty percent.
Diantha not only had a team with a fully developed pseudo-legendary Pokémon, but also an exceptionally powerful Gardevoir.
Luck, Cain thought, played a big role in the final rounds. However, this didn't diminish the merit of the trainers who had made it this far. To Cain, the tournament was more than just a battle for first place. It was an opportunity to refine his strategies and uncover the weaknesses of his team.
With these thoughts clear, Cain allowed himself to relax and soon fell asleep.
The draw to determine the semifinal matchups would take place the following day, ensuring fairness at this critical stage. Whoever his opponent would be, he knew the battle would be intense.
...
The day of the semifinals had arrived. Four giant balloons with the faces of the semifinalists decorated the corners of the stadium: Cain, Steven, Cynthia, and Lorelei.
Among the four, Cain had the most ordinary appearance, but his popularity was no less than the others'. His story inspired many, especially young people from humble families, by showing that it was possible to reach great heights through effort and determination.
The League, in its expansion strategy, sought to promote the participation of trainers from modest backgrounds. Cain had become the perfect example of this ideal: the representative of common trainers who had achieved greatness.
Guided by tournament staff, Cain and Steven stepped onto the stadium's central stage. Opposite them, Cynthia and Lorelei also approached. While Lorelei maintained her usual cold expression, she gave a nod of acknowledgment to Cain and Steven. Cynthia, already familiar with both, offered a warmer greeting.
The four trainers took hold of the white ropes connected to a box that contained the numbers for the draw. After a brief introduction by the host, each pulled their rope, revealing their corresponding number.
"The draw is complete! The first semifinal will feature Cain from Leafy Town in the Hoenn region, against Cynthia from Celestic Town in the Sinnoh region. The second semifinal will be between Lorelei from Floe Island in the Kanto region, and Steven from Rustboro City in the Hoenn region."
Cain and Cynthia looked into each other's eyes, and a spark of determination flashed between them. Although they had battled before, that match had been limited to one Pokémon each.
Cynthia had proposed a full battle at that time, but Cain had declined. However, during that same encounter, Cain had helped resolve issues with Cynthia's Pokémon, earning her respect and friendship.
Now, both were ready to face each other in their first full battle.
This would be a clash between two opposing styles: the "lucky one," who seemed to have everything in his favor, and the "hardworking one," who had reached her position through sheer dedication. The battle promised to be unforgettable.
(End of Chapter)