The host took the stage and welcomed the sixteen qualified trainers, including Steven, Cynthia, and other standouts. It was time to announce the prizes for the top sixteen.
A compartment opened from the stage floor, and from it emerged a device resembling a pyramid-shaped staircase.
On each level of this structure was a series of Pokémon eggs. There were a total of sixteen eggs, distributed across four levels: one at the top, three on the second level, four on the third, and eight at the base.
The spectacular display left everyone astonished. The exciting moment of the awards ceremony had arrived, but to be honest, many felt a slight sense of disappointment.
The trainers who had reached the top sixteen already had robust teams and numerous Pokémon in the process of training. For them, the idea of receiving a Pokémon egg didn't seem particularly novel.
However, that perception changed after the host's explanation. Each of those eggs had been carefully selected by the League, gathered from the six main regions.
After rigorous evaluation and selection processes, the sixteen most exceptional eggs had been chosen, ensuring that each one was unique and extraordinary.
The trainers would have the chance to choose according to their ranking, but there was an intriguing detail: the eggs had no labels indicating what Pokémon would hatch from them. The selection would depend entirely on each participant's intuition and luck.
Although the eggs placed on the upper levels appeared to be the most valuable, that did not guarantee they were the most suitable for each trainer.
Among them, only one person didn't underestimate the value of these eggs for a second: Cain. Although his system was in standby mode and couldn't deploy all its functions, the basic scanning capability remained active.
With this tool, Cain immediately obtained detailed information about the eggs, and all of them seemed extremely valuable to him.
"The League has really invested a lot this time," Cain thought, while containing his astonishment.
Steven was the first to choose, as the winner, he had the right to select before the others. It was natural to assume he would choose the egg placed at the top of the pyramid. However, just before stepping onto the stage, Cain whispered to him, "Trust your instinct."
This brief phrase led Steven to reconsider his decision.
With slight hesitation, Steven called upon his Shiny Metagross, which had recovered some energy after the battles. Steven stroked his Pokémon's claws and asked it to identify the egg most suitable for them.
Metagross, his loyal companion since the beginning of his journey, perfectly understood his trainer's tastes and abilities. Closing its eyes, the Pokémon used its steel and psychic sensitivity to evaluate the eggs.
Finally, it pointed to one on the second level, right in the center.
With full confidence in his Pokémon's choice, Steven took the egg. Cain, observing from the back, silently nodded. Steven's choice was the right one.
That egg contained a Mawile with the ability Sheer Force, a specimen with a Light Purple potential. The eggs on the first and second levels had that potential, while those on the third and fourth levels reached at least Dark Blue in potential.
This was the reason why Cain concluded that the League had invested considerable resources in this edition of the tournament.
Steven's Mawile was not only compatible with his affinity for steel types, but also offered significant strategic potential thanks to its future mega evolution and its steel/fairy type combination.
Moreover, its Sheer Force ability and egg moves indicated exceptional talent in both battle and handling of fairy and steel-type moves.
Next was Cynthia's turn, who, inspired by Steven, called her Lucario. Gifted with the power of aura, Lucario was the ideal helper for this task. From the moment Cynthia called her Pokémon, Cain guessed which would be her choice.
As expected, Lucario guided his trainer to the egg at the top of the pyramid, which contained a Togepi with the ability Serene Grace and Light Purple potential.
Cain knew perfectly well the power that a Togekiss with Serene Grace could reach. With the devastating move Air Slash, it would be a formidable opponent for anyone.
This Togepi also had the potential to develop aura affinity, which, combined with Cain's aura blessing, could have facilitated its breeding and training.
However, from the moment Cynthia called her Lucario, Cain understood that that egg was meant for her.
With his first choice ruled out, Cain went for his second priority. Both he and Lorelei stepped forward simultaneously to choose. Unlike Steven and Cynthia, they decided to trust their intuition rather than ask their Pokémon for help.
Cain selected an egg that contained a psychic/fairy-type Pokémon. It was clear that the League had adjusted the options at the last minute to ensure the eggs were compatible with the top trainers.
Observing this situation, Cain couldn't help but reflect on the changes that had emerged since the revelation of the fairy type.
Both Steven and Cynthia had selected Pokémon with that type, showing how quickly the League had adopted and adapted strategies based on this new knowledge.
For Cain, this was just the beginning of a greater transformation in the Pokémon world.
With each egg chosen, it became clear that the Sinnoh tournament marked a turning point in the history of League competitions.
The prizes would not only strengthen the trainers who participated in the tournament but would also become the catalyst for a new era in Pokémon breeding and battling.
Cain, with a satisfied smile, accepted his choice, knowing that the challenges to come would be more exciting than ever.
(End of chapter)