🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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"How about it? After reading the information, do you have any suggestions for me?" said Lance with a smile.
Immediately, Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace turned their gazes toward Cain.
The four had participated together in the Sinnoh Tournament, and they knew that in this kind of situation, he was the one who handled things best.
In that tournament, starting from the top thirty-two, before each battle Cain always analyzed the opponents: their strength, their Pokémon, possible circumstances, and how to deal with them.
That's why, at a moment like this, the other three naturally looked at him.
Seeing their expressions, Lance also looked at him with some curiosity.
If the three recognized him in that way, it had to be because he had a special talent.
Moreover, among all of them, Lance was closest to Cain; with the others, he only shared a superficial friendship.
With Cain, he had gone through life-and-death situations.
He knew a little of his abilities, so he also wanted to hear his advice.
Noticing that all eyes were on him, Cain showed a resigned expression.
But regarding this Elite Four challenge tournament, he did have his own opinion.
"The truth is, Lance, you're already the League's main candidate in this tournament, the others are just accompanying. What should you fear? If the League doesn't want to give you the Elite Four spot, threaten to go to another region, for example Hoenn, which wouldn't be bad at all..." Cain said jokingly.
"That's right, good idea!"
He didn't expect someone to actually support it: Phoebe, the one who always encouraged chaos.
The five smiled.
They knew each other well enough to know Cain was only joking.
Lance was from the Drako family; if he really left for Hoenn, the first to stop him would be his own family.
It was like asking Steven to move to another region to become Elite Four or Champion—something impossible.
The descendants of those families received support to grow faster than others, in the hope that in the end they would return the favor to their lineage.
"Ahem, enough, be serious," Steven coughed, cutting the smiles.
Cain nodded, organized his thoughts, and said: "Actually, Lance, I think you have three main rivals."
"Three?" Lance was surprised.
"Yes. The Gym Leader of Fuchsia City, Poison-type specialist: Koga. The Gym Leader of Pewter City, Rock-type specialist: Flint. And... the Ice-type trainer: Lorelei!" Cain said, naming the three.
Hearing the first two, Lance wasn't surprised: both were strong. But Lorelei...
"That Lorelei, wasn't she one of the competitors who participated with you in the Sinnoh Tournament? Is her strength that great?" he asked with doubt.
Cain looked at him calmly.
Not great, terrifying! It was as if fate had placed her there to face you.
"Her effect of countering Dragon-type Pokémon was even more fearsome than Pryce himself. As long as she exists, forget about being Champion," Cain thought silently.
"Her talent is immense. Maybe her current strength still doesn't reach yours, but if you check the recordings of her battles in the Sinnoh Tournament, you'll surely learn something."
Lance didn't hesitate.
He nodded, determined to carefully review the material on Lorelei.
In his impression, Cain never spoke lightly.
If he mentioned her with such respect, it was because she truly had extraordinary merits.
Heh, and how do you think the nickname Dragon Slayer arose? Wasn't it because of you?
After exchanging some observations about those opponents, Lance suddenly suggested: "How about, before the tournament starts, we battle a few rounds among ourselves?"
The others looked at each other. The proposal tempted them.
They wanted to measure how far they were from Elite Four level.
Lance, for his part, wanted to train more before the event, fight against different styles, and perhaps gain inspiration.
"Let's go now, let's go now!" shouted Phoebe, always the first to cheer.
She wasn't that fanatic about battles, but going out to do something was better than being locked inside.
"Let's go." Lance swung his cape and strode off.
Seeing him, Wallace hesitated a moment and then imitated the gesture, swishing his cape too.
Silently he thought: "Yes... quite elegant. Not bad."
Steven and Cain walked behind, ignoring the two show-offs.
Better not even look at them.
...
The five went together to the League's training grounds.
But on the way, they ran into someone.
"Hey, Lance, Cain!" a lively voice sounded behind them.
Hearing it, in Cain's mind immediately appeared that familiar figure.
"Professor Oak!" shouted Lance and Cain in unison.
Steven and Phoebe, on the other hand, looked at him as if they were seeing a rare species.
At last they were meeting the real Professor Oak!
And walking!
Upon learning of the young ones' plans, Professor Oak immediately said he wanted to come along to observe.
But he hadn't come alone.
When he called back, a woman appeared with two children.
Cain felt Steven, Phoebe, and Wallace freeze on the spot.
That's... Professor Oak's wife!?
So young!?
And those two kids... his children!?
So little!?
⊙﹏⊙
They looked again at Professor Oak's white hair... what energy he had!
Three pairs of eyes landed on him with admiration.
Especially Steven.
"When I get the chance, I'll ask him the secret. Maybe I'll even get the old man at home to give me a little brother or sister..." Steven thought with admiration.
Cain didn't need to read minds to know they had already misunderstood everything.
But there was nothing to be done...
"Brother Cain!!!"
One of the kids ran toward him upon recognizing him.
The other got excited too and ran after his friend.
"Long time no see, Ash, Gary!"
Yes, those two troublemakers were none other than Ash Ketchum and Gary Oak from Pallet Town.
And the woman, of course, was not Professor Oak's wife, but his good neighbor: Delia Ketchum, Ash's mother.
Only after Cain introduced them did Steven and the others feel embarrassed, lowering their heads.
Damn subjective imagination...
All Cain's influence to blame!
Cain: ˙△˙??
The group grew larger.
At that time, Ash and Gary weren't trainers yet, they didn't have their first Pokémon.
Professor Oak had brought them to see up close what a real Pokémon battle was, something that would be useful to them in the future.
When they learned that the five young ones were going to battle, they insisted on coming along to watch.
They were ecstatic.
And since there was nothing to hide, Lance and the others didn't object.
Thus, the group arrived without issue at the League's private training grounds.
Lance, as a Chief-level researcher of the Kanto Region, had the right to use those facilities, and with Professor Oak present, no one was going to stop them.
(End of chapter)