When the round of 128 competitors was over and narrowed down to 64, the battles began to intensify.
Many of the prominent trainers from various regions were set to face each other, and in these matchups, the luck factor would play a decisive role.
There would be only two days of rest before the next round, and Cain decided to honor the promise he had made to Steven and the others not to stray too far during this time.
What surprised his companions was noticing that, even in the daily training, it was evident that Cain's Pokémon had made considerable progress in strength and skills.
They looked at Cain with a mix of awe and suspicion, as if he were hiding some secret to improve so quickly.
The idea of facing Cain in the tournament became even more undesirable for all of them.
Both Steven and the others acknowledged that defeating him would be an extremely difficult task. Even Steven admitted to himself that, if they were to face off, the odds would be split evenly.
That being said, all the participants, including Cain, kept their best strategies and Pokémon as trump cards, reserved for the most critical moments.
Finally, the round of 64 was completed. Although Cain didn't face any other trainers who were seeded favorites, his opponent proved to be an advanced-level trainer.
Still, he didn't pose a significant challenge to Cain, who was able to advance with little effort.
From this stage onward, the tournament rules changed. From the round of 32 and beyond, battles would take place on the same day with no rest time in between.
This modification aimed to assess the trainers' ability to manage the stamina and energy of their Pokémon in prolonged combat situations.
Trainers had to be especially strategic when choosing when and in which battles to deploy their strongest Pokémon. This change generated more uncertainty and anticipation among the participants and the audience.
In the first battle of the top 32, Cain finally faced a notable trainer from another region. It was Brycen, a participant from Icirrus City in the Unova region.
Cain had a faint recollection of him. In the future, Brycen would become the Gym Leader of Icirrus City, specializing in Ice-type Pokémon.
However, besides being a trainer, Brycen was also known as an actor, using tournaments to increase his popularity before forging a career in the entertainment world.
Brycen represented a particular group of participants in these events: those who competed not only for the prizes but also for the public recognition that these tournaments provided.
Though his motivation was not purely materialistic, as he wouldn't lack money as a future Gym Leader, he was driven by his passion for both acting and Pokémon battles.
Both trainers walked toward the main stadium, an imposing venue reserved for the most important matchups of the tournament.
The giant screens hanging above the field displayed the faces and key information of the two competitors, as well as the number of Pokémon available and those already deployed in battle.
All of this was designed to give the audience a clear view of each battle's progress and strategy.
From the other end of the field, Cain observed Brycen. He wore a striking blue outfit and had a band around his eyes, giving him a ninja-like appearance. Although they had crossed paths before in the tournament facilities, they had never spoken.
Brycen knew in advance that his opponent would be Cain, and that certainty had put an evident weight on his expression. He aspired to reach the top 16, as such an achievement surpassed even placing in the top four of a regional tournament in prestige.
However, facing the second-best ranked trainer from the Hoenn region at this stage complicated his aspirations.
Despite the uncertainty, Brycen decided to face the battle with the determination to prove his strength to the world and improve his chances in the entertainment industry.
When the judge started the battle, both trainers threw their Poké Balls onto the field. Cain sent out his Swampert, whose level had reached 45 after rigorous training.
Swampert had made such rapid progress that Cain had to dedicate extra time to stabilize the consequences of its accelerated growth.
On the other side, Brycen released his Beartic, an Ice-type Pokémon native to Unova. This Beartic wasn't just a key member of Brycen's team but also a crucial factor in his future career as a Gym Leader.
Pokémon: Beartic (Light Blue)
Gender: Male
Level: 49
Type: Ice
Ability: Snow Cloak
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Avalanche, Ice Punch, Night Slash, Sleep Talk
Basic Moves: Icicle Crash, Sheer Cold, Thrash, Superpower, Aqua Jet, Growl, Powder Snow, Bide, Icy Wind, Play Nice, Fury Swipes, Brine, Endure, Swagger, Slash, Flail, Rest, Blizzard
Learned Moves: Water Pulse, Snore, Low Kick, Throat Chop
TM Moves: Protect, Ice Beam, Shadow Claw, Giga Impact, Stone Edge, Frost Breath
As a pure Ice-type Pokémon, Beartic lacked the obvious weaknesses of a dual-type, making it a solid choice to open the battle.
Meanwhile, Cain had selected Swampert precisely for its natural resilience, confident that Brycen wouldn't have any Grass-type Pokémon, Swampert's only major weakness.
The audience was on the edge of their seats as the battle began. It was clear that this would not be an ordinary battle. Cain, with a determined look, took the initiative.
"Let's go, Swampert! Show them everything you've learned!"
"Earth Hammer!"
The atmosphere in the stadium filled with tension as Swampert's attack shook the field. For the first time in the tournament, Cain began to reveal the true extent of his power, making it clear that he was willing to fight until the end to reach the top.
(End of chapter)