Despite being defeated, Brycen was unwilling to give up without trying something else. He called upon another one of his trump cards: a Cryogonal, hoping to change the course of events.
From his perspective, the main reason his Walrein had lost earlier was because it was a male Pokémon. Faced with the irresistible charm of Florges, using the move Captivate, it had been especially vulnerable.
This time, however, he sent out a newly leveled Cryogonal, reaching quasi-elite status, to try his luck.
However, the outcome was the same. Although Cryogonal held out longer than Walrein due to its defensive nature, it also eventually fell.
This was because, in addition to its impressive offensive capabilities, Florges also had remarkable recovery skills, making defeating it just a matter of time.
When Brycen saw another one of his trump cards fall, he realized he had no chance of defeating Cain. His last Pokémon was still standing, but Cain hadn't lost a single one of his yet, and Florges, still in the battle, was practically unharmed thanks to its regenerative abilities, with only slight energy wear after three fights.
Brycen's frustration was palpable. Florges appeared to be a Grass-type Pokémon because of the great effectiveness of its Grass-type moves and its mastery of moves like Grassy Terrain.
However, the Ice-type moves that should have been effective did not deliver the expected impact. As the battle went on, Florges seemed to adapt better, showing increasingly brilliant performance.
In a final attempt, Brycen sent out his Dewgong, but even it couldn't stand up to the formidable Florges, who defeated it with precision.
"Dewgong is unable to battle! All Pokémon from Brycen, representative of Icirrus City in the Unova region, have been eliminated. Therefore, the winner is Cain from Leafy Town in the Hoenn region."
With this official announcement from the judge, Cain's victory and his advancement to the quarterfinals were confirmed. Brycen, on the other hand, was eliminated among the last 32 competitors.
Florges' performance was particularly impressive, defeating three opponents in a row. If Cain had decided to use her from the beginning, he would have likely achieved an even more overwhelming victory by eliminating all four of Brycen's Pokémon.
However, Cain had chosen to give Swampert some battle time to help it get more familiar with its moves and overcome the weaknesses stemming from its rapid strength progression.
Moreover, Cain didn't seek to humiliate Brycen or the Unova region, so he avoided a crushing victory. Allowing Swampert to battle was not only a strategy to strengthen it, but also a gesture of consideration toward his opponent.
Had Cain swept through all four of Brycen's Pokémon, it could have created tensions between Hoenn and Unova, which would be detrimental to both regions in future competitions.
After the battle, Cain walked to the center of the field to shake Brycen's hand. Although Brycen looked visibly disappointed, he didn't seem to hold a grudge against Cain.
Brycen congratulated Cain on his victory and wished him luck in the quarterfinals before leaving.
The tournament was reaching its climax, and at this stage, many notable competitors were being eliminated. Brycen was just one of many. However, before Cain could return to the Hoenn rest area, he was intercepted in the hallway by a group of people.
Although they weren't technically blocking his path, it was clear they were waiting for him.
At the front of the group was Diantha, the future champion of the Kalos region. Her expression seemed to suggest she would rather be anywhere else, but as the leader of the group, she had no choice but to show up.
From the group emerged a man in a white lab coat, slightly wavy black hair, and a kind smile. He was notably attractive, at the level of someone like Steven Stone.
"Hello, Cain. These are the representatives from the Kalos region. My name is Sycamore, and I'm their temporary supervisor, as well as a Pokémon researcher." Sycamore seemed a little uncomfortable while speaking, as if the situation was somewhat embarrassing for him.
Cain, upon hearing his introduction, raised an eyebrow. Sycamore? Could this be the future Professor Sycamore of Kalos, famous for his research on Mega Evolution? Though he seemed young at this time, it was clear he possessed great talent and capability.
Cain gave a slight nod and then turned his gaze to Diantha and the others. Kalos had sent an elite team to this competition, including figures like Diantha, the future champion; Drasna, the future Dragon-type Elite Four; Wikstrom, the future Steel-type Elite Four; and Siebold, the future Water-type Elite Four.
They hadn't competed yet, but their success in the final rounds would largely depend on their skill and a bit of luck.
The level of competition in this tournament was impressive. Every region, except for Kanto and Johto, had sent teams made up of future champions and high-ranking members. If a criminal team were to capture all the competitors present, the Pokémon League would face serious difficulties for decades.
"Hello, Sycamore. How can I help you?" Cain asked calmly, though he already had an idea of why they were looking for him. However, asking the question gave him an advantage by keeping the initiative.
Sycamore smiled awkwardly, clearly embarrassed. For a Pokémon researcher from Kalos, admitting that he needed help regarding a Pokémon from his own region was clearly humiliating.
Despite his position and prestige, Sycamore found himself in the uncomfortable position of having to ask for assistance.
(End of chapter)