The second round

Although this was only a place to stay, the food prepared for Cynthia's Pokémon had boosted their morale. Training alongside Kaim's Pokémon had also helped them adjust physically, allowing them to unleash one hundred percent of their strength even against powerful opponents.

"Kaim, you might make a good breeder or personal trainer."

"No, that's not true. I am a caretaker, but I've spent a long time watching and interacting with your Pokémon."

"What about an analyst, then?"

"Why would I go to all that trouble to gather information for someone I don't know?"

"I suppose that's meant for you."

"Whether as a personal trainer or an analyst, I have no intention of supporting anyone but you, Cynthia."

"Yes. That was a silly question."

For Cynthia, no supporter could have been more helpful than he was, professional or otherwise.

But she did not know whether Kaim felt the same way. That was why she had tried to tease him a little, though she regretted it now. Kaim was thinking seriously about her.

Even without asking, she should have understood that just by watching him.

There was a "resolve" Cynthia had not told Kaim about.

Perhaps that "resolve" was precisely why she had wanted to make certain one last time.

"What is it? Are you nervous?"

"Maybe. This is my first time competing in the Sinnoh League with you."

"And what matters more than winning?"

"Having fun. I know."

"Was that a silly question?"

Kaim picked up Little Black, who had come out of the Poké Ball, and spoke to Cynthia.

"Let's head back. It's time to eat."

"Yes."

Looking forward to the main competition starting tomorrow, Cynthia followed Kaim.

The day of the main competition.

The stadium seats were packed, and cheers filled the air.

"Amazing."

"All this excitement before it's even started?"

Cynthia and Kaim looked down at the arena from the VIP room.

Normally, only tournament officials and Champions could enter this room, but an exception had been made for Kaim as Cynthia's supporter. Kaim had refused at first, but Cynthia had forced him inside. That was another story.

"The view is as clear as the front row, and you can see the entire field. That makes it easier to understand the trainers' intentions."

"Doesn't it? I thought it would be good research, so I brought you here to give you a clear view of the battles."

"Let's leave it at that."

In truth, Cynthia had arranged for Kaim to stay in the VIP room not only to lift his spirits before her battle, but also to spend some time relaxing with him. The battles were merely an excuse. Of course, Kaim was getting an experience that would have been impossible without Cynthia's access to the VIP room, so he had no particular complaints.

While they were joking around, the trainers for the first match appeared.

The first was Denji, Kaim's friend and a Gym Leader.

The other was Furo, who had recently become a Gym Leader in the Unova Region.

Furo specialized in bird Pokémon-in other words, Flying types. That made for a poor matchup against Denji, who primarily used Electric types.

Still, the trainers who had made it this far were not so weak that type matchups alone would defeat them. It was a disadvantage, but that alone would not decide the outcome.

"It's starting."

"...Yeah."

The two trainers threw their Poké Balls, and the battle began.

Denji and Furo were now battling on the field. Denji had the type advantage, but the battle was so fierce that the poor matchup was barely noticeable.

As Champion, Cynthia had a seeded spot, so her first match would be in the second round. The winner of this match would face her next.

"As expected of Byron. He has the upper hand."

"The type matchup helps, too. Besides, that trainer from the Isshu Region seems to have only served as a Gym Leader for a short time."

"If Byron had a little more experience, things would be very difficult."

They watched Denji's Luxray sink its Ice Fang into the exposed Archeops. The attack left Archeops completely unable to fight.

Furo closed their eyes in frustration, but soon smiled and shook hands with Byron.

"Just as expected."

"My opponent is Byron."

"He's nearly finished already. I didn't expect him to beat a League finalist with two Pokémon left."

"The gap in ability and experience was greater than the difference in type matchups."

"Want to put together a team to face Tanguy?"

"Yes. His team is mostly Electric types, so Garchomp is essential. I'm also considering Lucario, who knows Earthquake. I have plenty of Pokémon to choose from."

"If we're only considering types, then Mikage or Glacia. Personally, I think Mikage would be better."

"Right. According to your data, Kaim, Rentler knows how to slow opponents down. There's a good chance that would be used against the highly mobile Glacia."

"With Bullet Seed, you can shut down Rentler's Thunder first. And Bullet Seed is quite versatile."

"And Curse can drain stamina, too. Although both sides take the same damage, Mikage seems capable of pulling off a good combination."

"There's still time. Let's review the data while we watch the matches."

Kaim opened the folder containing trainer information on his tablet and brought up Denji's data.

Cynthia sat beside Kaim and studied it with him.

"Hey."

"What?"

"I already sent the data to your tablet, didn't I?"

"Yes."

"Look at it yourself."

"Don't you like this?"

Kaim spoke quietly to Cynthia, who tilted her head with a mischievous smile.

"Is this a good idea?"

"Do whatever you want."

Knowing he could never beat a smile like hers, Kaim gave up and let Cynthia do as she pleased.

"Phew."

After finishing the first round, Byron let out a soft sigh backstage. The type matchup against Furo had been favorable, allowing him to fight a fairly ideal battle. Still, not everything had gone as expected. After all, his opponent had qualified for the main competition. He had never neglected gathering data, but at times, the ability his opponent displayed exceeded that data and left him at a loss. He had won in the end, but Byron thought he might have lost under different circumstances.

"Tanguy!"

"Oba?"

The person who had come to visit Byron was Flint, one of the Elite Four.

"You breezed through the first round. Just as expected."

"Still, the competitors are strong."

"That's right! It might not be on the same level as the Indigo Plateau, but the Sinnoh League's standard is pretty high too, you know?"

"And there's an undefeated Champion in the main competition."

"You're in the second round now, and that Champion is your opponent."

"Yes. I'll do my best, but how far can I push her?"

"What are you getting cold feet for? Show that passion you have for Sanzong."

Oba spoke to Denji with unusual optimism.

He knew Cynthia's strength and had challenged her several times, only to lose each time. Even Byron understood how difficult this would be.

But that did not mean he thought there was no chance of winning. In Pokémon battles, lower-ranked trainers often brought down higher-ranked ones. That was why Cynthia could lose to Byron.

"Of course, I have no intention of losing."

"Don't you have something you haven't shown in this tournament yet? Or a secret plan?"

"I have both ready."

"And?"

"She has a very good supporter now. Anything could happen."

"A supporter? She hired someone?"

"He's exceptionally good. With Kaim's personality, Miss Cynthia can really rely on him."

At first, Byron's words sounded timid, but Oba quickly realized that his friend's eyes burned with the fighting spirit to shatter that reputation.

"No need to worry."

"No wonder."

"Then I'm your opponent too. I'm going to have a red-hot battle!"

Tanguy quietly clenched his fist as he watched the departing figure.

The second round of the Sinnoh League.

Backstage.

"The day has finally come."

Dressed in an unusual outfit, Shirona spoke happily.

"I've been waiting for you."

Kaim, on the other hand, answered Cynthia in his usual tone.

"Yes. I've been waiting for this happy moment."

"Then you know what to do."

"Of course."

"I've done everything I can to help you win. The rest is up to you."

"Thank you. I really can't thank you enough."

"That's my line."

Cynthia picked up her jacket and fastened the Poké Balls containing her three chosen Pokémon to her waist.

"From here on, only my Pokémon and I will be fighting. But I won't be fighting alone. Like I said before, I want to win this match with you. Do you understand?"

"Yeah."

"Then can I ask you for one favor?"

Standing on the field, Tanguy was surprisingly calm. He had never expected to face the Sinnoh Region's strongest Champion in such excellent condition.

He knew he was at his best today. Whatever the result, he already knew before the match that he would be able to say proudly that he had given it his all.

Cheers erupted as the announcer called a woman's name in an excited voice. When he opened his eyes, he saw a beautiful woman emerge from the opposite entrance.

Champion Cynthia.

The air around her was terrifying. Her presence was so intense that he almost imagined she was radiating an aura.

It's been three years since we battled. I was helpless back then, but things are different now.

Cynthia wore a thin black sleeveless knit top beneath a short-sleeved black leather jacket. She looked just as beautiful as she did in her usual black coat. Her beauty and ambition made him forget the summer heat.

"...It's been a while."

"It has, Denji."

"Since our last battle three years ago."

"Yes. You didn't enter the last League tournament."

"Things aren't the same as they were three years ago."

"I know. You're stronger than before."

Cynthia wore a red earring and a fearless smile. A red ring also hung against her chest.

"Let's enjoy ourselves today."

"Yes."

"Pokémon League, second round! Champion Shirona versus Gym Leader Byron! Begin the battle!"

At the referee's shout, the two picked up their Poké Balls and threw them onto the field.

"Go, Jolteon!"

"I'm counting on you, Lucario!"

As Cynthia threw her Poké Ball, her long hair swayed, briefly revealing her hidden ear. There was a blue earring, the same shape as the red one she wore.

Tanguy noticed it. He felt he had seen those earrings somewhere recently, but he could not remember where.

"Jolteon! Charge Beam!"

He immediately brushed aside the unnecessary thought and gave his command.

"Lucario, Aura Sphere."

Jolteon's Charge Beam struck the Aura Sphere and exploded. The beam's effect raised Jolteon's Special Attack by one stage, increasing the electricity coursing through Jolteon.

"Swords Dance."

Under cover of the smoke, Lucario used Swords Dance to raise Attack by two stages.

Reading the move, Byron ordered an attack on Lucario through the smoke.

"Iron Tail!"

"Meteor Mash."

Jolteon's hardened tail collided with Lucario's fist, and the two bounced apart. Lucario was unharmed, but the difference in levels left Jolteon with minor damage.

That Lucario must be setting up for Earthquake. But with Lucario's typing, landing Earthquake will take time. If I don't give Lucario a chance to charge up, Lucario will fall!

"Jolteon, Charge Beam!"

Jolteon unleashed another Charge Beam.

"Lucario, take two steps to the right."

Lucario moved two steps to the right, following Cynthia's instruction to avoid the charging beam.

"Dodge with the smallest possible movement-that's lightning speed!"

Jolteon closed in on Lucario at lightning speed.

"Thunderbolt!"

The electric blast fired at close range shot straight toward Lucario.

But Lucario saw it and did not move.

"Let it go."

Lucario faithfully followed the brief instruction, accurately reading where the electric blast would strike and dodging it.

"What! You're going to dodge?!"

"Glow Punch!"

Immediately after being shocked, Lucario drove his fist into Jolteon's torso. Combined with the effects of Swords Dance, it dealt considerable damage to Jolteon, whose endurance was low.

"Move quickly!"

As soon as Jolteon landed, he moved again, disappearing from Lucario's sight at high speed. Startled by Jolteon's sudden disappearance, Lucario looked around, trying to follow his movements with his eyes.

Shirona, however, remained unfazed and gave Lucario an instruction.

"Don't panic. You don't need to follow him with your eyes. Your opponent always attacks with an intention. Read it accurately."

Calming down at Cynthia's command, Lucario closed his eyes and sensed Jolteon's aura.

Then he accurately sensed where the lightning-fast attack would come from and threw a Mach Punch in that direction.

"I'm reading."

Lucario's fist never struck Jolteon. Tanguy had learned that Lucario could read Jolteon's movements, so he changed his instructions to Jolteon before the attack.

Lucario had been certain he had read it, but he hesitated too long to make a decision and could not respond to the next attack.

"Thunderbolt!"

Lucario was struck by Jolteon Moro's attack.

Lucario's stamina was cut in half in an instant. Thanks to the Special Attack boost from the charging beam, I had been able to deal enough damage that the difference in levels barely seemed to matter.

"Fold it up!"

Jolteon tried to catch Lucario again at lightning speed.

"May everything go well."

But Lucario moved even faster, and this time, he had already closed in on Jolteon.

"I've been waiting!"

But Tanguy had been waiting for this moment.

Extreme Speed was a technique that used speed greater than lightning and special bodily movements to instantly vanish from an enemy's sight before attacking. However, it had a weakness: the Pokémon could not change its target midway because of its speed.

It was worth deciding to aim for that opening.

Jolteon evaded Lucario's speed with his own lightning-fast movement. Lucario's attack sliced through empty air, leaving an opening.

"Thunder, Thunder!"

While moving at lightning speed, Jolteon had already finished charging the lightning he would use next. Taking advantage of Lucario's inability to move, he tried to fire lightning into that opening.

But Lucario was watching Jolteon intently.

"Huh?!"

"Fight!"

Even though I was charging, Thunder was a major move. There was always a brief opening before releasing it-the instant just before the lightning struck. Although the stiffness after missing Extreme Speed should have been greater, Lucario's fists repeatedly drove into Jolteon during that brief moment of charging. However, before Jolteon became completely unable to move, he released the stored electricity and damaged Lucario.

Jolteon was left unable to battle by the attack.

"Good job, Jolteon."

"That's what I would do. Counterattack with the electricity I charged at the last moment."

"Did you see that I would take advantage of the opening after Extreme Speed?"

"No. But I was considering that possibility."

"You're serious."

"It's a technique I use myself."

I thought about it again. Cynthia's strength came from her love for Pokémon. It was precisely because she loved them so deeply and understood them so well that she could become the Champion.

"Not yet!"

"I have to do this."

The battle had only just begun.

"Tenant! Ice Fang!"

"Garchomp, Stone Edge!"

Rentler's Ice Fang was blocked by Stone Edge and failed to reach its target.

"Damn it, I can't get close."

"Garchomp, Swords Dance!"

"Tenant, crunch it!"

Not only had he successfully interrupted Swords Dance with Rentler's attack, he had also managed to get right up against Garchomp.

"Now! Ice Fang!"

The moment he gave the order, Tanguy realized it.

I was lured in.

"Dragon Rush."

Before Ice Fang could reach Rentler, Garchomp slammed Rentler into the ground. Rentler barely avoided a direct hit, reducing the damage, but the impact still broke Rentler's stance, leaving Rentler unable to withstand the blow.

"This is the end! Earth Power!"

Garchomp's power erupted from the ground and struck Luxray.

For the already injured Luxray, it was a supereffective Ground-type move.