Shiko did not appear again for some time.
Himeko and the others attempted to locate him, but unfortunately, they could not find even the slightest trace of his whereabouts.
That was only natural.
If someone of his stature did not wish to be found, there was probably no one in the world capable of discovering him.
In truth, the reason Shiko had stopped appearing was quite simple.
He had no interest in the remaining matches of the current round.
He only intended to wait until it was time for him to participate in the next round.
Several days later, every match in the elimination round had been completed.
Half of the competitors had been eliminated.
Including Shiko, who had received a bye during the round, only sixty-three participants remained.
Those sixty-three competitors would naturally proceed to the tournament's next stage.
However, because the number of participants was uneven, one competitor would once again receive a bye.
This time, the Alliance did not dare manipulate the draw to give Shiko another one.
The probability of receiving byes in two consecutive rounds was simply too low.
Furthermore, the spectators would certainly refuse to accept it.
Shiko was extremely popular.
His bye in the previous round had already caused considerable dissatisfaction among the audience.
If he failed to appear again, the tournament organizers would probably be subjected to relentless criticism.
Shiko himself had no objections to participating either.
After discussing the matter, the Alliance higher-ups decided that he would compete during this round.
The matchups were soon announced.
There had been no manipulation of the draw this time.
The competitors were genuinely assigned at random.
The Alliance higher-ups understood that, with Shiko's strength, none of the remaining participants were likely to be his match.
There was therefore no need to deliberately select an appropriate opponent for him.
Shiko's opponent was a man in his forties named Okada.
He looked like an overworked office employee.
He had a balding crown, wore glasses, and was dressed in a poorly fitted suit.
His strength could only be considered average.
Luck had played a considerable role in allowing him to advance this far.
Nevertheless, he had still reached the Quasi-Elite Four level.
There were two days remaining before the next round began.
The competitors were given that time to heal their Pokémon, restore their condition, and prepare for their upcoming matches.
It was also when the betting markets entered their most frantic period.
The tournament organizers were involved in that highly profitable business as well.
They were already convinced that Shiko would unquestionably become the tournament champion.
Since they believed they already knew the correct outcome, the money being wagered seemed practically free for the taking.
There was no reason for them to ignore such an opportunity.
The two days quickly passed.
The next elimination round finally began.
After one competitor received a bye, sixty-two participants remained to compete.
The thirty-one matches would be completed within four days.
Nine matches would be held each day, with three taking place in the morning, three in the afternoon, and three in the evening.
Shiko's match was scheduled for the afternoon of the first day.
Time gradually passed.
His match was the final one of the afternoon session.
Once the spectators learned that he would be appearing that day, every seat in the arena was filled once again.
After his previous performances, his popularity had grown tremendously.
When the first two matches ended, it was finally Shiko's turn to enter the battlefield.
As always, he wore a long black robe that concealed his entire figure.
His face could not be seen.
Only his faint blue eyes were visible beneath the robe.
On the opposite side, Shiko's opponent, Okada, also entered the arena.
He was still clutching a briefcase.
His limp hair lay flat against his scalp, and a thin layer of sweat covered his forehead.
He looked like an exhausted employee who had rushed directly to the tournament after leaving work.
Once both competitors were in position, the referee signaled the official start of the match.
Okada opened his briefcase and took out a Poké Ball.
He threw it forward and sent out the first Pokémon.
"Go, Rapidash!"
The instant he finished speaking, a white Pokémon surrounded by blazing red flames appeared on the battlefield.
It was Rapidash.
Rapidash pawed the ground warily with its hooves.
Two streams of flame escaped from its nostrils.
Shiko showed no reaction upon seeing Rapidash.
He merely took out a Poké Ball.
In the next instant, a yellow Dragon-type Pokémon appeared in midair.
The Pokémon he had selected was Dragonite, which had already appeared in an earlier match.
"Rapidash! Agility!"
Okada remained calm and prepared to strengthen his Pokémon first.
Dragonite did not remain idle in the air.
It immediately used Dragon Dance, strengthening itself as well.
Dragonite activated its move far more quickly.
By the time Dragon Dance ended, Rapidash had not yet completed Agility.
Dragonite immediately seized the opportunity and charged forward.
Its tail became surrounded by swirling water before striking Rapidash with tremendous force.
The momentum generated by its dive, its enhanced physical power, and its type advantage were combined within the attack.
Rapidash had no time to evade.
After being struck by Aqua Tail, its body was hurled backward.
The flames covering its body immediately weakened.
Upon closer inspection, Rapidash had already lost consciousness.
There was no helping it.
The difference between Rapidash's Quasi-Elite Four-level strength and Dragonite's peak Elite Four-level combat power was simply too great.
After taking a strengthened, super-effective attack directly, Rapidash had no possibility of remaining conscious.
Okada's expression remained calm.
When he looked at the unconscious Rapidash, his eyebrows merely twitched slightly.
Without saying anything, he recalled it.
He then prepared to take out his next Pokémon.
Unexpectedly, Shiko did the same thing.
He recalled Dragonite and took out another Poké Ball.
(End of Chapter)
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