After several more rounds, it was finally Sam's turn.
"The next contestant is Sam from Pallet City, Kanto Region! Let's enjoy his performance!"
A Trainer from Kanto?
Both the audience and judges became noticeably more attentive.
After all, Kanto and Johto had always been known as conservative regions. Contest competitions existed in other regions, but in Kanto and Johto, they struggled to gain popularity. This was partly due to the influence of regional leadership, and partly because Trainers there preferred straightforward battles.
So seeing a Coordinator from Kanto was genuinely surprising.
Raoul Contesta straightened up even more. If Sam performed well enough, maybe this Contest could open the door to Kanto.
Sam stepped onto the stage wearing a simple white shirt and casual pants. Compared to other contestants dressed in elaborate outfits, he looked more like he was out for a stroll.
"Let's go—Dratini."
Unlike professional Coordinators who used accessories to enhance their Pokémon's appearance, Dratini looked plain and unadorned.
A few audience members shook their heads.
"What a pity. Such a rare Dratini, but the Trainer doesn't seem to understand Contests."
Appearance mattered a lot in Contests, and many had already lost expectations.
"Come on, Brother Sam!" Dawn cheered loudly, still rooting for him despite the crowd's doubts.
"I had some hope earlier…" Raoul Contesta sighed. "But this might not be enough."
"Don't jump to conclusions," Wallace said with a faint smile. "He might surprise us."
"Oh? You know him?" Raoul Contesta asked.
"I've heard of him," Wallace replied calmly.
That alone made the other judges pay closer attention.
---
Sam ignored the noise around him.
Right now, his focus was entirely on the stage.
"It's time."
He nodded gently.
"Fan!"
Dratini let out a cheerful cry—
—and suddenly, a brilliant white light burst from its body.
The entire audience froze.
Evolution?
No one expected this to be the opening move.
Within the glowing light, Dratini's form shifted and grew—
Until the light faded.
A graceful Dragonair appeared.
Before the audience could react, Dragonair moved.
It soared upward.
Dark clouds began gathering above the arena.
Within moments, Dragonair pierced through the clouds, reaching the highest point of the stadium.
Then—
the performance truly began.
The orbs on Dragonair's body glowed brightly.
Thunder rumbled.
Lightning flashed.
Rain began to fall.
Dragonair weaved through the storm it created, commanding wind and rain like a mythical being.
It was as if a legend had come to life—
A Pokémon capable of controlling the weather itself.
The entire arena fell silent in awe.
---
The preliminaries ended.
Sixteen Coordinators advanced.
Friends and families watched with excitement, while the rest of the audience analyzed the competition.
Some even grouped the contestants into tiers:
83–89 points: 7 contestants
90–94 points: 5 contestants
95–99 points: 4 contestants
Among them, four stood out clearly:
Ichiraku, Johanna, Sam, and Amy.
These four were widely believed to be the strongest contenders for the championship.
---
The break was short.
The main event began.
In the lounge, Sam gave final instructions.
"Dragonair, don't be nervous. The hardest part is over. We scored 99—the highest. Now it's time to rely on our real strength."
Unlike performances, the next stage involved battle.
And that was Sam's domain.
---
Under roaring cheers, the finalists stepped onto the stage.
One match after another unfolded.
Each battle lasted five minutes, with Coordinators using both strategy and style to reduce their opponent's points.
Then—
"Finally, it's my turn."
After three matches, Sam stepped onto the stage once more.
Thanks to his breathtaking performance earlier, many in the audience were already cheering for him.
On the big screen, the matchup appeared:
Sam vs. Xiaoyu from Slateport Gym.
"Alright! The fourth battle begins!" Vivian announced energetically. "Let's see what kind of incredible showdown Sam and Xiaoyu will bring us!"
The battle—
was about to begin.
---------------Author---------------
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