Cain and the others had finally settled into an estate on the outskirts of Hearthome City. Meanwhile, the first round of the Sinnoh tournament continued to unfold with intensity.
The interval between battles turned out to be much longer than Cain and the others had expected. The second round was scheduled to begin in a week, meaning the participants had that free time to organize themselves as they wished.
Taking advantage of this break, Cain and his group decided to remain secluded at the estate, focusing on their preparation. During this time, Cain also dedicated himself to gathering information about Wallace’s Pokémon.
There was no denying that Wallace, who would one day become the Champion of Hoenn, not only had the support of the Coordinator Guild but also possessed considerable strength.
Among those present, no one could confidently claim they could defeat Wallace without issue.
Although Steven was an expert in Steel-type Pokémon, he also had several Rock-types, which balanced his chances. As for Phoebe, while she had strong Pokémon, her tactical experience was lacking due to her naive nature and limited exposure to high-level battles.
As for Cain, while he stood out for his strategic approach and training abilities, the presence of his more recent Pokémon, Swampert and Poliwhirl, slightly weakened his overall lineup.
Moreover, his strategy based on the move Rain Dance also benefited Wallace’s Pokémon, making a matchup between them even more complicated.
If there was one opponent Cain would rather avoid, Wallace was undoubtedly one of them.
While Cain analyzed his companions’ Pokémon, they also had the opportunity to observe his during training. All of them were experienced trainers and could deduce the general strength of Cain’s Pokémon based on their routines and the intensity of their practice.
It was evident to everyone that the weakest points in Cain’s lineup were Swampert and Poliwhirl. While Slowking was a major threat and Drapion could be difficult to handle, the general perception was that Cain’s Pokémon were not at the same raw power level as Steven’s or Wallace’s.
However, Cain wasn’t just a skilled trainer—his ability as a breeder and his knack for developing complex tactics kept him on par with the best. That combination, along with his status as a psychic, was what allowed him to be considered one of the "Hoenn Twins" alongside Steven.
Since they still had time before the next battle, Cain decided to dedicate this period to evaluating and optimizing his Pokémon’s capabilities.
Slowking was undoubtedly the pillar of the team. As the only Pokémon at the quasi-elite level, his role would be crucial in the upcoming rounds. His greatest strength lay in his ability to fight independently, using moves like Trick Room to alter the pace of battle.
Additionally, with his wide range of moves across different types, he could take on a variety of opponents.
On the other hand, Gengar had recently learned the move Role Play, expanding his tactical repertoire. Though he had yet to reach his full potential, he excelled in group battles and attrition strategies due to his speed and long-range attacks.
Moreover, Gengar possessed the powerful Perish Song, a move that could turn the tide of any one-on-one battle if used correctly.
Drapion was the Pokémon with the greatest physical strength in the team. Though his combat style was more direct, relying on brute force, Cain knew he needed to improve his control over Fang-type moves to make him more versatile.
Furthermore, while Drapion had shown progress in utilizing his Dark-type abilities, he still remained stronger in his specialty as a Poison-type Pokémon.
Florges, on the other hand, was in the process of becoming a Pokémon capable of alternating between offensive and support roles. Thanks to the resources Cain had invested in her training, Florges had reached a new level of power, capable of shifting between Grass and Fairy types depending on the situation.
This adaptability posed a strategic challenge for opponents, especially due to Fairy-type moves being highly effective against Dragon-type Pokémon.
As for Swampert and Poliwhirl, Cain knew both needed significant improvement to match the rest of the team.
Both Pokémon were fully aware of their importance in the upcoming battles, which drove them to train with unwavering intensity, seeking to overcome their limitations and meet their trainer’s expectations.
If Cain wanted to secure a high placement in the tournament, he needed at least one of his Pokémon to reach the quasi-elite level. Though the tournament rounds were spaced out, allowing time for training, Cain understood that the room for improvement was limited.
The goal was clear: secure a spot in the Top 8. To achieve this, the team needed to not only improve individually but also function as a cohesive strategic unit.
Fortunately, the additional time between battles gave Cain a valuable opportunity to prepare his team and address the areas that needed attention. Every training session, every strategic adjustment, was another step toward success in the Sinnoh tournament.