Following Ash's chaotic but brilliant win, it was finally time for Kai to step into the arena.
His expression was calm, almost bored. After competing in two major League tournaments already, a local cup wasn't enough to rattle him. With composed steps, he walked out of the Trainer's tunnel and into the stadium.
Across the field, his opponent stood stiffly nervous, clearly new to this kind of spotlight. The boy kept his eyes glued to the ground, too afraid to look around.
As per tradition, the announcer gave a brief intro for both Trainers.
The introduction for Kai's opponent was standard fare, but when it came to Kai…
Two seconds of silence.
Then the announcer's voice returned surprised and excited:
> "Oh? I've just received confirmation—our next contestant is no ordinary Trainer! This is none other than Kai, the reigning Indigo League Champion and an Honorary Trainer of the Orange Islands! What an incredible surprise who would've guessed a competitor of his caliber would appear in the Whirlpool Cup?!"
An Indigo League Champion? Here?
The "Honorary Trainer of the Orange Islands" title was prestigious in its own right though the Orange League wasn't considered as competitive as Johto's or Kanto's conferences. Still, it was more notable than most regional circuits.
But the Indigo League? That was one of the big leagues on par with Johto's Silver Conference.
Even Maya, seated on the ceremonial platform, turned her gaze toward Kai with an intrigued expression.
No one had expected a Champion to participate in what many considered a regional exhibition.
Kai responded with a smile, giving a respectful wave as he stepped into the Trainer's command zone. Meanwhile, his opponent, already tense, visibly flinched at the news.
He glanced up at Kai and saw not only a handsome, composed figure but the aura of a battle-hardened warrior.
"I'm so screwed…" the boy muttered under his breath.
Kai gave his opponent a quick glance. The kid looked around fifteen or sixteen plump, sweating, and visibly anxious. Honestly, the six-year-old Ash had faced earlier looked more collected.
Still, Kai didn't underestimate him. Anyone who made it through the preliminaries had to be at least competent unless they were absurdly lucky.
The referee raised the flag.
Both Trainers sent out their Pokémon.
Kai had little choice given the restrictions, so he went with his trusty Blastoise. The opposing Trainer sent out a Corsola.
A Water/Rock-type Pokémon, pink and stubby, with branching coral horns a fairly common sight near coastal regions.
The two Pokémon stood atop their respective stone platforms, eyes locked.
The announcer clearly had done some background digging on Kai and was eager to share.
"It seems this Blastoise was one of Kai's earliest partners having helped him reach the Indigo League finals and ultimately claim victory! A powerful and trusted Pokémon, no doubt. Perhaps he's bringing it out now to guarantee a smooth advance to the next round!"
Of course, the announcer didn't know that Kai no longer considered Blastoise a frontline.
Not because it wasn't strong but because Kai's current roster had evolved far beyond his original team. Still, Blastoise remained reliable and battle-tested.
And to an outsider, it was easy to mistake "first partner" for "ace."
The battlefield itself was a large, circular water arena, easily four times the size of a standard stage. Surrounded by high walls, it allowed full freedom of movement without worrying about ring-outs a paradise for water types.
The referee raised the signal.
Every eye in the coliseum locked onto the center. All wanted to see what a League Champion was truly capable of.
But they wouldn't see a long, hard-fought match.
Because Corsola didn't stand a chance.
Despite its determination, Corsola was simply outmatched. It struggled to keep up with Blastoise's raw speed and precision.
In just a few short exchanges, Blastoise closed the gap, grabbed Corsola with surprising finesse, and slammed it onto the stone platform with brutal force.
It was a one-sided massacre.
Some of the audience sighed in disappointment, expecting more of a spectacle, but most erupted into excited chatter.
If this was how strong Kai's backup Pokémon was… how powerful was his full team?
As the crowd roared, Kai calmly turned and walked back toward the tunnel, his demeanor unchanged.
He had qualified for the top 32.
His next match would take place that afternoon at 3 PM. One more win, and he'd move on to the Sweet 16, with the finals just over the horizon.
But first, he had time to rest.
He headed back to the waiting room, hoping to catch the tail end of Misty's battle.
She was already heading to the stage, her match slotted just after his.
Unfortunately, he didn't make it in time to wish her luck she was already on the battlefield when he arrived.
He joined Ash on the bench and turned his eyes to the screen.
Misty's opponent was a rugged, middle-aged man named Hyde, sporting a straw hat and pirate-like attire. He sent out a Qwilfish, while Misty interestingly chose Corsola.
Corsola had just been thoroughly dismantled in the previous match by Kai. Even though Misty's Corsola was clearly a different individual, the crowd's impression of the species had taken a hit.
Still, Misty's popularity, beauty, and presence won her plenty of support from the stands.
Having seen both Kai and Ash win their matches, Misty was fired up. She took the initiative and launched the first move.
Hyde, on the other hand, appeared overly relaxed perhaps because Misty looked like a harmless young girl. His smug expression said it all.
He didn't take her seriously.
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