The next match was between Cynthia and Drasna in the Kalos region. Drasna, a Trainer who specialized in Dragon-type Pokémon, was a formidable opponent. She felt both fortunate and unfortunate to face Cynthia—fortunate not to have encountered Aoki and suffered the same fate as Whitney, yet unfortunate to be matched against one of Sinnoh's strongest competitors.
The result was no surprise. Cynthia, whose team had the highest average strength among all participants, secured the victory. Her Pokémon were well-balanced, with no glaring weaknesses, and she was one of the few Trainers in the Top 16 who utilized a diverse team. In fact, only three Trainers in the tournament did so: Aoki, Cynthia, and the No. 1 seed from Kalos, Drasna.
Most Top 16 competitors specialized in a single type, with some slight variations. For example, Steven primarily used Steel and Rock-types, but his focus remained on Steel. This made such opponents difficult to counter, as they lacked obvious weak points. Cynthia, however, was even harder to defeat than Aoki.
While Aoki had potential weak links in his Swampert and Poliwhirl, Cynthia's team was uniformly strong. Her Garchomp stood out slightly due to its natural power as a pseudo-legendary, but the rest of her Pokémon were equally formidable.
Aoki had yet to reveal his Politoed in battle, leading many to assume it was still a Poliwhirl. Even if it had evolved, they believed it wouldn't make a significant difference. This was precisely why Aoki had kept it hidden—it was his secret weapon.
Politoed could serve as a trump card, especially against opponents like Wallace in the semifinals. If Wallace fielded a Pokémon with the Drizzle ability, Aoki could use Politoed to complete his rain team strategy. However, against other opponents, Politoed's independent combat ability might not be as effective as Swampert's.
Cynthia's victory was met with thunderous applause. As a Sinnoh native, she received overwhelming support from the crowd. Alongside Lorelei, she was considered one of the tournament's most composed and elegant competitors.
The following match was an intriguing clash between Lucian of Sinnoh and Clair of Johto—both Trainers specializing in Psychic-types, yet with vastly different approaches.
Lucian was known for his studious and reserved nature. In the Sinnoh competitors' lounge, he was often seen quietly reading in a corner, only setting his book aside when it was time to battle. Despite being the region's second-strongest participant (after Cynthia), he remained humble, always greeting opponents with a warm smile and treating them with respect, even in victory.
Caitlin, on the other hand, was a different story.
She was a true psychic.
Not an amateur like Aoki—Caitlin's abilities were said to rival Sabrina's, the Goldenrod City Gym Leader. However, her immense power came with a drawback: she frequently lost control, causing chaos around her.
Caitlin was arguably the strongest representative from Johto, but her instability led to Lance being appointed team captain instead. Though Lance specialized in Dragon-types (a disadvantage against Caitlin's Psychic team), he was one of the few who could restrain her when necessary.
To ensure safety, a special observer accompanied Caitlin during the tournament: Thorton, the Battle Castle Brain of the Battle Frontier. He was the only one capable of stopping her if she lost control—a very real possibility, given that an unchecked Caitlin could potentially level half the stadium.
Despite her volatile nature, Caitlin wasn't malicious. She simply struggled to contain her power. In the future, she would learn to master her abilities and rise to become one of Johto's Elite Four.
Interestingly, Caitlin had sought out Cynthia before the tournament, expressing admiration for her discipline and strength. The two eventually became close friends.
The battle between Caitlin and Lucian was a spectacular display of psychic prowess. Caitlin teetered on the edge of losing control multiple times, but Thorton intervened each time, stabilizing her. In the end, Caitlin's psychic augmentation gave her the narrowest of victories.
Had the match relied solely on Pokémon strength, Lucian would have won. But Caitlin's supernatural edge secured her advancement.
The final match of the day pitted Diantha of Kalos against Lance of Johto—the first showdown between two regional top seeds.
A battle of tactical brilliance.
Diantha's signature Pokémon, Gardevoir, perfectly matched her elegant demeanor. The fight was intense, but Diantha's unpredictable team composition, much like Cynthia's, made her difficult to counter. She emerged victorious, securing her spot in the quarterfinals.
With this, the Top 8 were finalized:
Hoenn dominated with three representatives, much to Adam's delight. Even if none of them reached the finals, he was satisfied with their performance.
Kanto claimed two spots, proving its enduring strength as a powerhouse region. Lorelei and Lance had both advanced, with Lorelei being a serious championship contender.
Sinnoh's sole survivor was Cynthia, carrying the hopes of her entire region.
Johto's lone representative was Caitlin, whose potential was undeniable—if not for her instability, she would have been a favorite to win.
Kalos's Diantha rounded out the list, a future Champion in the making.
The stage was set for the quarterfinals, where the strongest Trainers would clash in pursuit of glory.