When the host stepped onto the stage, the top sixteen contestants, including Steven and Cynthia, were announced and welcomed.
The first part of the ceremony was the presentation of the top sixteen prizes.
A trapdoor-like opening on the stage slid aside, and a tiered pedestal rose from below.
The pedestal resembled a pyramid—wider at the base and narrowing toward the top. On each level rested a Pokémon egg.
That's right, these Pokémon eggs were among the rewards this time!
There were sixteen eggs in total, arranged in four tiers. The highest tier held just one egg, the second tier held three, the third held four, and the bottom tier held eight.
As the pedestal fully ascended, the top sixteen trainers were momentarily stunned.
This was the long-awaited prize ceremony, but if the rewards for the top sixteen were merely Pokémon eggs, it would have been underwhelming.
After all, every trainer who had made it this far already had a strong roster of first and second-tier Pokémon that required their attention.
While these League-provided eggs were undoubtedly special—each containing a Pokémon with exceptional potential—they still lacked novelty.
However, the host's explanation quickly changed their minds.
These eggs had been gathered from the Leagues of five major regions. Each League had contributed rare specimens, and after rigorous screening, only the most exceptional eggs had been selected—truly one-in-a-million.
The trainers would choose their eggs based on their rankings.
The League had not labeled the species inside each egg, leaving the selection to chance and intuition.
The higher an egg was placed, the better its potential—but that didn't necessarily mean it was the best fit for every trainer. The first-place winner could very well choose an egg from the lowest tier if they wished.
Among the sixteen, only one trainer never underestimated these eggs from the start.
Aoki, his eyes scanning the pedestal, felt a flicker of excitement.
Though his system was dormant and unable to perform advanced functions, its basic scanning capability remained active.
Immediately, he received information on each egg.
Every single one made his pulse quicken.
This time, the League had truly spared no expense.
Suppressing his astonishment, Aoki identified several targets. Now, it all depended on Steven and the others' choices.
The first to choose was Steven, the champion, who had priority.
If he followed conventional wisdom, he would likely pick the topmost egg—after all, its placement suggested superiority.
But before Steven could step forward, Aoki, standing beside him, murmured softly:
"Trust your instincts."
That single sentence made Steven reconsider.
After a brief hesitation, Steven retrieved a Pokéball and released his gleaming golden Pokémon—a Metagross.
Though still recovering from earlier battles, the Metagross had regained enough strength to assist.
Steven placed a hand on its massive claw, silently asking it to sense which egg would best suit him.
As his oldest and most trusted partner, the Metagross understood Steven's preferences and strengths perfectly.
This sudden inspiration was far better than blind selection.
What if he ended up with a Water-type or Electric-type Pokémon?
Those weren't types he specialized in.
The Metagross closed its eyes, relying on its Steel and Psychic abilities to scan the eggs.
Finally, it locked onto one in the middle of the second tier.
Without hesitation—fully trusting his partner—Steven claimed that egg.
Watching from behind, Aoki gave a subtle nod.
Steven had done well to rely on his Pokémon's perception.
This egg contained a Mawile—one with the Hyper Cutter Ability and light-blue-tier potential.
Yes, light-blue potential. That was why Aoki believed the League had truly gone all-out.
The four eggs on the top two tiers all had light-blue potential, differing only in rarity. Even the lowest-tier eggs were at least deep-cyan.
For the next generation of elite trainers, these prizes were an unprecedented investment.
Properly raised, any of these Pokémon could become a champion's ace.
Steven's Mawile might not have been the strongest of the four, but it was the best fit for him.
A Steel/Fairy-type—a combination Aoki himself had recently revealed—it would grant Steven a powerful counter against Dragon-types.
With Hyper Cutter now and Huge Power if it ever Mega Evolved, this Mawile would be a devastating force.
And from its genetic moves, Aoki could tell it had exceptional talent in both Fairy and Steel techniques.
After Steven's selection, it was Cynthia's turn.
Taking inspiration from Steven, she summoned her Lucario. With its Aura abilities, Lucario was the perfect assistant for this task.
The moment Cynthia released Lucario, Aoki knew which egg she would pick.
Just as he predicted, guided by Lucario's senses, Cynthia chose the egg at the very top—a Togepi.
Light-blue potential, with the Serene Grace Ability.
No one understood better than Aoki just how formidable a Togekiss with Serene Grace could become.
This had been one of his top choices.
As a Fairy-type, Togepi could potentially harness Aura, making it a perfect match for Aoki's own abilities.
But when Cynthia summoned Lucario, he knew—its Aura senses would inevitably lead her to that Togepi egg.
With his first choice gone, Aoki turned to his second target.
Again, he marveled at the League's generosity.
Clearly, they had adjusted their selections after his revelation of the Fairy type.
This Sinnoh competition's prizes were no coincidence.
Both Steven and Cynthia had chosen Fairy-type Pokémon.
And the one Aoki would pick?
The same.
Lorelei and Aoki stepped forward simultaneously. Unlike Steven and Cynthia, neither summoned a Pokémon to assist—they relied purely on instinct.
Aoki's choice?
A little Psychic/Fairy-type.
It was undeniable—the League had tailored these eggs after seeing the four semifinalists.
Otherwise, it would have been impossible for all four top-tier eggs to perfectly suit them.