Steven pushed open the door to the resting lounge with his usual effortless confidence.
"I'm back."
Phoebe instantly raised a thumb.
"Steven-ge, you're amazing!"
Steven waved casually. "No need to flatter me. That match was barely warm-up."
As expected — unless he ran into Cynthia or Lance, Steven could walk all the way to semifinals without ever breaking a sweat.
Chen Shi glanced at the golden-haired girl beside him.
"Your turn should be coming up soon, right? Volkner… I know him. Runner-up of the Lily of the Valley Conference. Lost to you once already. Looks like fate wants him to get beaten again."
Cynthia brushed a strand of hair behind her ear, voice cool and steady.
"A defeated opponent remains a defeated opponent.
This time, the winner will still be me."
White Silver Stadium — Main Arena
"Next on the field, representing the Sinnoh region—Volkner!"
"Runner-up of the last Lily of the Valley Conference, a powerhouse Electric-type specialist!"
Volkner stepped out of the tunnel, tension and determination etched across his face. His fans roared his name.
"And now—hold onto your seats—entering the field…
Sinnoh's Battle Goddess…
Cynthia!!"
Cynthia walked out in her iconic black coat, heels striking crisply against the arena floor. The crowd erupted like a volcano. Sinnoh spectators nearly blew the roof off.
The announcer's excitement peaked.
"These two once clashed in the finals of the Lily of the Valley Conference! Cynthia took the crown that day — but in this new world stage, anything can happen!
Will Volkner redeem himself, or will Cynthia reaffirm her throne?!"
The referee raised his flag.
"Trainers — send out your Pokémon."
Volkner inhaled deeply.
"Last time, I lost fair and square. Today… fight me with everything you have!"
He threw his Poké Ball.
Luxray burst forth, mane sparking and electricity crackling. A clean Early Elite-tier specimen.
Cynthia simply tossed her Poké Ball.
"Lucario."
"Lucar!"
Lucario stepped out calmly — but his eyes locked onto Luxray with a sharp, familiar intensity.
The referee swept his arm.
"Battle… begin!"
Opening Exchange
"Luxray — Electric Terrain!"
"Lucario — Swords Dance."
Golden lightning spread instantly across the battlefield, super-charging Electric-type moves. Lucario ignored the surging sparks and spun gracefully, raising its attack power.
"Luxray — Thunderbolt!"
"Lucario — Double Team."
Illusory Lucarios scattered in all directions.
Rest Lounge
Steven leaned back.
"What do you think of this opening?"
Chen Shi tapped his chin.
"She's going for a two-for-one sweep."
"Huh? Volkner's strong — Cynthia doesn't have level or type advantage. Sweeping both isn't realistic."
Chen Shi smiled.
He had traveled with Cynthia long enough to know her habits better than anyone.
Cynthia only used Swords Dance at the start under two conditions:
When the opponent is so strong she must boost.
When she intends to give the opponent no chance whatsoever — and sweep their entire team.
And Volkner wasn't strong enough for Condition 1.
Which meant—
She planned to crush both of Volkner's Pokémon using Lucario alone.
Back to the Field
Thunderbolt tore through the illusions.
Cynthia's eyes narrowed.
"Lucario — Extreme Speed."
"Luxray — Wild Charge!" Volkner countered instantly.
The collision should've been in Luxray's favor — Electric Terrain boosted Wild Charge, and recoil would hit Lucario harder.
But Cynthia smiled faintly.
Extreme Speed rarely allowed redirection mid-charge…
But Cynthia's Lucario wasn't "rare."
"Lucario — Bone Rush!"
Just before impact, Lucario twisted like a flash of steel. A glowing bone staff materialized and slammed directly onto Luxray's skull.
CRACK—!
Luxray staggered, Wild Charge faltering mid-dash.
Lucario was jolted by electricity, but Luxray took far more damage.
Volkner's eyes widened.
"Impossible! Extreme Speed into Bone Rush—mid-movement?!"
To Cynthia, though, this wasn't improvisation.
It was inevitable victory.
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