Doctor, Is This Really Just a Side Job?

Xia Yan looked up. Infernape's Fake Out had ultimately failed to interrupt Gardevoir.

Lucario appeared in time. It failed to stop Infernape, but it briefly hindered Infernape's speed and direction of advance.

In the end, Glaceon's Ice Beam successfully intercepted Infernape.

Fortunately, Infernape's flames meant it did not suffer much damage.

After casting Lucario a somewhat indignant glance, Infernape decisively withdrew, avoiding the risk of being surrounded.

The first round of probing between Xia Yan and Cynthia ended with Infernape's retreat.

Clearly.

Cynthia knew Infernape's capabilities very well and had made certain preparations.

Gardevoir had successfully Traced Alakazam's Magic Guard Ability, then transferred it to Glaceon and Spiritomb through Skill Swap.

Glaceon's Ability was useless in Cynthia's lineup, while Spiritomb's Intimidate felt even more dispensable.

After the Abilities were swapped—

Xia Yan glanced at Cynthia and formed a guess.

"Garchomp, Sandstorm!"

"Alakazam, Sunny Day!"

Just as expected!

As Cynthia's voice rang out, Xia Yan's followed merely a second later.

Thus, Garchomp's Sandstorm had only just kicked up a little dust before it instantly vanished.

It was replaced by the blazing sun.

Cynthia looked at Xia Yan in surprise, her eyes filled with astonishment.

Xia Yan happened to be looking at Cynthia too. He could not help grinning, wearing a faintly self-satisfied smile.

The main reason was that Cynthia's intentions had been far too obvious.

There were so many good Abilities.

Togekiss's Serene Grace, Beedrill's Sniper, and even Infernape's Blaze would have been decent choices.

Yet she had specifically chosen Alakazam's Magic Guard.

Without a Life Orb, and with Xia Yan lacking any battlefield-control tactics like the Three Powders, Cynthia had still selected that Ability.

Combined with the unchanged Garchomp and the Steel-type Lucario, her intentions were simply too obvious.

As for Sunny Day—

In a tournament at this level, it