A flash of red light passed, and Krookodile appeared in the center of the field.
It lowered its center of gravity slightly, its eyes behind the sunglasses studying the Torkoal opposite it through the lenses, while its tail slowly swayed behind it.
After confirming that both sides were in position, the referee lowered his flag for the second time. "Begin!"
Almost at the same instant, Flannery's voice rang out. "Torkoal, Sunny Day!"
The vents on Torkoal's back suddenly lit up, and a fist-sized ball of blazing white light slowly rose from them, like a sun compressed to its absolute limit.
The light ball abruptly expanded once it reached midair, releasing dazzling white light and astonishing heat.
The temperature across the entire training ground rapidly soared within a few breaths. The air warped slightly from the scorching heat, and even Xinhai could feel the heat wave washing over his cheeks.
"Krookodile, Sandstorm!"
Krookodile let out a deep roar as Rock type energy surged from its body, sweeping up fine sand and rock dust from the ground to form a spinning sand tornado around itself.
Centered on Krookodile, the sand tornado expanded outward. The grayish-brown dust intertwined with the blazing white radiance of the Little Sun hanging overhead, as though two different forces were silently wrestling in the center of the field.
The scorching sunlight released by Sunny Day pierced through the dust, baking every grain of sand at the forefront until it was blisteringly hot.
Xinhai's gaze sharpened at the sight. Although the Sandstorm had successfully covered the field, the heat continuously released by the Little Sun was steadily heating every particle within the sand and dust.
When this heated Sandstorm battered a Pokémon's body, it would continuously wear away at its stamina. The drain was even greater than that of