The crimson banner on the porch fluttered gently in the morning breeze, its flame-shaped emblem glowing warmly beneath the rising sun.
He crossed the foyer and followed the corridor to the Main Training Ground. Flannery was already there.
She stood in the center of the field with a bottle of water in hand. When she saw Xinhai enter, she raised a hand in greeting. "You're here? I've prepared several rounds for today, so you'd better be mentally ready."
"Don't worry. I've been ready for a long time." Xinhai stepped into the command area, his fingers lightly resting on the Poké Ball at his waist.
"Today's goal is simple—we're letting our partners truly experience the pressure of a Gym-level Pokémon in action."
Flannery set down her water bottle and walked to the command area opposite him, a faintly amused smile on her lips. "Then let's begin. For the first round, I'll send out a Gym-level Pokémon, and you'll use Gardevoir. This match isn't about winning or losing. We'll only see how long Gardevoir can last."
As she spoke, she removed a Poké Ball from her waist and pressed the release button.
A flash of red light passed, and an exceptionally slender Ninetales appeared in the center of the field.
Its fur was a soft beige, while its nine tails slowly unfurled behind it, each tip carrying a faint golden gleam.
Its crimson eyes gazed quietly across the field. It released no aggressive Presence, yet merely standing there made the air across the entire arena turn scorching hot.
Xinhai said nothing and pressed his Poké Ball. Gardevoir entered the field to face Ninetales.
Ninetales did not use any skills. It simply stood there, its nine tails slowly swaying behind it.
Yet the instant Gardevoir entered that area, her Psychic Field was compressed