Dazzling sunlight streamed down from the sky, yet what it spread was not warmth.
A chill crept through the air, making everyone present raise their collars to keep it out.
Yellow sand filled the Battle Arena, obscuring everything. Only a red flash remained, bobbing and weaving endlessly within it.
At that moment, both the spectators outside the arena and the Trainers within could only wait in anticipation.
Ordinary eyesight simply could not pierce the sand to see what was really happening in the battle.
Even Dian was no exception.
In the past, he would probably have been swept up in the battle, considering various ways to respond.
But now...
"The outcome was already decided a moment ago."
Dian glanced sideways and spotted the White Fairy beside Latias. "Sub-Elite Caitlin."
She was younger than he had expected, and younger than her photographs suggested. She looked like a young girl, barely a few years older than Misty or Dawn.
Sometimes, he had to admit that talent was truly enviable.
Caitlin, Sabrina, Olympia—each represented the pinnacle of Psychic-type Trainers.
Nine out of ten famous Psychic-type Trainers were psychics themselves, with virtually no exceptions.
Psychic-type Pokémon and Psychic-type Trainers helped each other improve.
Telepathy alone could resolve any number of difficult situations.
For instance, if the Blond Man before Dian had inherited enough Psychic powers to use Telepathy, he would not have been sweating now.
"Being too fixated on winning and losing can blind you to the most basic things."
Dian's gaze grew deep. Having that Charizard use Flare Blitz earlier had been a blunder.
At least judging from that, his opponent was fairly capable, but probably not a professional Trainer.
Otherwise, a Trainer's most basic instincts should have led him to choose between Inferno and Blast Burn.
After all, Flare Blitz was a