Sinnoh Region, Sandgem Town.
The resort hotel, adjacent to Sandgem Beach and caressed by the soothing sea breeze, exuded a tranquil ambiance.
By the open-air swimming pool on the top floor, a Gastrodon, a soft-shelled creature, was playfully lapping up the pool water with its tongue.
Glaceon, dignified and elegant, lounged comfortably beneath the awning, squinting as it let out a contented yawn.
A blonde beauty reclined on a beach chair, draped in a white bath towel while her wet locks of golden hair lay casually strewn about.
Scooping up a spoonful of ice cream, Cynthia focused on the game console in front of her.
[GAMEOVER]
"This is so tough..."
"Can't they make it easier by charging some money? Such a hassle..."
Cynthia sighed, setting down the PSP and rising from her beach chair. With graceful, well-proportioned legs, she made her way inside through the glass door, seeking refuge from the heat.
Inside, beneath the cool air conditioning, a Spiritomb in disguise attempted to resemble a potted plant.
Three days had passed since Lucian's challenge, offering Cynthia a rare vacation period.
While Cynthia's daily life mostly involved leisurely activities like swimming and fishing, she occasionally visited Eterna City to study inscriptions, frequented the library in Canalave City, and even went shopping with Diantha when their schedules aligned.
Nevertheless, the task of facing the Elite Four still remained one of the few responsibilities for Cynthia.
In Sinnoh Region, after the defeat and subsequent disappearance of Cyrus, the leader of Team Galactic, the region had experienced relative tranquility. In contrast, Kanto was grappling with the resurgence of Team Rocket, and Unova was struggling with issues involving Team Plasma.
Hoenn's Champion, on the other hand, seemed to have an easier time, exploring caves worldwide and eventually passing the mantle of Champion to someone else.
Comparatively, Cynthia believed her affinity for fishing was more reasonable than Steven's pursuits.
This brief holiday spanned three days, and Cynthia was determined to make the most of it by clearing a game from her backlog.
After all, the Attribute Expert Cup and the Master Championship loomed on the horizon, leaving little time for gaming.
Using a comb, Cynthia meticulously arranged her tousled blonde hair. Securing her hair with a rubber band, not a single strand came loose during the process.
Even Diantha had expressed admiration for Cynthia's hair quality, often running her fingers through the golden locks. However, Cynthia herself paid it no mind.
Immersed in mythological research and occupied with her initial Champion duties, she had allowed her hair to grow long.
Unbeknownst to her, Cynthia's blonde hair had reached waist length, making her easily recognizable wherever she went.
Every time Diantha persuaded Cynthia to go shopping incognito, the disguise was foiled by her conspicuous hair, rendering the sunglasses ineffective.
"Well, what other games should I play..."
Cross-legged on the floor, Cynthia's slender, porcelain-like legs were positioned elegantly.
In front of her, the LCD screen was connected to the console, displaying a menu full of games. However, Cynthia had already collected most of the trophies available.
Offering a controller to Garchomp, she was unexpectedly met with rejection.
Cynthia pursed her lips and started searching for a single-player game.
"Pokémon Battle... It's been a while since I played this. Let's give it a shot!"
Cynthia's eyes brightened as she connected a voice control device for commands and clicked on the interface for "Pokémon Battle."
To avoid any complications, Cynthia decided not to use her verified account for "Pokémon Battle." She wanted to keep her identity hidden from Sinnoh Elite Four's Bug Type expert, Aaron, and Fire Type expert, Flint.
Playing against them would be rather dull, as they were too predictable.
The matchmaking interface appeared, and Cynthia couldn't help but feel a bit intrigued.
"Players from the Orient Region, that's rare."
"Single battle, one match to determine the winner?"
Cynthia looked at the rule description in astonishment, and a slight smile formed at the corner of her lips.
"Indeed, using Garchomp is the way to go."
In the virtual world, Cynthia tossed a Poké Ball, summoning her formidable Garchomp onto the battlefield.
Meanwhile, the Garchomp nearby, engrossed in munching on Pokéblocks, glanced at the screen and displayed a hint of disdain before returning its attention to its food.
On the opposing side, a red light flickered, and a mischievous Gengar, levitating, emitted eerie chuckles.
"Which Ghost Type Trainer could it be? I'm feeling quite confident..."
Cynthia's tone barely faded as her gaze sharpened, and she whispered, "Crunch!"
In an instant, Garchomp, propelled by its impressive speed, shot forward like a cannonball, aiming straight for Gengar.
With its spindle-shaped Dragon Tail slicing through the air, a sonic boom resounded as Garchomp closed in rapidly.
With a wide-open mouth, Garchomp lunged towards Gengar, aiming to bite down hard!
"Ka—!"
However, Gengar erected a resilient Barrier just in time. Under the protective shield of "Protect," Garchomp was pushed back several meters.
Simultaneously, a mournful melody emanated from Gengar's mouth, causing Garchomp to visibly tremble.
Cynthia furrowed her brows.
In reality, Perish Song continuously weakens the opponent's mental state through fear-inducing sound waves. Over time, the opponent's will to fight completely wanes.
This isn't a physical attack, so it's seldom used in actual Trainer battles.
However, when a Pokémon loses its will to fight, it's also considered a loss in a standard match.
Cynthia's brows furrowed in thought.
Could this Trainer from the Orient Region be an expert in psychological tactics?
The remaining time for "Perish Song" was clearly displayed atop Garchomp.
If the battle couldn't be concluded within five minutes, the system would automatically declare Cynthia the loser due to the effects of "Perish Song."
After a moment of contemplation, Cynthia made her decision. "Garchomp, Dragon Rush!"
Garchomp charged once more, resembling a blazing meteor as it soared across the sky of the battlefield.
Cynthia's other Pokémon were also drawn to the scene, gathering around the screen to intently watch her engage in the match.
Simultaneously, the "Protect" barrier materialized in front of Gengar again.
Cynthia's smile grew slightly, her eyes sharp. "Now's the time, Dig!"
Cynthia had clearly anticipated Gengar's "Protect."
With Garchomp's speed, it dove into the ground, emerging almost instantly behind Gengar!
"Kaao—!"
Emerging from the earth, Garchomp swung its twin sickles, tearing into Gengar with a hiss.
The move Dig inflicted double damage on Gengar!
On another front, Luke was shamelessly explaining.
"What kind of trashy Pokémon is Garchomp, hitting Gengar like that?"
"My Gengar has the Levitate Ability!"
"Huh?!"
"Is my Levitate Ability fake? It can be struck by Ground Type moves like Dig?"
"Hahahaha, it's a taste of your own medicine, Teacher Luke!"
"The opponent's strategy is truly strong, reminiscent of a Master Rank battle!"
"Silly Teacher Luke, you got predicted!"
"But it doesn't matter."
Luke's smile was faint. "Because we have Focus Sash!"