For the first time, Cynthia felt her composure crack during a battle.
She was a Trainer—a very skilled, very powerful Trainer. Everyone believed this, and so did she.
There was no need for false modesty. She was the strongest in Sinnoh. That was a fact.
But Cynthia also knew she hadn't reached the very top. Ever since Dylan's sudden rise, everyone understood—the strongest Trainer in the world was him.
Who could possibly defeat Dylan? Maybe only that mysterious Aizen, but after the Saffron City battle, Aizen had vanished without a trace.
Cynthia had already prepared herself for the outcome of this challenge. Even if Dylan completely crushed her, she was ready.
She wouldn't be the first, and she wouldn't be the last.
Still, she had chosen to challenge him. She was a Trainer—a Trainer always striving to reach higher.
Only by moving forward bravely could she go further on her path, right?
And Cynthia always believed in one thing:
"If your opponent is a Trainer, then by battling them, you'll come to understand what kind of person they are."
For someone who loved Pokémon, battling was supposed to be joyful. Cynthia firmly believed this.
And truthfully, she was deeply curious about Dylan. How had he managed to catch so many legendaries? How had he become so overwhelmingly strong?
Through this battle, maybe she could learn a little more about him.
But now that the battle was underway… something felt wrong.
She wasn't happy.
Especially watching her ace, Garchomp, staggering in confusion, hurting itself in front of Dylan's Mega Gengar. The sight weighed on her heart like never before.
How could it turn out like this?
No matter the challenge, so long as she was with her Pokémon, she could overcome it. That was one of her core beliefs.
But now, she realized… she couldn't.
Cynthia silently watched Dylan's shiny Mega Gengar dance mockingly, twisting its body with grotesque glee, while her Mega Garchomp collapsed under the crushing toll of Curse and Toxic. She slowly closed her eyes.
Arceus above… why do Gengar even exist in this world?
"Garchomp is unable to battle. Mega Gengar wins!"
The referee declared the result, then glanced at Cynthia.
This elegant, beautiful Sinnoh Champion remained utterly silent, her expression calm and unreadable.
The referee couldn't help but admire her. If he were in her place, he might already be cursing Dylan's name.
Who battles like this?!
Cynthia recalled Garchomp, gazing at the Poké Ball of her most trusted partner, her eyes distant.
Her path as a Trainer had always been smooth. She was a prodigy in everyone's eyes, and Garchomp had been with her since the very beginning.
Every battle she fought with Garchomp had always been her happiest moments as a Trainer.
But this was the first time she hadn't felt joy fighting alongside it.
"You look shaken, Cynthia?"
Dylan's warm voice pulled her out of her daze.
"Not shaken. Just… reflecting."
She steadied herself, shook her head, and gave a faint smile.
"It's thanks to you, Dylan. You've shown me just how frighteningly effective Ghost-types can be."
Indeed, with Curse + Toxic + Confusion, her Garchomp had been utterly dismantled.
"Geh-heh!"
Shiny Mega Gengar was delighted at the compliment, twisting its body again in that bizarre dance it had once learned from a Bellossom.
That had been its first battle as Dylan's Ghost-type ace, and it remembered it clearly. That Bellossom had been adorable.
Cynthia's eyelid twitched as Mega Gengar danced mockingly again.
"Yes. Pokémon are incredible. No matter the type, each has its unique charm. I love them all for their special traits."
Dylan's smile was radiant, his gaze at Gengar filled with gentle affection.
So your definition of "Ghost-type charm"… is torment and misery?
Cynthia pressed her lips together. Saying that aloud would hardly be dignified.
"Dylan, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"My cousin… she's the one who drew Ghost as your team's type, isn't she?" Cynthia tucked a strand of golden hair behind her ear, her tone calm and harmless.
"Ah, yes. I owe her thanks. I wasn't sure which team to use against you… then I ran into her outside the lounge. She solved my dilemma."
"I see. Then I'll be sure to thank her myself."
Cynthia's elegant smile never wavered.
But she didn't need Dylan to say the name. She already knew.
Her blonde cousin.
Gardevoir… damn you!!!
Of all the types to draw, why Ghost?!
If it had been Normal, or Fire, or almost anything else, she wouldn't have been humiliated like this.
Looking at that blindingly white shiny Mega Gengar, Cynthia felt utterly at a loss.
The rest of the match was hardly worth describing.
Against Dylan's Mega Gengar, her last two Pokémon had no chance.
Even ignoring the underhanded tactics, Mega Gengar's sheer combat ability wasn't inferior to Mega Garchomp at all.
The earlier clash between Shadow Ball and Dragon Claw had proved that.
Add in its incredible speed, plus its mastery of status effects, and it was obvious why this Gengar was Dylan's Ghost-type ace.
"Iron Arm is unable to battle. Mega Gengar wins!"
"With all six of Cynthia's Pokémon unable to continue, Cynthia's challenge ends in defeat. Dylan successfully defends his title!"
The referee's voice carried across the arena.
The crowd erupted, the cheers so loud they carried far beyond the stadium.
"Champion Dylan!! Unstoppable!!"
"Knew it! The Sinnoh Champion was nothing—Dylan handled her like nothing!"
"Ugh, I knew this would happen. She shouldn't have challenged him…"
"Damn, Dylan's Ghost team is insane!"
"What's crazy is… his official Champion title was earned with his Dragon team! Who can even break his undefeated streak?"
Online, the battle was already blowing up.
A new forum thread listed every Champion Dylan had defeated so far, those who hadn't fought him yet, like Iris, and gave a detailed breakdown of who might beat him.
After careful analysis… it concluded Iris had absolutely no chance.
The poster immediately went silent.
—Indigo Arena—
Cynthia sighed softly as she recalled her fainted Conkeldurr. She had lost—completely swept.
Dylan's shiny Mega Gengar, proud after its three-straight victory, reverted from Mega Evolution and floated smugly at Dylan's side, hands on its hips, looking unbearably pleased with itself.
"Well done. Beautifully fought."
Dylan praised it without restraint, patting its head.
Gengar's huge eyes narrowed happily into crescents.
"A fine battle, Cynthia."
Dylan walked toward her and offered his hand.
"Thank you. But for me, this was a deeply humbling defeat."
Cynthia accepted his handshake gracefully.
This was something Dylan liked about battling Trainers like her, Wallace, Leon, and Lance.
Though every battle was different, their hearts were always strong. Even when utterly crushed, they adjusted quickly and moved forward. That was the mark of a true Trainer.
Greatness needed no explanation.
And that was why Dylan could unleash his full, merciless tactics against them—without restraint.
"I'll be waiting for our next battle. Next time, I'll use a different team." Dylan smiled warmly.
"I'll be ready before I challenge you again."
Cynthia's smile was elegant as ever—but in truth, she wouldn't be challenging Dylan again any time soon.
This battle had left her needing rest.
As for when the next challenge would be… even she didn't know.
She believed Dylan wouldn't use Ghost-types again against her. But Dylan had more than one "nightmare" team.
Cynthia hadn't forgotten which type first made Dylan famous.
"By the way, Dylan… do you think I'm worthy?"
Her eyes brightened with a playful glint. She stretched out her slender, pale hand toward him.
"?" Dylan blinked.
"Since I challenged you, don't you think I deserve a memento?" she said with a girlish playfulness that clashed amusingly with her usual mature grace.
"Why not just challenge my Gym directly then?" Dylan chuckled, shaking his head.
Still, he reached into his pocket and handed her a small ornate box.
Inside was a badge—an eerie violet gem shaped like a little ghost.
The Rota Badge. The Ghost-type emblem.
"An upper-level challenge deserves a proper memento," Cynthia said softly, her thumb tracing the smooth gem. Her smile deepened.
Now she, too, had the Rota Badge.
"With this challenge over, it'll be a while before anyone else comes at me," Dylan said with a wry shrug. "That's the problem with being Champion from the start."
"How long, do you think?"
Cynthia walked beside him toward the player tunnel.
"Probably not until the second half of the year. Champions like you won't be back so soon. It'll be Red and the others once they're ready. My students, too."
Red and Blue were nearly there. Leaf and Silver had begun their journeys. Silver still had a way to go, but Leaf… she was special. She might have a shot.
Cynthia was thoughtful, but her mind drifted elsewhere.
She needed to have a serious talk with her dear cousin Gardevoir.
(End of Chapter)