Cynthia's slender, pale fingers gently pressed against the Key Stone, and a golden light instantly gushed out, enveloping Garchomp.
Within the golden light, Garchomp's body became taller, its head and shoulders more slender, and its scythe-like wings transformed into true scythes of death.
"Is that Mega Garchomp?! So cool!"
Ash's eyes sparkled with little stars as he looked at Cynthia's Mega Garchomp. How could there be such a cool Pokémon?
So powerful, so powerful!
"I think Mega Gardevoir is even more charming. Look at its proud peaks, and its black gloves and beautiful, flowing skirt!"
"Just imagining its black-gloved hand gently caressing my face, I already feel like I'm going to die of happiness."
Brock, looking at Shiny Gardevoir's figure, had become like a steaming engine, uttering words Ash shouldn't hear.
"Can you really let Ash hear words like that?!"
Xiao Xia, for some unknown reason, instinctively pinched Brock's ear, then ignored his pleas for mercy and dragged him to a secluded spot.
The foreheads of the other onlookers were covered in cold sweat.
"Ah, hahaha, this one is truly... full of genuine character."
Professor Oak, sweating, didn't know how to describe Brock. After much thought, he still managed to blurt out "genuine character."
"He's just perverted, why make it sound so refined?"
Professor Ivy looked disdainful. If he's perverted, he's perverted; why make excuses?
"Ah, haha, Ash, who do you think will win?"
Professor Oak chose to ignore that fatal question, instead asking Ash who he thought was stronger and would win.
This stumped Ash. In terms of size, he felt Yu Feng's Gardevoir had a better chance, but in terms of physical robustness, he thought Cynthia's Garchomp was stronger.
It was really hard to choose! Ash let out a silent wail.
"Pika, Pika!"
Pikachu didn't have so many worries. Although Yu Feng often tormented him in training, it was for his own good, and if he didn't cheer for his own people, who would he cheer for?
Pikachu, pulling out two cheerleading pom-poms from who knows where, cheered and rooted for Yu Feng.
"Pikachu is still at ease, cheering for whoever he wants."
Ash was delighted by Pikachu's casual demeanor, as he always managed to pull out strange things.
"I think Champion Cynthia has a greater chance of winning. Yu Feng's Boss Gardevoir and I have battled, and I still had a chance to counterattack, but facing Garchomp..."
Ash compared the Gardevoir from before to the Garchomp he had just battled. Ash felt that Garchomp's combat power was stronger.
Moreover, Professor Oak had said that Mega Evolution would strengthen them, so even if the already weaker Gardevoir Mega Evolved, it might not be able to defeat Garchomp, especially since the opponent had also Mega Evolved.
"Ash, Mega Gardevoir's typing is Fairy and Psychic. Fairy-type is super effective against Dragon-type, and conversely, Dragon-type moves, apart from their inherent physical damage, deal no damage to Mega Gardevoir."
"And Yu Feng's Gardevoir knows Ice-type moves, and due to the Pixilate ability, Normal-type moves become Fairy-type. So, the situation on the field is actually unfavorable for Cynthia."
Professor Oak sighed, watching Ash judge the outcome purely by feeling. These things aren't calculated by your feelings.
Type advantages don't disappear with increased levels, and perhaps Yu Feng didn't knock you out because he didn't want to crush your confidence.
After all, as a former Champion, Professor Oak had that much discernment. Both Cynthia's Garchomp and Yu Feng's Boss Shiny Gardevoir could defeat Ash instantly.
Cynthia's battle was a training session, so she needed to let Ash recognize his own problems. But Yu Feng probably didn't want to discourage him. After all, having just started his journey, Yu Feng could directly defeat him, which is very damaging to a person's self-confidence.
"Who are you saying is at a disadvantage?! However, Mega Garchomp battling Mega Gardevoir indeed doesn't have an advantage."
Professor Ivy condemned Professor Oak for speaking about her granddaughter that way, but what Professor Oak said was indeed reasonable. Cynthia's Mega Garchomp, even after Mega Evolution, was still within the Champion's scope.
Conversely, although Boss Gardevoir wasn't a Champion, it was just a hair's breadth away, and after Mega Evolution, it just barely entered that tier.
And with the type advantage, it could still contend with Garchomp... "Here we go! Use Hyper Voice!"
Yu Feng raised his hand high, and after his words fell, he pointed at Mega Garchomp with a very confident smile.
"Gar!!!"
The red light in Mega Boss Shiny Gardevoir's (what a long name!) eyes overflowed, and every movement seemed to make the entire field tremble.
With slightly parted lips, a pink sound wave enveloped Mega Garchomp.
"Stir up a Sandstorm! Then use Swords Dance!"
Cynthia had no intention of dodging, as sound-based moves are guaranteed to hit. This wasn't like Swift, which relies on high speed for pseudo-accuracy; this was a genuine guaranteed hit. Unless Mega Garchomp couldn't hear the sound, it either had to interrupt or take the hit.
But clearly, interrupting a Psychic-type move was laughable, so it was more cost-effective to take the hit and then strengthen itself.
Endless sand swirled up, obscuring everyone's vision.
Within the sand, Mega Garchomp's twin scythes merged. Frowning, it took the Hyper Voice hit while performing a mysterious dance.
"Stirring up a sandstorm to obscure my vision, huh? Too bad, I'm a Psychic, and if you're going to use Swords Dance and a Sandstorm, I'll take back Sunny Day."
With Dragon-type moves unusable, Mega Garchomp stirring up a Sandstorm could only be for using Rock-type, Ground-type, or Steel-type moves.
So Cynthia's objective was clear: she definitely couldn't maintain the Sandstorm, no matter the reason.
A dazzling small sun rose from Mega Gardevoir's hand, and a very strange scene appeared on the field.
Mega Garchomp was faintly visible in half of the sand, while Mega Gardevoir was meditating under the sunlight.
"It's an even match?"
This piqued Cynthia's interest. Logically, a Mega Gardevoir newly entering the Champion tier shouldn't be able to seize control of the weather from her Mega Garchomp.
There was only one situation where the weather would be divided into two halves: when the strength of both sides wasn't too different.
Or, Mega Gardevoir's mastery of weather was stronger than her Mega Garchomp's.
