Because Rex's battle with Cynthia's Garchomp had been so intense, the battlefield was left heavily damaged. It took quite a bit of time for the staff to repair everything.
But no one among the spectators showed the slightest impatience—they were still basking in the aftermath of that breathtaking clash.
Next up was Moran's challenge against Kalos Champion Diantha, and everyone was hopeful for another visual spectacle.
To some surprise, Moran sent out her Gardevoir again, clearly having given it emergency treatment during the break.
However, Rex could still tell that her Gardevoir hadn't fully recovered.
Diantha, on the other hand, also sent out a Gardevoir—one that radiated poise and power, clearly far superior in both presence and strength.
"Miss Diantha, I know my Gardevoir still has a long way to go compared to yours," Moran said, her eyes burning with resolve. "But I hope I can use this chance to learn from you."
In Rex's opinion, if anyone had raised the strongest Gardevoir, it was undoubtedly Diantha. After all, as Kalos Champion, her Gardevoir played a critical role in earning that title.
Moran, having just watched Rex battle Cynthia, was clearly aware of the gap in skill between herself and a Champion. If Diantha went all out, the battle would probably be over in an instant.
So, she changed her approach—turning the match into a teaching session, hoping her Gardevoir could benefit from Diantha's guidance.
It was a smart decision. If Moran could take even a few pointers from this, it could significantly improve how she trained her Gardevoir in the future.
"I see. That's no problem—I'd be happy to," Diantha replied with a gentle smile.
With that, the two began a mentor-style match. Diantha's Gardevoir didn't use its full strength, instead demonstrating various techniques with finesse while still keeping enough pressure on Moran's Gardevoir to push its growth.
Of course, this meant the battle wasn't as flashy or exciting as the crowd had hoped.
Though the audience could understand Moran's choice, it still didn't quite match the thrilling showdown they'd anticipated. All they could do now was hope the next battle would deliver.
Despite her efforts to prolong the match, even with Diantha's Gardevoir holding back, Moran's Gardevoir lasted only about twenty minutes before being unable to continue.
Still, judging by Moran's radiant smile afterward, it was clear she'd gained a lot from the experience.
Unfortunately, Moran's example set a precedent.
Next up were Marlin and Ceil, and both decided to request coaching-style battles rather than proper matches. They weren't concerned with winning or losing anymore—they just wanted the rare chance to be guided by top-tier Trainers.
With Diantha having already accepted such a request, Marshal and Caitlin couldn't exactly turn them down either. Slightly disappointed, they each agreed to the mentoring format.
Marshal in particular had been hoping for an all-out fight. With that itch for battle still burning in him, he was now seriously considering asking Rex for a real match after the event ended.
Though the audience was a bit let down by the less intense finale, they had still seen some phenomenal battles today, and most left feeling satisfied.
As the event concluded, Trainers began to leave the Battle Castle one by one.
Originally, Rex had planned to head back to Nimbasa City with Elesa and Mira, but when he found them, Caitlin extended a personal invitation for him to stay at the castle.
Elesa and Mira, however, had other plans and politely declined the offer.
"Hmph."
Elesa didn't bother hiding her irritation. With a cold snort, she turned and left with Mira.
"Did I… do something wrong?" Rex scratched his head, confused. Their interactions the past few days had been perfectly friendly—or so he thought.
"I heard from Elesa," Cynthia said helpfully, overhearing his muttering. "Apparently, someone didn't even bother to bring out their ace Pokémon when battling her."
"Ah… that's not what I meant at all," Rex said, wincing. "I just thought Swellow wouldn't be a good match against her Electric-type, that's all…"
Now Rex understood—Elesa had taken it personally. She must've thought he didn't take their battle seriously.
He couldn't really blame her. Being underestimated was never a good feeling.
Still, she was clearly in no mood for explanations at the moment, so Rex figured he'd wait and clear things up properly before leaving.
"To change the subject… Miss Cynthia, are you here in Unova on vacation?"
"Yes," Cynthia replied. "Diantha and I both had some free time, so we came to visit Caitlin and unwind a bit."
Noticing that Rex wanted to shift the topic, she didn't press the issue further.
"Although," Diantha chimed in, "news of us being here has already started to spread. We may need to relocate before too many reporters and fans show up."
"By the way, Rex… I've been wondering this whole time—haven't we met before?" Diantha asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Uh… yes, briefly," Rex said, caught off guard. "I passed through an airport in Kalos on my way to Alola not long ago. We crossed paths there."
"I knew it!" Diantha said, clapping her hands together. "I thought you looked familiar."
As Kalos Champion, Diantha was well known for her intellect, but she also possessed a little-known talent: photographic memory.
Everything she saw was etched into her mind in perfect detail, and once Rex reminded her of the location, she immediately recalled the encounter.
(End of Chapter)