Meanwhile, in a dimly lit chamber within the Indigo Plateau's highest-ranking League headquarters, a sudden flash of light illuminated the room. The Battle Frontier committee had convened.
As the chairperson of this meeting, an elderly man flipped through the documents in his hands and spoke solemnly.
"It has been a long time since we've held such a meeting. I must say, the challenger this time is quite impressive. The first gatekeeper, Riley, has already been defeated."
The room fell into stunned silence.
Riley, a direct descendant of the Aura lineage, was not someone who could be easily bested. Yet, barely into the challenge, this esteemed Aura Guardian had already fallen.
Many challengers before had been League Elites, but few had broken through the first trial so swiftly.
A woman on the committee, known for being Klein's most devoted supporter, chuckled.
"As expected of the Sandstorm Elite—just as formidable as the rumors say. He defeated Riley in no time."
The chairperson cleared his throat, frowning at her unprofessional admiration.
"The first few trials do not solely test strength, but rather adaptability. The real challenge lies ahead."
Another middle-aged committee member furrowed his brows as he scanned the documents.
"Wait… the second gatekeeper has been changed?"
The chairperson smirked.
"More accurately, the true second gatekeeper has returned. After years of training, her strength has surpassed all previous limits—she has become terrifying."
The middle-aged committee member sighed.
"First, an Aura Guardian… and now her? You really gathered quite the collection of monsters."
The chairperson laughed.
"Not just monsters—ten of them. Ten overwhelming titans who will suffocate even the strongest of challengers."
The Battle Frontier was designed not just as a tournament but as a trial to ensure that Elite Four members were not only skilled in regulated battles but also lethal in real-world survival scenarios.
Trainers were always the weakest link in battle. Only by overcoming trials like these could one be considered a true Elite-level Trainer, rather than merely a League-appointed Elite.
Deep within the underground caverns of Mount Silver, Klein remained seated.
Though he had already cleared the first trial, he took his time reviewing everything in his mind.
He methodically recorded his thoughts in his Dream Simulation System—a habit born from experience.
After all, no matter how good his memory was, he would rather trust the simulation than risk having his thoughts manipulated by a powerful psychic.
Given that Riley had displayed clear killing intent before their battle, Klein was certain that his wariness was justified.
Before departing, Riley had given Klein directions to the second trial's location.
Now alone, Klein sat in silence, closing his eyes and focusing his mind.
Riley's hostility was real.
And Klein suspected it wasn't just because he had inherited Aura from Mew.
Riley had mentioned that Aura was a sacred power belonging to the descendants of Aaron, the original Aura Guardian. For an outsider like Klein to wield it was already blasphemous.
Yet, Riley had ultimately fulfilled his promise and imparted the most fundamental knowledge of Aura to Klein.
However, something about the way he had done it felt… off.
Riley had used a memory transfer technique instead of the usual training methods.
It was an unusual choice. Text or physical demonstration would have been much safer.
Why would he use a technique that made Klein vulnerable to memory tampering?
Unless…
The next trial involved a psychic.
Realizing this, Klein made a decision.
He would not rush to the second trial.
Instead, he released his Delphox and commanded it to scout ahead.
The second trial was located on the mountain's upper levels.
Klein's Delphox cast out a multitude of Will-o-Wisps, sending them into the next trial's zone as a means of detecting disturbances.
The results came almost instantly.
Every single Will-o-Wisp was extinguished on impact.
Klein tried again. This time, he used his Aura abilities in tandem with Delphox's senses.
The result?
All he could perceive was an infinite expanse of darkness—like a void stretching across time and space.
His opponent had completely erased their presence.
A faint sense of unease crept up Klein's spine.
And then—
A pair of invisible eyes suddenly locked onto him, penetrating through the darkness.
A surge of foreign psychic energy crashed into his mind.
Klein's vision blurred. His consciousness wavered.
Someone—or something—was trying to invade his thoughts.
"Not good!"
His Delphox reacted instantly.
Its wand swept forward, igniting a barrier of spectral flames.
The sudden eruption of fire drove back the invading force, severing the psychic intrusion.
Klein gasped, his forehead drenched in sweat.
"...A terrifying psychic user."
Delphox tightened its grip on its wand, ears twitching.
Even as a Psychic-type Pokémon itself, it had never sensed a presence quite like this before.
Just moments ago, Klein had barely escaped the psychic's influence. If it weren't for Delphox's quick reaction, his mind might have been completely rewritten.
Klein clenched his fists.
"So that's why Riley used a memory transfer technique."
If Klein had rushed headfirst into the second trial, he would have walked straight into a psychic ambush.
His newly acquired knowledge of Aura would have been erased before he even had the chance to use it.
"Damn you, Riley... You really played a deep game."
Klein exhaled sharply.
He turned to Delphox and gave it a grateful nod.
"Thank you, Delphox."
The fox-like Pokémon blushed slightly before quickly returning to its usual stoic demeanor.
Realizing the severity of the upcoming battle, Delphox reinforced its defenses, summoning more Will-o-Wisps to form a protective perimeter.
Klein chuckled.
Maybe Agatha was right all along…
He had spent too much time in Kanto.
There were far stronger trainers beyond these borders—people who would crush him without hesitation.
But that only made him more determined.
He dusted himself off and gazed into the darkness.
"Delphox, let's go."
"If I can't even defeat the second gatekeeper here… how am I supposed to face Caitlin?"