Chapter 307: The Glamorous Little Egg

The evolution trigger for Monferno was clearly easier to figure out than Bouffalant's.

Both involved battle.

Unlike Bouffalant, whose evolution was about better defeating enemies, for Monferno its evolution should be a reward — the two had far too different personalities.

At first Baimu had no idea how to guide it, but after seeing Miss Caiyu using her Altaria, inspiration struck.

How about using victory to stimulate Monferno?

So, to make sure he could take down Altaria for real, after discovering that Dragon Pulse hadn't beaten it, he deliberately had Monferno feint with Ice Fang, creating an opening that let him knock it out in one strike.

Under the Vital Spirit ability, Dragon Rush was indeed especially fierce, and it even turned Altaria's own Dragon Pulse back against it, flattening it on the spot.

And having tasted the sweetness of victory, Monferno's heart soared — and it evolved, just as expected.

It won.

Then it became even stronger!

Monferno's simple-minded thinking earned it a brand-new form—

Infernape.

The moment Vivian announced the match result, Baimu rushed over and hugged Infernape's two heads without hesitation.

"Hiyuu…" "Hiyuu…"

The two soft calls in unison showed that Infernape was completely at ease now — clearly because it had caught its trainer's scent.

"Rest easy now, you've earned it." Baimu returned it to its Poké Ball.

Monferno's evolution would bring different developmental paths compared to other Pokémon, but there was definitely no time to fuss with that right now, so he'd let it rest inside its Poké Ball first.

After the Contest was over, he'd think about its other matters.

This was the best approach.

Back in the prep room.

Dawn said in a voice that still carried a trace of lingering dread: "I almost thought we were going to lose — Altaria's Cotton Guard was amazing! I didn't expect us to turn things around at the last moment, and Monferno even evolved!"

"Pip-pip!"

Piplup was especially shocked by Monferno's evolution. These past few days it had battled Monferno the most, and since both were at their base forms, it had developed quite a fondness for Monferno.

And now, just days later, it had evolved!

"Cotton Guard really is impressive."

Baimu nodded. As one of the few moves that could bring a massive boost to stats, the boost it provided was enough to stump many physical attackers.

Seeing Dawn's eager expression, he said: "Infernape's a bit inconvenient to send out right now, let's wait until the match is over. For now, let's focus on the battle."

"Fair enough."

Dawn was a little disappointed, but she nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile.

The first match of Round 4 had also ended, and the winner was, without question, that Coordinator who used Milotic — though perhaps to conserve Milotic's stamina, she had switched to Drifblim.

In the end, she won by a higher score.

"Even her Drifblim is this strong…"

Dawn watched the screen with a solemn expression. "Just how strong is that Milotic?"

"Meet force with force, flood with earth — leave it to me."

Baimu's heart was calm. He said: "We promised to meet in the finals, we can't give up halfway. You too."

"Got it!"

Dawn nodded firmly at his words.

——

As the first match of Round 2 began.

Dawn stepped onto the stage first.

Her opponent used a Pokémon from the Kalos region — Espurr, and judging from its predominantly white coloring and apricot pupils, it was female.

Since she didn't know much about this Pokémon, Dawn sent out Mamoswine, which suffered several setbacks at the start before turning the tide.

First it swallowed an Icicle Spear to create a spike-like Ice Armor, then used Hidden Power to circle around itself and illuminate the spikes on its back, and finally finished off Espurr with a charging Ice Fang.

The whole combo flowed like water — on the anime, Dawn's personal BGM would probably have kicked in right about then.

"As I thought, the 'combat power' she shows in Contests is her true strength." Baimu couldn't help but sigh.

From many small details, one could sense Dawn's growth. The people and Pokémon she'd met on her journey, every Contest she'd entered — all of it had become nourishment that made her stronger.

There might still be some distance to the top Coordinators, but he believed she would cross that threshold eventually.

His phone buzzed softly.

It was Miss Liuqi congratulating him on Monferno's evolution. He replied with a couple of lines, then took a deep breath.

"It's our turn to take the stage."

Baimu held a Poké Ball and said softly: "Let's go!"

The Poké Ball trembled lightly in his palm.

Passing through the player tunnel, just as he was about to go out, Dawn happened to turn and come in.

Neither of them spoke — they simply nodded to each other.

Inside the stage.

Host Vivian read out loudly.

"Semifinals, Round 2, Match 2 — let's welcome our two contestants — Mr. Baimu and Miss Mira!"

The two took the stage, each taking their designated position, facing each other from afar.

"Battle begin!"

At the command, the two each hurled out a Poké Ball.

Pop pop!

Countless pink little hearts fluttered everywhere, and Chansey bathed in the dazzling hearts as it slowly appeared.

And not far away.

As countless stars fell from midair, an East-Sea-variant Seadra with a jade-green dorsal fin and a sky-blue belly dropped to the ground — not the Milotic All Baimu had imagined.

Hmm…

Does this count as being looked down on?

All Baimu gazed at his opponent Mira's calm face, recalling the information about her he had looked up online.

Compared with him, a Coordinator who had only just debuted not long ago, Young Lady Mira had already taken part in countless Pokémon Contests, and in the past year alone had already won three Ribbon Trophies.

Based on the many videos and introductions online, one could easily draw the conclusion that she was an expert.

Still, the fact that she hadn't come at him with her full strength left All Baimu more or less regretful — had she seen through the truth that he wasn't "strong" in Pokémon Contests?

In fact, thinking this way wasn't wrong.

The moves his Pokémon used in Pokémon Contests were honestly rarely all that flashy.

"Rain Dance!"

Seeing that Baimu still hadn't launched an attack, Mira stopped dragging things out with him and raised her hand to give the order.

"Dori~"

Seadra tilted its head back and let out a long cry; silver-gray rain clouds swiftly gathered in the sky, and sparse raindrops fell, landing on Seadra's body and bringing a crystalline water film shimmering across its surface.

Vivian said excitedly: "Seadra's Rain Dance has created an environment even better suited to its movement! Look, it's become even more full of vigor! And that sparkling water film is so beautiful!"

All Baimu's score on the scoreboard was deducted.

This was because the judges were especially satisfied with the way Seadra performed its move — any Coordinator who let their Pokémon show off its own traits could do the same.

At the same time.

All Baimu also gave his order: "Thunder Wave!"

"Lucky!"

Chansey's two little paws rubbed together before its chest, forming a bolt of lightning that shot out toward Seadra!

"What! Chansey actually used Thunder Wave on the Water-type Seadra!"

Vivian let out a cry of surprise, and Mira and Seadra also showed looks of bewilderment.