Chapter 513: Water and Fire Fusion!

After her performance ended, Wulala did not choose to leave.

Although she was currently in first place.

She felt that a score of 39.1 was not enough to let her rest easy and go shopping; so many excellent Coordinator Trainers had yet to take the stage, and she had merely benefited from going on first.

She would feel uneasy if she didn't watch until the end.

Of course.

Changing into a cheerleader outfit was absolutely out of the question, no matter how much anyone begged.

Wulala ignored the disappointed looks from Xiaoguang and Miss Liuqi; she was firmly a knee-length pleated-skirt loyalist, and above-the-knee short skirts were pure heresy!

"Ha."

Baimu watched the pink-haired twin-tailed girl resist as if facing a great enemy, and couldn't help but laugh.

And during this time.

Another familiar face stepped onto the stage—

Harley, whose outfit had changed from a Dream Cactus style to an Octillery barrel style.

His position in the Advanced Generation was similar to Wulala's, both being built up as villains, though in the end there was inevitably a segment where he acknowledged Xiaoyao's strength.

How to describe his performance…

Quite good.

Octillery flipping the tide to snipe the bubbles of Bubble Beam one by one with Octazooka, creating fireworks and illusions, was indeed very pleasing to the eye, and well showcased Octillery's advantages and characteristics.

But compared horizontally with the surging, fierce Sharpedo, it somehow felt lacking in the kind of visual impact that resonates with the audience.

In other words, not enough of a wow factor.

Baimu thought this to himself, and the subsequent evaluations from Pat Stevenson and the others were indeed about the same; although Mi Ke Li greatly appreciated the interactive guidance Harley provided when Octillery was aiming, he still didn't give too high a score.

Total score: 38.8.

Harley exited the stage with a third-place ranking.

Upon returning, he put on an arrogant attitude in response to Xiaoyao's congratulations, yet was unusually interested in the cheerleader outfit.

But he ultimately had a masculine build, and the women's cheerleader outfits weren't that large.

He had no choice but to give up the idea.

"Oh my god…"

Baimu twitched his lips; if Xiaoguang in a pink short skirt was cute and charming, then Harley in a pink short skirt would most likely look horrifying and an eyesore.

Everyone continued watching the competition.

Not long after Harley left the stage, his third place was pushed down to a tie for third.

A female Coordinator Trainer Baimu didn't recognize commanded a female Lickitung, putting on a thrilling Shadow Splitting Water Show, and earned a score of 38.8.

"Leave the intel to me!"

Xiaogang excitedly pulled out his little notebook and introduced to everyone this mature woman's surname and given name, her outstanding past resume, and her specialty Pokémon—all of which he brushed over in a single sentence; the focus was on her hobbies, hometown, personality, and specialty dishes.

He talked about everything that had nothing to do with gorgeous performances.

Leaving everyone utterly speechless.

"By the way, she's among the top five beauties I've ranked in this year's Mi Ke Li Cup!" Xiaogang said with great seriousness, though not many people wanted to chat with him about that.

Time approached noon.

The next heavyweight contestant was about to take the stage for her performance.

"Why isn't big sis nervous at all?" Xiaosheng looked at Xiaoyao's usual expression; he had originally wanted to comfort her a bit, but didn't expect her face didn't even change.

Her aura of confidence was extraordinarily strong.

"Of course."

Xiaoyao smiled at everyone looking at her, "I seem to be in absolutely perfect condition today! I'm sure I can get a great score!"

As a "senior" who had participated in the Gorgeous Contest one year earlier than Xiaoguang, although she hadn't yet become a top Coordinator Trainer, she had long since developed her own set of methods for adjusting her condition through all the ups and downs she'd experienced.

Maintaining peak condition before going on stage was the most basic requirement.

"Everyone just wait and see!"

Xiaoyao, as nimble as a Deerling, raised her hand and waved with high spirits.

"Go for it, big sis!"

"Go for it, Xiaoyao!"

"I'll go to the front row to cheer for you!"

Everyone offered their encouragement one after another; Xiaoguang and Pochama also prepared to head to the audience seats to wave flags and cheer for her.

"Hmph."

Xiaosun hummed softly with a slight upturn at the corner of his mouth, hands in his pockets, leaning against a pillar with his eyes closed to rest.

As always full of pride, he naturally wouldn't join in this commotion; moreover, he knew Xiaoyao's capabilities better than anyone, having competed with her for years.

If Xiaoyao lost in the first examination, he'd probably have to ask himself just who he'd lost to all those previous times.

——

In front of the stage.

Xiaoyao, in a rose-red short skirt, made her confident entrance.

Wow!

The audience seats immediately erupted in warm applause.

She, known as the "Hoenn Dancing Princess," had even more fans than Xiaoguang; of course, part of that was because she had a father who was a heartthrob, but another part was due to her own charm.

The journey from immature to mature, and then to fame across the land—such Coordinator Trainers deeply attracted many Gorgeous Contest enthusiasts.

The reasoning was much the same as idol cultivation.

Bathed in cheers, Koharu grew increasingly excited and shouted as she threw the Poké Ball.

"Blaziken! Let's go!"

Bang!

Crimson lotus-like flames burst forth, illuminating the translucent azure pool, then gathered and exploded, revealing a Blaziken within, radiant as a sun god.

"Gii!"

It landed on the floating platform, its body swaying gently with the ripples of the water.

"Eh?"

Countless spectators were utterly astonished; in the front row, the little Pachirisu and Piplup waving their pom-poms froze mid-motion.

The host Vivian also cried out in amazement: "Unbelievable! Miss Koharu actually chose a Fire-type Pokémon? Just what kind of show will she put on for us?"

"Mm."

A faint smile spread across Mi Ke Li's face. There were no shortage of Coordinator trainers using Fire-types at the Mi Ke Li Cup, but those who truly had real skill were few.

He had always admired Koharu, a rising junior from the same region, and naturally did not think she was merely putting on a flashy show.

So just what kind of performance she would put on was something to look forward to immensely.

Inside the preparation room.

Masato helplessly held his forehead and complained: "Sis is at it again, geez. She didn't learn anything else from Ash, but she's got a real knack for acting reckless."

"I think Koharu must have her own plan; she wouldn't act without aim." Brock, on the other hand, had great confidence in Koharu.

All Baimu pricked up his ears and listened for a moment, understanding that this Miss had most likely switched out the Pokémon she had originally prepared to perform with halfway through.

Quite the trick.

Unlike him, a Coordinator trainer who first decided on the performing Pokémon and then designed the routine.

Koharu was a special Coordinator trainer who cultivated her performance content evenly and relied on flashes of inspiration; one could see this from how she always battled in the Advanced Generation by using Beautifly's 【Borrow】.

Changing the originally planned Pokémon for a better effect?

A perfectly common practice.

And if he wasn't mistaken...

All Baimu watched the TV expectantly. On the main stage, Koharu, just as he had imagined, began her self-created, self-realized water-and-fire fusion technique that had once dazzled countless people.

On the screen.

Blaziken leapt high and came crashing down even heavier, repeatedly using Blaze Kick to strike the pool water through the floating platform. Wave after wave of water surged skyward under the tremendous force, merging with the leaping flames.

Rumble—

Amid the continuous explosions, no white mist from evaporated water appeared.

Instead, countless dazzling motes of light burst forth, mingling with the crystalline water droplets, scattering across the entire venue in breathtaking splendor, the starry flecks of color revealing a rainbow hue beneath the sunlight.

Rings of halo made one's eyelids droop slightly, yet one could not bear to look away.

Water and fire.

Two utterly opposing elements, yet under Koharu and Blaziken's control, they combined to a degree that left one in awe.

Mi Ke Li had already risen to his feet and spread his arms wide, like a pope praying to the heavens, holding his hands high as he fully savored the light particles of sudden shifts between hot and cold and the slick water droplets.

Exclamations rose one after another in the preparation room.

Masato clenched his fists in excitement, wanting to shout at the top of his lungs to cheer for his sister, but in the end held himself back. Even the effect shown on TV was this good, let alone the live performance.

All Baimu slightly regretted not going with Pachirisu.

But on the stage.

Koharu's performance was not yet over.

Blaziken was seen skimming across the water's surface like a dragonfly touching the water, its ghostly figure causing tall splashes of cool water to rise behind it.

Then.

Azure flames coiled around its body, and as it once again raced around the pool, it collided with those splashing droplets.

Bang!

Bang! Bang!

Every time it swept past a handful of splashes, a brilliant firework would explode.

In an instant.

The entire stage was covered in orderly points of light, like a fireworks display at a summer festival, so beautiful it was suffocating.

"So beautiful! Is this the power of the Hoenn Dancing Princess? Water and fire are so obedient in their hands!" Vivian shouted out the thoughts of everyone present.

The people in the preparation room also began heated discussion.

"Worthy of the Hoenn Dancing Princess~"

Miss Liuqi, who had admired Koharu from start to finish, said softly.

"Another high score is about to be born. Sigh, I'm truly jealous." Harley shook his head and sighed.

Drew chuckled lightly, "She's finally showing her true strength!"

Meanwhile, on the other side.

Masato kept jabbing All Baimu's waist with feinting elbows, teasing: "How about it, Brother Baimu, hehehehe, feeling the pressure? How's my sister's performance?"

"Are you here just to show off your sister?"

All Baimu laughed despite himself.

The sibling relationship between Masato and Koharu was sometimes good and sometimes bad, but no matter what, an older sister's brilliant performance was always a younger brother's capital to brag about.

On screen, the four judges gave their comments in turn.

Palmer chattered nonstop, the normally composed Yanase first lost his composure, and Mi Ke Li once again struck a pose of thanking the heavens for this opportunity.

Miss Johanna was the most normal one, at most she liked blushing and sneaking peeks at Mi Ke Li.

Under the audience's expectant gazes, they began to score.

Beep beep beep beep—

A total of 39.4 points, the highest score refreshed once again, and Xiaoyao deservedly became the top of the first examination.

After all, it was a fusion move of water and fire; after Fire Chicken displayed its own characteristic—leg techniques—it could still master two conflicting attributes to this degree. By the old scoring standard, a perfect score would have been no problem.

It was only the current prevailing notion of treating a perfect score as perfection that kept the judges from daring to give such a number.

"The highest score!"

Xiaosheng raised his hand and cheered.

—

Xiaoyao happened to be the last contestant of the morning.

Therefore, after she finished—

The competition temporarily stopped. Judges and audience members left their seats one after another to enjoy lunch or rest, waiting until twelve-thirty to begin the afternoon's first examination.

The group did not leave the preparation room; they had prepared lunch in advance before setting out, and only needed to heat it up to eat.

Xiaogang, the little cooking expert, had made a lot, and decisively invited the others to share.

The reserved Wula La originally planned to refuse, but after All Baimu persuaded her with a word, she accepted in a tsundere manner, and even took out the dishes she had prepared for everyone to enjoy.

Plus Xiaoguang's personally made delicious baofen.

Lunch was therefore extraordinarily abundant.

All Baimu likewise took out the portion he and Miss Liuqi had prepared. The moment it was opened, light burst forth wantonly, drawing surprised cheers from some and strange expressions from others.

"D-did you put fluorescent agent in the food?"

Wula La pondered for a few seconds, then asked tentatively.

Xiaoshun and Harry wore the same look of wanting to stay far away—anyone who hadn't seen Cooking Master Boy would never think glowing food was a good sign.

Xiaoyao was a little hesitant; she was also a cooking dunce, and the energy cubes made by the machine were only eaten willingly by her Snorlax.

"This is the Light of Gourmet! It's the blessing of the Gourmet God! From the Kalos cooking master Rokomoko!" Xiaosheng, well-informed, properly gave the four ignorant people a science lesson.

Xiaogang tasted it while remarking, "All Baimu's cooking skills have improved again, amazing."

Once upon a time their cooking skills could still go neck and neck, but now a certain gap had already opened up… no helping it, who could blame his main goal being a Pokémon doctor?

Cooking skills only needed to be above average; there was no need to expend more energy on it.

And upon hearing Xiaosheng say that to date none of Rokomoko's disciples could reproduce the Light of Gourmet, yet All Baimu had made it—

For a moment, both Xiaoyao and Wula La showed surprise and a touch of respect.

Xiaoshun's throat quietly bobbed.

He was slightly skeptical, yet felt the food really did smell wonderful.

And Harry, seeing the others eat with such relish, simply reached out to try it as well…

From then on, he couldn't stop.

A moment later.

All Baimu's glowing cuisine was snatched clean by everyone; even Xiaoshun inevitably ate a bit more than usual, and the look he cast at the former was once again filled with complexity.

He had always been quietly paying attention to the former, because among so many people present, he felt the two of them were the most similar—

Whether it was outstanding looks, or a slightly cool and aloof temperament, or powerful strength, and so on.

Their experiences were also similar: not long after debuting, they had already achieved good results, with many fans—mostly female—enjoying the attention of many people.

At most, there was a slight gap in age.

But after Xiaoshun quietly compared their advantages and gaps, he found that aside from having been a Coordinator for a slightly longer time—

There seemed to be nothing in which he could completely surpass the other?

Now the other had once again revealed a transcendent cooking technique…

No.

Only in the art of being a Coordinator would he absolutely not allow himself to lose to All Baimu! Whether the first examination or the gorgeous battle—

He would be the ultimate victor.

Xiaoshun thought to himself.

—

Twelve-thirty.

The afternoon competition began on time.

As one of the top five contestants, Xiaoshun had long since headed to the contestant tunnel to take his place.

Xiaoyao, as promised, changed into her cheerleading outfit, paired with Xiaoguang as the Yaoguang Sisters combo, and rushed excitedly to the scene to cheer, making Miss Liuqi somewhat envious.

All Baimu also went to the scene; the effect through the camera was ultimately not as good as viewing it directly with the naked eye.

Fortunately—

Xiaoshun did not make his trip for nothing.

As a veteran of the younger generation of Coordinators, his dedication to polishing his own art was quite serious; calling him a genius would not be an exaggeration.

Unfortunately, fate was unkind, and he always encountered even more genius figures—such as Robert from the first half of the Advanced Generation Hoenn Gorgeous Grand Festival, and Saori from the second half's Kanto Gorgeous Grand Festival.

And at this Mi Ke Li Cup—

The Pokémon Xiaoshun chose was Masquerain.

Under his command, the latter used Water Pulse and Shadow Clone to create ten thousand water shadows dancing together, constantly forming all sorts of wonderful patterns.

The display of high-speed flight and freely stopping mid-air well embodied Masquerain's characteristics.

Subsequently.

Masquerain used Sunny Day to illuminate these water illusions; the strange glass-like texture under the strong light drew applause from the audience, and then quietly caused them to burst apart.

The water droplets spinning through the air caught the sunlight and revealed even more dazzling, flowing radiance.

Beautiful and captivating.

The usual high-caliber performance.

A total score of 39 points, tying with Xiaoguang for third place.

Xiaoshun was naturally dissatisfied with this score, but Mi Ke Li, who had given the lower mark, was beyond reproach in both his evaluation and his advice, so there was nothing he could say about it.

"Not stunning enough…"

All Baimu chewed over Mi Ke Li's evaluation, well aware that the latter had most likely noticed that Rain Wing Moth's performance lacked much in the way of new elements, being merely a slight modification of past routines.

High level it may be, but it did not meet the scoring standards Mi Ke Li had set for this edition.

"Looks like I should get ready too."

He rubbed his face.

It would be his turn to take the stage soon, and Mi Ke Li's unchanged afternoon scoring standards had him very nervous.