Chapter 581: The Decisive Battle Begins

3 PM.

The second match of the third round of the Splendid Battle has ended.

As expected, Miss Liuqi became All Baimu's final opponent.

"Within reason."

Leaning against the shiny Gengar in the seat next to him, he applauded the brilliant performance while looking down at the Milotic and Miltown fainted in the drizzle.

Mira's regretful expression was also clearly visible.

Just as he had thought, Miss Liuqi understood Pokémon like Milotic far too well — so well that even without having raised one herself, she still knew this type of Pokémon's strengths and weaknesses inside out.

Coupled with the fact that Miss Liuqi's own strength was greater than Mira's to begin with, this outcome was hardly surprising.

If Mira had a sudden burst of power and defeated Miss Liuqi, that would have made people pause.

"A battle between master and disciple…"

All Baimu used one hand to knead the shiny Gengar's soft yet springy "ears," feeling them constantly deform and spring back in his palm, and felt quite happy about it.

He had wanted to pinch them for a long time, but never found the right opportunity.

Before, he always had a premonition that it would run away if he touched it.

Then again, Gengar truly lived up to being a Pokémon made of shadow — its whole body was one seamless mass with no openings other than its mouth.

Even its eyes looked like stickers rather than eyeballs embedded the way humans have them.

That was unbearably cute.

All Baimu extended his other hand to pinch the other ear, then circled around behind it and began gently kneading.

"Gen~"

The shiny Gengar's expression was a little awkward.

It had lived this long without ever being this close to a human before. Previously, seeing other Pokémon nuzzle up to their trainers had indeed made it a tiny bit envious.

But when it actually came to further physical contact, the shiny Gengar — whose notion of intimacy stopped at head-patting — found it somewhat hard to adjust.

But to refuse…

There didn't seem to be any reason to?

After all, it actually longed to get closer to All Baimu, and its ears didn't feel uncomfortable. The key thing was that the latter would smile because of it, which made the shiny Gengar very happy.

After a while.

The nearby spectators had mostly left.

All Baimu released the shiny Gengar's horn-like perky ears, patted the nonexistent dust off his backside, and called out: "Let's go, Ash! Brock!"

Not far away, Ash — dressed in a cheerleader outfit — reluctantly pulled his gaze back.

"Miss Mira must be feeling very frustrated."

Brock sighed: "No one is willing to accept losing to someone else. Even though winning isn't everything, everyone still craves victory."

"…That's true."

Ash forced a smile. As a fellow loser, she could deeply empathize with Mira, who refused to leave the stage for a long time.

Brock laughed: "It's fine! At a time like this, all I have to do is step in and prepare a wonderful dinner for Miss Mira — she'll definitely regain her energy —"

His peripheral vision catching sight of something, he suddenly draped himself over the railing.

"Huh?"

He saw a young man carrying a little girl run out of the tunnel, the two of them rushing toward Mira and embracing her in tears.

"Ah! It's Miss Mira's husband and daughter!" Ash exclaimed.

"Miss Mira has a husband?"

Brock turned in disbelief to ask the two of them.

All Baimu looked puzzled, then turned to Ash and said: "She's always been married… didn't you tell him?"

"I thought you told him."

Ash wore an innocent face.

She hadn't really paid much attention at all, okay?

All Baimu grumbled inwardly — he was the type who always focused on the match; once he got into the zone, he wouldn't be distracted.

Who would have thought that Brock, who had been collecting information on pretty older sisters for so long, didn't even know her marital status.

"By the way, how did you end up falling for Mira… forget it, asking would be pointless."

All Baimu grabbed Brock by the back of his collar and dragged him away.

Because this guy not only had noodle tears hanging from his eyes, but his whole body had turned to stone — clearly having suffered a certain mental shock.

Serves him right.

Falling for someone at first sight so carelessly.

Meanwhile, Ash gazed at the deeply moving scene below, and for some reason thought of her mother far away in Twinleaf Town.

She decided to make a phone call later.

"Let's go, Gengar!"

All Baimu called to the shiny Gengar, who was also peering downward.

"Gen!"

The latter hurriedly floated after him.

After tonight's rest would come the final match.

And essentially speaking.

He and Miss Liuqi "knew each other inside out."

The two of them had lived together at the Glass Gym for over a month, and during that time, all the practice and battles — unless deliberately concealed — would inevitably have been fully exposed to the other's eyes.

So waging a war of information asymmetry was almost impossible.

Unless one of the two could, like Xiao Guang and Xiao Zhi, get their Pokémon to pull off an unexpectedly brilliant combination of moves with perfect synergy without any prior practice, or use a move the opponent didn't know about that proved decisive.

All Baimu naturally didn't dare claim he could do that.

Miss Liuqi…

Hard to say about her either.

Compared to the shiny Galarian Rapidash, the Altaria Xiao Xiao Qingqing was the Pokémon that fused together all of her coordination talent, not to mention she also had Mega Evolution.

Perhaps Miss Liuqi had once had a gap of several years in her Showcase career, but after half a year of tempering, Altaria's overall strength had long since advanced another step.

Outside the Battle Tower.

All Baimu, Jin Guang, and the others regrouped.

"Xiaobai, where did you run off to!?"

Hu Pa flew over and berated him for having kidnapped the shiny Gengar, but in reality he had merely gone to the seat the organizers had prepared for the contestants.

To avoid causing a stir, the contestants' seats were usually placed in isolated, independent rooms.

All Baimu raised his hands in an innocent gesture.

Brock, whose heart had died from grief, immediately collapsed to the ground with a thud.

Balza asked, "What's wrong with him?"

Hu Pa curiously rubbed Brock's forehead.

"He fell in love with someone he shouldn't have," All Baimu replied. Seeing Mei Mei Yali's look of pity, he hurriedly added, "This guy falls for more people in a year than the number of Pokémon he's caught."

A blank look flashed across Mei Mei Yali's face. "Huh?"

While they were talking—

Miss Liuqi came bouncing over like a sprightly little fawn, laughing, "Sorry to keep you waiting~! Your Dream Miracle ☆ Liuqi has arrived… what's wrong with Brock?"

"Heartbroken."

All Baimu explained offhandedly.

Miss Liuqi tilted her head—she didn't recall Brock having a girlfriend. "Heartbroken?"

"Mm, don't worry, his recovery ability is very strong." All Baimu suddenly said toward a certain direction, "Ah! It's Officer Jenny!"

Swish!

The petrified Brock instantly sprang up, his squinty eyes darting around like an eagle. "Where? Where is she? Ah! Found her! Officer Jenny—"

He hurried over to fawn on her.

Half a minute later he was dragged back by Croagunk.

Mei Mei Yali, Balza, and Miss Liuqi felt their worldviews had been refreshed, while Jin Guang just shrugged out of habit and gave a helpless little smile.

The group leisurely made their way back to the hotel.

On the way.

Miss Liuqi couldn't help showing an excited look, giggling, "My dear pupil~ it's finally time for our battle. Tomorrow's match is really something to look forward to~"

"Mm."

He nodded, gazing at the girl who barely reached his chest, and said, "I definitely won't let Teacher Liu down."

Their eyes met, and in them was nothing but the resolve to defeat the other and claim victory.

——

Center stage.

Vivian took a deep breath, and her sweet, girlish voice was transmitted through the microphone to every audience member.

"The day of destiny has finally arrived! On the finals stage of this magnificent grand festival!"

Roar!

The audience seats erupted in an uproar.

Four full days of competition had not dampened their enthusiasm; countless people craned their necks in anticipation, waiting for a new top Coordinator to be born.

On the jade-white podium, the trophy symbolizing victory gleamed with golden light, dazzling all who beheld it.

Many defeated contestants who had not left gazed at it with reluctance. When Vivian began to introduce the dashing young man and the radiant young girl, whatever thoughts lingered in their hearts, they all broke into applause together.

Finally.

Vivian raised her right hand.

"Gorgeous Battle, Round Four, Match One—the Finals! Five-minute countdown! Begin!"

Ding!

A short prompt tone.

"Xiao Qingqing~! Xiao Lielie~! Here we go ☆!"

Miss Liuqi shouted and hurled the Poké Balls.

Bang bang!

Countless pure-white feathers fluttered up and then drifted down, transforming into the shiny Galarian Rapidash and Altaria.

"Prrrry~"

"Chururu~"

Not far away.

Two beams of pink light constructed a giant heart in midair, and from it leapt an energetic Blissey and a Mawile, making Miss Joy's eyes light up.

"Happy~"

"Chidori~"

The four Pokémon gazed at each other from afar.

Baimu and Miss Liuqi met each other's gaze across the stage, utterly unmoved by the countless shouts from the audience, each displaying their Keystone as though they had rehearsed it a thousand times over.

"Hehe~ Let's become even more dazzling together~! Super dazzling~! Let's Go~!"

"Mega Evolve!"

A blaze of colored light!

Both the Altarian and Mawile were enveloped by a miraculous glow, revealing brand-new forms moments later.

The former was wrapped all over in cloud-like feathers, as if riding the mists.

The latter raised its two massive jaws high, its appearance strikingly like the traditional Johto-style Kabuki performer.

"Chururu!

"Qido~!"

The instant the cries rang out, the two opened their mouths to give commands.

"Swift~ Meteor Mash! Scatter down gorgeous brilliance~!"

"Draining Kiss! Fairy Wind!"

Amid Miss Liuqi's improvised dance movements, the Galarian Rapidash launched its attack at top speed.

It was seen raising its forelegs high and letting out a long neigh, firing a massive pale-yellow five-pointed star into the air, immediately followed by the Mega Altarian raising its slender swan-like neck and blasting out a purplish-red orb of energy!

Boom!

The energy orb collided with the five-pointed star, instantly staining the latter with a touch of purplish-red.

The next instant.

Biu~!

A sound as soft as fluffing cotton rang out.

The purplish-red five-pointed star shattered into countless pink-purple little stars that rained down from the sky, yet unlike the Meteor Mash which blanketed the whole field, they chased after Blissey and the Mega Mawile as if alive!

Swoosh swoosh swoosh!

Vivian excitedly provided commentary:

"What a gorgeous Shining Meteor Mash! The chasing effect of Swift means the Meteor Mash no longer needs to calculate the opponent's landing spot — truly a union of beauty and power! Thank you, Liuqi, for this first gift to us!"

As her words fell.

Blissey, blushing hard, used its little hands to blow several kisses in a row toward the audience and the judges' panel, and red hearts popped into existence out of thin air one after another.

The Mega Mawile's rear jaws spat out pink airflow, which, as it spun in place, transformed into a pink hurricane.

"Qido!"

It leapt up nimbly.

The hearts bouncing around it were immediately drawn into the pink hurricane, transforming into a Heart Wind brimming with girlish charm!

Vivian shouted quickly: "Hearts full to bursting and a breeze that warms the heart — it's like a springtime Love Storm! A flawless combination of moves! Look!"

The falling Shining Meteor Mash emitted a mesmerizing halo, while the Love Storm stirred up a breeze and leaping hearts that surged upward in reverse.

Puff puff puff puff—

Countless stars and hearts collided, bursting into resplendent colors midair.

What a beautiful scene!

Hum!

The audience's cheers never stopped.

In just a single exchange, these two powerful coordination trainers had shown them a wondrous scene that even an ordinary Gorgeous Contest finals could never produce!

Points were deducted in unison.

"Too evenly matched…"

Baimu glanced at the score ring, now one-eighth greyed out.

After reaching the finals, the judges had become more cautious with their scoring — a move that would normally cost an opponent a full quarter of their points now only warranted an eighth.

It looked like if he didn't seize the advantage soon, he might be forced into overtime.

He glanced at the smiling Miss Liuqi across the way, knowing she harbored the same thought as himself.

In that case.

"Minimize! Jump onto Mawile's head! Sword Dance!"

"Happy~"

Blissey shielded its belly with both hands, its body rapidly shrinking as it leapt onto the Mega Mawile's head.

The latter, oblivious to all else, began to dance, with several light swords materializing out of thin air around it and spinning rapidly — the dense, sword-net-like cold light drew cries from countless spectators.

At the same time, the Mega Altarian spread its wings and soared high, looking down from above at its companion, its trainer, and its opponent.

Miss Liuqi formed a small heart at her chest and said in a sweet voice:

"Moonblast~! Giga Impact! Little LieLie, charge!"

"Xilulu—"

The Galarian Rapidash neighed loudly, thundering forward like a cavalry charge, radiant energy covering its entire body like sacred light.

High above.

The Mega Altarian transformed into a full moon, casting down a pale-pink glow.

It was as if a blessing from the Moon Goddess, draping the Galarian Rapidash in a layer of gorgeous tassels that transformed into a pair of enormous wings, making it look like a sacred winged unicorn!

The audience could not help but gasp, unable to imagine such a scene being created by moves alone!

Clip-clop clip-clop—

The urgent hoofbeats sounded like a piece of music being played.

In the blink of an eye, the Galarian Rapidash had already charged up to the Mega Mawile, and beneath the swirling light, a gaze brimming with aggression and contempt was revealed.

"Qido…"

The Snorlax flew into a rage and laughed, yet did not dodge, merely opening the giant jaw on the back of its head a little.

"Light Wall! Iron Defense!"

Clang!!

It was like the booming of a bronze bell.

The silver giant wall stood before the Rapidash like the gates of heaven, and the latter's unstoppable charging force could not shake it in the slightest—nor could the continuous flapping strikes of the light wings on its back!

"Neigh!?"

The Galarian Rapidash was somewhat startled.

The Snorlax used the giant jaw on the back of its head as a shield, and facing its ultimate charge, it did not even take a single step back!

"An immovable mountain of a shield! The Rapidash's attack failed to land! The second round's score has been pulled apart smoothly!"

Amid Vivian's cheers.

The score circle beneath Miss Liuqi's avatar dropped to three-fifths, while All Baimu's remained above three-quarters.