Chapter 239: The Heart of Coordination

Imagination really is simpler than actual practice.

Baimu and Bibarel made an initial attempt at expanding the range of Fairy Wind, and that part went smoothly.

But once they added reducing destructive power and improving stability, things got difficult. The latter, to guarantee a large enough range, pushed energy output to its current limit, yet the destructive power and stability still didn't drop to the standard he had set.

For example, the meteor swarm mixed in the white mist by the Qixi blue birds looks just like fireworks; touching it only produces a bearable burning sensation, and it won't suddenly explode and send up a bunch of choking white smoke.

Compared to that, Bibarel's Fairy Wind is strong enough to send people stumbling, or even blow them straight away.

Actually, just looking at the shape and color of the move makes it very intuitive.

Fairy Wind, while whipping up a gale, also creates deep-pink cotton-like energy, and these are the key to dealing damage to opponents.

What Baimu is thinking right now is to disperse these cotton-like energies, turning them into pink light points to improve the move's stability and make it easier to chain into the next move — this is by no means a wild idea; he only decided this because he had actually seen an example.

For this, Bibarel watched that move demonstration video over and over, and practiced over and over.

After all, this is only the opening move.

After Fairy Wind, it still needs to chain into Magnet Rise to make it fly and Flame Wheel for spinning release. Three moves flowing smoothly without interruption — how to guarantee this is the second difficulty.

In battle, the emphasis is on going all-out in a single strike; every punch, kick, and bite must guarantee energy output reaches its limit.

But the Pokémon Contest is different.

Pokémon Contests often limit energy output for the sake of the move's visual effect, trading power to guarantee being able to chain into the next move in time, making the moves pleasing enough to watch.

Coordinators who go all-out aren't unheard of, but that falls under rather advanced technique. Because a move's power affects flow and stability, one careless moment easily causes an energy-conflict explosion.

Xiaoshuting app

An explosion isn't a big deal; the key is the smoke produced when the move explodes.

This is something most Coordinators want to avoid — not because the rules forbid it, but because smoke easily affects the judges' viewing of the performance. Used well, it can create a sense of mystery; used poorly, it only makes the referee miss the highlight of your performance.

Among them, the top Coordinator of the Sinnoh region — Xiaowang, Xiaoguang's former rival — is a master at using smoke to create a sense of mystery.

"Coordinators really have it tough."

Baimu couldn't help sighing, and deeply understood the meaning of the word "coordination."

It's not just coordination between Pokémon and Trainer, but also coordination between moves of various types, and even coordination between multiple Pokémon working together.

"Let's keep practicing. The theme is already set; what's left is to work hard to make it happen."

He said, turning his head.

"Puchi!"

Bibarel nodded firmly.

Although Fairy Wind had no breakthrough progress for the moment, the entire theme wouldn't become impossible to carry out without it.

"Come out of the ball, land, release Fairy Wind while dancing to add sparkling pink-powder effects, then use Magnet Rise to leap up, release Flame Wheel spinning at high speed to form a flaming pirouette, and finally burst into light particles to end."

Baimu, holding a drawing board, used the painting skills he had gotten from Smeargle to break down step by step for Bibarel what it needed to do.

Bibarel still found it hard to understand the Trainer's ideas through words, but the moment it saw the drawings, everything clicked.

"Chido?"

"It does look rather complicated, but actually when chained together it's at most a minute or two's work… For the fusion of Magnet Rise and Flame Wheel, why don't you try it first."

He sketched a red-and-yellow flame tornado on the sketchbook. "The hard part might be the coverage of Flame Wheel; it might need you to maintain a certain high rotation speed, so that it can envelop your entire body."

"Chido…"

Bibarel nodded lightly, stepped back a little, and used Magnet Rise to lift off the ground.

"Begin. First, Flame Wheel." Baimu said softly.

Hooong!

The huge jaw, nearly the size of its body, opened slightly, and in an instant bright red flames burst forth from between the gleaming white fangs.

Baimu said: "Good, start spinning."

"Chido!"

Bibarel twisted its body and began rotating clockwise.

It had to be said, it really did have a knack for controlling Magnet Rise; while spinning, its body seemed to exert no force at all, turning faster and faster and faster.

Whoooosh—

A gust of wind was whipped up by the spinning Bibarel, mixed with fine electric currents and flames, kicking up the dust on the ground and gradually shrouding its body in red-and-yellow light.

"Not fast enough!" Baimu shouted, and Bibarel immediately spun even faster!

As the wind grew urgent, the flames indeed expanded with the motion.

Not only that.

The fine electric currents of Magnet Rise also seemed to join in, as if about to form a dazzling storm of mixed flame and lightning.

But just as a delighted smile appeared on his face, the surging flames abruptly vanished, as if blown out by the wind.

Bibarel slowly stopped moving and covered its mouth, its expression a little off.

"Chi… Chido…"

"Are you okay?" Baimu hurried over to check on Bibarel's condition.

Fortunately, the latter was only a little dizzy, nothing serious.

"Looks like spinning too fast doesn't work either."

He took out some refreshing, cooling candy and fed it to Bibarel, to suppress the dizziness in its head. "Take a rest, take a rest."

The reason the flames went out was, first, that spinning too fast made Bibarel dizzy, making it hard to keep outputting type energy; second, the wind it stirred up was too strong, affecting the temperature necessary for the flames to burn.

Theoretically, wind can help combustion, and this is the same in the Pokémon world, so controlling the rotation speed so the flames aren't extinguished but are helped to burn is very important.

The order in which the moves are released might also be adjusted.

Baimu waited for Bibarel to finish resting, eager to start the second attempt, before telling it of this decision.

And so.

The second trial begins.

"Start spinning!"

Baimu gave the order.

Bibarel floated in the air and began to spin, slowly increasing its rotation speed.

When it was about right, he hurriedly shouted: "Fire Fang!"

Immediately, a spark of fire could be seen on the body of the Bibarel that had turned into a little top, and then the firelight turned into a bright orange-red line of flame, forming a ring of light like a fluorescent glow.

"More firepower! More firepower!"

He kept giving orders.

The spinning Bibarel immediately increased the flame output on its large jaw fangs, causing lightning and fire to spread outward from the ring of light in every direction, looking just like a protective membrane.

The next moment.

Fwoosh!

A firestorm ignited!

Electric currents mixed within it, emitting crisp explosive sounds!

"Are you dizzy?"

"Bibare!"

"Good, then keep this rotation speed! Hold it steady!"

Baimu watched the situation at every moment, silently counting the seconds in his heart.

One, two, three…

Ten!

"Good! Stop!" he shouted loudly.

Bibarel's body suddenly halted, and the flames and lightning drew aside like a curtain, then slowly dissipated like scattering butterflies and orange-red flower petals, revealing its bright and adorable face. "Bibare!"

"—Success! Two successes!"

Baimu laughed heartily and rushed over to pick up Bibarel, ignoring the scalding heat on its body.

Bibarel was startled for a moment, then also showed a happy smile, gently nuzzling its trainer's neck, and only after a full two seconds did it cry out and break free from his embrace.

"Bibare!"

A lady cannot be picked up! It's too unladylike!