Chapter 305: A Sworn Palm-Pact

Perhaps because there were enough contestants, quite a few put on outstanding performances.

This time, a total of eight people advanced to the second round of judging.

For Baimu, this meant one more match than at the previous Kanaz Conference, and added even more uncertainty.

On the big screen.

Eight portraits began to spin, shuffling to determine each contestant's opponent and the order of appearance.

Dawn got unusually serious, hugging Piplup and staring fixedly at the big screen; the latter also, for once, didn't keep glancing over at Munchlax — clearly, beauty paled in comparison to the Grand Festival Ribbon.

After all, this was the dream it shared with Dawn and the rest of their Pokémon partners.

It couldn't afford to relax or let its guard down, and no compromise was permitted.

Beep.

A soft chime.

The order of appearance and the opponents had all been assigned.

Dawn didn't end up matched against Baimu — the two weren't even on the same side; if they were to battle, it would probably have to wait until the finals. And the Trainer using Milotic was very likely to be Baimu's opponent after he finished his first match.

The first to take the field was Dawn.

"Looks like I'm heading out first." She set Piplup down and lifted her skirt, saying confidently to Baimu, "Let's meet in the finals. After all these days of practice, I don't think we've ever once battled all the way to the last second."

"Pip-lup!"

Piplup's eyes were also brimming with fighting spirit.

"Then I'll be looking forward to it."

Baimu returned a relaxed smile. Seeing the other raise her right hand, he was momentarily taken aback, then laughed and slapped his palm against hers. "See you in the finals!"

*Slap~*

A palm-sworn oath, symbolizing friendship.

"See you in the finals!"

Dawn strode briskly toward the players' tunnel.

The two of them, looking as though their advancement was already a done deal, also riled up the other contestants in the prep room. They all shot glances at Baimu, who remained in place — but the moment he shifted his gaze back, they abruptly turned their heads and pretended nothing had happened.

Holy crap!

Why does this guy look so fierce?

Baimu didn't bother with them either. With the aura he'd built up back in Iron Town fully unleashed, he found a spot, pulled out his phone, and started chatting with Miss Liuqi, who had been messaging him nonstop.

She truly kept a constant eye on his performance — even without prior arrangement, she still managed to track down news of his matches.

Amid a string of encouragements and emoji, Baimu also learned that she had successfully reached a settlement with her agency, and that the latter would fully support her participation in the Grand Festival.

They didn't terminate her contract?

Though it struck him as a little odd, he figured it was her own choice.

More importantly, Miss Liuqi had set off on the path again, meaning that from now on they were rivals — it was entirely possible they'd run into each other in upcoming competitions.

Baimu replied to her: "Congrats! Looking forward to a master-versus-disciple showdown!"

Buzz buzz.

His phone buzzed instantly — it was Miss Liuqi replying.

"Mmph! The disciple is actually challenging the master? This master will absolutely not lose to you! Looking forward to a master-versus-disciple showdown!"

The goofball sent several emoji of Altaria wearing headbands and looking fired up.

Baimu sent back a laughing Aron, then turned off his phone and looked up at the big screen.

Dawn's match had begun.

Her opponent's Pokémon was Beautifly — a Pokémon both beautiful and cute, and a longtime regular at Grand Festivals.

Unfortunately, Dawn had chosen Pachirisu, the one she'd used in the first round of judging.

Electric-type versus Flying- and Bug-type.

In a one-on-one singles match, a type advantage was already a huge boon — all the more so when one Trainer's Pokémon had an average battle power on par with a young-generation Gym Leader.

So.

Under Dawn and Pachirisu's practiced move performance, the match ended by the countdown before a quarter of the points had even been deducted, taking down the opponent.

The latter's body crackling with electric light, it turned all of Beautifly's moves into fireworks.

Seeing this, Baimu immediately understood that Dawn had learned it from Ula'ula's Plusle and Minun — back then, those two's signature move performance was using electric light to turn the opponent's attacks into fireworks.

He hadn't expected Dawn to have picked it up from Ula'ula, just like the Bubble Beam counter-shield.

"They're all a bunch of copycats."

He couldn't help but smile, because he was one too — he had specifically sought out others to learn from, and the various memories from the simulator were also one of his avenues of study.

Soon, Dawn, victorious, exited the field, and the second match began in turn.

Five minutes slipped by in a flash, so Baimu had to get ready to enter.

"Good luck!"

The two met in the players' tunnel, and Dawn waved to cheer him on.

——

"Time's up!"

"The second battle is over! The player advancing to the semifinals has been decided!"

Vivian's loud shout announced the result.

Then.

She extended a hand toward each of the two players' tunnels. "Then for the third match! Let us welcome Mr. Baimu and Miss Caiyu!"

The moment her words fell, the entire arena erupted in an instant — without a doubt, they had been waiting a long time for a certain someone's entrance.

All Baimu and his opponent each arrived at their designated positions, watching each other from a distance.

"The time limit is five minutes!"

Vivian raised her hand and shouted: "Round One, Match Three — Begin!"

Ding!

The countdown began on the big screen.

The trainers on both sides threw out their Poké Balls.

Bang bang!

Countless illusory feathers drifted and danced; a clear, bright cry suddenly rang out from the white light, and a Swanna whose wings resembled clouds spun and flew!

"Julu~"

On the other side.

A dark, heavy fog shrouded the surroundings; a pitch-black Bagon roared and suddenly burst through it, revealing its youthful yet upright figure to the audience.

"Mo nao!"

The appearance of the Bagon made the judges' eyes light up — as everyone knew, outward appearance was also an extremely important part of a coordinated trainer's performance.

Just like with Mawile, the Bagon's coat and bearing let them sense All Baimu's talent in the way of raising Pokémon.

Of course, that didn't mean the Swanna had been raised poorly.

It was just that, in the eyes of these seasoned veterans of raising Pokémon, the latter's bright points were too obvious — the kind you understood at a single glance.

"Charm Voice!"

The opponent struck first; the Swanna sang a moving melody, and countless pink hearts materialized and flew toward the Bagon!

"Julu~ Julu~"

The beautiful tune made both the audience and the judges wear expressions of utter enchantment.

Vivian couldn't help but say: "A wonderful performance! The Swanna has fully displayed its own special trait—"

"Mo nao!"

Before she finished speaking, the Bagon had already launched a counterattack under All Baimu's command. It saw it charge fiercely toward the Swanna, nimbly dodging the hearts while letting out a roar brimming with fierce energy, and from the shadow beneath it a terrifying ghostly face suddenly surged forth!

"Jiu—"

The Swanna was instantly frightened by the ghostly face, and the high note it had raised to its peak was broken!

In an instant.

The score wheels beneath the two portraits on the big screen moved, but clearly more points were deducted on the Swanna's side!

All Baimu smiled faintly — he wouldn't have been so bold as to choose Bagon to appear without something to rely on.

"Dragon Pulse!"