Chapter 516: The Crucial Path

In the preparation room.

All the contestants had gathered, watching the TV screen with nervous anticipation.

The list of names advancing to the next round of the Showcase Battle was about to be announced—no matter the score from the Showcase Performance, anyone who made it through would have a chance at a Ribbon.

And under normal circumstances, the organizers would adjust the number of advancers based on the number of participants and their scores—anywhere from sixteen to thirty-two people.

A solemn atmosphere filled the room.

Baimu and a small group of others still wore relatively cheerful expressions.

Their average scores were all above 38.5, so no matter which advancement scheme was used, they were unlikely to be cut—they belonged to the wave of contestants who were safely through.

"A scoring system really is the best…"

Xiaoguang sighed with deep feeling.

She still remembered that when she debuted, the Sinnoh Showcase Contest didn't use scores at all, which meant every time the first round of judging ended, her heart was in her throat.

Terrified of being eliminated.

And although the scoring system was also nerve-wracking, at least once everyone finished their performances, she could basically tell whether she still had a chance.

The only regret was that score of 39.

Shwa!

The many cards drifting across the screen split into sixteen, and the contestants' portraits appeared one by one as the cards flipped over—not a single person missing.

"Everyone advanced!"

Xiaosheng threw both arms up in celebration, immediately drawing envious and jealous looks from the surrounding contestants.

Of course.

There were also a small number of people who looked at Baimu and Miss Liuqi with admiration, regarding the latter two as the leading figures of the younger generation in the Hoenn Showcase Contest.

Xiaoyao had originally been one of them too—otherwise she wouldn't have earned the title "Hoenn Dancing Girl." But unfortunately, she'd been off competing in other regions these past two years, with no one to repackage or promote her, so her fame had naturally faded quite a bit.

Xiaogang looked at the group, many of whom were visibly pleased, and laughed: "Looks like the competition's about to get a lot fiercer for everyone!"

"I won't lose to any of you!"

Xiaoguang couldn't wait to throw down the gauntlet, and the Piplup at her feet flapped its little wings in vigorous agreement.

"Pip-pip!"

This time, she would defeat her idol fair and square, and show that Mime Jr. just what she was capable of!

"Ohhh! Xiaoguang's fighting spirit looks pretty fired up!"

Xiaoyao laughed and said: "But this time you won't have it as easy as last time~"

She still remembered vividly the scene of losing in the finals of that previous Mi Ke Li Cup, missing out on the trophy and the Ribbon.

"Hmph."

Xiaoshan chuckled lightly but offered no comment—he had always been very confident in Showcase Battles.

Hari's eyes rolled as if he were scheming something.

Ulala, meanwhile, looked toward Baimu—everyone had an opponent they hoped to defeat, and she was no exception.

"I can finally have a match with you!"

Miss Liuqi was quite excited; she had been looking forward to this day for a long time. Ever since the day she guided him through his first Showcase Contest, she had fantasized about facing him in some grand tournament.

"Yi, I hope you'll still be able to laugh when the time comes."

Baimu cracked a joke.

Evening.

With the help of Miss Liuqi's management company, the group managed to leave the venue safely and had dinner together.

Upon hearing that Xiaoyao and Xiaoguang had a tradition of holding a "girls' night talk," Miss Liuqi stubbornly stayed up with them until nearly ten o'clock before heading back to the dojo—if not for her habit of needing her own bed to sleep, she probably wouldn't have come back at all.

There was nothing to be done about it.

The temptation of friends of the same age and gender.

No matter how mature Miss Liuqi's personality was, she still longed for a few female friends close to her own age—unfortunately, she normally had no opportunity to meet any.

Even when she did, the other party would be wary because of her status, unable to open their heart and befriend her freely.

The awkward predicament she faced daily made her cherish every opportunity to spend time with Xiaoguang and Xiaoyao.

But what surprised Baimu was—

When Miss Liuqi returned, she mentioned that Ulala had also taken part in this "girls' night talk." He had assumed that, given this Miss's personality, she absolutely wouldn't have joined in the fun.

It seemed the two meals today had effectively smoothed over her relationship with Xiaoguang.

——

The next day.

The sun rose as usual.

The eager audience members in the venue took their seats one after another, and the host Vivian's voice came through the broadcast.

"Dear viewers! Welcome back to the Showcase Contest—Mi Ke Li Cup! Today we begin the second round of judging—the Showcase Battle! Now, please welcome Master Mi Ke Li to address the Coordinators!"

Center stage.

Mi Ke Li, still in his white hat and white cape, smiled brightly and declared in a clear voice: "Beautiful Coordinators, advance toward the world with immense emotion and excitement!"

Boom!

Cheers and applause erupted like an explosion.

After briefly introducing the rules of the Showcase Battle, Vivian raised her right hand, and the sixteen portraits on the large screen spun around as if shuffling a deck of cards.

Ding!

A slightly heart-fluttering light sound, and a bracket pairing the contestants two by two appeared before everyone.

A wave of murmuring swept through the audience; people discussed the computer's random pairings, debating who was most likely to charge all the way to the final round.

The preparation room.

The sixteen contestants present each looked toward their opponents.

"Hey, didn't expect that."

All Baimu gave a slight nod to Harry, who had returned to his Fantasia Dracozolt costume; the latter's expression sharpened for a moment but quickly returned to his usual smile, raising a hand in a casual wave as greeting.

Didn't expect the first round to throw him a "heavyweight" opponent.

The others' pairings were relatively normal—no familiar faces fighting each other, all matched with strangers.

First round, opening match.

The competitors were May and a female Coordinator Trainer with a score of 38.7.

Brock had wanted to rush over and play the suitor, but unfortunately was grabbed by the ear by Ash, who had anticipated it in advance, so he could only pull out his little notebook and solemnly present the opponent's intel—personality, preferences, and signature dishes.

"What kind of timing is this for that sort of thing!"

Ash gritted his teeth in anger, wishing he could drop a Hell Stab right on his forehead.

With companions this unreliable, he could only rely on himself, earnestly searching the internet for some information related to Contest battles. "Sis, the opponent is really strong, don't let your guard down."

"Don't worry! Your big sister's condition today seems super good!"

May smiled and gave an OK sign.

In the blink of an eye.

She and her opponent arrived at the venue, standing on opposite sides of the stage.

The field followed the Mi Ke Li Cup tradition—still a giant square pool, with at most a semicircle raised on each side for the competitors to stand on.

"Begin!"

Ash's expression was tense; he might not even be this nervous when he himself was battling.

Brock, on the other hand, said with great confidence: "Don't worry, with May's strength, as long as she performs to her full potential, this match won't be in any suspense."

Just as he said.

On stage, May's Blastoise easily took control of the battle's rhythm, using high-speed spins to toy with the opponent's Golduck, causing the opponent's score to be deducted by a huge amount in a short time.

"As expected, she's the technique type…"

All Baimu rubbed his chin. From the battle with Blaziken the other day, it wasn't hard to see that May's actual battling strength was still inferior to Dawn's.

But May's advantage lay in her greater emphasis on Contest battle technique—she'd put in a lot of effort on using flashy moves to suppress opponents—so she was still exceptionally strong.

Just like this spinning-top Blastoise—its offensive power was terrifyingly low; a Skull Bash to the Golduck's chest only made it let out a yelp.

After yelping, the battle continued as usual—no damage dealt. At first glance, it seemed pleasing.

The score?

The score was gone—deducted to zero.

In the end, the Contest battle was still a total loss.

All Baimu watched with a smile on his face. He remembered that in the anime, May's starters were all especially cute—whether the Bulbasaur with heart-shaped patches on its body, or the crybaby Turtwig that loved to act spoiled.

Only, unlike Ash, May's starters generally had the chance to evolve to their final forms—both Bulbasaur and Blastoise alike.

In contrast, Skitty and Munchlax for some reason hadn't evolved for ages. The former needing a Moon Stone was one thing, but how was the latter, which evolves through affection, also stuck?

The "trigger" for evolution really is an unsolved mystery.

On stage.

The first round's opening match had its result.

May and Blastoise, with the result of deducting all of the opponent's score, successfully advanced to the next round.

"Sis won!" Ash cheered.

"May really has a way!"

Dawn began to look forward to her Contest battle with May. The bracket showed that if they both advanced smoothly, they would meet in the finals.

It was simply fate.

Of course, it might also be All Baimu.

The defeat at the Kanto Grand Festival was still fresh in her memory; she and Piplup were both eager for a chance to win it back.

"Go for it, Baimu!"

Ash's voice interrupted her thoughts. All Baimu was walking toward the competitors' tunnel without looking back, waving his hand—he and Harry were the second match.

So Dawn also started shouting encouragement for him.

At a fork in the road.

All Baimu stopped his steps, turned his head to glance at the departing Harry. Though this one should have "turned over a new leaf," there was no guarantee he wouldn't pull something on him.

To be safe, he'd take him down as fast as possible.

He thought this as he slowly walked out of the tunnel radiating dazzling Bai Guang, squinting slightly to adjust to the light, when a mountain-roaring, sea-surging wave of sound flooded into his mind.

"Baimu! Baimu!"

"Go for it! It's all up to you now!"

"Don't lose to your opponent! Take the five-peat!"

All kinds of words gathered into a single line and drilled into All Baimu's ears. He squinted and looked up at the sun hanging high in the sky, momentarily feeling a little dazed.

That's right—winning the Mi Ke Li Cup would mean a five-peat, earning the qualification to participate in the Grand Festival.

The key step toward the peak… huh?

He rubbed his somewhat sore neck. Harry in the distance was reflected in his line of sight, and a Poké Ball rolled into his palm.

The host's voice sounded.

"Second Evaluation, First Round, Second Match! Begin!"

Ding!

A crisp notification sound.

The countdown on the venue's big screen began to change.

Both sides swiftly hurled Poké Balls forward!

Peng peng!

Water rippled and flowed, surging up like a living thing to outline the Shiny Milotic's outer silhouette, then the glowing blue light receded, revealing its breathtakingly beautiful form.

A rainbow-like gorgeous long tail, soft pale-blue long fins, and eyes crystalline as pomegranate seeds.

"Milo~"

The Shiny Milotic softly crooned, while excited screams kept coming from the audience seats; no one noticed the Meloetta at all, sent out by Harry on the other side.

The latter stood on the raised circular platform prepared for trainers, radiating a terrifying, intimidating aura all on its own.

But the appearance of the Shiny Milotic stole almost everyone's gaze, so nobody noticed this fellow at all, and naturally it affected no one.

Not quite.

There was still an effect—

The Shiny Milotic.

This dummy saw it looking so fierce and assumed the opponent had the Intimidate ability; not only was it not scared, it became incomparably excited, glaring back full of fight, just short of shouting "How dare you Intimidate me!"

Unfortunately, its own stats didn't drop — how could the Competitive ability possibly be triggered?

As for the partial stat boost caused by its highly excited state… this had nothing to do with changes in individual stats; it belonged to bonuses in other aspects.

And so.

The Shiny Milotic, having felt no improvement in its condition for so long, was a little dumbfounded.

Meanwhile, on the big screen.

The score beneath Harry's avatar had been deducted.

"How could such a thing happen!"

He gritted his teeth. Meloetta was the Pokémon he had specifically chosen to counter the Shiny Milotic — on one hand to overwhelm it in presence, on the other to seize the type advantage.

Who would have thought the Shiny Milotic, far from being afraid, would look utterly excited instead!

Such a backfiring scene would certainly not escape the four judges' sharp eyes, who unanimously decided to deduct his score.

Harry was so angry his face was practically turning green!

What on earth are you so excited about?

"No!"

He was heartbroken over his deducted score and commanded: "Meloetta! Use Bullet Seed!"

"Noose!"

Meloetta took a deep breath, and from the holes of various sizes on its face spewed a massive volley of emerald-green light bullets like a shotgun, the air constantly emitting the shrill whine of being torn through.

Its attack was fairly swift, and its power looked considerable too.

Unfortunately, it wasn't quite enough.

"Surf!"

Boom!

A massive wave rose up like a towering wall; the emerald-green light bullets struck it like hitting solid silk, utterly unable to pierce through.

And the Shiny Milotic behind the great wave violently raised its tail fin and slapped the surge, sending it rumbling and rolling toward Meloetta at once!

Since the decision was to take Harry down quickly, it was appropriate to flip over some of its trump cards.

Perfect timing.

Use Meloetta to verify the results learned from Adam over these past two days!

Harry, completely unable to see Baimu across from him, grew nervous and shouted loudly:

"Meloetta, use Cut! Slice the water apart!"

Facing the surging great wave, Meloetta immediately raised both arms, causing the dark-green spikes on its surface to glow white and lengthen; with its movements they looked just like sharp blades.

But before the light spikes could contact the wave, the Shiny Milotic in the pool suddenly took a deep breath.

"Blizzard!"

Whoosh!

Countless pure-white snow particles shot forward, and with the help of the wind they caught up with the rolling wave in an instant, rapidly freezing its upper portion into a massive block of ice!

"Noose!"

Meloetta saw the towering floe turn into a black shadow and topple down, nearly scared out of its wits, frantically waving both arms trying to slice it into tiny pieces.

Shwash shwash shwash!

White light flashed continuously, dazzling people's eyes until they stung.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard it tried, it still couldn't completely slice the floe apart; it broke into chunks of ice the size of footballs that rained down all over it.

Peng peng peng peng peng—

Ice chunks shattered across the ground, completely burying it.

"Meloetta!" Harry covered both cheeks and screamed in panic, no longer caring that nearly half his score had been deducted, shouting repeatedly hoping it would quickly break free of the ice and snow.

At the same time.

The Shiny Milotic, guided by Baimu, swiftly swam forward. "Ice Beam!"

"Milo~"

It opened its mouth; ice-blue lightning surged, then shot out, forcibly reinforcing the hardness of the surrounding ice and snow around the Meloetta that was trying to rise.

The Meloetta, with nowhere to dodge, instantly became a massive ice sculpture.

"Final strike, Hydro Pump!"

All Baimu waved his hand.

Cyan-blue currents of water gathered from every direction, and as the shiny Milotic's pale-blue hair-like fins whipped violently, a thick column of water blasted out, slamming thunderously into the Cacnea encased in ice!

Boom!

The latter was sent flying backward together with the ice, smashing hard into the spectator-seat wall.

When the ice shattered, it revealed a pair of ringed, dark eyes.

"Milo!

"

The shiny Milotic proudly raised its chin, its dashing figure drawing cheers and applause from many spectators who adored it.

Beep—

The whistle sounded sharply, and nearly half of the remaining score beneath the Harley head icon was completely deducted.

And the countdown still had a little over two minutes left.

Match over.

All Baimu calmly bowed in thanks.

In the preparation room, countless people watched this scene deeply moved.

Strong!

Way too strong!