"Time limit of five minutes. Through superb performance—be it teamwork techniques, Pokémon movements, moves, or even the grandness of it all—one can reduce the opponent's points. The contestant with the higher remaining score wins!"
Vivian explained the rules of the elegant battle contest, her gaze wandering between the two, "Now, the first match of the second round of judging! Begin!"
Dong!
A crisp prompt tone.
The countdown on the big screen of the venue began to change.
Both sides quickly threw their Pokeballs forward!
Poom poom!
Amidst countless scattered blue and red confetti, Medicham and its pre-evolution Meditite appeared on the field. The two Psychic and Fighting Attribute Pokémon each stood on one leg, bowing with one hand while their necks flexibly moved horizontally.
"Achoo!" "Gee!"
On the other side.
Light pink cherry blossoms floated and fell, and Mawile and Blissey appeared from the pile of illusory petals scattered on the ground.
"Chido~" "Happy!"
The four Pokémon gazed at each other, creating an atmosphere of an impending intense battle.
"Hmph, soon you'll know what the best coordination is!"
Ge Mann snorted softly, "Double Yoga Pose!"
Medicham and Meditite took the lead, leaping from the ground. Their eyes were covered with blue light as they sat cross-legged in mid-air, surrounded by a pale blue circular light membrane like a protective shield.
Baimu's score began to deduct with the opponent's actions.
Luckily, it wasn't much.
"Gravity, Foggy Field."
He spoke.
The next moment.
As Mawile's toe touched the ground, countless pale blue clouds spread outward, and a heavy pressure slammed onto Medicham and Meditite like a giant hammer, disrupting their cross-legged posture.
The protective shield-like pale blue light membrane shattered without being attacked, and their bodies wobbled as they fell into the mist.
Ge Mann's score immediately deducted about one-eighth!
His expression changed, "Double Awakened Power!"
Medicham and Meditite quickly restored their status, their bodies covered with pale green light. Countless pale green light points formed energy spheres of varying sizes, attempting to launch out.
But at this moment, the mist before them was already full of Mawile's dancing figures, while Blissey had disappeared.
When were the commands given!?
Ge Mann frowned, "Attack!"
Under the trainer's command, Medicham and Meditite launched the Awakened Power.
Unfortunately, these energy spheres hit nothing but air, or rather, the fake figures of Mawile, causing another one-eighth deduction of Ge Mann's score.
"Mawile successfully utilized Foggy Field and Shadow Clone, causing Medicham and Meditite's attacks to fail!"
Vivian loudly explained the situation on the field.
The audience kept cheering.
"Since that's the case—Medicham Eye of the Heart! Meditite Acupoint!"
Ge Mann waved his hand fiercely.
Medicham clasped its hands releasing a blue light from its eyes, scanning across the numerous figures of Mawile like a spotlight, while Meditite stood behind it, constantly poking Medicham's body with its fingers, rising orange light symbolizing the rapid elevation of some status.
Suddenly.
Its gaze fixed on one of the Mawile!
Found you!
Medicham's momentum significantly increased, its incredibly vigorous fighting spirit causing another deduction of Baimu's score.
Yet the latter's face showed no trace of panic, as if everything was within expectations.
"I don't know what you're planning, but since you like giving me opportunities, I won't be polite! Meditite Assist! Medicham Emitting Force!"
Ge Mann raised his hand and shouted.
Instantly.
Meditite poked its finger on Medicham's forehead again, a dazzling white light instantly covering the latter's body, causing the reddish-brown airflow wave it was brewing at its chest and abdomen to emit an extremely dazzling light!
"Gee!"
Medicham suddenly pushed out this airflow wave!
Whoosh——
The terrifying airflow wave tore through the pale blue mist, the passing Mawile's virtual images dissipated instantly, and Vivian's screams highlighted its tremendous power!
"What a surprising power! Mawile is in danger!"
But Mawile wasn't without a response either. It posed as if about to punch, fearlessly facing the oncoming airflow wave.
Just when the airflow wave was less than a meter away.
"Exchange Field! Playful!"
With a loud shout from Baimu, a Blissey suddenly appeared behind Meditite, surprising all the onlookers, and it embraced the former as its figure flickered suddenly.
In the next instant.
Behind Medicham was now Mawile ready to strike, while at the original location of Mawile, Happiny was holding Meditite as if it were a sandbag!
Boom!
The airwave struck Meditite's body with a thundering impact, exploding into dazzling fireworks!
"Squeak~"
Mawile, with a mischievous grin, suddenly grabbed Medicham's hand just as Medicham and Ge Mann were caught off guard, as if playfully romping under the fireworks.
The pink Fairy Attribute Energy was relentlessly washing over the latter's body!
"Unbelievable!? Meditite and Happiny actually switched places with Mawile! All of Medicham's attacks landed on Meditite!"
Under Vivian's exclamation, Ge Mann's score instantly dropped by more than a third.
Clearly, this counterattack scored very high, causing the latter's score to fall below half!
Even more critical, Mawile's attack was incredibly powerful, and Medicham, forced to endure Playful's assaults, saw its condition plummet, just as did Meditite's!
"Double Insight! Get closer to each other!"
Ge Mann shouted anxiously.
Medicham and Meditite, eyes glowing blue, focused intently on Mawile and Blissey, dodging potential attacks while quickly moving toward their partner's location.
In a flash.
The two distressed allies, standing back to back, kept their eyes on their two opponents, arriving at a prime attacking position just as Baimu had anticipated.
A double advantage attack position!
"Double Revive!"
"Assist! Fairy Wind!"
Ge Mann and Baimu shouted in unison, the former's decision slightly surprising the latter, choosing to risk it all instead of using Self-Rebirth to recover!
His peripheral vision caught sight of the big screen, realizing the situation.
It turned out there wasn't enough time!
In the arena.
Blissey raised its flapping little hands high, and a bright white light flew from its body into Mawile, which suddenly began to spin, its toes hitting the ground with force like an arrow leaving the bowstring, charging toward Medicham and Meditite!
The pink whirlwind resembled a tornado enveloping its body, with the light blue mist of the field attaching to the outer layer of the cyclone, like a massive swirl of pink and light blue cloud.
Ge Mann's score was deducted once again!
Faced with Mawile's magnificent yet fierce attack, the severely weakened Medicham and Meditite exchanged glances and resolutely issued a strike against Mawile!
[Revive], a move where the less stamina, the higher the attack!
Beneath Medicham's unspent Ability Values, a tremendous energy handprint suddenly appeared, clashing with the whirlwind Mawile had become!
Bam!
Thick smoke rolled upward, followed by a gust of wind dispersing it.
Amidst the haze, a handprint-shaped cloud flipped and whirled above the field, an extraordinary sight mesmerizing the audience.
With a hint of admiration, host Vivian exclaimed, "What a beautiful sight, yet..."
Beep——!!
"The match is over!"
In the arena, Medicham and Meditite were incredibly still standing, barely holding on with a single breath and quickly looking at the big screen, as did Mawile, Blissey, and both Trainers.
"And the scores are——"
On the screen.
Baimu's score was deducted by a third, while Ge Mann's score was only a quarter remaining.
The victor was clear at a glance.
Baimu, along with Mawile and Blissey, their portraits overtook the entire screen.
"Congratulations! Advancing to the finals are——Contestant Baimu and his Pokémon partners!"
Vivian's uplifting voice echoed throughout the venue, met with enthusiastic applause from the audience.
Patistan commented, "What a brilliant performance! One side lay dormant, waiting for the perfect opportunity to turn the tables. The other side did not give up against adversity, showcasing exceptional resilience!"
Liu Lai raised a hand to his bangs, "Supa~rashi~"
Miss Joy looked at Blissey in amazement, "What an outstanding Blissey! It provided excellent support measures, simply wonderful!"
In the arena.
Ge Mann, gazing up at the screen, clenched his fists in frustration, with Medicham and Meditite looking on dejectedly.
Baimu, smiling, high-fived Mawile and Blissey, who were also beaming with joy.
"Great job! You guys are fantastic!"
"Squeak~"
"Happy~"