The performance reached its conclusion, and the stadium instantly erupted into thunderous, passionate applause.
Although the majority of the live crowd consisted of Xianzhou locals who were no strangers to traditional acrobatics, seeing those time-honored feats blended so seamlessly with Pokémon abilities on a stage facing the entire universe delivered a fresh, incredible impact. The Xianzhou citizens felt a swell of collective pride, clapping as loudly as they could for Guinaifen.
As for the off-world tourists, their reaction was even more intense. Those high-stakes, mid-air maneuvers felt like watching someone dance on the edge of a cliff. Even inside a digital venue, it was nerve-wracking to watch. In a high-level competition, a single slip during such complex routines would mean immediate elimination, wiping out all previous efforts.
The applause echoed through the arena far longer than it had for any previous contestant. Up on the stage, Guinaifen and her three companions bowed repeatedly to the roaring stands.
"That was incredible! How did she even come up with a routine like that?"
Back in the Belobog banquet hall, Seele couldn't help but voice her admiration. The physical difficulty of those stunts wasn't particularly challenging for a seasoned Pathstrider like her, but what truly impressed her was the creative leap of weaving those high-risk acrobatics into a choreographed show. It was easily the most brilliant performance of the night so far. More importantly, she realized that mastering those quick, fluid mounting and vaulting movements would offer immense tactical value in real combat, creating endless opportunities to dodge and counter.
Hearing her praise, Yanqing puffed out his chest, looking immensely proud. "Hmph, that is an art form refined over thousands of years on the Xianzhou. Of course it's amazing."
Seele blinked, staring at the young swordsman with a head full of question marks. I was praising the performer, why are you acting like you just won an award?
Himeko chuckled softly at the exchange, stepping in to clarify for the local leaders. "Yanqing hails from the Xianzhou Alliance, and Guinaifen lives there as well, though her original roots trace back to another star system entirely. She was raised with the help of the Xianzhou people."
She went on to gently outline the Xianzhou Alliance's prominent standing across the cosmos. Learning that the young boy sitting near them belonged to one of the most powerful factions in the known universe, the Belobog locals looked at Yanqing and Julian with newfound wonder. Yanqing tried to maintain his composure, but his lips curled up in a subtle, thoroughly satisfied grin.
On screen, the broadcast transitioned to the judges' table, drawing everyone's focus back to the display.
"Magnificent!" the Head of the Animation Team began, leaning into his microphone. "Weaving traditional Xianzhou acrobatic arts into your stage presentation completely blew me away. It was stunning."
He paused, offering a thoughtful tilt of his head. "If I had to offer a small critique, a few of the transitions between your movements and the Pokémon's actions felt slightly abrupt. As a human trainer, your baseline physical capabilities are naturally different from your partners. In certain segments, if you allowed one of your Pokémon to execute those mid-air vaults instead, the visual flow might have landed even smoother."
"Still, your core concept deserves the highest praise. I hope this inspires trainers from every corner of the stars to bring their own local cultures to this stage, showing the universe what makes their homes special."
"Thank you so much, judges!" Guinaifen bowed deeply.
The Head of the Art Team smiled. "I completely agree with the animation director. He captured the highlights well, so I'll jump straight into areas for growth. It's a common challenge we're seeing tonight: don't be afraid to push your stage lighting and elemental effects even further. You used Dazzling Gleam to craft those floating light spheres, which was brilliant, but your other two partners could have used their elemental styles to add even more visual contrast to the backdrop."
"That said, blending physical acrobatics into the performance was an absolute triumph. Keep refining it. I can't wait to see your next round."
"Thank you!"
Cai Xing adjusted her papers, her tone warm yet professional. "My colleagues have covered the general design, but when it comes to the technical mechanics of acrobatics, I happen to know a fair bit. Your posture and execution were remarkably crisp, though the individual forms you selected were relatively fundamental."
"If you wish to deepen your mastery in this field, I can personally introduce you to a few veteran masters on the Xianzhou who can coach your technique. I believe it would elevate your stage presence immensely."
Guinaifen's eyes lit up with pure excitement. "Thank you! Thank you so much!"
While Pokémon had brought her global recognition, acrobatics was the foundational skill that had kept food on her table during her hardest years. She had no intention of ever setting it aside. Getting a chance to learn from true masters to hone her craft was a dream come true.
The system tallied the baseline performance metrics at 90 points, while the judging panel awarded an average of 93. Together, her final score locked in at 91.5 points—the highest mark of the night.
The performances that followed fell back into more familiar territory, with most scores hovering below eighty. One notable contestant, an artist by trade, delivered a breathtaking display by commanding their Pokémon's elemental moves to paint a vast, shimmering landscape across the air. It was visually stunning, but a minor timing error near the end caused a heavy point penalty, leaving them with a final score of 76. Both the judges and the audience let out collective sighs of regret for the near-miss.
Finally, the screen shifted, and Sushang stepped onto the field.
The moment her face appeared on the projection, a wave of visible nervousness radiated off her. Her shoulders were tight, her hands clasped nervously, and the viewers in the banquet hall couldn't help but feel a sudden pang of concern for her.
"Sushang! You've got this! Show them what you can do!"
Guinaifen, who had already taken a seat in the front row of the live venue, leapt to her feet and shouted at the top of her lungs, waving frantically to support her best friend.
Sushang caught sight of her, offering a quick, determined nod. She took a deep, steadying breath, letting the tension leave her shoulders as she prepared her opening stance.
Her registered roster materialized around her: a Moltres, a Scizor, and a Scyther.
As the player base grew more experienced with high-level mechanics, the league had gradually relaxed restrictions on certain legendary species. However, this clearance was strictly limited to lower-tier entries like the Legendary Birds, the Legendary Beasts, and the Regi trio. Without their ancient lore buffs, these entities functioned in matches as slightly sturdier standard Pokémon—often possessing less raw competitive edge than fully optimized pseudo-legendaries. Since most serious players spent considerable time studying counters for legendary species, their actual pick rates in high-tier play remained quite balanced.
The one-minute performance timer began to tick down as a deep, dramatic musical score resonated through the arena speakers.
Sushang calmed her breathing, drawing the longsword at her waist and holding it forward in a clean, formal martial salute. The moment the rhythm dropped, Scizor and Scyther leaped into position directly across from her, raising their razor-sharp blades as if facing a formidable rival.
The music swelled into a thrilling tempo, and all three figures clashed instantly.
Sushang stood her ground alone, taking on both mantis-like Pokémon at once. The two steel and bug types unleashed swift slashes that sent shimmering waves of energy slicing through the air, creating a dazzling array of visual effects.
Sushang's side of the field was equally breathtaking. High above her, Moltres hovered with its fiery wings spread wide. Under the clever stage lighting, the legendary bird cast a grand, phantom-like silhouette behind her, looking remarkably like an ancient guardian spirit watching over her blade.
Channeling the heat from Moltres's aura, brilliant ribbons of flame coiled tightly around the edge of Sushang's sword. Every parry and thrust she executed trailed bright arcs of fire, turning her footwork into a striking display. The choreography between the three was meticulously rehearsed, striking a perfect balance between martial elegance and the sharp intensity of a real duel, looking like a scene straight out of a classic action film.
As the final ten seconds flashed on the clock, Scizor and Scyther simultaneously activated Double Team. Dozens of afterimages materialized across the stage, forming a dense circle of blade-wielding clones that surged toward Sushang from every direction.
Facing the incoming wave, Sushang's eyes flashed with absolute focus. She planted her stance, raised her flaming sword high into the air, and shouted her battle cry with everything she had:
"Behold the Taixu Art—Phoenix Manifestation!"
30+ chapters are available now and daily updates!
@patreon.com/AgentTwilight