The second round shifted the field, randomly setting the Contest Battle phase to a single-combat format. Under these rules, players could deploy only one Pokémon to represent them in the arena.
The bracket progressed almost exactly as the crowd had predicted. Guinaifen and Sushang systematically fought their way through their respective sides, setting up an absolute showdown in the finals.
However, as the matches unfolded, an unexpected contrast emerged. While Sushang maintained her peak, fluid performance form, Guinaifen seemed to be struggling to find her stride.
Instead of weaving those breathtaking, high-difficulty acrobatics from the first round into her combat loops, Guinaifen reverted to a more conventional Contest style, focusing mainly on making her Pokémon's moves look flashy and vibrant.
There was nothing strictly wrong with her strategy, but compared to her brilliant debut, the shift left the audience feeling a slight wave of disappointment. Sushang, on the other hand, seamlessly integrated her family's sword arts and footwork into her Scizor's moves, keeping her routine sharp, practical, and visually stunning.
To off-world viewers, the gap in their style evolution was puzzling. But to the citizens of the Xianzhou Alliance and those who knew Guinaifen's background, the reason was obvious.
Sushang possessed the backing of a prominent martial family, complete with a deep foundation in classic sword techniques. For a event like this, she simply needed targeted coaching to refine her forms for the stage.
Guinaifen, however, was an outsider raised in the Xianzhou. Though she possessed raw talent, her access to high-level martial instruction had been strictly limited. In traditional Xianzhou circles, money alone couldn't open the doors of true masters without the right family connections.
This was precisely why Guinaifen had been so overjoyed when Cai Xing offered to introduce her to veteran instructors earlier in the evening. Building high-level synergy between human martial arts and Pokémon abilities was nearly impossible without expert guidance from someone who truly understood both disciplines.
Still, Guinaifen's sheer battle instinct carried her through. Relying on her elite mechanics, she broke through every opponent in her path to meet Sushang in the finals. After all, as a sitting member of the Master Tournament's Elite Four, her raw dueling prowess in a small arena was nearly unmatched.
"Sushang, don't expect me to hold back!"
"I should be telling you that, Shanghai! You'd better stay on your toes!"
The final bell rang as Guinaifen called out her Rapidash, while Sushang deployed her Scizor to center stage.
Though Sushang faced a severe elemental type disadvantage against a fire-type, winning a Contest Battle required a very different mindset than a standard league duel.
In a traditional battle, the sole objective was to knock out the opponent as efficiently as possible. But in a Contest, raw damage took a back seat. The core goal was to continuously showcase a Pokémon's charm and elegance through creative combat choices.
"Alright, ladies and gentlemen, the final Contest Battle of our opening weekly qualifier officially begins!" Owlbert's voice boomed through the speakers.
"Oh! Sushang takes the initiative, sending Scizor forward with an immediate Bullet Punch! Is she trying to seize the tempo right out of the gate?"
"Rapidash easily side-steps the strike! And look at that—Guinaifen is deliberately steering clear of the razor-sharp air currents trailing Sushang's blade. She definitely studied her opponent's range!"
Though the flying wind effects surrounding the steel blade looked like cosmetic sword aura, the sharp vacuum slashes could still inflict real damage on Rapidash if they connected.
"Missing her first strike, Sushang doesn't lose her footing! She instantly cancels into a Quick Attack! Is she trying to force a close-quarters brawl?"
"Rapidash holds the advantage in straight-line speed, but in a tight, confined space, Scizor's agility is unmatched!"
"A clean hit! Scizor connects with a low-power strike combination, and Guinaifen's Charm Points are dropping fast!"
"Beautiful counter! Rapidash unleashes a Fire Spin to force Scizor back, scoring a solid hit!"
"That Fire Spin looked breathtaking! In a standard league duel, that damage trade would have put Guinaifen ahead, but this is a Contest—Sushang's aggressive start has given her a massive lead on the point board!"
Because offensive swordsmanship naturally carried high visual impact, Sushang had chosen a fast, relentless pace that played directly to Scizor's strengths.
The exchange was so fast that Owlbert barely had time to take a breath between calls.
Seeing her point lead widen, Sushang wisely pulled back, creating distance to launch sweeping, glowing wind slashes from afar to maximize her visual style, pushing her score even higher.
Guinaifen dodged the incoming slashes while seizing every narrow opening to counter with a fiery Flamethrower.
After several intense rounds of give-and-take, the heavy type advantage finally caught up to Sushang, and her Scizor was forced to yield the field. However, Sushang had already achieved her true objective. Her Charm Point total was so far ahead that even with the bonus points Guinaifen earned for securing the final knockout, it wasn't enough to bridge the gap.
"And that's the match! Sushang smartly worked around her combat disadvantage, focusing her entire strategy on maximizing her Charm Points!" Owlbert announced to the roaring crowd.
"She officially claims the crown for our very first weekly qualifier, securing her ticket to the prestigious Contest Grand Festival! Let's hear a huge round of applause for Sushang, and an equally warm salute for Guinaifen!"
"Thank you to both of our incredible finalists for delivering such an unforgettable show! We'll see you all next week for the next round of competition!"
At the center of the stage, Cai Xing stepped forward to present Sushang with a shimmering ribbon badge. A physical version of the trophy would also be delivered to her home, serving as a official pass for the Grand Festival.
Even after the broadcast ended, the excitement among the viewers didn't fade.
Sushang had clearly demonstrated that a Contest was entirely different from a standard Trainer tournament. Even if an Elite Four member like Guinaifen won the physical duel, failing to manage the point ledger meant walking away without the trophy.
Across the star-lanes, fans eagerly debated stage designs, move combinations, and strategy adjustments for the next qualifier.
Back on Jarilo-VI, the local leaders sat in quiet awe after witnessing the galactic spectacle. The sheer depth of interstellar culture showed them just how far their isolated world had to go.
Bronya was eager to learn more about the game's systems, but seeing March 7th lost deep in thought, she decided not to disturb her. Instead, she turned to Stelle for details. Since Stelle was still relatively new to the game, the two eventually sought out Dan Heng. Compared to March's scattered explanations, Dan Heng broke down the rules in a clear, organized manner that Bronya easily understood.
As for reaching out to Julian directly? Since they were still getting acquainted, Bronya felt it best not to bother the busy creator over a casual game.
With the banquet wrapped up and the broadcast finished, the guests slowly began to disperse.
Julian, possessing his own long-range movement abilities, had no need to stay overnight in Belobog. He brought Yanqing straight back to his spaceship, where the accommodations were considerably more comfortable. As for the Stellaron, to ensure total security after sealing it, he applied the secondary containment device Stephen had given him—a double layer of protection to guarantee no unexpected energy leaks.
Meanwhile, March 7th approached Himeko in the lounge to ask whether seeking private advice from Julian on Contest strategies would be appropriate.
"Oh, about that?" Himeko smiled warmly, setting down her cup. "I think you should definitely ask him. You don't need to worry about it being considered cheating."
"After all, you're simply asking for creative feedback," Himeko continued gently. "As the game's creator, I'm sure he'd be delighted to help guide your ideas. In the end, you're the one who has to perform on stage, and Julian isn't on the judging panel. As long as you aren't asking for unfair favors, there's no reason not to ask openly. Countless players across the universe would jump at the chance to consult him, so you should make the most of the opportunity, March."
"Got it, Himeko!" March 7th nodded, her face brightening with newfound confidence. "First thing tomorrow when Julian comes down to the surface, I'll ask him for some pointers."
With Himeko's encouragement clearing her doubts, March felt ready to tackle her routine. Since Julian had already retired to his ship for the night, she decided to wait for the morning to pitch her ideas.
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