Neither trainer relied on the gaudy, hollow theatrics that had bogged down earlier rounds. Every command and maneuver sprang naturally from the flow of the duel, devoid of pretense or exaggerated posturing.
On the surface, it looked like a standard Pokémon battle.
Yet the visual artistry and fluid spectacle surpassed anything seen on the Masters Tournament circuit.
Only now did the spectators truly grasp what a high-level Contest was meant to be.
Watching from the stands, Julian nodded with deep satisfaction. A contest was, at its very core, still a battle. The true distinction lay in how a trainer shaped the visual expression of that conflict. A master Coordinator was every bit as lethal as a regional Champion. If that were not so, Wallace would never have ascended to the Champion throne of Hoenn, nor would Steven Stone after him have pursued such refined elegance on the battlefield. The cheap theatrics common to amateur stages were beneath the dignity of true masters. Given the time, figures like Welt, Silver Wolf, or even Jing Yuan could have taken to the stage with ease. Fu Xuan was simply consumed by the endless administrative affairs of the Xianzhou, and Stephen was utterly lost in his game development. Otherwise, either of them could have climbed to incredible heights in the Contest scene.
"Magnificent!"
Even locked in combat, Argenti could not help but voice his heartfelt admiration.
Yet chivalry was not surrender. As a Knight of Beauty, he would never lower his lance while the verdict remained unwritten.
Across the stage, Scyther and Scizor held their low stances after cleaving through the twin energy beams, their blades humming as they awaited Sushang's next word.
"We cannot allow ourselves to be outdone!" Argenti called out, his cloak sweeping back with dramatic flair. "Milotic, draw the Whirlpool! Roselia, seed the vortex with Magical Leaf!"
Milotic arched its slender neck, unleashing a roaring torrent of spiraling water. Roselia released a barrage of vibrant, glowing leaves that plunged straight into the heart of the maelstrom. The razor-sharp foliage spun along the high-speed currents, turning the surging vortex into a grinding millstone of pressure and blades.
The watery cyclone expanded with terrifying speed, threatening to swallow both mantises whole.
Sushang, however, held firm to her core principle: no matter what tricks the enemy brought to bear, her blade would cut a path straight through. At her command, Scyther and Scizor drove their scythes into the swirling wall, aiming to carve a clean passage through the center. That singular strike shattered the vortex's delicate equilibrium, and the entire structure collapsed in a deafening wash of spray.
A knight, however, was not a reckless brute who traded blows in melee when outmatched, especially while carrying a clear type disadvantage.
"Milotic, ride the Surf! Roselia, scatter the Petal Blizzard!"
Seeing the vortex collapse, Argenti had Roselia leap atop Milotic's crested head. A sweeping tide rose beneath them, repelling Sushang's advance while granting the pair blinding aquatic mobility. Roselia directed storms of fragrant petals to harry the oncoming mantises, weaving layers of protective floral screens whenever a stray vacuum blade whistled too close.
"Take to the air with Agility! X-Scissor, focus down Roselia!"
Sushang ordered her Pokémon airborne, evading the crushing surge of the tide to strike from the skies.
If the opponent could surf the waves to build speed, her mantises could slice through the open air just as swiftly.
In truth, they were faster.
In the blink of an eye, the two mantises closed the distance. Scyther and Scizor converged on Roselia, while Milotic whipped up violent ribbons of water to parry the incoming blades. Under Argenti's steady direction, Roselia countered with a dizzying weave of thorns and petals.
The clash erupted into another flurry of close-quarters combat.
Argenti relied on precision parries and stalling maneuvers, yet even under immense pressure, his Pokémon never lost their poise. Whether commanding water or foliage, every move unfolded with breathtaking grace.
Sushang's approach was far simpler, but every slash hummed with pure, unyielding sword intent.
The simplicity never grew stale. The sight of two armored blades charging straight forward, cutting through every obstacle with fearless conviction, set every spectator's pulse racing.
For Sushang, offense was her sole defense. She pressed the assault relentlessly.
Argenti met her stride for stride, trading brief skirmishes, managing distance, and hunting for any seam in her rhythm.
The arena sank into a grueling stalemate.
Watching from the high terrace, seasoned combat veterans like Jing Yuan, Su Yi, Welt, and Dan Heng could not help but sigh quietly for the young swordswoman.
Sushang possessed formidable martial instincts, yet her strategic depth and battlefield experience were still green.
Faced with an opponent who defended from every angle without showing a single blind spot, Sushang should have pulled back. She needed to pace her breath, study her rival's defensive cadence, and adjust her strategy rather than burning herself out in an endless, reckless offensive.
Her aggressive drive was commendable, but against a veteran opponent, an unyielding assault drained the attacker far faster than the defender. That was a lesson only years of hard-fought campaigns could hammer into a warrior's bones.
For someone of Sushang's youth, reaching this stage was already an astonishing feat. Argenti simply possessed the advantage of seasoned maturity and countless journeys across the cosmos.
The contest stage, however, offered no concessions for youth.
Furthermore, while Sushang had blended Xianzhou sword arts with her Pokémon's natural moves, the physiological differences between humans and mantises remained vast. Her training period with them had been brief, leaving little room to master more intricate variations.
The longer the duel dragged on, the more time Argenti had to map out the timing, reach, and recovery of every slash.
The moment he decoded her rhythm would be the turning point.
Sitting on the bench in the waiting area, March 7th watched the exchange with an acute awareness of the gulf between herself and the two competitors.
Even after everything she had learned during her duel with Guinaifen, and even if she maintained her best form in the next round, an intangible divide still separated her from Sushang and Argenti.
No, stop it. Why am I obsessing over winning again? At this point, victory or defeat shouldn't matter. Haven't I already proven what I can do?
March tried to steady her racing thoughts. Yet as she watched the broadcast monitors, seeing both trainers give every ounce of their passion while all four Pokémon shone with unmatched brilliance, a quiet truth dawned upon her.
This stage was no longer just about her own effort. She carried the hopes, sweat, and spirit of Beautifly and Articuno.
After the trials of the previous round, she no longer viewed Pokémon as mere digital code or game pieces. They were living, thinking companions bound to her side.
Perhaps that very realization was the difference between her and the competitors on stage.
Uncertainty gave way to quiet resolve. March 7th leaned forward, studying every flick of the blade and every sweep of the tide. She would search for whatever she lacked and close the gap before stepping out for the final round, fighting with everything she had for her Pokémon.
Win or lose, she would leave the arena without a single regret.
Back in the ring, the inevitable arrived.
Argenti finally caught the faint delay in Scizor's recovery window. Seizing the opening, he launched a sharp, decisive counterattack that pushed both mantises back.
The score bar, which Sushang had fought so desperately to even out, began tilting back toward the Knight of Beauty.
With her cadence broken, Sushang lost the initiative. Pushing forward recklessly would only expose wider flaws, leaving her with no choice but to drop into a reactive, defensive posture and wait for an opening.
Argenti, however, gave her no room to breathe. His execution was flawless, his pressure calm and unyielding.
When the arena timer finally struck zero, Argenti held a narrow lead on points, securing a hard-fought victory and his place in the grand finals.
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