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The Pokémon Contest was a stage where Coordinator Trainers showcased the fruits of their hard work. Here, they did everything they could to display the unique charm of their Pokémon, delivering powerful visual impact to the audience.
Soon, under the crowd's eager gazes, tonight's Contest finally began.
"Ladies and gentlemen, good evening. I'm your familiar host, Vivian. Welcome to tonight's High-tier Pokémon Contest! Now, let us invite our three judges to take their seats."
In the darkness, more than a dozen stage lights switched on one after another, all converging on a gorgeously dressed woman at the center of the stage. Vivian immediately raised the microphone to her lips and spoke loudly with her sweetest smile.
The next moment, amid roaring cheers from the audience, Nurse Joy and the other two professional judges took their seats at the judges' table on the left side of the stage.
"It's starting, it's finally starting! Tyler, let me tell you—although these Coordinators' Pokémon aren't very strong, the way they combine moves during performances is really interesting. I've watched several contests and got plenty of ideas for new move combinations."
Seeing the competition finally begin, Flannery shouted excitedly like the rest of the audience, then turned to Sato with a thrilled expression.
"Then let's see how it goes. I've watched Contests on TV before, but this is my first time seeing one live. It should feel quite different,"
Sato replied with a smile, nodding as he listened.
In truth, however, he didn't fully agree with Flannery. If powerful move combinations were really that easy to create, the Elite Four would have been replaced long ago.
In Sato's view, most move combinations used by Coordinators were merely rough visual effects formed by sequentially colliding moves—still far from true, refined combination techniques.
Just as he remembered, the first stage of the Contest focused on a Pokémon's entrance—displaying its charm through a gorgeous debut.
The first contestant was a slender black-haired beauty wearing a moon-white evening gown. With light makeup and bathed in stage lights, she resembled a blooming white rose.
As expected, the moment she appeared, she was met with loud cheers from the male audience.
"All right! Let us welcome our first contestant—Miss Bailan!"
Before the applause even faded, Vivian spoke loudly into the microphone.
"Come out, Beautifly! Combine Flash with Silver Wind!"
Though slightly displeased at being interrupted while enjoying the applause, Bailan didn't dare delay. With elegant movements, she tossed a Luxury Ball decorated with stickers and capsule accessories into the air.
In the next instant, accompanied by sparkling, star-like energy, a beautifully developed Beautifly appeared before everyone.
Following Bailan's command, Beautifly immediately used Flash and Silver Wind.
A dazzling white light lit up across her delicate wings. Then, with a powerful flap, countless silver scales scattered outward, and a white whirlwind suddenly formed around her.
The whirlwind spun rapidly from the center outward, sweeping up the silver powder shed from Beautifly's wings and carrying it along.
In moments, the silver powder fused with the white vortex, forming a gleaming silver whirlwind. Under the effect of Flash, it shimmered brilliantly as rings of silvery light spread outward.
"Wow, it's beautiful!"
"So pretty! My Beautifly has to learn this move someday!"
"As expected of Miss Bailan—beautiful trainer, beautiful Pokémon!"
The audience burst into admiration. Some Coordinators even felt an immediate urge to catch a Beautifly of their own.
"What a splendid performance! Now let's have our three judges score Miss Bailan's Beautifly."
Vivian, clearly a devoted Contest fan, had sparkling eyes as she watched. As soon as the performance ended, she signaled Nurse Joy and the other judges to give their scores.
"An outstanding performance. I give it a ten."
"I loved it—I'm giving it a ten as well."
"It fully showcased Beautifly's charm. Absolutely wonderful. Ten points."
In the next moment, Mr. Contesta, Mr. Sukizo, and Nurse Joy from the Slateport City Pokémon Center each shared their impressions and scores.
"My goodness! Miss Bailan's Beautifly has received a perfect score! Let's give them a round of applause!"
Seeing the scores, Vivian's face filled with astonishment as she shouted excitedly into the microphone.
Cheers and thunderous applause erupted from the audience.
Bailan was clearly satisfied. Smiling warmly, she bowed to the judges and the crowd, then gracefully left the stage with her Beautifly.
"That's a perfect score? Wasn't that just simple move sequencing? What's there to get so excited about?"
Seeing the audience's amazement—and even Flannery and Roxanne beside him looking starstruck—Sato twitched slightly, feeling a hint of disappointment.
Still, he didn't hold back his applause, offering a faint smile. While the performance didn't impress him much technically, visually, it truly was dazzling.
After Bailan, the next dozen contestants did their best to display their Pokémon's charm, but none managed another perfect score. The highest afterward was only 29 points.
That 29-point performance belonged to the very Miss Hirako Flannery had mentioned earlier—a Trainer specializing in Fire-type Pokémon. Her command of Fire-type moves during performances was excellent, which was exactly why Flannery admired her.
"All right! Now let us welcome the final contestant of the first round!"
Once the judges finished scoring, Vivian gestured for the contestant to leave and immediately announced the last performer.
The next second, a golden-haired beauty in a shimmering golden princess dress stepped gracefully onto the stage. As she emerged under the lights, her noble aura gradually revealed itself.
If Bailan had been a white rose, then this blonde woman was a dignified golden peony.
"It's her!"
Sato's pupils shrank the instant he saw the golden-haired woman step onto the illuminated stage.
This beautiful, fair-skinned blonde was none other than Alice Sasaki—the same woman Sato had defeated twice before in Pokémon battles.