The first quarterfinal match ended with Lorelei's absolute domination, as the Ice Queen from Kanto advanced powerfully.
As for the subsequent matches, although the contestants' strength had clearly risen more than one level compared to the group stage, after all, they were being compared to Lorelei, who held Articuno and had a flexible, varied commanding style.
Due to the overly stunning opening, the audience's interest in the following matches was somewhat lacking.
Even with Aiden's professional commentary and atmosphere-raising, and even though both sides showed their own flair, the on-site enthusiasm still couldn't compare to the first match.
Until after the four great battles ended, the semifinals list and match order were finalized.
The first half was Lorelei vs. Candice, while the second half was Hoenn Elite Four Glacia vs. Grusha.
It was a paired slaughter between two Elite Four members and two young Gym Leaders.
Whether in terms of match experience or strength, the gaps between them were visible to the naked eye, so the semifinals outcomes actually didn't have much suspense.
"Go for it Candice, show them the spirit of us Sinnoh people!"
"Match over! Lorelei still only used one Articuno and easily dominated the entire match, another clean 3:0!"
——
"Can Grusha do it? Like that Psychic-type Masters champion Teacher Azure, complete an upset as a rookie Gym Leader and advance to the finals—today's the day!"
"——Unfortunately, Grusha has played all his cards, but the strength gap between Elite Four and Gym Leader is indeed real."
"The final score settles at 3:1. Although he lost the match, Gym Leader Grusha's resilience still moved this streamer a bit!"
Only after the two semifinal matches ended did the audience belatedly realize—[Teacher Azure, aren't you being a bit malicious? How does it feel like whoever you support has bad luck? It's somewhat mystical!]
[Is it possible this is deliberately staged effect by Teacher Azure? Anyone with eyes can see how big the gap is between Gym Leaders and Elite Four, right?]
[That statement isn't rigorous, you need to add a limiting condition: except for Teacher Azure!]
[Teacher Azure: It's just beating an Elite Four member, is it hard? (looks at Grusha, then at Candice) Little bro/sis, what's wrong with you two?]
"..."
Aiden was momentarily speechless.
Although he hadn't held too much hope to begin with, and did say it with some playful intent.
But as the most professional, most battle-capable commentator, he was absolutely objective.
Strangely enough, today whenever he felt the situation might still be contestable and it was too early to conclude, the scales of victory would immediately tilt.
Could he really have awakened some poison milk attribute?
Aiden couldn't help but doubt himself.
However, fortunately Teacher Azure had always been a free and easy-going person, and didn't overly dwell on this.
At least under his commentary, the two finalists were finally determined.
After half a day's rest, Lorelei and Elite Four Glacia would unfold their final peak showdown on the Ice-type Masters Tournament stage.
The date arrived at June 22nd, Monday.
Today was finals day, so early in the morning the audience had already packed the venue to capacity, in advance beginning to cheer and applaud for the two contestants.
At least when Aiden arrived, what he saw was already a sold-out grand occasion, with even the stands packed full of people.
Judging purely from the popularity this tournament generated, Professor Kukui's application to host the Type Masters Tournament had already achieved considerable success.
These audience members, mostly from the "battle veteran regions" of Kanto, Johto, Sinnoh, and Hoenn, would soon spread word of what they saw and heard in Alola.
Perhaps the results wouldn't show immediately, but in the coming years, as soon as another powerful contestant emerged from Alola, a chain reaction would occur, thoroughly imprinting this newly promoted region's name in many people's hearts.
From then on, the Alola region would no longer be simply a tourist destination; the locally distinctive Island Challenge might also attract more and more trainers to challenge.
Of course, these were relatively ideal future prospects.
As for the results——
Aiden sat in the commentator's seat, his gaze sweeping around the audience, and quickly locked onto Selene, who was chatting leisurely with Lillie.
Besides Professor Kukui, perhaps this future Champion of Alola was also very important.
Probably by next year, he would get his answer.
"Alright, dear audience friends, we meet again~"
After starting the stream, Aiden cast aside other distracting thoughts and began focusing on his commentary work this time.
"Today, the two who will stand on the finals stage and compete for the Ice-type Master title are two Elite Four contestants we're very familiar with—Lorelei and Glacia!"
"What will the result be? Let us wait and see!"
"Next, please give your most enthusiastic applause—welcome the two contestants!!!"
The sky above Heahea City instantly rang with constant cheers and shouts, the scene becoming incredibly lively, completely opposite to the "Ice" theme.
And in the contestant passage, Lorelei already wore a confident smile, walking out first.
For her, this Type Masters Tournament would likely be her final dance on the international stage—
Even if she could still participate in next year's Masters Tournament, she didn't plan to continue wasting more time in the Elite Four position.
Once the thought of retirement arises in their hearts, for these top trainers it equals making a decision.
She longed to enjoy life after retirement, or become an ambassador for the Sevii Islands, promoting her hometown like Professor Kukui, or even hosting her hometown's league.
However, even with less fighting spirit, her physical condition and her partners' strength were still at their peak.
Therefore, she had a reason she must win this battle—to give herself and the old companions who followed her a beautiful ending.
"Elite Four Lorelei's aura today is terrifying—looks like she's determined to take the championship!"
Aiden naturally noticed the slight change in her aura today, and thus subconsciously gave her a "blessing."
[Lorelei: Teacher Azure I'm really begging you, stop blessing me, stop blessing me!]
[Begging is useless, properly reflect on whether you've prepared well enough, it's because you haven't worked hard enough!]
[To be honest, really can't imagine a scenario where commanding Articuno could lose—even switching to any other Pokémon would have a chance——]
On the other side, the Hoenn Elite Four member Glacia, wearing an elegant dress with blonde hair and blue eyes, also walked out from the other side, looking toward Lorelei in the distance with a tranquil smile.
Although her expression showed no sharpness, when their gazes met, Aiden could smell a thick scent of gunpowder even from dozens of meters away.
After both sides entered the field, there was no verbal exchange whatsoever. Even the referee was affected by their gazes, his raised arm trembling slightly.
"The battle begins!!!"
After completing his mission, the referee immediately vanished from his spot, leaving only an afterimage.
Lorelei and Glacia both raised their hands, each lightly tossing out a Poké Ball.
"Go, Alolan Ninetales!"
"I choose you, Abomasnow!"
Probably because it was the finals, neither side took risks with their lead choices, each sending out their team's weather setter.
The effects were somewhat overlapping, but clearly they both preferred light snow to fall on the field, even if it benefited the opponent, they must complete their pre-match setup.
"Both are Snow Warning ability weather setters, but Teacher Azure has always emphasized that among weather setters, there are also superior and inferior ones."
"On Lorelei's side, there's almost no need to consider—it can almost certainly be determined that the opening will definitely be Aurora Veil; as for Glacia——what can Abomasnow do upon entering, I really can't say."
"But at least there's good news: at an Ice-type Masters Tournament, it's unlikely to encounter Fire-type experts who can one-shot it, so the field presence issue is also indirectly partially resolved."
While briefly analyzing both sides' thought processes, Aiden guessed their possible next layouts.
Soon, both sides immediately made their commands: "Alolan Ninetales, use Aurora Veil!"
"Abomasnow, Stone Edge!"
Lorelei indeed acted as Aiden expected—sending out Alolan Ninetales was intended to fight steadily and engage in positional warfare with the opponent.
And Glacia similarly realized this point, so she planned to strike first to wear down this Alolan Ninetales's stamina, even using the non-STAB move Stone Edge.
However, because Alolan Ninetales's move speed was slightly faster, when both commands were simultaneously conveyed, it had already seized the initiative to make complete defensive preparations.
Besides having Aurora Veil that could isolate some move power, since Alola was in the tropics, the hail that should have fallen was replaced by snow with little power—
At this time, the visually pleasing snow weather not only wouldn't damage Pokémon other than Ice-type, but would further strengthen its defense.
So even though Abomasnow's Stone Edge was super effective against Alolan Ninetales, it didn't deal much damage.
"In the opening contest, Elite Four Glacia's side has already fallen into considerable disadvantage——"
Aiden clicked his tongue secretly.
"If positional warfare is the main goal, Lorelei's Alolan Ninetales's held item is most likely Light Clay that extends Aurora Veil's duration, so the defensive advantage will last for a long time."
"How to make effective counterattacks, or simply stall until the snow weather and Aurora Veil both disappear?"
While he was analyzing the possibilities, Glacia had already given her unique answer—"Abomasnow, Brick Break!"
At these words, Aiden instantly reacted.
"I see! She planned this!"
"Although Brick Break can't deal effective damage to Alolan Ninetales, it can break Aurora Veil, bringing both sides back to the same starting line!"
Because he almost never used this Pokémon before, he really wasn't that familiar with what moves it could learn.
So this time, Elite Four Glacia gave him a lesson.
"Abomasnow is not only a weather setter, but also a surprise move she made to disrupt the opponent's tactics after predicting Lorelei's lead choice!"
Only to see Abomasnow's hand fall. Although it was easily dodged by the agile Alolan Ninetales, its target wasn't to hit the opponent anyway.
With a "crack," Abomasnow easily shattered a crack in the transparent veil on the opponent's field, then scattered ice debris on the ground.
The colorful Aurora Veil lasted only a short while before being ruthlessly split open by the opponent.
And on Lorelei's side, after experiencing brief stunned silence, she immediately made a reasonable command: "Come back, Alolan Ninetales!"
Regardless of whether Aurora Veil existed or not, she needed to rotate now.
Alolan Ninetales couldn't pose too big a threat to Abomasnow. Rather than letting this weather setter stay on the field, it was better to switch to Articuno, which was more super effective against the opponent.
Regarding this point, Aiden was naturally extremely clear.
However—couldn't Glacia also realize this point?
And Glacia's thoughts were also certainly clear to Lorelei.
Both sides' tactics were too obvious, to the point where they were almost playing with open cards.
At this time, what was being compared was who could think more calmly and outplay the opponent by one layer.
Vaguely sensing something was off, Aiden didn't immediately make a judgment this time, but calmly waited for Lorelei's choice.
And facts immediately proved he was right.
"Go, Lapras!"
Lorelei indeed made a rotation, but what she sent out wasn't Articuno, but her signature companion that had grown up with her since childhood—Lapras.
"Thinking about it carefully, it's quite reasonable. Articuno entering would take Stone Edge, and even with snow weather's influence, Stone Edge at four times weakness would inevitably consume considerable stamina."
"So at this time, sending out Lapras, which the opponent has little way to counter and has decent bulk, is indeed better."
After explaining, Aiden's eyes toward Lorelei already held some respect—
No wonder she didn't smile during battles these past few days, it was clear she really wanted to win and give herself a perfect ending.
Worthy of respect!
However, the respect in Aiden's heart hadn't lasted a few seconds before he suddenly heard Lorelei's next command, and his expression instantly became complex.
"Lapras, let the final song resound!"
Lorelei's voice was extremely decisive, but the move used clearly conveyed different information.
[Worthy of an Elite Four member who studied in Teacher Azure's livestream room, opening directly with Perish Song—in this aspect, she'd scare the opponent half to death just by that!]
[Originally both Elite Four Glacia and Teacher Azure had serious expressions, but as soon as Elite Four Lorelei spoke, both of them instantly froze, seeming completely unprepared—]
[Teacher Azure's acting skills, you guys just learn from it—I don't believe Teacher Azure couldn't guess his true disciple would use this move!]
[Wait, I don't think I've really seen Teacher Azure use Perish Song much. Last time was just for fun to give Kricketune a chance to perform, right?]
[On the contrary, Elite Four Lorelei has always been famous for her Perish Song tactics—one of the few powerful trainers who can use Perish Song and still play it aggressively!]
"To be honest, indeed."
After brief stunned silence, Aiden immediately recovered and began explaining.
"Lorelei's Perish Song is quite different from what I imagined. Her move is more like applying a debuff to the opponent that forces a quick battle, which is why she sings it at the opening."
"However, in the end it might just be that her Lapras loves singing Perish Song—what's wrong with that?"
Listening to the beautiful song resounding on the field, Aiden sighed secretly.
Although it wasn't the correct way to play Perish Song, daring to use this move in the finals indeed required some courage!
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