It was like the silence at the end of a concert.
The vast venue fell silent, and only after several seconds did someone react, with an expression of admiration and awe, sincerely applauding!
"Clap clap clap clap—"
In an instant.
From all around the audience erupted into a rising cacophony, standing up and eagerly expressing their uncontrollable emotions in various ways!
Applause roared like thunder, cheers surged like tsunamis!
The performance lasted for less than four minutes, but it was enough to tug at the heartstrings of most of the audience.
Pokémon that dance are common, and many can perform dances at the Gorgeous Competition too, but this dance was absolutely a first for them.
The Sword Dance seemed chaotic, yet one could clearly feel its powerful will to advance fearlessly and strive boldly.
Looking more closely.
What was once considered chaotic transformed entirely into dashing and grand.
Each technique was filled with a special aesthetic that defied description by ordinary language.
Though Mawile's style was cute, the level of coolness while Sword Dancing was enough to make many shiver.
It's no wonder they were so unusually excited.
If regular dances allow audiences to appreciate the "form," then this time they truly experienced the meaning of "intent."
Amidst the noisy audience seats.
Altered-color Gengar looked a bit shocked as it gazed down at Baimu and Mawile below, even as the excited Hoopa buzzed around like a mosquito, shouting, it couldn't erase the intense emotions within.
This was...
His performance with Mawile?
"Huh..."
Altered-color Gengar stared at Baimu on stage who was waving at the audience, expression calm and serene.
Suddenly.
Baimu's sweeping glance caught its eyes, their gazes intersected, and it felt electrified, unable to stop itself from trembling slightly.
Immediately.
Baimu smiled and waved at it, as if saying—
"I'm here!"
"Huh!"
Altered-color Gengar clutched its chest, feeling as if it was falling in "love at first sight" with that gradually familiar person below.
Is this called love at first sight?
This burning, unrestrainable feeling deep within, wanting to fly down and hug the other person, resembling exactly what Porygon II described!
Altered-color Gengar was deeply confused, deciding to visit Porygon II again tonight.
"This can be considered a work of art!"
"Mawile once again surpassed itself! A stronger dance performance compared to Kaina's competition! Approaching perfection!"
"Even recording and watching through a screen feels so breathtaking."
"Now no one can say Baimu's performance is only complete in person, can they?"
"I want to watch it again, can someone share the recording?"
"So touched, wuu wuu wuu—"
People excitedly whispered among themselves, using sharing as a means to talk endlessly to those nearby, regardless of whether Mawile and Baimu below could hear them.
The judges suppressed their excitement, drinking water to ease their throats, preparing their notes for the evaluation to follow.
Finally.
Upon giving the audience enough time to savor the performance.
Vivian took two deep breaths, calming her slightly restless heart, gripping the microphone and said: "Thank you Mawile and contestant Baimu for bringing us this outstanding performance; no matter how many times you watch it, it sweeps you off your feet and never ceases to thrill~"
Clap clap clap.
The applause continued.
This acknowledgment gained unanimous affirmation from the audience.
"Now let's invite our four judges to evaluate and score this performance."
The speaking rights were handed over to the judge's seat.
As the routine first speaker, Patistan did not deliver a long speech as usual, but instead coughed once, smilingly said:
"Surveying the performance history of the Gorgeous Competition, from simple displays of appearance, releasing Techniques, interacting with the Trainer, to today's various dazzling Techniques combined together, seemingly changing greatly yet fundamentally remaining unchanged, one day leading to homogenization.
"But even so, some performances still possess a deeply moving irreproducibility, which I call the 'artistic intent flow' performance; whether complex or simple, they convey their inner will to our hearts.
"Crude like contestant Ge Mann and Machoke, exquisite like Liuji and Xiao Qingqing, and even the stunning performers seen in the past. Why do their performances feel spectacular? Precisely because of the infectiousness brought by their will!"
Patistan raised his right fist high, and loudly exclaimed: "And today, Mawile and contestant Baimu's performance profoundly allowed us to experience this point! This makes me eagerly anticipate the future of contestant Baimu, and the emergence of even more outstanding Coordination Trainers!"
Hua!
Enthusiastic applause resounded to the skies.
Patistan sat down, a confident Liu Lai stood up, many familiar with him instinctively covered their ears.
But he merely inhaled deeply, shockingly refraining from blasting High Pitch here, using a normal volume to say:
"I have always liked displaying my excitement with High Pitch, but today Mawile and Baimu's performance made me realize no voice, no matter how high, can measure the feelings in my heart, and I no longer want to remain excitedly silent, so—"
Liu Lai turned the microphone towards the audience, cupping his hand to his ear.
At the next moment.
The immensely excited audience yelled out with all their might.
"Screech—!!"
"Boom—!!"
"Hah—!!"
"Sheesh—!!"
The sound shot straight to the sky, as if capable of flipping the entire venue upside down, even causing the Battle Tower to tremble slightly, rendering the mall's visitors astonished and bewildered.
"Thank you all, my dearest audience friends, I am very pleased~"