"Unexpected, indeed."
Baimu wore a smile on his face.
Liuqia's performance and score far exceeded his expectations, meaning that if Mawile's performance didn't have enough highlights, his better ranking could actually end up costing him more points.
Although the Gorgeous Competition claims to be fair and impartial, everyone knows subjective scores are influenced by comparisons.
"This is really challenging."
He took out the Pokeball containing Mawile and gently rubbed its surface.
As if in response, it shook lightly twice.
Time flew by.
The morning competition ended.
Although the performances of those who followed Liuqia weren't as good, they still drew a satisfactory conclusion.
This left the audience, departing from the venue, full of anticipation for the afternoon events.
In the Poké Blogger platform.
Professionals had already edited the key highlights of the morning—Xiaoguang and Liuqia.
Many were discussing the afternoon's highlights in the comments section, with Baimu being the most frequently mentioned due to his consistent past performances.
In fact,
there were also many established Coordinator Trainers among other contestants, but in the presence of Baimu and Liuqia, both strong and well-marketed, they inevitably became "supporting roles."
However, some were hopeful that a few "dark horses" would emerge to astonish the world.
Unfortunately, the likelihood of this happening was very low.
The power that should have been exposed was mostly revealed during the preliminaries; if a contestant chose to hide their strength until the main event, it was hard to say whether this would be commendable courage or frightening.
As most of the audience gradually left the venue,
everyone gathered backstage.
Hoopa's Golden Light Wheel, which Xiaogang studied for a long time yesterday, once again made him marvel at its convenience.
"How about it? Are you happy?"
Baimu placed his hand on the head of Altered-color Gengar and asked with a smile.
"Gengar!"
The latter tilted its head up to look at him, nodding rapidly, its mouth stretching to its ears, revealing a wide grin.
"Hehehe!"
It was like a child being picked up from kindergarten by a parent.
Beside them,
Hoopa was wrapping around Liuqia, driven by curiosity to shower it with relentless attention.
However, Liuqia didn't seem to mind much, but Altaria wasn't having it, chasing after Hoopa, pecking at it until it almost got angry.
If not for the concern that it might affect tomorrow's competition, Hoopa would've sent it to the ends of the earth!
Familiar with Hoopa, Baimu could understand the meaning behind its resentful expression.
But its temper flared up fast and faded just as quickly.
To keep it calm in the afternoon, Mei Yali specially brought out a donut and struck a deal with it, which Hoopa couldn't possibly refuse?
No matter what the content was, it agreed immediately!
Hoopa, holding the donut, was overjoyed.
Everyone couldn't help but laugh, as they all had a fondness for this clever and energetic Pokémon, even though it was a bit overly active, it only made it more endearing.
It didn't inspire dislike.
After a simple lunch,
and another period of rest,
when the Poké Blogger further commented on the performances of various contestants in this Gorgeous Competition, and the fame and attention underwent a second surge,
the second half began.
——
In the bright passageway,
Baimu's breathing was steady and strong.
It's impossible not to be nervous, even though he had witnessed bigger scenes before, anxiety naturally arose as long as there were expectations and pressure for the results of the first review.
Of course, his self-regulation had always been excellent, since his time in Pyrite Town.
"Let's go!"
He took a deep breath and stepped out of the contestant passage.
In an instant,
countless faces with varying expressions and countless chattering voices flooded into his eyes and ears. The audience appeared like fledglings eagerly awaiting food, their eyes full of anticipation.
Patistan and Liu Lai, the old partners, exchanged smiles, everything understood without words.
Miss Joy clenched her fists tightly; she had known from her cousin long ago that Baimu was a trainer adept at nurturing Nurse Blissey, and had been following him since then.
Now, she had already become a fan of his.
Ami smiled, recalling the breathtaking beauty of the Altered-color Milotic.
Could Baimu bring such a visual impact in the main event?
Inside and outside the venue, various media held their breath, not daring to miss a single detail of the performance.
Could this rising star of the Gorgeous Competition, who emerged in the last six months, reach the ultimate peak, becoming a star shining in the universe, or turn out to be a fleeting meteor?
It all depended on today!
But when Baimu stood at the edge of the stage, many people cast puzzled glances at his waist.
"What is that..."
"A wooden sword?"
"It's a sword, you see, a vertical double-edged blade!"
"Where can you find such a short sword? It's not even as long as my arm."
"Why would someone carry such an ancient weapon on stage? A performance prop?"
The audience buzzed with discussions.
At that moment.
A large hand slowly raised, as if gathering all the sounds of the hall into its grasp, then tightly clenched into a fist!
Whoosh!
Like the command given by an orchestra conductor, a silent rapport caused large sections of the audience to quiet down, making the grand venue of tens of thousands turn extraordinarily tranquil within a few breaths.
The media inside and outside the venue were astonished at this scene, having seen audiences cooperating with Coordinator Trainers interactively.
Yet such a commanding action to evoke silence with ease was indeed rare.
And in fact.
Those familiar with Baimu knew well it's because—
The performance began!
Bang!
With a crisp sound, countless pink petals swirled and soared in the wind.
Baimu took down the dual swords from his waist and tossed them into the sky, and a diminutive figure broke through the clustering petals, gracefully caught the swords like a flower fairy, and slowly descended with the petals.
Ding-ling~
A gentle bell sound resonated.
Though just ordinary bells without special effects, the audience still derived a sense of calm from the clear tones.
"Cheedo~"
They watched the charming yet pitiable Mawile, unconsciously drawn by its exhibited allure.
Too cute!
With merely a few simple gestures, each expression and movement showed its vibrant colors fully to everyone.
The host couldn't help but wanting to praise, yet fearing to disrupt the performance's fluidity.
They understood, this was only the beginning.
Indeed.
In the next instant.
Mawile gracefully danced, the dual swords swayed along with its posture, but the dance no longer held the charm and affection of the Fan Dance.
Only soaring spirit and undeniable heroic elegance!
As though transforming from a sheltered maiden to a peerless heroine roaming the world, the red ribbon behind Mawile's head fluttered like a blazing flame!
The audience fell captivated by the sheer beauty of this pure Sword Dance, with only a few noticing Baimu quietly lifting a necklace at his chest.
"Cheedo!"
Mawile leapt like a nimble deer.
Its body emitted a radiant Light of Evolution!
Countless spectators exclaimed, eyes fixated on the performer bathed in light on stage until it transformed into a new form, descending with even more splendid appearance...
Enter!
Whoosh—
Wispy pale blue cloud mist rolled forth, yet the Mega Mawile seemed unaware, still engrossed in dancing with the dual swords.
Swish swish! Swish swish!
The dual swords appeared sharper, each move conveying power.
Driven by this power, the mist not only failed to conceal Mawile but became manipulable cloud vapor instead.
Swirling around it like a vivid white dragon.
Suddenly.
The Mega Mawile left behind a trail of afterimages as it moved, followed by a second, third...
They resembled replicas of the Mega Mawile, dancing the dual swords, manipulating the mist, forming a stunning sword formation in tight synchrony!
A grand, majestic aura surged towards all spectators!
What a fabulous spectacle!
In the venue, no extraneous sounds were heard; only dense bell sounds blared like drumbeats amidst the spinning sword blades.
The pale blue cloud dragon surrounded the sword formation of countless Mega Mawile, with sword-clashing sounds suddenly echoing as if lowly chanting, shooting towards the sky!
"Buzz—!!"
The audience collectively looked up.
The ascending cloud dragon shattered abruptly, becoming a rainfall of light scattered across the sky, emitting an intoxicating fragrance that filled the entire venue.
On stage.
The central Mega Mawile twirled two crisp sword flowers; the formation's afterimages instantly flew back to its body, merging and disappearing.
The bell sound gradually ceased.
Clang!
The dual swords were collected at its side.
The composed Mega Mawile and Baimu bowed together in gratitude.
The entire venue.
Fell into deathly silence.