Taking advantage of the break, Theo and Grace brought their Pokémon to the open space behind the lounge, letting them out for some fresh air and feeding them.
Tyrantrum and Larvesta immediately gathered in front of Milotic and Metang, lifting their heads proudly as they chirped and chattered excitedly, as if recounting their glorious achievements from earlier.
Milotic gently swayed its tail and lightly nudged them in acknowledgment, while Metang hovered in the air, using its psychic power to lift food and pass it toward them, urging them to eat quickly and replenish their strength.
Grace's Medicham and Gallade stood to the side, exchanging a glance and smiling. As they watched Tyrantrum and Larvesta brimming with excitement, a trace of nostalgia appeared in their eyes, as if recalling their own first time participating in a Contest, when they had been just as exhilarated.
Half an hour passed quickly, and Vivian's clear voice once again echoed throughout the venue.
"Dear audience, welcome back to the Fallarbor Town Contest!
Next, we will begin the second round of judging!
Please welcome contestant number 13, Avery!"
The spotlights lit up once more, illuminating the battle stage at the center and shining toward the entrance of the contestant passage.
The second round of advanced stage performances had officially begun.
The intensity of the second round far surpassed that of the first. The contestants who advanced were clearly bringing out their best techniques.
At the judges' table, Yumiko's smile appeared more and more frequently. Occasionally, she exchanged glances with Nurse Joy and Mr. Sukizo, clearly approving of the contestants' performances. For a judge known for her strictness to show such expressions, it was enough to prove just how impressive the performances were.
As one battle after another came to an end, Vivian's crisp voice rang out again.
"Next, please welcome contestant number 28, Grace!"
At the entrance of the contestant passage, Theo raised his hand in a gesture of encouragement toward Grace, his eyes filled with support.
Grace returned a confident smile, adjusted the hem of her dress, and walked calmly into the passage.
Under the spotlight, she stood at the center of the stage and lightly tossed out two Poké Balls.
"Medicham, Gallade, it is our turn!"
With flashes of red light, the two Pokémon reappeared.
"Begin," Grace softly commanded.
Medicham made the first move. With a light tap of its feet against the ground, its figure glided to the center of the stage like a phantom. It thrust both hands forward, instantly activating Ice Punch.
A burst of intense cold erupted from its fists, and white frost mist spread outward from it like a tide, expanding in all directions.
Under Medicham's control through psychic power, the frost gradually condensed into an ice crystal lotus. The patterns of its petals became increasingly clear within the chill. Layer upon layer, each petal was crystal clear, as if carved from the purest ice.
The ice lotus grew from the size of a fist, slowly expanding and blooming. In just a short time, it transformed into a massive lotus nearly three meters in diameter.
With Medicham's hand gestures, the ice lotus began to rotate slowly, reflecting the stage lights and radiating a dazzling brilliance.
A soft murmur of amazement rose from the audience.
At that moment, Gallade moved. Its figure flickered as it activated Double Team.
With several soft swishing sounds, one figure became two, then three. In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Gallade figures appeared, spreading out around the giant ice lotus.
Surrounded by the many Gallade figures, the ice lotus rotated faster and faster. Its petals fully opened, revealing the crystalline stamen at its center.
Medicham gently pushed forward with both hands, channeling psychic energy into the lotus. The giant ice lotus rotated steadily, its petals slightly extending with each turn, as if proudly displaying its beauty.
Gradually, the rotation slowed.
In the end, the petals slowly began to close, forming once more into a tightly sealed bud that stood quietly at the center of the stage.
At the exact moment the ice lotus completely closed, Grace gave her command.
"Now!"
All of Gallade's clones moved at once.
Like arrows released from a bowstring, they charged toward the ice bud, the blade-like edges of their arms gleaming coldly as they struck in unison.
Bang!
The ice bud shattered instantly.
Countless fragments of ice turned into mist, spreading across the entire stage and completely enveloping Medicham and Gallade within a veil of frost.
"Huh?"
Confused murmurs rose from the audience as some leaned forward, trying to see through the mist.
At that moment, the icy fog seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, gradually dispersing.
The ice bud and Gallade's clones had disappeared entirely. Only Medicham and Gallade remained, standing side by side at the center of the stage.
They slightly lifted their heads, gazing toward the audience, their eyes glowing with a brilliant blue light.
Following their gaze, the crowd instinctively looked upward.
Above the audience seats, countless small ice lotuses had appeared without anyone noticing.
Like scattered stars, they spread across the sky above the venue, gradually filling the entire space. Each one was delicate and exquisite, with tiny crystals forming along its petals.
Then, something magical happened.
The petals of the ice lotuses began to fall one by one. One petal, then another, then more.
Like snowflakes carried by the wind, the icy petals swirled gently through the air, landing softly on the heads and shoulders of the audience.
"So beautiful…"
A spectator could not help but whisper, reaching out to catch a falling petal.
As it touched their palm, the icy petal melted, leaving behind a trace of coolness.
The entire venue seemed to be immersed in a romantic snowy scene made of ice flowers.
Everyone in the arena tilted their heads upward, smiles of wonder on their faces, allowing the petals to fall upon them as they enjoyed this sudden, breathtaking spectacle.
The livestream chat exploded once again.
"Grace is incredible! Her last performance was already amazing, but this is on another level!"
"It is so beautiful, such a romantic scene. I regret not being there in person!"
Gradually, the petals of the ice lotuses above the venue fell away completely, as if everything that had just happened were nothing more than a dream.
A brief silence followed, then the audience erupted into fervent applause.
At the center of the stage, Medicham and Gallade lowered their gaze, turned toward the judges, and gave a slight bow.
Grace stepped forward to stand beside them, a gentle smile on her face as she bowed together with her Pokémon toward the audience.
At that moment, Vivian also stepped forward, her voice filled with excitement.
"Thank you to Miss Grace, along with her Medicham and Gallade, for bringing us such a romantic performance! Judges, please share your evaluations!"
After the three judges delivered their critiques and awarded high scores, Grace left the stage with Medicham and Gallade.
When she returned to the contestants' lounge, Theo gave her a thumbs-up and praised her sincerely.
"That was incredible."
Grace smiled and blinked playfully.
"I will be looking forward to your performance next."
(End of Chapter)