The school of Feebas seemed to treat the sea of fire as if it were a vast ocean, playing and darting about within it, sometimes leaping out of the "surface," sometimes diving into the "depths." The scene was so dreamlike that no one could look away.
Red and blue lights intertwined, water and fire danced together in a miraculous spectacle, and the entire venue felt as though it had been placed under a spell.
Gradually, as Larvesta began to withdraw its flames, the sea of fire slowly shrank.
Milotic skillfully manipulated the flow of water, allowing each "water droplet Feebas" to wrap itself around a small cluster of flame.
In an instant, the stage was filled with "flaming Feebas," blue and red interwoven, resembling countless moving lanterns.
Milotic let out another soft call, guiding these "lantern Feebas" to gather together.
One by one, they merged into each other. Water droplets and flames intertwined, forming a massive Feebas at the center of the stage.
It was over three meters long, its body crystal clear, with a blazing flame at its core like a beating heart, as if it were about to boil the entire body made of water.
Under the audience's breathless gaze, the form of Feebas began to change.
Its clumsy body became slender, its round belly transformed into graceful curves.
Finally, a "Milotic" woven from water and fire appeared, floating at the center of the stage.
Its body shimmered in blue, while its fins glowed in orange red, and its tail burned with golden flames. It was both gentle and passionate at the same time.
When this water fire Milotic lightly swayed its tail, flames burst from the tip, casting a warm glow that illuminated the entire venue like daylight.
"So… so beautiful…"
Vivian covered her mouth, her voice trembling slightly.
At the judges' table, Mr. Sukizo stroked his chin, admiration flickering in his eyes, while Mr. Contesta nodded repeatedly, jotting down notes at a rapid pace.
Nurse Joy clasped her hands together, her face filled with a gentle smile. Juan leaned slightly forward, his gaze carrying both amazement and a trace of satisfaction.
This was exactly the "creativity and layering" he had once mentioned to Theo, now displayed to perfection.
Applause surged from the audience like waves, lasting for a long time.
Seeing that the performance had ended, Larvesta immediately hopped in front of Milotic, puffing out its chest proudly as if it had been the main star of the entire show.
It waved its tiny claws and chirped toward the cheering audience, its smug expression making it look just like a superstar finishing a grand performance.
Theo, standing at the side, could not help but feel both amused and exasperated. He shook his head helplessly. This little guy was getting better and better at stealing the spotlight.
Milotic, however, did not mind at all. Instead, it gently curled its tail around Larvesta and lifted it high into the air, as if cooperating with its little partner's moment of glory.
Larvesta became even more delighted, waving its tiny claws rapidly, unable to hide the pride on its face.
The audience burst into laughter at the scene, their applause now tinged with warmth and affection.
"Alright, alright, time to listen to the judges' comments."
Theo gave a light cough, signaling the little one to calm down.
At the judges' table, Mr. Sukizo spoke first, his tone full of praise.
"Really remarkable and full of creativity! Combining the evolution of Feebas with the elements of water and fire not only showcases the growth of Pokémon, but also creates a powerful visual impact with rich layers, remarkable!"
Mr. Contesta nodded in agreement.
"The transitions between moves were flawless. The integration of Rain Dance and Larvesta's sea of fire was perfectly balanced, without any sense of mismatch. This must have required a great deal of practice."
Nurse Joy smiled warmly.
"What is most impressive is the harmony between the Pokémon. Milotic's elegance and Larvesta's liveliness create a wonderful contrast, yet they complement each other perfectly. It is clear they share a deep bond."
Finally, it was Juan's turn. He looked at Theo with a gentle expression.
"Water and fire are naturally opposing forces, yet you have made them dance together and given them the meaning of transformation.
This is not only a beautiful performance, but also a unique interpretation of the path of elegance. Very good, truly excellent."
Hearing Juan's evaluation, Theo felt a warmth in his heart. He bowed respectfully.
"Thank you, judges."
Without wasting any time, and before Larvesta could come up with more "surprises," Theo quickly recalled both it and Milotic into their Poké Balls.
If they stayed any longer, there was no telling whether the little one would run straight to the judges' table for an encore.
Theo himself turned toward the judges and the audience, gave a slight bow, and quickly exited the stage.
The competition continued afterward.
Contestants stepped onto the stage one by one, each displaying their unique abilities.
Some used Water-type Pokémon to perform a "synchronized aquatic ballet," others used Flying-type Pokémon to create a "walk among the skies," while some used Psychic-type Pokémon to craft a "story through illusions."
However, the most eye catching performance came from a trainer from the Sinnoh region.
This trainer wore traditional Sinnoh attire and, upon appearing, released two elegant Eevee evolutions, Leafeon and Glaceon.
Leafeon was covered in lush green leaves, resembling a forest spirit, while Glaceon's snowy fur and crystal like ears shimmered with a cool brilliance.
One was sweet, the other striking, and together they won the audience's applause the moment they appeared.
During the performance, Leafeon scattered countless leaves, weaving them into a miniature forest across the stage. Glaceon then exhaled icy breath, coating the leaves with sparkling frost without damaging their vibrant green color.
Their cooperation created a scene of winter transitioning into spring, with grass and ice blending seamlessly, drawing constant cheers from the audience.
"This contestant is very strong."
Theo, seated backstage, nodded quietly as he watched the performance on the screen.
Soon, the first round of judging came to an end.
As expected, Theo advanced to the second round without any suspense, with the Sinnoh contestant following closely behind.
After a short break, the second round quickly began, and once again, Theo was the first to take the stage.
This time, however, he did not send out Milotic. Instead, he released Tyrantrum and Larvesta.
"It is our turn to shine!"
Theo tossed the Poké Ball.
A flash of red light appeared, and Tyrantrum's massive body landed at the center of the stage, the crown-like structure on its head gleaming with a metallic shine.
Larvesta, using its silk, shot upward and landed neatly on top of Tyrantrum's crown, sitting firmly at the front.
That was its exclusive VIP seat.
"Lar!"
Larvesta chirped excitedly, then suddenly took off the small glasses it was wearing and tossed them toward the audience.
The glasses traced an arc through the air and landed in the crowd, instantly causing a small commotion as the fan who caught them cheered excitedly.
"Alright, Larvesta, stop fooling around. It is time to begin."
Theo called out helplessly.
Larvesta stuck out its tongue and finally settled down.
"Tyrantrum, Sandstorm!" Theo commanded.
"Tyrant!"
Tyrantrum let out a deep roar as a yellow brown energy began to radiate from its body. With a powerful slam of its forelimb against the ground, a raging sandstorm instantly swept across the stage, filling the air with swirling sand.
(End of Chapter)