The entire stadium fell silent.
Then, moments later, thunderous cheers erupted.
These were the cheers of You You's fans, along with spectators who were simply enjoying the excitement of the match.
But even more people—countless viewers and trainers alike—wore expressions of shock and utter confusion.
They couldn't understand it.
From the momentum of the battle moments earlier, Electabuzz had clearly held the advantage.
Combined with Banette being hindered by paralysis, anyone with even a basic understanding of Pokémon battles had already begun leaning toward Electabuzz's victory.
"What happened in that instant...?"
Chen Haoran desperately replayed the scene in his mind.
But everything had happened too quickly.
In that split second, he had only seen Banette suddenly charge forward as though the paralysis had never existed.
Its speed had been astonishing.
Then, before he could react, the explosion had already occurred.
Electabuzz had fallen.
It made absolutely no sense.
Chen Haoran's mind was filled with question marks.
Even if Banette had somehow broken free from paralysis and regained its mobility, Qiao Cheng and Electabuzz had already received Meloetta's blessing.
A Pokémon connected to its trainer's heart should have effectively gained an extra set of eyes in close combat.
By all logic, they should have held an even greater advantage.
So why...?
On the battlefield, seeing Electabuzz collapse, the referee was just about to step forward and inspect its condition.
But after taking only a single step, he suddenly heard two heavy thuds.
Instinctively looking toward both sounds, he froze.
Qiao Cheng.
You You.
Both trainers had collapsed and lost consciousness.
At this moment, across the entire battlefield, only the referee remained standing.
Well—
The referee and a Banette frantically rushing toward You You.
The entire stadium erupted into an uproar.
"What happened?! This is a Pokémon battle! Why did both trainers suddenly collapse?!"
"Honestly... their condition looks a lot like Ah Hui's the other day. He collapsed right after his match too."
"Something's definitely wrong. Trainers concentrate intensely during battles, sure, but no matter how exhausting it is, they shouldn't just lose consciousness and drop like that."
"Exactly! I've been suspicious for a while now. That hospital photo the officials released of Ah Hui made him look like he'd been drained dry by a succubus. You're telling me battling did that? No way."
"Quick! Teacher Mo must know something! We bought tickets and supported the event. We deserve an explanation!"
The stadium became increasingly chaotic.
The official livestreams and Chen Mo's personal stream were no better.
Countless viewers demanded answers.
After all, if Ah Hui had been the only case, people might have accepted it.
But now three of the semifinalists had collapsed after their matches.
There was no way anyone could ignore that.
"Xiao Mo."
Zhou Yichuan looked toward Chen Mo seated at the center of the commentary desk.
Waiting for an answer.
Yet at that moment, Chen Mo suddenly took out a Poké Ball and released Pidgeotto.
"I need to head down there first."
"As for Meloetta's blessing, Brother Zhou, I'll leave the explanation to you."
"Got it."
Zhou Yichuan nodded without asking further questions.
What kind of trainer and Pokémon could trigger the blessing Meloetta had left behind in the arena?
Before Ah Hui and Zhao Xue'er's match, Chen Mo had speculated that it required an extraordinarily deep connection between trainer and Pokémon.
That was why, in Ah Hui's hospital room, he had specifically reminded the remaining contestants:
Remember the feelings that carried you and your Pokémon all the way here.
In other words—
Their bond.
Riding on Pidgeotto's back, Chen Mo reached the battlefield in moments.
His gaze landed on You You, who was cradled tightly in Banette's arms.
As expected.
At the very last moment, You You had triggered Meloetta's blessing.
The timing had been incredibly close.
But honestly, Chen Mo wasn't surprised in the slightest.
According to Marshadow's explanation that night, in the original Pokémon world, many people loved Pokémon.
Yet there were very few who, regardless of danger, would throw themselves toward a Pokémon without hesitation.
People willing to risk—even sacrifice—their own lives to save one.
The bond between Ah Hui and Butterfree was among the very best, even by Pokémon-world standards.
So the question became:
Among the nearly twenty thousand participants in the Pikachu Cup, was there anyone else whose bond with their Pokémon could reach that same life-and-death level?
The answer was yes.
Chen Mo would never forget the scene outside Lavender Town.
In the pouring rain, when Banette lost control—
You You had instinctively thrown herself forward.
Without a second thought.
In terms of pure trainer-Pokémon bonds, Chen Mo felt this pair would lose to no one in the tournament.
However...
"Marshadow, are you sure you sensed it?"
Without speaking aloud, Chen Mo asked silently.
The increasingly synchronized Marshadow quickly heard his thoughts.
"Stop doubting me."
"Just be ready."
Marshadow's childish voice sounded in his mind.
Hearing that, Chen Mo grew serious.
He first had Gengar emerge from the shadow world and assist the referee with Qiao Cheng and Electabuzz.
Then, accompanied by Pikachu and Pidgeotto, he quickly approached Banette and You You.
"Xiao Ji, can you hand You You over to me?"
"Shii-tah?"
Banette had already been on the verge of losing control after discovering You You unconscious.
But after recognizing the human speaking to it—the same one from Lavender Town—it calmed slightly.
Even so, it shook its head unwillingly.
"Don't worry."
Chen Mo extended his hand gently.
"I won't hurt her."
"Listen to me. She's simply exhausted. Right now, she needs professional medical treatment."
"If you hand her over, I promise a healthy You You will return to your side soon."
"Shii-tah..."
Banette hesitated.
Once it calmed down, it understood the reality.
It was a Pokémon.
You You was human.
Humans should be treated by humans.
Holding onto her wouldn't make her recover any faster.
In fact, it might delay her treatment.
"Shii-tah."
At last, Banette slowly extended You You forward.
"Good, good..."
Chen Mo sighed in relief and reached out.
But the moment his fingers touched You You—
Marshadow's voice exploded in his mind.
"It's coming!"
The next instant—
A sudden change occurred.
As soon as Chen Mo touched her, a powerful force burst from within You You's body.
Golden light exploded outward.
A mysterious rebound force instantly pushed both Chen Mo and Banette away.
"SHII-TAAAH!!!"
The force wasn't particularly strong.
Banette quickly regained its footing.
But seeing You You now completely wrapped in golden light, its emotions finally snapped.
Without thinking, it gathered energy into both hands.
A Shadow Ball formed in an instant.
Ready to fire.
"Gengar!"
A purple-black figure flashed between them.
At the critical moment, Gengar positioned itself between Banette and You You.
Gone was its usual playful grin.
Its expression was deadly serious.
It repeatedly tried to calm Banette while preparing to stop it by force if necessary.
The reason was simple.
At the moment, You You was merely suffering from exhaustion.
But if Banette launched that Shadow Ball—
What if it hit her?
Human bodies were far too fragile to survive a full-powered attack from Banette.
"Shii-tah..."
Understanding the danger, Banette slowly dispersed the Shadow Ball.
Completely at a loss, it looked pleadingly toward Chen Mo.
"Don't worry."
Chen Mo continued observing You You, who was slowly floating upward within the golden light.
"I won't let anything happen."
His voice was calm and firm.
The being influencing You You was most likely the legendary Pokémon of melody itself—
Meloetta.
Although he didn't yet understand its purpose, Meloetta had always been portrayed as kind-hearted.
Still—
Chen Mo wasn't willing to trust a legendary Pokémon he had never personally met.
The Pokémon of this world had already proven themselves different from their game and anime counterparts.
That was why he had already made arrangements with Marshadow.
If necessary—
Marshadow would intervene.
Although the strange phenomenon on the battlefield made the stadium even noisier, order remained intact.
Much of that was thanks to Zhou Yichuan's explanation.
The audience now understood that a mysterious Pokémon called Meloetta had left a blessing within the arena.
Ah Hui's, Qiao Cheng's, and You You's sudden power-ups—and their subsequent collapses—were all related to it.
Still...
The idea that a legendary Pokémon had suddenly taken control of the unconscious You You was difficult for people to accept.
Fortunately—
Chen Mo was still standing there.
As long as that figure remained on the field, countless people felt reassured.
That was the real reason the situation hadn't spiraled into complete chaos.
"Wait!"
"What is that!?"
Suddenly, someone shouted.
Everyone noticed that around You You's floating body, five symbols resembling musical notes had appeared.
Each was a different color.
They rotated around her, scattering rainbow-like light.
Eventually, they drifted downward and hovered only a few centimeters above the ground, continuing their rotation.
Chen Mo watched carefully.
A feeling stirred within him.
Instinctively, he took a step back.
At the same time, Gengar pulled Banette farther away.
Then—
From the center of the musical notes, blue light began pouring from the ground.
Like a fountain about to erupt.
The next second—
A green sprout filled with vibrant life burst forth.
It grew at a visible rate.
Within moments, it had become a tree several meters tall.
"Shii-tah!?"
Banette panicked again.
The growing tree had already swallowed You You.
It tried to rush forward.
Only for Gengar to hold it back.
The transformation continued.
Within seconds, golden light spread upward from the roots.
The emerald tree rapidly transformed.
In the blink of an eye—
The entire tree became pure gold.
Standing closest, Chen Mo could see clearly.
The tree wasn't truly made of wood.
It was composed entirely of countless golden lines of energy.
They surged upward, weaving together.
Branches spread in all directions.
Before long—
A magnificent golden ancient tree stood proudly in the center of the arena.
Its canopy covered nearly the entire stadium.
Countless spectators stared in stunned silence.
The shock they felt could scarcely be described.
Then—
The golden lines surged upward one final time.
At the very top, they lifted a sphere radiating brilliant golden light.
"La~ la la la~ la la~"
A soft humming voice drifted through the arena.
Beautiful.
Gentle.
Like a heavenly melody.
The golden sphere slowly began to fade.
Inside—
You You floated quietly with her head lowered.
Musical notes danced around her.
And before her stood a humanoid Pokémon with pale-green hair patterned like musical staffs.
Its emerald eyes slowly opened.
Meloetta looked down at Chen Mo.
Then a familiar voice echoed throughout the entire stadium.
"Greetings."
"New Ideal Hero."
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