Pokémon: Reborn as Lucario

Chapter 143: Showing Off Their Skills on Stage

The contestants who could participate in this Yuanqi City Super Rank Pokémon Contest were all required to have a Normal Rank Contest Ribbon to be eligible.

And after the baptism of the Normal Rank contests, the contestants were clearly much more professional.

In the initial Pokémon Appeal segment, it was clear that all the contestants' Pokémon had been meticulously groomed.

The fur of canine and feline Pokémon was glossy and smooth; the energy surrounding energy-based Pokémon was transparent and pure; Psychic and Ghost-type Pokémon highlighted their mysterious qualities extremely well; and some Pokémon were even dressed up in various gorgeous clothes and accessories by their Coordinators.

If the first segment was for viewing the external results of the Pokémon's upbringing, then the second segment was more of a test of the Coordinators' internal cultivation of the Pokémon.

In a Contest, the strength of a move does not determine the gorgeousness of the Pokémon's performance. On the contrary, those simpler moves are more likely to showcase the Pokémon's natural beauty, thus earning higher scores and being more popular with the audience.

In addition, how various moves are selected and combined is also very particular.

For example, some Pokémon trying to display their strength, after using the move [Bulk Up], did not choose any more complicated moves, but simply used the most basic [Tackle] to charge at a giant rock placed on the stage. This seemingly simple combination actually had an extraordinary effect. The [Bulk Up] move made the Pokémon's muscles tense to their fullest, thus displaying the beauty of its muscle lines. Then, through a simple [Tackle], the rugged style highlighted the most primitive beauty of strength. This made some audience members who really liked this kind of primitive power beauty unable to help but give it extra points.

And some Pokémon took an unconventional path, using [Thunder] first upon entering the stage, displaying their heroic posture while bathing in the roaring lightning. This seemingly straightforward execution of a move was actually intended to startle the Pokémon that had performed before with the sudden roar of [Thunder], preventing them from being fully focused during their next performance, causing a sharp decline in their performance effect.

In short, the open and secret struggles of this Contest were no less than those of a Pokémon battle. Even compared to the possibly straightforward tactics of a Pokémon battle, some Contest routines could seem even more sinister. But no matter what, the Pokémon performing with all their might and the routines meticulously arranged by the Coordinators all made this Contest extremely exciting, and the atmosphere was pushed to a climax with each successive group of Pokémon's performance.

Míng Rìzhào and her Pokémon companions, who had never seen a Contest before, watched without blinking.

"Are Contests always this exciting?"

Míng Rìzhào couldn't help but ask her good friend.

However, Fengling was watching the performance on stage, somewhat lost in thought.

"Uh, ah, not all of them. Some of the Normal Rank Contests can be quite dull. But today's one is really the most exciting Contest in a long time."

Fengling, who lived in Yuanqi City, had naturally watched Contests of all sizes. For this competition to receive such a high evaluation from her, it must not be that simple.

The end of the second segment had already raised the atmosphere of the venue.

And when it came to the third segment, it was the main event of the entire competition.

The Coordinator performing in collaboration with their two Pokémon!

This segment was an even greater test of the tacit understanding between the Coordinator and their Pokémon. It should be known that although the physical fitness of humans in the Pokémon world was relatively strong, they still couldn't take some of the Pokémon's more terrifying moves with their physical bodies.

For example, a small [Ember] from a Fire-type Pokémon had an internal high temperature sufficient to burn any human who came into contact with the flame.

Therefore, how a Coordinator arranges the collaborative performance for this segment, and even more so, how to achieve a perfect coordination with the Pokémon's diverse moves, also became the most difficult part of the Contest.

Just like the Coordinator who was currently performing wholeheartedly on the stage.

Standing on the trainer's left was a Pokémon with purple fur and a round red gem embedded in its forehead—Espeon.

And on the right was a cat-like Pokémon with black fur and golden rings all over its body—Umbreon.

One was a Psychic-type Pokémon, the other a Dark-type Pokémon that countered it.

But strangely, both were evolved forms of a single magical Pokémon—Eevee.

This combination, originating from one yet being completely different, made many spectators in the venue very interested, and the judges and guests sitting in the front row also clearly began to watch seriously.

The trainer of Espeon and Umbreon—Doreena—after taking a deep breath, began her performance.

"Espeon, [Sunny Day]!"

She extended her hand, pointing to her left.

"Eon~"

A ball of light, like a miniature sun emitting a bright glow, popped out from Espeon's body and hung high on the ceiling of the venue. Although the fully enclosed venue couldn't draw in real sunlight, the light from this orb was by no means inferior, directly illuminating half the venue.

"Umbreon, [Dark Pulse]!"

On Doreena's right, Umbreon's aura wave, full of malicious intent, spread out. Wherever the malicious wave passed, even the bright light seemed to dim unconsciously, making the entire right half of the venue seem as if it were shrouded in night.

"Step, step, step," the sound of footsteps slowly advanced.

The woman, dressed in a simple dance dress, began to dance between the light and the dark.

When the dancer came under the light, Espeon leaped left and right. Pink fairy energy flashed, and countless sparkling lights appeared to complement her graceful figure, freezing the most beautiful moment like a camera flash.

The Fairy-type move [Dazzling Gleam].

When the dancer came under the darkness, Umbreon moved through it. Black ghost energy flashed, and countless faint black shadows swirled around her every move, as unpredictable as a phantom.

The Ghost-type move [Shadow Ball].

Except for the moves performed at the very beginning, there were no verbal commands. The human and the Pokémon crisscrossed between light and dark, forming a gorgeous performance where silence was more eloquent than sound.

Espeon walked under the brilliance; Umbreon crept in the dark night.

It seemed as natural as it should be.

Suddenly, the purple figure and the black figure rushed towards each other at extreme speed.

Doreena, standing in the middle, held up her hands.

Espeon lightly stepped on the woman's right hand, landing in that patch of darkness.

Umbreon lightly brushed against the woman's left hand, landing in that patch of light.

In the darkness, countless sparkling stars shot out, shimmering and swaying brilliantly above—the Normal-type move [Swift].

Under the light, a ray of bright moonlight sprinkled down from above, gently spreading across the stage, as if draping it in a thin veil—the Fairy-type move [Moonlight].

Finally, the woman, facing the starlight and treading through the brilliance, walked to the very front of the stage and, with her two Pokémon, bowed in thanks.

The performance was over.

"Clap, clap, clap, clap, clap—"

The applause from the entire venue rang out like thunder.

Rio clapped even more vigorously. This performance of intertwining light and dark deserved the evaluation of "dreamlike and fantastical." Whether it was the elegant posture of Espeon under the light, the ghostly figure of Umbreon in the darkness, or the trainer's harmony in connecting light and dark, all were executed very well. And in the end, the Pokémon that originally walked in the light and the Pokémon that originally crept in the dark exchanged places, pushing this feeling of intertwining to its most vivid expression.

Even Ruby, who had participated in numerous Contests and witnessed countless gorgeous performances, praised the performance endlessly.

The final result of the Contest was also without suspense. Doreena, who had perfectly showcased her performance results, won the Yuanqi City Contest.

And watching the famous Coordinator Ruby present the awards to the various contestants, Fengling was somewhat lost in a daze.

On the other hand, the Snivy beside her no longer had its previous aloofness; its large, round eyes were filled with interest.

Rio, who had been carefully observing everything around him, also had some ideas.

"If I have the chance, participating in a Contest seems like it would be very interesting."

"But what would I perform?"

"How about I perform a set of military calisthenics for the audience?"

"Or how about a full routine of 'The Call of the Times'?"

The thought of that familiar voice, "National Middle School Student Broadcast Calisthenics, The Call of the Times," echoing in the Contest Hall made Rio unable to help but snicker foolishly.

"o_o" Ruru was a little worried. She found that her little companion had recently been giggling foolishly for no reason.

Could it be that the egg stimulated him too much? Did it cause him too much mental stress, so he's acting a bit strange? Do I need to make some kind of soup for him to de-stress? Hmm...

The kind-hearted good chef, Ruru the Ralts, decided to go to the library later to research some suitable soups she could make.

There's nothing that can't be solved by a bowl of soup. If it really can't be solved, then just have another bowl of slow-cooked Cantonese soup!

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