The gorgeous battle between Liuqia and Xiaoguang reached its final mont.
Not only were both sides’ scores nearly hitting rock bottom, but the countdown had also completely reached zero.
The intensity was evident.
And despite Xiaoguang’s Piplup successfully triggering the Torrential Trait under the pressure of such a powerful opponent as ga Altaria, greatly increasing the power of its Water Attribute Techniques, like it was playing its exclusive BGM to score a lot of points, briefly surpassing Liuqia...
It still fell short in the end.
The reason was in the very last mont, the heavily scarred ga Altaria triggered an early release of teor Shower, which resonated in so special way with Magic Brilliance.
The conflicting energies briefly combined, forming a transient firework-like radiant teor shower.
Subsequently, the teor shower descended into the Tide Spin supported by Piplup, instantly detonating into a giant firework, completely shattering it.
The scene was magnificent and shocking.
Countless spectators cheered loudly, and the four judges praised the spectacle repeatedly.
"Now that’s what a semi-final should be!"
Xiaosheng looked at the TV screen with approval.
He wasn’t opposed to the earlier gorgeous battle, but couldn’t help feeling for his sister Xiaoyao being suppressed throughout by Baimu and his Pokémon.
After all, he too had experienced being "beaten up," twice.
He hoped it wouldn’t leave a shadow in his sister’s heart...
However, Xiaoyao was more mature than Xiaosheng could imagine; she was currently reviewing Liuqia and Xiaoguang’s battle with Baimu, Xiaoguang, and Xiaoshun.
Although still feeling remorseful about her own defeat, she never stubbornly dwelled on it; through her battle with Baimu, she realized her shortcomings on one hand, and understood that she never belonged to the genius category on the other.
The fact that she hadn’t beco a top Coordinator Trainer over the years was proof.
She once encountered and battled Xiaowang, who later lost to her in the semi-finals of the Mikoli Club, but then, after traveling for only a year, Xiaowang won the grand prize at the Gorgeous Competition.
"Is it true that both strength and technique are important?"
Xiaoyao fell into contemplation. Previously, she was always a technique-focused Coordinator Trainer, and the success of her Water and Fire Fusion Skill made her more determined to walk this bright path.
The formidable opponents she faced often used techniques to turn the tables.
She never expected to lose so badly facing "absolute strength" one day, especially considering Baimu had only debuted for a year... Half a year?
Listening to Xiaosheng’s words, it wasn’t hard to hear that before officially participating in the Gorgeous Competition, his battle strength was already very strong, and he had made rapid progress in the past several months.
"It seems you’ve noticed too?"
Xiaoshun’s voice sounded in her ear, causing Xiaoyao to turn her head in observation.
As always, he stood with hands in pockets assuming a cool guy deanor, saying, "The reason for both of our defeats is nothing else; re technique can’t bridge the gap caused by strength.
"If we divide the technique and strength in gorgeous battles and calculate separately, even if we flatteringly base our technique score at ten, Baimu might be an eight or nine. But if we base strength on Baimu at ten, how many points do we have?"
"...Four to five?"
"Bingo!"
Xiaoshun snapped his fingers, but his face showed no hint of a smile, murmuring softly, "This feeling of disparity is infuriating, reminding of Miss Sahoko."
Sahoko.
A top Coordinator Trainer, who won the grand prize in Kanto’s Gorgeous Competition after defeating Xiaoyao, once made Xiaoshun, who was a novice, cry.
Though they later beca good friends, this incident still left a psychological shadow on Xiaoshun.
"After this is over, I plan to spend ti training my Pokémon’s battle capabilities, and I hope to see a new you by then."
After speaking, he left the preparation room, seemingly not intending to watch the afternoon’s matches.
Training battle capabilities...
Xiaoyao showed a complex expression; she initially participated in the Gorgeous Competition because she wasn’t interested in being a Pokémon Trainer and battling. Her pursuit in being a technique-focused Coordinator Trainer partly stemd from personal preference.
Unexpectedly, she couldn’t escape in the end.
Of course.
She’s not a fickle person; she battled many tis when traveling with Ash Ketchum, and besides, seeing the road ahead clearly is more important to her than obtaining a ribbon. If training battle capabilities is necessary, so be it.
As the daughter of a Gym Leader, how could she fall behind in this aspect?
Xiaoyao was excitedly gearing up, attracting the curious gaze of Baimu and Xiaogang next door.
"What’s with her?"
"Hmm... Hard to say, but there shouldn’t be any problem. Xiaoyao has always had her own strong opinions."
Isn’t that a high-EQ way of saying it?
Baimu glanced at Xiaogang; he could embellish "imrsed in her world" like this—no wonder his flirting seed so sleazy, yet he was still liked by many.
——
At noon.
They made do with a simple lunch.
There was almost no communication between Baimu and Liuqia. Usually, it seed like they had endless things to say, yet witnessing the impending showdown left them speechless.
Their relationship didn’t worsen due to competition; they simply chose to leave all they wanted to say for the gorgeous battle.
It’s well known.
Battling is not only the shortcut for Trainers and Pokémon to assimilate, but also the best form of communication between Trainers, where personality, habits, and style are best represented.
At the fork in the player’s corridor.
Liuqia stopped, slowly lifting her clenched left hand, slightly turning her head to glance at Baimu, "Hmm?"
"Ah?"
"Hmm!?"
"What?"
"Doing it on purpose! How can you not understand what I an!"
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