Under the stunning performance of the Altered-color Milotic,
a "bizarre" yet swift Gorgeous Competition battle concluded just like that, leaving only rounds of cheers.
Taijiu was bewildered.
Is it over?
What command did he give? Dodge quickly? Wake up? How did it end just like that!
Even after returning to the preparation room, Taijiu couldn't believe he had been defeated, and his lost and bewildered appearance intensified the fears of others towards Baimu and his Pokémon.
Goodness, the guy got beaten silly!
It's important to know that Taijiu had scored an impressive 29.4 in the first review as an excellent Coordinator Trainer and was certainly not participating in the Gorgeous Competition for the first time. Yet, the Pokémon he relied on couldn't last two rounds in front of the Altered-color Milotic.
The soul-stirring scene at the beginning made everyone shiver, continuously pondering whether they could, if standing in Taijiu's position, escape the allure of Altered-color Milotic at the fastest speed—
Not easy to say.
No one dared to assert they could do much better than Taijiu, for every high-scoring Coordinator Trainer in the Gorgeous Competition possessed an extraordinary ability to appreciate "beauty."
Those who appreciate beauty naturally cannot escape being captivated by Milotic.
Why is Mikoli so famous in the Gorgeous Competition? One reason is his talent, and the other is precisely because of his enthralling Milotic!
Who would have thought the once silent and now astonishing Baimu also owned this Pokémon, and it was even an Altered-color one, cultivated exceptionally well.
There's a consensus in the Gorgeous Competition community—
How to determine if a Coordinator Trainer is capable?
Give them a Milotic and see how well they have cultivated it in the end.
The more cared for and attentively raised Milotic, even if not fed expensive, precious supplements every meal, can still exude powerful allure.
Conversely, if neglected by the Trainer, no matter how well-fed or well-housed, Milotic's fur and scales would be dull and lackluster, devoid of beauty, let alone captivating the audience of the Gorgeous Competition.
Just from this alone, one can discern Baimu's true capability.
No wonder he's a formidable obstacle on the path to victory at the Shuijing Conference!
While everyone was fixated on him, they overlooked Xiaofeng, a newcomer and already quite adept Coordinator Trainer with excellent performance at the Ever Grande Conference.
Thus,
Xiaofeng's opponent was brutally defeated.
Like Baimu in the past, Xiaofeng excels in the Gorgeous Competitions by directly taking down opponents without bothering about losing stylish points, but compared to the former, her intention and means are too obvious, which makes many fans of serious Gorgeous Competitions not very fond of her.
The barrier between Trainers and Coordinator Trainers is very thin yet very high. Brute Force might break through it, but to elegantly cross over the high wall distinguishing [Performance] from [Combat] is not so easy.
To possess both prowess and grace is not something just anyone can achieve.
Yet Xiaofeng's mastery of prowess caught the attention of the remaining contestants. They were acutely aware that no matter how exquisite the Pokémon's performance in a Gorgeous Competition, once knocked out, there's no further show to put on.
Soon enough,
the outcomes of the remaining two battles were also decided.
Baimu observed the entire process, letting out a slight exclamation in the fourth match.
A lone-mask, black cloak, tall top hat, and a Dusknoir skilled at Shadow Fist, isn't that the "Masked Messenger"!
He recalled the little ghost he encountered earlier in the watermelon field outside Verdanturf Town, whose idol was none other than the Masked Messenger of Verdanturf Town's legend. If the timeline was right, the current Masked Messenger should be the second generation, named... Kimimaro?
He seemed to have heard this name just now.
He hadn't realized all along!
Baimu searched his memory carefully, and a slightly timid young face hiding behind the crowd suddenly emerged in his mind, bearing a striking resemblance to the Masked Messenger. The boy was indeed among those queueing for his autograph, just without the mask, making him overlook that.
Checking the performance sequence of the first review, he was just behind his group, a situation where he would be going on stage right after Baimu's turn ended.
Goodness! Almost missed a "familiar face"!
Though in the animation the Masked Messenger ultimately lost to Xiaoyao, the prowess shown in the Gorgeous Competition battles here should not be underestimated, qualifying as a rare formidable rival in this match.
"Hmm..."
Baimu rubbed his chin and suddenly turned to look at Blissey.
"Happy?"
The Blissey, which had been watching TV, noticed the Trainer's gaze and turned its head in confusion.
General Attribute and Ghost Attribute are mutually ineffective attributes, so if he really encountered this Masked Messenger, sending this one up might be a good choice.
He gently stroked Blissey's soft curls without speaking further.
——
Inside the venue,
as the first round's four matches concluded, the atmosphere gradually heated up.
Though it's disrespectful to the other contestants, there's no doubt everyone was eager to see Baimu's match, especially those who witnessed the miracle of the Altered-color Milotic's birth at the Fallarbor Conference, now looking forward to what kind of dazzling performance he would present this time.
"Next up is the first match of the second round of the semifinals, please welcome Mr. Baimu and Miss Xiaofeng to the stage for preparation."
Vivian charmingly called out.
In the contestant passageway, Baimu stepped forward, gazing at Miss Xiaofeng on the opposite end.
She appeared exceptionally excited and confident, seemingly already reflecting on the defeat of her Scizor a few days ago and having devised a strategy in response.