With Togekiss smoothly adjusting its posture, it swiftly caught Piplup, who was desperately flapping its wings to prevent itself from falling too quickly.
Grateful, she couldn't wait to shout:
"Show them our power! Beak Drill! Divine Bird Assault!"
"Piplup!"
"Togekiss!"
The two Pokémon responded quickly, equally aware of something amiss, they hesitated not a bit, launching their strongest techniques!
Togekiss's body swayed as dazzling, blazing white energy emerged from in front of it and rapidly spread across its body, transforming it into a divine bird radiating white light.
Piplup leapt onto Togekiss's face from its back, precariously sitting on its forehead to ensure it wouldn't fall off, its tiny beak steeply elongated and burst forth with a golden glow.
Then, both transformed into a rapidly spinning center point.
The boiling energies fused into one, combining gold and white to create a breathtaking brilliant red!
"It's here! Contestant Xiaoguang's custom ultimate move! Formed by the fusion of Divine Bird Assault and Beak Drill! What a dazzling blazing red light!"
Vivian's voice was especially loud.
Quickly, a massive roar diverted her attention.
She exclaimed: "This is—"
Only to see Mega Mawile unleash a brilliant flash all around it, the ground scraped with chaotic fissures, white shock waves continuously scatter towards all sides, the enormous twin jaws at its back erupting wildly like rocket launchers, spraying stars and pastel pink gas!
What a dazzling display of [Playful]!
Vivian couldn't suppress her urge to praise Mega Mawile's performance, the judges too were stunned, definitely the most surprising method of using Playful they've seen.
The audience was pleasantly surprised, craning their necks in anticipation.
However, none of this impacted Mega Mawile.
It gazed at the spiraling red diving from the sky with a calm demeanor, unmoved by the stunning sight.
Until.
The trainer's command sounded!
"Go! Charming Voice and… Playful Finale!"
A siren-like, sharp cry rang beside Mega Mawile's ears, around which numerous pink light wheels started rotating continuously.
At this moment, Mega Mawile was akin to a shining star in the sky, as if carrying divine radiant light.
It took a deep breath.
Then, abruptly vanished from its original spot.
Vivian's face flashed with bewilderment as she fixed her gaze, about to speak when suddenly an alarming explosion and insane vibration sounded in her ears!
Boom!!
The stage erupted at the spot where Mega Mawile had just stood, enormous web-like cracks bearing countless fragments of various sizes flying about!
Under the watchful eyes of numerous spectators.
Mega Mawile suddenly appeared in mid-air, facing the crimson spiral coming from above.
Buzz!
The rings behind it transformed into light waves blasting forward, stripping the red spiral naked under the sonic resonance, revealing the inner Piplup and Togekiss.
Then Mega Mawile raised its right fist.
The brilliance on its body, including the pink stream and colorful stars spewing behind it all converged instantly into it, like swallows returning to their nest, forming a shining pink cross star.
"Tee—Dah!!"
With a resounding cry, the heavy punch swung its way through!
The next instant.
The pink cross star abruptly expanded!
At a speed beyond reaction, engulfing everyone's viewpoint!
Dong—!!
A great boom resonated like a chime echoing!
Countless stars followed the terrifying shockwave rushing towards all directions, the overwhelming brilliance rendered visibility inside the arena impossible, only allowing all to sense the warm wind caressing over.
And after the mighty roar, there came a slowly inaudible yet truly existing melodious tweet.
Suddenly.
Many sketched in their minds the sacred scene of Altered-color Milotic chanting under the moon.
Differing from ordinary battles, the scene left many spectators expecting, some like Altered-color Gengar and Hoopa impulsively attempting to leap directly onto the scene, desperately waiting to find out the final result.
Amidst the shattered stage.
Xiaoguang shielded her eyes from the blinding light with one hand, the scene before her drawing reminiscences of some unpleasant memory, Mega Mawile's dazzling display deepened her anxiety.
But at this moment, all she could do was place her trust in Piplup and Togekiss.
Trusting they would not let her down.
Finally.
The light dims.
The Mega Mawile stands panting amidst the shattered ground, surrounded by the Altered-color Milotic, like a beautiful serpent god guarding it.
Baimu looks calm, as if he doesn't care about the match's outcome.
The Togekiss and Piplup stand unharmed on the other end, their bodies showing no signs of having been bombarded by Attribute Energy, which makes Xiaoguang unconsciously feel delighted—
Thud!
A loud siren interrupts her joy.
Xiaoguang looks up incredulously, seeing only sixteen seconds left on the countdown on the big screen, with the circle score indicator under her avatar completely black.
As for the indicator beneath Baimu, at least half remains yellow.
The siren sounds soon after.
The Togekiss and Piplup wobble and fall, both pairs of spiral eyes proving they have lost their ability to fight.
Vivian loudly announces through her microphone, "The match is over! Let's congratulate Contestant Baimu! Advancing to the final Grand Festival contest!"
Wow!
The audience bursts into cheers.
Xiaoguang takes a deep breath, showing a slight, helpless smile, stepping forward to hug Piplup and Togekiss.
The two temporarily fainted Pokémon quickly come to.
"Piplup…"
"Togekiss…"
They call out with some guilt.
"It's okay, Piplup, Togekiss, you were already amazing! Really amazing! Thank you!" Xiaoguang smiles and softly comforts the two Pokémon.
The three embrace closely.
On Baimu's side.
He steps forward to pick up Mawile, which has reverted to its original form, smiling, "Well done! Playful and Charming Voice at the end were impressive!"
"You too, the support was great; everyone will definitely be proud of you!"
He scratches beneath the chin of Altered-color Milotic.
"Squee~"
Mawile snorts and turns away, unwilling to show too much affection to its trainer in front of the crowd.
But Altered-color Milotic is less concerned, happily calling out and using its cheek to unleash a [Rubbing Cheeks] attack against Baimu, splashing water on his face.
A moment later.
The two sides shake hands amicably.
Compared to Ge Mann who couldn't handle defeat, Xiaoguang seemed much more composed.
Not only could she smile and talk to Baimu, but she also immediately started self-reflection on the way back.
"I finally realized where I fall short."
"Oh? How so?"
"So many technique combinations were easily countered, but when facing the combination of Divine Speed and Frozen Beam, your reaction was clearly a beat slow, because it was the first time you saw it, right?"
"...You could say that."
"I knew it, but what really made me realize my shortcomings was at the end. Back then, I lost to Xiaowang using this technique and couldn't claim the final victory, and now I lost again with the same technique, which made me realize I haven't really changed much over the years..."
Xiaoguang sighed.
She is not the type to deeply ponder the past; her character of bulldozing toward the future often causes her to stumble in the same pit several times.
Simply put, she remembers the feed but not the beating.
This revelatory moment proves the emotional impact of defeat on her.
Baimu, however, shook his head and said, "For you to realize that shows that you've already started changing. Honestly, I wanted to help you before, but later I realized I have so many shortcomings myself, barely coping, my thinking was too arrogant."
"Now, what you've said confirms it; you truly don't need my help, as you can realize it on your own."
Xiaoguang smiled, "Though the cost is a bit high?"
He replied, "Do you think it's worth it?"
Xiaoguang withdrew her gaze from him, shouting into the empty contestant passage ahead, "Absolutely worth it!! Just so unwilling to accept it!!"
The voice echoed in the passage.
...This kid, perhaps she was stunned by defeat.
Baimu looked at Xiaoguang with sympathy.
The latter waited for a while, then cluelessly turned and said, "Eh? Why didn't you shout with me?"
"Watch fewer morning shows, most of the plots Liuqia acts in are made up, plus I'm already an adult." Baimu lightly pats her head, quickly walking forward.
Xiaoguang grumpily covered her hair, "What! Is being an adult so great? And! This is not childish at all!"