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During a break, Lionel and Grace took their Pokémon to the open space behind the rest area to let them out for some fresh air and food.
The Stingray and Larvesta immediately gathered around Milotic and Metang, puffing out their chests and chattering away.
They were probably showing off their recent triumphant victory.
Milotic gently swayed its tail and nuzzled them in acknowledgment.
Metang hovered in the air, using its psychic powers to deliver food to them, urging them to eat quickly and replenish their energy.
Grace's Medicham and Gallade stood to the side, exchanging a smile.
Looking at the excited Stingray and Larvesta, a hint of nostalgia crossed their eyes.
They seemed to recall their own first Grand Festival, when they were just as excited.
Half an hour passed quickly, and Vivian's clear voice echoed through the venue once more:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome back to the Fallarbor Town Pokémon Contest Competition!
Next, we will begin the second round of judging!
Please welcome contestant number 13, Chiba!"
The spotlight shone again, illuminating the battleground in the center of the stage and also shining on the entrance to the contestants' passage.
The second round of the advancement stage performances began!
The intensity of the second round of judging far exceeded that of the first round; the advancing contestants clearly brought out their best.
On the judges' panel, Yumiko's smile grew wider and wider.
She would occasionally exchange glances with Joey and Sukizo beside her, clearly quite approving of the contestants' performances.
For this notoriously strict judge to smile, it was enough to show just how excellent the performances were.
As each battle came to a close, Vivian's clear voice rang out again: "Next, please welcome contestant number 28, Grace."
Lionel, standing at the entrance to the contestant tunnel, gave Grace a thumbs-up, his eyes full of encouragement.
Grace returned a confident smile, straightened her skirt, and calmly stepped into the tunnel.
Under the spotlight, Grace stood in the center of the stage and gently tossed two Poké Balls: "Medicham, Gallade, it's our turn!"
A flash of red light, and the two Pokémon reappeared.
"Let's begin."
Grace gave the order softly.
Medicham moved first, its feet lightly touching the ground, its figure moving like a ghost to the center of the stage.
It thrust out its hands, instantly activating the Ice Punch skill!
Intense cold air erupted from its fists, white icy mist spreading outwards from its center like a tide.
Under Medicham's "psychic" control, the icy mist gradually condensed into an ice lotus flower.
The patterns on the petals became clearer in the cold air.
Layer upon layer, each petal was crystal clear, as if sculpted from the purest ice crystals.
Ice crystal lotus, initially the size of a fist, gradually unfolded and grew larger.
In a short while, it transformed into a colossal ice lotus nearly three meters in diameter.
As Medicham's hand gestures changed, the ice crystal lotus slowly began to rotate, reflecting the stage lights and emitting a dazzling luster.
A low gasp rippled through the audience.
Just then, Gallade moved. Its figure blurred, and it activated its Double Team.
After a few soft "Gallla" sounds, one, two, three...
In the blink of an eye, more than a dozen Gallade figures appeared on the stage, scattered around the giant ice crystal lotus.
The Ice Lotus, encircled by the Gallades, spun faster and faster, its petals fully unfurling, revealing its crystalline center.
Medicham gently pushed with both hands, channeling his psychic power into the Ice Lotus.
The giant Ice Lotus began to slowly rotate, its petals gently unfolding with the rotation, as if proudly displaying its beauty.
The Ice Lotus's rotation slowed.
Finally, the petals began to slowly close, transforming back into a budding flower, standing quietly in the center of the stage.
Just as the Ice Lotus completely closed, Grace commanded:
"Now!"
Gallade's clones moved simultaneously.
They shot towards the Ice Lotus Bud like arrows released from a bow.
The blades on their arms gleamed coldly, striking the bud in unison.
The Ice Lotus Bud instantly exploded.
Countless tiny ice fragments transformed into icy mist, instantly filling the entire stage, completely enveloping Medicham and Gallade's figures.
A murmur of doubt arose from the audience; some couldn't resist leaning forward, wanting to see what was happening through the mist.
Just then, the icy mist seemed to be parted by an invisible hand, slowly dissipating.
The Ice Lotus Bud on the stage...
The clones of Gallade had all vanished, leaving only Medicham and Gallade standing side-by-side in the center of the stage.
They slightly raised their heads, gazing towards the audience, their eyes simultaneously emitting a dazzling blue light.
The crowd instinctively followed their gaze.
There, in the air above the audience, appeared small ice lotuses.
They scattered like stars, gradually filling the entire arena, each one small and exquisite, its petals adorned with tiny ice crystals.
Then, a magical scene unfolded:
The petals of the ice lotuses opened...
One by one, petals began to fall, one, two, three…
These ice petals, like snowflakes blown by the wind, swirled in the air, gently settling on the heads and shoulders of the audience.
"So beautiful…"
An audience member couldn't help but murmur, reaching out to catch a falling ice petal.
The ice petal melted in their palm, leaving a cool sensation.
The entire venue seemed to be enveloped in a romantic ice and snow wonderland.
The crowd tilted their heads back, their faces filled with surprised smiles, letting the ice lotus petals fall on them, enjoying this sudden icy…
A beautiful snowy scene.
The live stream chat was flooded with comments again:
[Grace is amazing! Her previous performance was already stunning, but this one was even more incredible!]
[So beautiful, such a romantic scene, I regret not being there!]
The ice lotus petals in the air above the venue gradually fell away, as if everything that had just happened was a dream.
A brief silence followed, then erupted in thunderous applause.
In the center of the stage, Medicham and Gallade withdrew their gaze, turned to face the judges, and bowed slightly.
Grace stepped forward and stood beside the two Pokémon.
Her face was gentle. With smiles on their faces, they bowed to the audience below the stage.
Vivian then walked up, her voice filled with excitement:
"Thank you, Miss Grace, for the romantic performance by Medicham and Eldorado! Please welcome the judges to give their feedback!"
After the three judges gave high scores, Grace led Medicham and Eldorado off the stage.
Back in the contestants' lounge, Lionel gave her a thumbs up, sincerely praising:
"That was wonderful!"
Grace smiled and winked:
"Now, we're waiting to see your performance."