Mega Metagross's eyes shone brightly, all its power concentrating on its right claw.
The claw erupted with unprecedented brilliance, like a falling meteor, carrying unstoppable momentum as it slammed into the face of Mega Swampert!
The punch was powerful and heavy, sending Mega Swampert's massive body flying through the air in an arc before crashing heavily to the ground several meters away, splashing water everywhere.
Swampert struggled a few times, but ultimately closed its eyes helplessly, unable to fight. The rain had stopped sometime earlier, the dark clouds dispersed, and the sun shone again.
Mega Metagross hovered in mid-air, looking at the fallen Mega Swampert. The fighting spirit in its eyes gradually subsided, replaced by a hint of respect for its opponent.
"Victory!"
"Swampert is unable to fight, Metagross wins!"
Wallace's voice rang out at the right moment. He walked to the center of the arena and loudly announced the result.
Larvesta, the Vulpix, and Deino jumped and cheered excitedly, celebrating Metagross's victory. Juan stepped forward, recalled Swampert, and instead of disappointment, wore a pleased smile:
"Lionel, you won. Your Metagross is exceptionally well-trained; it's truly eye-opening."
He took out a blue badge from his pocket, shaped like a teardrop with wave patterns engraved on it.
It was the Water Drop Badge from the Gym.
"This badge is yours," Juan said, handing it to Lionel. "You deserve it."
Lionel took the badge, its cool touch striking him. He looked at Juan and said earnestly:
"Thank you, Gym Leader Juan. Swampert is also very strong. If it weren't for the fact that Outrage couldn't last long, the outcome would have been uncertain."
"The battle is over. A loss is a loss. No need to be modest."
Juan smiled and waved his hand.
After the battle, Lionel followed Juan and Wallace back to the gym's tea room.
Juan brewed a pot of fresh tea, and the three sat together. The conversation naturally turned to Milotic's training.
They chatted for nearly an hour, from Milotic's basic training to skill combinations, and how to balance battle strength with performance. The conversation continued.
It wasn't until sunset that Lionel got up to leave.
"By the way,"
Juan called after Lionel,
"If you don't have a place to train for the next few days, you can come to the gym to train. After the Water Festival, it probably won't be so easy for you to train outside like before."
As Lionel left the gym, he noticed that Michael had already packed his bags and was preparing to leave. As the League Champion, he indeed had many matters to attend to; as soon as the Water Festival ended, he would have to rush to other regions.
"Lionel,"
Michael smiled and patted his shoulder:
"Good luck in the Pokemon Contest! I believe you can get a medal! I'll be watching your matches online. I'll be waiting for you at the Pokemon Contest!"
"I definitely won't let you down."
Lionel clenched his fist and assured him.
After watching Wallace leave, Lionel led his Pokémon back to the hotel.
Just as Juan had said, after that close encounter with Kyogre at the Water Festival, he had become a "celebrity" in Sootopolis City.
The next morning, Lionel was recognized as soon as he stepped out of the hotel.
Many tourists surrounded him for autographs and photos, and trainers even pulled him aside to ask for battle tips, making it impossible to train in peace.
Left with no other choice, Lionel had to follow Juan's suggestion and change his training location to Sootopolis City Gym.
The Gym's backyard has a dedicated training area, not only spacious but also quiet enough that it's been closed for the past few days, ensuring undisturbed surroundings.
In the following days, Lionel devoted himself entirely to preparing for the Pokémon Contest. The days flew by amidst his busy training, and before he knew it, the day of the Pokemon Contest arrived.
The weather was exceptionally clear and sunny that day.
When Lionel left the hotel, the streets were just as bustling as during the Water Festival. Many tourists who had attended the Water Festival hadn't left, intending to watch the Pokemon Contest. The competition resumes.
This is precisely why the organizing committee scheduled the competition after the festival; leveraging the festival's popularity will attract more spectators.
Today, Lionel has specially changed into a new outfit.
The tailored black and gold tuxedo perfectly accentuates his tall and straight figure, paired with a meticulously slicked-back hairstyle, giving him a look that is both composed and stylish.
As he walks down the street, he attracts frequent glances from passersby.
"Squeak!"
Seeing that no one is paying attention to it, Larvesta stomps its feet.
He has also dressed up specially today. It wore small, round-framed glasses and a colorful beaded necklace.
It thought it would be the center of attention, but its trainer stole the show.
However, it quickly discovered the trick to "riding the coattails"—as long as it stayed close to Lionel, passersby would inevitably notice it.
Every now and then, someone would compliment, "This one's accessories are so cute."
So, Larvesta simply stuck to Lionel like glue; even if Lionel accidentally stepped on its foot, it would just shake its head and continue squeezing in.
After all... The praise from others was far more important to it than this minor bump.
The venue for this Pokemon Contest was the central square of Sootopolis City, where a huge circular stage had been erected. The stage was surrounded by spectators, and colorful support signs and balloons were everywhere.
A banner hung above the stage, proclaiming "Hoenn Region · Sootopolis City Pokemon Contest," creating a lively and joyful atmosphere.
Upon arriving at the venue, Lionel quickly drew lots, and surprisingly, he was assigned number 1.
Lionel was unfazed by this; whether it was earlier or later, it didn't matter. Well, he'd prepared for this contest long enough.
Specifically, back when Steelix in Steel Canyon was teaching Tyrantrum the Sandstorm skill, Lionel had already conceived a skill combination.
However, at that time, the abilities of Larvesta and Tyrantrum weren't yet up to par, so it had to be temporarily shelved.
Now, these two are strong enough to support this combination, and it can finally be showcased today.
For the first round of judging, Lionel planned to have Milotic perform, with Larvesta providing some support.
After all, Juan was among the judges today; how could he not make his unique Milotic shine.
Preparations for the match proceeded smoothly.
Soon, the lights in the arena suddenly dimmed, except for a spotlight that blazed brightly in the center of the stage, like a shooting star streaking across the night.
A figure in blue appeared in the dimmed light, highlighting her graceful figure.
She wore a dark blue fitted swallowtail coat over a black turtleneck shirt, exuding a sophisticated and polished look.
She paired it with high-waisted black shorts, her fair legs adorned with two black leather leg rings, making her legs appear even longer. Tall and sexy.
***************************
Thoughts on where the plot is heading? Let me know in the comments! If you're enjoying the ride, please leave a quick review and toss a few Power Stones my way. Every bit of support means the world! 🙌