The Feebas seemed to treat the sea of fire as an ocean, frolicking and playing within it, sometimes leaping out of the "water," sometimes diving into the "deep sea," a scene so dreamlike it was captivating.
Red and blue light intertwined, water and fire danced together in a spectacular display, the entire venue seemingly under a spell.
Gradually, as Larvesta withdrew itsflames, the sea of fire shrank.
Milotic skillfully manipulated the water flow, ensuring each "water droplet Feebas" enveloped a small cluster of flame.
In an instant, the stage was filled with "fiery Feebas," blue and red interspersed, like moving little lanterns.
Milotic murmured again, manipulating these "lantern Feebas" to converge.
One by one they merged into each other, water droplets and flames intertwining, forming a giant Feebas in the center of the stage.
Over three meters long, its body was crystal clear, with a flame burning fiercely in its center like a heart, as if to boil its entire water-based body.
Under the breathless gaze of the audience, the shape of the Feebas began to change little by little, its bloated body becoming slender, its round belly becoming delicate.
Finally, a "Milotic" woven from water and flame floated in the center of the stage.
Its blue "body," orange-red fins, and golden-red burning tail fin were both graceful and passionate.
When the Water-Fire Milotic gently swayed its tail fin, its tail instantly burst into flames, radiating a warm light that illuminated the entire venue as if it were daytime.
Vivian's voice trembled slightly.
On the judges' panel, Mr. Sukizo rubbed his chin, his eyes sparkling with admiration, while Mr. Raoul Contesta nodded frequently, taking notes rapidly in his notebook.
Miss Joy clasped her hands together, a gentle smile on her face, while Juan leaned forward slightly, his eyes filled with amazement and a hint of satisfaction.
This was precisely the "creativity and layering" he had mentioned to Lionel earlier, now being performed flawlessly.
The applause from the audience surged like a tidal wave, lasting for a long time.
As soon as the performance ended, Larvesta hopped to Milotic's side, its little chest puffed out high, as if it were the star of the entire show.
It waved its little paws, chirping and greeting the cheering audience, its smug expression like that of a superstar who had just finished performing.
Lionel stood to the side, watching with a mixture of amusement and exasperation, shaking his head helplessly. This little guy's ability to steal the spotlight was getting more and more adept.
Milotic, however, seemed unfazed. Instead, it gently swayed its tail fin, lightly curling up the Larvesta and lifting it high, as if in agreement with the little guy's "show-off."
Larvesta became even more smug, its little paws waving rapidly, its face beaming with undisguised pride.
The audience below burst into laughter at this scene, their applause now tinged with affection.
"Alright, alright, it's time to hear the judges' comments."
Lionel coughed lightly, signaling the little guy to tone it down.
On the judges' panel, Mr. Sukizo spoke first, his tone full of approval:
"Incredibly creative! Combining Feebas's evolutionary process with water and fire elements not only showcases the Pokémon's growth but also creates a strong visual impact, with very rich layers."
Mr. Raoul Contesta nodded in agreement:
"The transitions between skills are flawless. The Rain Dance to Larvesta's sea of fire is perfectly integrated, without the slightest sense of incongruity. A great deal of effort must have been put into this."
Miss Joy smiled and said:
"The most remarkable thing is the synergy between the Pokémon. Milotic's elegance and Larvesta's agility create a wonderful contrast. Yet they were harmonious and unified; it was clear the two little elves had a deep bond."
Finally, it was Juan's turn. He looked at Lionel with gentle eyes.
"Water and fire are inherently incompatible, yet you made them dance together, and even imbued it with the profound meaning of 'transformation.'
This is not only a magnificent performance, but also a unique interpretation of the 'Way of Elegance.' Very good, very good."
Hearing Juan's evaluation, Lionel felt a warmth in his heart and bowed deeply:
"Thank you, judges."
Then, before Larvesta could unleash any more "surprises," Lionel quickly retrieved it and Milotic into their Poké Balls.
If they stayed any longer, who knew if the little guy would rush to the judges' seats for a "curtain call."
Lionel himself turned and bowed slightly to the judges and audience, then quickly retreated from the stage.
The competition continued.
The contestants took turns on stage, each showcasing their unique skills:
Some performed a "water ballet" with Water-type Pokémon, others displayed "sky walking" with Flying-type Pokémon, and still others created a "fantasy world" with Psychic-type Pokémon.
But the most eye-catching was a trainer from the Sinnoh region.
This trainer, dressed in traditional Sinnoh attire, immediately released two elegant Eevee evolutions upon entering the arena. Leafeon and Glaceon.
Leafeon is covered in emerald green leaves, like a forest Pokémon, while Glaceon is draped in snow-white fur, its icy ear tips shimmering with a cool luster.
One is sweet, the other handsome; their entrance earned them a standing ovation.
During the performance, Leafeon scattered countless leaves, weaving a miniature forest on the stage, while Glaceon exhaled cold air, causing the leaves to condense into glistening frost without damaging their verdant green.
The two worked together, weaving frost and green leaves to evoke the imagery of winter turning to spring. The fusion of grass and ice techniques was perfect, drawing continuous cheers from the audience.
"This contestant is very strong!" Lionel sat backstage, watching the performance on the screen, nodding to himself.
Soon, the first round of judging ended.
Lionel advanced to the second round without any doubt, followed closely by the contestant from the Sinnoh region.
After a short break, the second round of judging began quickly, and Lionel was once again the first to perform.
However, this time, he didn't send out Milotic, but instead took out Poké Balls containing Tyrantrum and Larvesta.
"It's our turn to show off!"
Lionel threw out the Poké Balls.
A flash of red light, and Tyrantrum's massive body landed...
At the center of the stage, a metallic crown gleamed atop its head.
Larvesta, using its silk-spitting ability, swiftly flew to the top of the Tyrantrum, landing steadily at the very front of the crown.
That was its exclusive "VIP seat"!
"Squeak!"
Larvesta squealed excitedly, suddenly removing its small glasses and tossing them towards the audience.
The glasses arced through the air, landing in the audience seats, immediately causing a small commotion. The fans who managed to grab the glasses cheered excitedly.
"Alright, Larvesta, stop fooling around, it's about to start," Lionel called out helplessly.
Larvesta stuck out its tongue, finally settling down.
"Tyrantrum, Sandstorm!" Lionel commanded.
"Roar!"
At this moment, the Tyrantrum let out a low roar, its body radiating a yellowish-brown energy. As it slammed its forepaws into the ground, a whirlwind of sand erupted from the stage!
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