Kalos Region, Vaniville Town.
Leaning on the soft small sofa, a beautiful girl with a pure and pretty face was holding the remote control, changing TV channels.
Neatly combed chestnut brown hair hung lightly on her snowy shoulders. Appearance pretty, icy eyes bright. Lustrous fresh lips delicate like rose petals. Under the red pleated skirt, a pair of slender, enchanting black silk jade legs were slightly exposed, feet together on the ground, emitting elegant charm like a young lady.
"Eh, this is..."
Changing several programs successively, Serena blinked, surprised.
The competition broadcast on TV was something she had never seen before.
Not passionate Pokémon battle competitions, nor Rhyhorn riding races watched too many times with sleep-aid effects, but a Contest titled Wallace Cup?
"Feels a bit like Pokémon Showcase... mmm... no, no..."
After watching several rounds of duels continuously, the girl pondered secretly, then shook her head.
Pokémon Showcase was a unique Pokémon competition in the Kalos region. The purpose was to present the bond between Trainer and Pokémon in the form of performance. It was a super cute dream festival held specially for girls.
And the Contest on the screen, although also performance, only focused on the gorgeousness of Pokémon move combinations, not needing Trainer's performance cooperation. Therefore, there was a big difference in essence.
Serena, feeling novel about this performance competition, didn't choose to change the channel but continued watching.
"Mmm..."
But not long after, Serena, just recovering from the wonderful duel of the previous group, widened her eyes subconsciously.
A black-haired youth, handsome like an incubus, walked slowly onto the stage. While smiling and nodding, he threw that shining Luxury Ball according to the competition rules and process.
What shocked Serena wasn't just that contestant's outstanding appearance making her jade face slightly red and heart beating like a deer, but also the mysterious figure appearing on blooming azure water lotuses hidden under hazy water mist.
The girl ran hurriedly to the cabinet, taking down a thick Pokémon Pokédex book from it.
"Mmm... turns out it's called Suicune? Possessing power to purify dirty muddy water instantly. Said to be the Incarnation of the North Wind..."
"W... Wait a minute... Legendary Pokémon!!!"
Comparing and recognizing this Pokémon's appearance clearly, Serena, who was nodding in realization, cried out.
Even if she hadn't systematically learned corresponding Pokémon knowledge, she could clearly understand the weight of "Legendary."
Just such a competition, how could there be...
On the competition stage, the timer had entered the countdown of the five-minute battle segment.
Hakuya's first round opponent was a girl with a bun hairstyle. Probably knowing Hakuya was about to send out the legendary Suicune, her delicate brows couldn't help frowning tightly, looking as if facing a formidable enemy.
"Manectric, use Electric Terrain and Thunder."
"Roar~"
Accompanied by a loud roar, electric light frenzy suddenly surged on the brightly lit competition stage.
[Electric Terrain: For five turns, the terrain becomes Electric Terrain. During the effect, the power of Electric-type moves used by Pokémon on the ground will be boosted, and Pokémon on the ground cannot fall asleep.]
Normal Battle Trainers used this move often to obtain temporary Electric-type move bursts, emphasizing breaking all methods with one force. But Coordinators, besides power, would pay more attention to the gorgeousness of moves.
"Mmm... indeed a very interesting usage method..."
Hakuya raised his eyebrows slightly, sighing lightly.
At this moment, thick black clouds with extremely strong oppressive feeling shrouded the sky of the entire field. And diffuse currents like bright silver snakes spread zzi-zzi-zzi on the ground.
Under the interaction of [Electric Terrain] and thunderclouds triggered by [Thunder], lightning climbing spirally gushed out, creating an illusion that the entire space was filled with silver arc currents.
Even if Suicune could dodge the [Thunder] move easily, Hakuya's gorgeousness points were dropping rapidly visibly.
Contest Battle wasn't a Gym battle. Although pure physical crushing was also okay, how to use moves to create a gorgeous scene was the top priority.
At this moment, facing this electric light frenzy like dancing silver snakes before him, Hakuya also thought of a countermeasure in an instant.
"Suicune, use Icy Wind."
Aura voice entering ears, Suicune, already united in mind with the Trainer, paced forward leisurely.
Under the opponent's pupils-quaking gaze, as this elegant Messenger of the North Wind stepped forward slowly, the ground originally covered by the silver-blue power grid was gradually eroded by biting cold ice—bone-chilling cold air met the hot airflow triggered by lightning, actually condensing into bright shining ice crystal rain falling in mid-air.
And the moment Suicune hummed lightly and stopped, [Icy Wind] erupted suddenly in a ring shape with her as the center.
Not only did Manectric facing head-on lose combat capability instantly, but even those climbing silver snake lightning bolts were cut off by cold air. Electric light was frozen rapidly along the lightning outline.
Originally agile electric arcs turned into ice-blue translucent ice sculptures in an instant. Even the tiniest ionization sparks were solidified in the ice layer, forming countless suspended lightning ice crystals.
Insta-kill!!!
"Just ended like this?!"
Watching contestants all let out exclamations of disbelief.
Although knowing Legendary Pokémon were very strong, in many people's view, Manectric with type advantage, even if unable to defeat Suicune, should fight fiercely for a while, right? How come it was insta-killed by one move?!
"Mr. Hakuya, indeed very strong."
Wallace sat on the judge's seat, feeling the domineering power from the cold ice, murmuring to himself.
If the first round was just performance nature, then this time was a genuine killing move.
Water and Ice, although two different types, were actually not separated. If water molecule control was skillful, one could still freeze thousands of miles with a raise of hand. Like Wallace's Milotic could also do this, only Hakuya's Suicune went up a level on this basis.
Crystal clear cold ice didn't cover a large area but froze along the outline of lightning like dancing silver snakes. The original Electric Terrain turned into an Electric Ice Domain in an instant...
Insta-killing the opponent while conveniently turning the opponent's move for his own use and creating such a gorgeous scene... need to learn well...
Unlike Wallace who still had the leisure to think about how to replicate this operation, Nurse Joy and Fantina were dumbfounded.
"So beautiful..."
Nurse Joy opened her red lips lightly. In her eyes, only this dreamlike electric arc ice sculpture and the youth standing calmly remained.
Indeed very beautiful. Not only the move, even the commanding figure was beautiful like a god controlling ice.
"This is what a top Coordinator should pursue~"
Fantina looked at Hakuya's back turning off stage, her face gradually dyed with a somewhat pathological smile.
She now not only wanted to invite him into the Gym to exchange coordination experiences but wanted to possess this youth occupying her whole heart completely and thoroughly. Even if paying everything, she wouldn't hesitate.
Cleanly and efficiently finishing the first round of gorgeous duel, Hakuya sometimes returned to the lounge, sometimes started the next round of competition.
Wallace Cup applicants totaled two hundred. Performance Stage screened out 64 to enter the second stage, then decided Top 32, Top 16, Top 8, Top 4, and the final championship contender through layers of battles.
Honestly, except for a few newly debuted Coordinators like Dawn, the rest were all experienced contest contestants without exception.
There were Top Coordinators who collected five Ribbon Badges early and qualified for the Grand Festival, strong ones who won Top 4 in the Grand Festival in previous years, and even contestants who were top retired for more than ten years making a comeback. Competition could be called fierce.
But under Hakuya and Suicune going full power, they soon successfully advanced to the finals with absolute advantage.
Finals—
Hakuya vs. Lisia!
Was it the high, clean, holy Suicune, hailed as a Legendary Pokémon, continuing the crushing victory, or that "Lisia the Idol Star" girl commanding Altaria, who once won the Grand Festival runner-up, could win against the wind?
"Eh?"
Serena, staring intently at the TV screen, froze.
With a click, the screen about to reach the exciting final moment stopped abruptly.
The girl looked up sharply, seeing mother Grace standing by the TV rebuking.
"I said why no response after calling so many times. Can't continue watching anymore; it's time for daily Rhyhorn riding practice..."
"But—"
"Serena." Seeing her daughter pointing to the TV still preparing to say something anxiously, Grace had a serious face, interrupting unquestioningly, "Rhyhorn riding practice cannot be given up halfway. Training plans agreed in advance must be completed; this is also a basic etiquette of a lady."
"Mmm..."
Serena lowered her face, clutching the pleated skirt hem disappointedly.
Her mother Grace was a retired top Rhyhorn racer, tutoring her in Rhyhorn riding training since childhood. Although Serena actually didn't like it, mother Grace still held extremely high expectations for her, hoping she could inherit her profession in the future.
And whenever this time came, it happened to be the time for riding practice.
Although... she wants to watch that black-haired youth's competition more now—
Seeing it difficult to persuade her mother, Serena said dejectedly.
"O... Okay, Mom."
"Mmm, then go change into riding clothes quickly."
Seeing her daughter agree obediently, Grace's face also softened a lot, turning back to the usual amiable mother appearance.
In the Pokémon world, so-called Pokémon Trainer wasn't the choice of most people.
More people just treated those Pokémon possessing various magical powers as pets, partners living together day and night, or even family members, and rarely trained them specifically to challenge Gyms or participate in Contests...
Based on this, other different professions also extended, such as Pokémon Stylist, Pokémon Breeder, or Rhyhorn Racer that Grace was when young...
"Be a little faster, getting dark later."
Grace looked at Serena still walking slowly towards the room, unable to help shaking her head.
Her daughter was very talented in Rhyhorn riding. Ordinary people found it hard to improve even after practicing for years, but Serena mastered the knack in just a few months. Now she was even more skillful than Grace at the same age, an excellent seedling for practicing riding.
Just this mentality still needs to be polished well. Otherwise, having talent but not paying corresponding efforts, she won't become a professional Rhyhorn racer in the future...
Minutes later, when Grace watched her daughter walk out changed into thick riding clothes but still turning her head reluctantly to look at the TV screen that had long been turned off, she still sighed helplessly.
This child is really—
"Don't worry; competitions of this level have recordings. Watch after training ends..."