"Break time is over!" The host of the concert stepped onto the stage once again, his voice ringing out clearly as he announced, "Now, please welcome the Electro Rock Band to the stage!"
"They came out of nowhere, some unknown little band. I just hope they're at least half as good as the last one."
The audience did not hold high expectations. As long as it was not unpleasant to listen to, that alone would already be considered acceptable.
Backstage, Silas encouraged Jigglypuff, "Believe in yourself, Jigglypuff. You can definitely do it. Don't put too much pressure on yourself."
"Toxtri~" x2
The two Toxtricity stood on either side of Jigglypuff like guardians, patting their chests as they cheered on their boss.
"Cin!"
"Brion~"
"Jigglypuff, do your best!"
With everyone's encouragement, Jigglypuff tightly gripped the small microphone. Its expression turned serious as it waddled forward with tiny, bouncy steps full of charm and climbed onto the stage.
The moment the audience saw the adorable Jigglypuff appear, they were stunned on the spot, completely dumbfounded.
Jigglypuff, rock, and electronic music appearing together felt as absurd as something completely mismatched, the kind of combination that defied common sense.
After the initial shock faded, the audience, who had not been interested before, suddenly found themselves intrigued.
For the first time singing in front of a crowd as numerous as grains of rice, Jigglypuff gripped the microphone tightly. Its round little body puffed up as it took a deep breath, then it signaled to the Toxtricity brothers beside it.
What responded was a surge of Electric-type energy spreading outward from their bodies. Bright yellow currents rapidly expanded, covering the entire venue and enveloping every person and Pokémon present.
The field filled with a tingling electric energy that prevented anyone from falling asleep for a period of time.
At the same time, under the boost of the electric terrain, the Toxtricity brothers began to play their instruments. A dazzling, lightning-infused rock melody exploded into the air, like a sudden thunderclap striking flat ground, igniting the entire venue in an instant.
Those who understood music immediately recognized the quality. The audience below was jolted by the electrifying melody, their bodies trembling as a tingling sensation shot from their scalps straight to the top of their heads. The previously noisy venue suddenly transformed into something strangely unified.
Young people dressed in flashy outfits waved glow sticks with burning excitement in their eyes, while children were captivated by the confident, bold, and slightly provocative demeanor of the Toxtricity, looking at them with admiration.
Just as everyone was immersed in the rock melody, Jigglypuff's unique electronic singing voice spread through the microphone, echoing across the entire venue and lingering in everyone's ears.
"Jiggly~ Jiggly~ Jigglypuff!"
"Jiggly~ Jigglypuff!" (TN: So tough!)
Inside that small, adorable body was a pure electronic vocal style. The stark contrast instantly captured the attention of everyone present.
Jigglypuff's voice seemed to carry a kind of magic. The audience could not help but sway along with the rhythm, and its coordination with the Toxtricity brothers was flawless.
As the song gradually reached its climax, the Toxtricity increased the intensity of their performance, while Jigglypuff seized the moment to take a breath.
Then came an even more explosive and breathtaking burst of sound that seemed to pierce the heavens. Jigglypuff completely immersed itself in the rhythm, letting go and singing with everything it had.
Backstage, Silas saw this and immediately knew it was a success. Everything was secure.
Jigglypuff's first performance was perfect.
After this concert, once clips from the performance spread, Jigglypuff and the others would surely gain their own fanbase.
If Jigglypuff found out, it would probably be too excited to sleep the entire night.
A single song passed quickly, so quickly that even after finishing, Jigglypuff still felt unsatisfied.
Amid thunderous applause, Jigglypuff and the Toxtricity brothers concluded their performance and took their bows. Jigglypuff waved reluctantly at the audience. It loved the stage.
As soon as they stepped off, the three of them were immediately surrounded by Silas and the others who had been waiting.
Silas picked Jigglypuff up, pinching its soft, rosy cheeks with pride as he praised, "That was amazing, Jigglypuff. Your singing completely ignited the audience."
"You're about to have your own group of fans. Jigglypuff is going to become a rock queen."
Cinccino, Brionne, and Diancie all nodded in agreement. Jigglypuff was incredibly amazing.
"Jiggly~"
Hearing everyone's praise and recognition, Jigglypuff happily revealed its tiny teeth, beaming with joy. Today, it was truly, truly happy.
But when it heard Silas's last sentence, Jigglypuff shook its head, its round body swaying as it said,
"Jigglypuff~" (I'm still far from that. I'm not worthy of being called a rockstar.)
Jigglypuff's performance set a very high bar and placed immense pressure on the performers who followed.
The next three singers all underperformed, failing to meet expectations. The audience began yawning.
In contrast, the earlier electro rock performance only seemed even more outstanding.
About half an hour later, the host began introducing the next group.
One of the favorites to win this concert, the band from across the sea, the Team Yell Band.
As soon as Obstagoon and Thwackey stepped onto the stage, the crowd erupted into deafening cheers. Their popularity was incredibly high.
With great popularity came great strength. Their singing ability was equally impressive, towering far above others.
The two Pokémon worked together seamlessly, their performance filled with power. Every beat and every note carried a strong impact.
Their style was completely different from Jigglypuff and the Toxtricity.
The venue instantly exploded with excitement. This was the charm of rock, rhythmic drumbeats combined with a rough, smoky voice that set the entire crowd ablaze.
Backstage, Silas tapped his fingers lightly to the rhythm. No wonder they were considered favorites to win. They truly had the potential to become superstars.
After a long while, the Team Yell Band finished their performance.
Even after they left the stage, when it was time for Cinccino and the other two to perform, the audience was still immersed in the lingering aftertaste of their rock performance.
"Come on, you can do it."
Peeking out from behind the curtain, Silas clenched his fist and cheered for the three little ones.
In the front rows of the audience, Steven, who had been bored and yawning, suddenly noticed Diancie stepping onto the stage in full dress. His eyes lit up instantly.
He straightened his clothes and sat upright. This was something he needed to properly watch.
At the same time, Steven quietly pressed a button that looked as dramatic as a detonation switch.
Around the concert venue, the entire photography team immediately set up their cameras, aiming at the stage from every angle and beginning to shoot.
As a result, throughout the performance of Cinccino, Brionne, and Diancie, the sound of camera shutters clicking was more frequent than any other act.
Only at the very end, when their performance concluded, was it finally drowned out by the audience rising to their feet and applauding.
Two consecutive high-level performances left the audience feeling that the ticket price had been more than worth it.
The style of the Ranch Band was completely different from both the electro rock group and the Team Yell Band.
It did not have the explosive brilliance of electricity, nor the wild intensity of rock. Instead, it was like a gentle breeze that softly drifted into the hearts of the listeners.
Before they even realized it, the audience found themselves immersed in the music, as if they had been taken on three completely different adventures along with the performers.
The outstanding performance of the three not only carried forward the momentum created by the Team Yell Band but also rapidly increased their popularity.
That was only offline.
Online, when a user named "Diancie's #1 Fan" uploaded an 8K-quality video, the popularity exploded instantly.
There was only one reason.
Everyone recognized that elegant Diancie.
It would have been strange not to. There might not even be a second one like it in the entire world.
(End of Chapter)