Battles were certainly interesting for March 7th. Fighting and growing alongside her Pokémon partners was a truly joyful experience. However, she also knew her own limits. When it came to high-level battling strategy, she was never going to match Welt's sharp mind. Because of this, she had always approached battles with a relaxed attitude, rarely ever touching the ranked matches unless they offered a particularly gorgeous outfit or accessory as a reward.
Usually, she preferred simply exploring the world. But now that the Contest system was live, March 7th felt like a competition had finally been custom-made just for her. To prepare, she began meticulously observing every single detail of the Pokémon she encountered. Take Beautifly, for instance. The individual differences between them were incredibly subtle, and most players wouldn't think they mattered at all. But March 7th was determined to find the one that perfectly matched her standard of beauty.
"Wait! Is that...?!"
March 7th, peering through her binoculars at a swirling flock of butterflies, suddenly froze. A dazzling figure caught her eye right in the middle of the swarm. Its wings possessed a much deeper, richer coloration compared to the others, making the elegant patterns across them appear incredibly vibrant and striking by contrast.
"A Shiny Beautifly!"
Although rare, differently colored Shiny Pokémon had been introduced in the previous generation. Encountering one was legendary unless a player spent days actively hunting, or possessed unbelievable luck. Aside from their unique appearance, Shiny Pokémon performed no differently than normal ones in battle. Because of this, ordinary players rarely went out of their way to hunt them down.
But the moment March 7th saw this rare creature, she knew it would be the ultimate secret weapon for the Contests. A Shiny Pokémon would immediately capture the audience's attention. Being able to stand out visually was a massive advantage—much like a Milotic, which could steal the spotlight simply by standing gracefully on the stage.
March 7th moved decisively. She sent her Taillow soaring into the sky to cut off the butterfly's escape route, while her Combusken launched an attack from the grass below. Within minutes, the beautiful, rare butterfly was safely captured inside her Poké Ball.
"Yes! My first ace is secured!" March 7th cheered, pumping her fist. She eagerly unlatched her notebook, looking at the list of targets she had written down. "Let's see who's next... Altaria, Milotic—actually, I'll skip Milotic for now since no one has figured out how it evolves yet. Plusle and Minun look great too; they'd be perfect for a synchronized double routine... Alright, next stop, Altaria!"
Meanwhile, by the shores of a quiet, shimmering lake, a man with long, brilliant red hair and exquisite armor was walking gracefully along the water.
"According to the public rumors, the most beautiful Pokémon in the world can be found near this water..." Argenti murmured, glancing gently down at the companion walking beside him. "Though we haven't crossed paths with it yet, simply taking in this breathtaking scenery with you is a wondrous gift. Wouldn't you agree, my lovely Miss Roselia?"
As if responding to his courtly voice, the flowers on Roselia's hands trembled softly. A beautiful swirl of fragrant pollen and colorful petals began to drift around them, carried by a gentle wave of energy.
"Heh, it seems your heart beats in perfect harmony with mine," Argenti smiled, bowing slightly with the absolute courtesy of a classic knight. "Thank you for being such a faithful companion, praising the name of Idrila beside me."
Roselia mirrored his elegant gesture perfectly, bowing its small green body in return. The sight of a grown man in full armor exchanging high society courtesies with a digital plant creature in the middle of a forest looked utterly bizarre. Yet, it exuded an undeniable sense of pure, innocent beauty.
Splash.
A sudden ripple in the water caught Argenti's attention, and he turned toward the lake. Staring blankly at him from the shallows was a dull, yellowish fish covered in irregular dark spots. It had crude, ragged fins, a rough tail, and a pair of large, heavy eyes surrounded by dark rings. It was a Feebas.
Despite its dull, glassy stare, Argenti felt as though he could read a deep, silent longing for beauty hidden within the creature's eyes. He knelt down on the damp grass, leaning closer to the water's edge. Startled by his sudden movement, the Feebas quickly retreated into the deeper water, but it didn't swim away. It simply lingered beneath the surface, watching him intently.
"Poor little fish," Argenti said softly, his voice full of warmth. "You possess a noble heart that yearns for true beauty. Do not let the modesty of your current form bring you despair. True beauty is never merely an external mask. As long as your soul reaches for pure elegance, the nobility of your spirit is far more worthy of praise than any physical shell."
Argenti had only recently heard about the massive craze surrounding the game during his travels, purchasing a virtual setup simply to pass the long hours spent drifting between the stars. He knew absolutely nothing about the game's mechanics or what a Feebas was; he was simply dedicated to preaching the creed of pure beauty to every single living thing he met in this digital world. In fact, his Roselia had chosen to follow him for that exact reason.
Ever since he discovered that players could bond with Pokémon without forcing them to fight, he rarely used battles at all. Instead, he preferred to win them over through his heartfelt speeches. Of course, after every sermon, he always offered a handful of sweet berries to thank the creatures for listening. Even though he knew it was just a video game, his code of chivalry remained unyielding.
"I truly hope you find your path to absolute beauty," Argenti said with a warm smile.
He placed two large berries on a floating leaf, scattered a few of Roselia's colorful petals around them until they looked like a small, floating crown of flowers, and gently pushed it toward the fish. With a soft nod, he stood up, preparing to continue his stroll.
Watching the knight turn to leave, a sudden look of fierce determination seemed to flash within the fish's dull eyes. With a sudden splash, it leaped clean out of the water, landing right in front of Argenti's boots. It didn't flop around helplessly; instead, it curled its tail tightly against the grass, staring up at him as if trying to express an earnest request.
"Do you wish to journey by my side? What a delightful surprise," Argenti said, his eyes lighting up. "Though I have yet to encounter the legendary beauty the other players seek, meeting a kindred spirit who yearns for the sublime is a far greater treasure."
Argenti gently tapped a Poké Ball against the fish, successfully welcoming it to his team. He then released it back into the safety of the river, walking slowly along the bank while softly explaining his philosophy of pure beauty to the listening fish.
By the third day of the game's official release, the most dedicated, fast-paced players had already cleared the main regional story and begun diving into the hidden post-game secrets. It was at this exact moment that Arceus Studio dropped a massive announcement across all star-systems.
The studio was officially launching the first Universal Pokémon Contest.
Players could earn their invitation to the grand stage by competing in the newly released in-game Contest tracks, where their routines would be judged by a combination of the automated system and Arceus Studio's internal panel. The qualifiers would run once a week for eight consecutive weeks, with the top eight trainers advancing to the grand finals.
This time, the event would be held entirely online, bypassing the need for an offline venue. The final round would be evaluated by five heavyweight celebrity judges, with the universe's beloved idol, Robin, officially taking the central seat on the panel.
Even though it was an online-only event, the prize pool completely dwarfed the previous Master Tournament. The grand champion's payout reached an astronomical one hundred million credits, alongside a bundle of incredibly rare, custom items. During their first tournament, Arceus Studio was still a small, rising company that couldn't afford to throw around massive cash rewards. But things were entirely different now. The endless revenue streams flowing from their merchandise, toys, and global game sales had left the studio completely flush with cash, allowing them to be spectacularly generous.
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