The move Flareon unleashed was “Lava Plume,” which made full use of its Flash Fire ability. The Lava Plume not only created a spectacular, fireworks-like display but also descended onto Flareon itself, adorning the Pokémon with a shimmering glow. Finally, as the move ended, countless wisps of smoke resembling burning clouds surrounded Flareon and Gayle, adding a perfect finishing touch to the performance.
Score: 96.
The first time a score above 95 appeared.
“So beautiful…”
“It’s perfect! To think a single move could…”
Countless audience members marveled, thrilled to witness such a high-level performance in the preliminary round.
“Wow~~” In the audience, a woman with brown hair saw the envious expressions of the two children beside her and couldn’t help but ask, “May, Max, do you both want to become Coordinators too?”
Caroline looked at her two children. Although her husband couldn’t leave due to the overwhelming number of challengers scheduled at his Gym, being able to bring May and Max to watch the Grand Festival was a worthwhile experience.
She wasn’t quite sure when, but May had suddenly developed an interest in Pokémon Contests.
“Yes! I want to become a Coordinator like Master Wallace,” May nodded eagerly.
“No! I just want a Pokémon that’s truly mine,” Max grumbled unhappily.
“I heard that one of the contestants is Terrance, who visited the Petalburg Gym last time,” Caroline suddenly remembered something and shared it with the two kids.
…
…
“Clair, from Ever Grande City.”
Score: 80.
“Kumi, from Dewford Town.”
Score: 87.
In fact, as the preliminary round reached the halfway point, not many contestants scored over 90. Most scores ranged between 80 and 90, while scores below 80 and above 90 were more polarized.
As for scores above 95, so far only Gayle had achieved that.
“Alright, next is Hani from Sinnoh’s Twinleaf Town. What kind of performance will she show us?”
A purple-haired woman stepped onto the stage, and part of the audience immediately quieted down. Those were the spectators who knew her true identity: a Top Coordinator from Sinnoh. With such a strong reputation, there was no doubt about her abilities.
Since this was just the preliminary round, only the contestants’ hometowns and names were announced, so most people didn’t know the true strength of the woman standing before them.
If they did, the entire audience would probably erupt in excitement. Having a Top Coordinator participate in the Grand Festival—was there even any point in competing against her?
Most people would probably think that way. Since being a Top Coordinator meant having dominated a region’s Grand Festival, placing them among the best Coordinators. For such a person to participate again was like placing a hungry beast among the contestants, making others nervous.
“Take the stage, Tangrowth!”
A rather attractive female Coordinator sent out a Pokémon that didn’t appear particularly beautiful, surprising those who were unaware of her.
Only a few audience members were eagerly anticipating what kind of performance this Top Coordinator would deliver.
Lightly adjusting her clothes, Hani flashed a charming smile and said, “Grassy Terrain.”
In that brief moment, everyone felt a wave of vitality wash over them, accompanied by a fresh, fragrant scent. The stone stage suddenly cracked, and under a spread of green light, greenery covered the ground. Countless plants grew wildly—not just ordinary grass, but also other types of vegetation like thorns and flowers, leaving many people in awe.
This is… Grassy Terrain?!
Is this really the preliminary round?!
“What an incredible Grand Festival this is,” Raoul Contesta smiled.
“I like it,” said Sukizo.
Score: 98.
The highest score yet, just shy of perfection. It was important to note that the score came from four judges, one of whom was the esteemed Contest Master, Wallace. Such a score was proof of Hani’s extraordinary skill. This Grassy Terrain had surpassed the usual definition of a move.
“Next is Mizushima from Lilycove City…”
Mizushima, a young boy dressed in a sailor uniform, sent out his Dewgong, which performed a captivating dance using Aqua Tail. The performance was also exceptional, with shimmering water droplets scattering in the air, giving the audience another taste of the beauty of Water-type Pokémon.
The most beautiful type is Water-type.
Due to the towering existence of Hoenn’s Coordinators Juan and Wallace, this was accepted by most people in Hoenn.
Score: 95.
Another high score, placing Mizushima in third place for now.
Following that was Finch, a young noble from Kanto’s Saffron City, and his Raichu. The move they showcased was strikingly similar to Hani’s—Electric Terrain.
In contrast to the overwhelming vitality of Grassy Terrain, Electric Terrain, combined with Raichu and its Ability, Lightning Rod, resembled a rolling sea of thunder, its power vast and awe-inspiring. At the center of this scene stood Raichu and its Coordinator, instantly earning thunderous applause.
Score: 96.
Another Coordinator scoring over 95 points. So far, four Coordinators had scored above 95.
As for those scoring above 90, there were already over ten, but the Grand Festival was still far from over. At least one-third of the contestants hadn’t even performed yet.
As for Terrance’s turn, that came after a few more contestants.
“Next, we have Contestant Terrance from Fallarbor Town! Let’s look forward to his performance!”
Fallarbor Town was just an agricultural town, one of many in Hoenn. If not for its proximity to the iconic Mt. Chimney, Fallarbor Town wouldn’t be very well-known. For a contestant to come from such a small town, it was quite interesting.
Terrance, as always, wore his signature white shirt and trousers to the competition. His slightly golden-brown hair complemented the outfit well, giving him a clean, crisp look. This was his go-to outfit for Hoenn Pokémon Contests, one he’d carefully selected after spending a long time admiring himself in front of the mirror.
Those familiar with Terrance smiled at the sight of his usual attire, which had become something of a trademark for his Pokémon Contest appearances.
Petalburg Gym family, Yuu Tachibana, Yui, and other potential supporters, along with fans of Pokémon Contests who had heard of Terrance online, all turned their attention towards this youngster.
Could he achieve a score above 95 like the four before him with just a single move?
After all, Terrance was a rookie, and his competitors were highly experienced veteran Coordinators, including some who were even Top Coordinator. Although his supporters have high hopes and confidence in him, they were also mentally prepared for whatever the outcome might be.
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