Most of the people cast confused looks toward the panel of judges. There were five judges present, each with the authority to give up to 20 points. So where did the 2 points in Terrance’s score of 98 go?
Nurse Joy—both Nurse Joys—each gave a score of 19.
Noticing the audience’s surprise, one of the Nurse Joy immediately explained: “Although I really enjoyed Contestant Terrance’s performance, from a professional standpoint, it wasn’t flawless.”
This remark instantly caused a stir among the audience, but out of trust in Nurse Joy, they decided to listen.
Raoul Contesta, Sukizo, and even Wallace all wore puzzled expressions. By all accounts, Terrance’s performance seemed to have reached near perfection, right?
Otherwise, from their professional perspective, they wouldn’t have awarded him a perfect score.
“It’s because Beautifly was left in a very weak state after the performance. I’m afraid that before the Battle Stage, Beautifly would have difficulty even flying freely.”
“That’s the key reason we gave a score of 19. While this performance was near perfect, Beautifly had to overextend itself greatly to achieve it. Whether it was Quiver Dance, the astonishing String Shot, Giga Drain, Stun Spore, or the precise control of Silver Wind—each move on its own was impressive. But combining them all together has left Beautifly with barely any stamina.”
The camera zoomed in. Not only the people at the venue, but those watching remotely could all see the panting, somewhat exhausted Beautifly perched on Terrance’s arm.
“Looks like they saw through it,” Terrance smiled slightly, having never tried to hide the issue in the first place.
In his view, it was only natural that they would notice.
From Nurse Joy’s professional perspective, a performance, even if it was the most dazzling, that drained a Pokémon’s full strength surely wouldn’t be considered perfect.
“I see, so that’s why Terrance walked over to Beautifly at the end.”
“But that’s exactly what shows the bond between Terrance and Beautifly! The Pokémon Contest is meant to be a shared stage for both the Coordinator and their Pokémon.”
The audience began to share their thoughts.
However, using up all of a Pokémon’s strength during a performance was indeed unprecedented.
Such a grand performance—it wasn’t just the audience, but also the judges who were witnessing it for the first time.
It was just the Appeals Round… With the skill Terrance had shown previously, advancing to the Battle Stage shouldn’t have been difficult. So why did he do this?
Terrance looked towards the camera and smiled.
Everyone at Old Green House, did you see this? This is all of me and Beautifly. We’ve shown you everything now. Are you happy?
…
…
“If it’s as Nurse Joy said, it does deviate somewhat from the essence of the performance,” Raoul Contesta said.
Looking at Beautifly now, it was even more exhausted than after a fierce battle.
This wasn’t just a performance—it was more like pushing it to the limit.
“What a strange kid… It’s already the Grand Festival, yet he still insisted on using Beautifly, instead of relying on Altaria or Castform?” Raoul Contesta thought.
Compared to Altaria, Beautifly’s weakness—its stamina—had already been pointed out by Nurse Joy in the previous performance!
Perhaps the Grand Festival can be won with technique, but that’s only if there’s a significant gap in skill between the competitors. However, in this year’s competition, there are many outstanding Coordinators like Terrance. How exactly does he plan to win in the Contest Battle?
After Nurse Joy’s explanation, Terrance didn’t refute, and the audience’s doubts gradually faded. Seeing this, Terrance, standing on the stage, was slightly stunned—so many people recognized him. Didn’t this prove the success of their performance? Their high-profile performance all along was for this very moment!
Questioning the panel of judges’ scoring—this was also an unprecedented occurrence at the Grand Festival!
Amidst the enthusiastic applause, Terrance stepped off the stage. Whether they were supporters who had been with him since his first Pokémon Contest, or the judges, seeing the impact of Terrance’s performance, at that moment, it became clear to many that…..it wasn’t just the performance that had undergone a metamorphosis…
At this moment, Terrance himself had broken out of his cocoon and transformed into a butterfly.
…
…
After Terrance, other Coordinators took the stage one after another. However, with Gayle’s score of 92 and Terrance’s 98—two almost unbeatable high scores—most of the performances seemed to lose their shine, overshadowed by the brilliance of the previous displays.
Moreover, with six contestants scoring over 95 in the preliminary rounds, each a prodigy in their own right, the other ordinary competitors felt even more hopeless.
After Terrance’s performance, it was the turn of another first tier contestant Hikaru. Interestingly, in the preliminary round also, his performance was just after Terrance, where he delivered a perfect finale to the round.
Hikaru was known as the “Shining Magician,” with his performances and battles characterized by the use of Flash move.
His partner was an Alakazam, and on the main stage, using a masterful Light Screen, Alakazam, with its incredible calculation abilities that surpassed even humans, designed a perfect spatial structure. Finally, using the move Flash, Alakazam created a breathtakingly radiant scene.
Countless rays of light, like vibrant living beings, under the command of Alakazam, performed a beautiful dance of light.
Using only two moves, this performance, which had only one more move than the preliminary round, still managed to showcase various magnificent scenes through the movement and positioning of numerous Light Screens, all orchestrated by Alakazam’s precise calculations.
94 points.
Three points higher than the Master of Ice and Fire, Gayle.
Master of Ice and Fire, Supernova, Shining Magician…
One by one, outstanding Coordinators took the stage, greatly satisfying the audience, making them feel that the trip had been well worth it.
Then came Sinnoh’s Enchantress, Hani. Using Grassy Terrain, Constrict, Grass Knot, and Nature Power, she forcibly transformed the entire stage into a green forest, making the other contestants pale in comparison. Looking out into the distance, the stage was like an endless sea of greenery, with dense foliage exuding a deep, captivating atmosphere.
Next was Mizushima, the Flowing Fish. His Dewgong created a strong water pressure with Aqua Ring, combining it with Aqua Jet and Rain Dance to turn the entire stage into a curtain of water. In the end, with the power compressed by Aqua Ring, it created a blue fountain that intertwined with the Rain Dance, while Dewgong then ascended to the highest point using Waterfall, showcasing its graceful form.
After that, the Prince of Lightning, Finch, along with Coordinators from other tiers, put on their best performances until the performance round came to a complete end.
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