"Ali, wrap them up with Tailwind and Agility! Yaya, use Water Pulse!" Clearly coming prepared, Lisia showed no signs of panic and immediately countered.
Just before the falling meteor fragments could completely engulf it, the Altaria hovering in mid-air sharpened its gaze. Its fluffy, sky-blue tail feathers suddenly puffed up like clouds, and the surrounding air currents were pulled by its graceful movements, forming hundreds of twisting vortexes.
Immediately after, the sudden activation of [Agility] turned Altaria into a blur of afterimages too fast to track.
The surging air currents it kicked up instantly condensed beneath its feet into a spiraling miniature tornado. In a flash, all the falling meteor fragments and leaves were sucked right into it.
"Unbelievable! Altaria's Tailwind and Agility combination technique actually dismantled Contestant Hakuya's Draco Meteor and Leafage combo, which has been so effective in multiple battles!" Host Lilian, providing live commentary, shouted loudly.
It wasn't just a simple block; Delcatty's follow-up [Water Pulse] made the previously silent stadium erupt into cheers.
—The stream of water spiraled upwards along the wind currents, instantly expanding into a massive waterspout several meters wide. The meteor fragments and leaves completely swallowed by the water didn't hinder it in the slightest; instead, they actually amplified its destructive power by a third.
"Looks like she actually has some serious skills~"
Watching his Contest Points rapidly drop on the screen, Hakuya couldn't help but sigh in admiration.
True 'charm' wasn't just flashy empty shells.
As an outstanding Coordinator, the so-called beautiful techniques couldn't just be used for show; they had to be perfectly integrated into actual combat.
To be able to dismantle their Leaf and Meteor Shower combo right on the spot, and then use that foundation to create a new combination move to strike back... as expected of a top-tier Coordinator who would eventually surpass Wallace—
"Floragato, slice them apart with your claws."
Facing the incoming leaf-infused waterspout, Floragato bared her silver-glowing claws and slashed forward in a cross shape.
The ferocious counterattack achieved absolutely nothing; it was sliced clean in two by the large cat's claws.
The spinning waterspout burst instantly, turning into a massive splash of water that rained down gracefully like a goddess scattering flowers.
"Ali, Dragon Pulse!"
Seemingly anticipating this outcome, Lisia didn't just stand there stunned; she pressed the attack.
Perhaps due to timeline fluctuations, although Lisia had already debuted as a Contest Idol, Professor Sycamore's research on Mega Evolution seemed to have only just begun. The Mega Evolution phenomenon—which allowed certain Pokémon to unleash their hidden power and gain new forms—was currently only somewhat well-known in the Kalos region, and hadn't yet spread to the distant Hoenn region.
Therefore, Lisia naturally didn't possess the corresponding Mega Stone to Mega Evolve her Altaria.
"Chirp—!"
Ignoring Floragato completely, the target of Altaria's [Dragon Pulse] was pointed straight at the fellow Dragon-type, Latias.
"Dodge it."
Tucking in her wings, Latias turned into a jet plane, dodging the Dragon Pulse by a hair's breadth.
But this wave of attacks clearly wasn't going to stop just because the little jet plane dodged.
"Yaya, use Copycat! Let's show everyone our beautiful combination attack together~"
Delcatty tilted its head, staring intently at the Dragon Pulse roaring and dancing wildly through the air. Its pupils instantly narrowed into two thin slits.
[Copycat: The user copies the move last used by a Pokémon and uses it.]
Amidst a clear, sharp cry, a massive, long dragon made of pure energy—creating a stark contrast with Delcatty's small size—burst forth from its mouth.
A visually stunning image of 'Twin Dragons Playing with a Pearl' instantly formed!
Even for Latias, it would be extremely difficult to accelerate and dodge this pincer attack of twin Dragon Pulses from the left and right.
As the twin dragons roared toward her, the little jet plane simply spread her wings and braked sharply, choosing to leave the spotlight to her partner.
—The two massive purple dragons intertwined, bearing their fangs and brandishing their claws. Suddenly, Floragato's silhouette appeared right in the center of them like a streak of green light tearing through the void.
In front of her were countless emerald leaves fluttering and dancing in the air.
"This is... is Contestant Hakuya's Floragato planning to sever the opponent's attack using a Grass-type move?!" Host Lilian, standing closest to the stage, suddenly widened her eyes and screamed into the microphone, her voice breaking.
In the audience stands below, the crowd of Trainers watching intently all wore identical expressions of shock.
Using a simple Leaf-type move to sever two Dragon Pulses of such terrifying power?!
While Floragato easily slicing the returning waterspout in half with her claws during the previous exchange had made many marvel at her immense strength, that was ultimately just an opening probe where neither side went all out.
As the Hoenn region's Contest Supernova of recent years, Lisia's strength was absolutely incomparable to those flashy, empty-shell Coordinators who only knew how to perform but lacked actual combat ability.
Judging by the violent gale kicking up on the battlefield and the dragons' roars rattling everyone's eardrums, the power of this twin Dragon Pulse combination was exceptionally high. If not dealt with seriously, it could very well decide the match on the spot.
But right now, having fully entered battle mode, Hakuya and Floragato's expressions were identically calm in the face of the terrifying Dragon Pulse combo, acting as if they didn't take it seriously at all.
"Floragato, use Leafage."
"Meowha~"
The turbulent, swirling leaves gathered, instantly condensing into a massive greatsword right in front of the large cat.
As the violent wind howled, Floragato focused her mind, her gaze sharp as a needle, and an invisible, oppressive aura radiated from her body.
Then, following the point of her finger, the greatsword—dozens of meters long—crashed down with a thunderous boom.
There were no unnecessary movements, just the most primal, raw slash.
The blade pierced straight through the heads of the twin dragons, and the surging dragon fire disintegrated instantly.
The burning leaves fell like a meteor shower, tracing brilliant, firework-like trails through the air. The remnants of the twin dragons, which had just been roaring arrogantly, snapped upon impact. The dragons' roars ceased abruptly, leaving only the aftershocks of the slash echoing in the air.
Finally, Floragato landed gracefully amidst the fireworks of emerald leaves.
Her snow-white paws touched down on the stage, her dashing, clean silhouette made exceptionally cool by the backdrop of the sword's light and the severed dragons.
One sword to sever two dragons.
Lisia stared blankly, momentarily speechless.
Too cool.
The chilling leaf greatsword instantly severing the twin purple dragons, perfectly complementing Hakuya's proud, upright posture... It gave her a heart-pounding sensation.
If she wasn't standing right across from him—if she wasn't currently Hakuya's opponent—she probably would have started clapping and cheering like a complete fangirl the moment she saw it.
Meanwhile, unlike the idol girl who was so stunned she almost defected to his side, Ms. Roxanne looked at Floragato cleanly dismantling the opponent's offense, and then at Hakuya, whose entire back seemed to radiate the word "Invincible." A smile spread across her face.
—This is exactly what I'm talking about! This is exactly what I came to see!
Such strange thoughts had somehow taken over Ms. Roxanne's mind again.