Pokémon Court

The Top 16 has been decided, and Terrance recalled the matchup list. His next opponent appeared to be a female Coordinator named Hideko.

If he could defeat her, Terrance would face the first-tier’s Prince of Lightning Finch, in the quarterfinals.

…

…

“I originally had two portions each of Silver Powder and Bright Powder. I’ve already used one portion of Silver Powder during the performance, which means I still have three chances left.”

Advancing from the Top 16 to the Top 8, then to the Top 4, and from there to the final two, ultimately fighting for the championship…

If all goes well and he keeps winning, he might face four more battles.

These three remaining resources couldn’t be wasted early. They were expensive, and there was no way he’d squander them in battles that didn’t pose a significant threat.

At least, Hideko didn’t seem to pose a serious threat to his path to victory. Compared to Hani and the others, she seemed to lack that extra edge.

Even though the Grand Festival has a much higher frequency of battles than Pokémon Contest and was quite intense, the audience’s enthusiasm didn’t wane at all. Every battle was a high-level, artistically gorgeous performance, far different from what could be seen in a typical league match or other battles. As an annual event, the Grand Festival is certainly something to savor.

Before Terrance’s match, the Prince of Lightning Finch once again showcased the overwhelming power of his Raichu. It seemed that the Inherited Move Electric Terrain allowed Raichu’s Lightning Rod Ability to be fully unleashed. The synergy between the two significantly enhanced Raichu’s battle prowess.

However… while Electric Terrain looked imposing, Terrance still found Hani’s bizarre Grassy Terrain more troublesome.

Compared to the unpredictable ways Grassy Terrain could be used, Raichu’s Electric Terrain seems much more straightforward.

In the arena, golden electric snakes slithered everywhere, electrifying the entire ground. A strange energy connected these electric currents, and with Raichu at its center, the entire area became nearly impossible to enter, like a forbidden zone of lightning.

If that were all, it wouldn’t be that frightening. But within the ever-present Electric Terrain, Raichu’s Electric-type moves were unleashed with astonishing speed, often leaving opponents little time to react. Moreover, just like Tangrowth, Raichu could use the electric currents in the terrain as its arms, providing a wide array of tactical options.

But that’s not the main point… In the battle before Terrance entered the stage, facing the opponent’s Pokémon, Raichu demonstrated the ability to instantly retract the currents from the Electric Terrain, stimulating its body. This allowed its somewhat chubby frame to become even more agile than Pikachu, displaying incredible speed. Raichu abandoned its usual “stationary” fighting style and unleashed a Wild Charge with tremendous explosive power, moving like a streak of lightning.

“From this, it’s clear that this Raichu cannot be underestimated in either close combat or long-range combat.”

“No wonder Finch is considered a strong contender for the championship.”

Compared to the strange Grassy Terrain of Hani, the Electric Terrain, while powerful, was more straightforward. This allows Terrance to lower the chances of suffering an unexpected defeat, and think about the opponent’s strategy in advance.

“Hideko… if I remember correctly, her Pokémon is… Altaria?!”

Terrance was still a little puzzled as he headed towards the arena.

There aren’t many Trainers who use Altaria, but in a major competition like the Grand Festival, encountering one isn’t that surprising.

After all, even Pokémon like Tyranitar and Salamence have frequently appeared in the past.

“Altaria, huh…” This was why Terrance wasn’t too nervous. It wasn’t arrogance, rather he felt confident in his deep understanding of Altaria.

This was his advantage!

…

…

“Here we go, it’s Terrance’s turn to battle again.”

As soon as Terrance stepped onto the arena, those who were openly or secretly paying attention to him became excited, their mood becoming better.

“Commanding calmly, a deep understanding of Pokémon Contests, and his Pokémon are also outstanding.”

Some spectators, who hadn’t known Terrance before, were now captivated by his previous performances and battles. Outstanding individuals always draw attention wherever they go, and Terrance’s performance naturally earned him high praise from many.

“That Beautifly’s Quiver Dance technique is already perfect. Even in a traditional battle, it would be hard to counter…” a Trainer remarked.

For Trainers, such colorful and distinctive Pokémon could be considered their ace!

Often, a unique skill or secret technique allows a Trainer to stand out. It’s a sign of personal growth and the foundation for recognizing their own path.

“Master Wallace, how do you think this Beautifly would fare in traditional battles?”

In the judges’ seat, a Nurse Joy asked. She had been thinking of Beautifly’s explosive performance in the Appeals Round, during which it had exhausted all its stamina. She wondered just how destructive this Beautifly could be if it unleashed its full power.

“Well…” Wallace shook his head.

“It’s hard to say directly. We might only be able to find out in real combat.”

The destructive force refers to how much harm can be inflicted in the shortest time. In the Champion League, most Pokémon prioritize this kind of explosive damage. However, Beautifly’s Quiver Dance, combined with other techniques, adds a unique individual flavor to its battle style, making it difficult to judge directly as it had too many limitations.

…

…

The intense battle unfolded in the skies above the arena. Beautifly and Altaria each occupied their territory, neither willing to back down. At this moment, the audience erupted in a massive wave of cheers, their voices reverberating throughout the venue.

Too brilliant.

In the center of the arena, Altaria used Cotton Guard to interfere with the air currents around Beautifly. The audience initially thought the currents would be disrupted by the cotton feathers, but to their surprise, Beautifly used the feathers, combining them with the air currents to form a defensive layer, successfully blocking one of Altaria’s attacks.

Beautifly, gliding in the air currents, performed Quiver Dance at an alarming speed. If Hideko wasn’t careful, Beautifly might power up successfully. It’s unclear what drove Hideko, but she felt an urgent need to disrupt the air currents around Beautifly.

But no matter how she tried to have Altaria interfere, Beautifly remained unaffected by the shifting air currents. This prompted the other contestants watching the battle to make a mental note.

“Don’t try to disrupt the air currents. This Beautifly can quickly grasp the changing patterns… the only way is to attack from another angle.”

Watching other Trainers’ battles is the best way to gather information—it’s the most direct and effective method.

Bang!!

Cotton combined with Ice Beam to form chunks of ice, which Altaria shattered with a Dragon Claw, sending a large amount of ice fragments raining down on Beautifly like a meteor shower. Altaria’s relentless attacks collided with Beautifly’s Quiver Dance amidst the Silver Wind, but as Beautifly’s stats improved, Altaria could no longer avoid its inevitable defeat, leaving Hideko disheartened.

At the same time, the Prince of Lightning Finch shot up from his seat in the preparation room. He reflected on Beautifly’s evasion and power-up strategy centered around Quiver Dance and Silver Wind from the previous two battles, and fell into deep thought, preparing to find a counter-strategy for his upcoming match against Terrance, a troublesome opponent.

“If it’s Raichu, how can it stop that Quiver Dance?”

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