Chapter 86: What’s Going On? These Referees!
Wrapped in a cluster of flowers, Serperior revealed his form, elegantly coiling on the ground after landing, with scattered leaves and petals all around.
Meanwhile, Li Wei’s Glaceon emerged from the Poké Ball amid drifting white snowflakes just like before, firmly embodying the essence taught by Milotic, squinting forward and letting out a long cry the instant she appeared.
This time, both sides were evenly matched in terms of flashy openings, but Li Wei keenly noticed a layer of white frost on the petals around Serperior.
‘Good.’
Li Wei thought to himself.
At this moment, Li Wei had a more accurate judgment of this Serperior’s true strength, but for the sake of caution, the plan remained unchanged—play the reactive game just like in the previous match.
The match timer started, but neither side showed any intention of taking the initiative.
‘Sure enough, I still need to force it?’
Li Wei thought, glancing at Serperior, who showed no sign of moving.
If this weren’t a Grand Festival but an ordinary battle, he would have already started trash-talking to force the opponent to act first.
Grand Festivals are different; every move of the competitor and every expression of the Pokémon will be recorded and factored into the score. If his trash talk influenced the judges’ view of Glaceon’s performance, and they strictly deducted points in those discretionary areas, where would he go to cry?
The modest young master persona couldn’t be dropped yet.
So, Li Wei, burdened with his idol image, had a simple eye contact communication with Glaceon, who looked back at him.
Wink left eye, Plan B!
Got it!
Thus, without Li Wei saying a word, Glaceon lifted her foot and vigorously shook the accessory on it.
Ding~
The crisp bell sound rang out, capturing all the audience’s attention as Eevee began to dance once more.
An elegant house accompanied by gradually condensing Ice Attribute Energy; her deliberately honed control turned the fine snowflakes that should have gathered around Glaceon into white petals.
Yo, Serperior, I heard you have flowers?
Perfect, Eevee me, I have some too!!
Beyond the beauty, the intense storm carried sharp petals spreading across the field, reaching Serperior at the other end of the arena in merely three seconds.
At this point, Li Wei left the opponent’s trainer with only one choice.
This Serperior’s trainer had no option other than to command a counter to clash with Glaceon.
If he lost his mind and tried to tank this Blizzard triggered by the dance, Li Wei could only say this trainer’s brain was a bit off.
The storm’s momentum was already fierce; Li Wei was confident that after it hit Serperior, Glaceon could follow up with a combo to knock him out.
The remaining choices were nothing more than defense or counterattack.
Dodging the move was invalid against this area attack, and if this Serperior’s trainer chose only defense at this point, even if he blocked Eevee’s ‘offense,’ he would still lose points due to Eevee’s elegant dance and offensive flair.
Only counterattack offered a slim chance.
Though risky, simply sending back Glaceon’s attack would undoubtedly deduct points from Glaceon herself.
“Serperior! Set up Grassy Terrain and use Magical Leaf!”
As expected, under Li Wei’s pressure, Serperior’s trainer issued a counterattack command to his Pokémon.
The frost on Serperior’s leaves at the start made Xiao Jin realize his Pokémon’s attribute disadvantage and strength gap; a simple clash couldn’t block this offense, defense might work but facing a strong foe, starting with a score disadvantage would make catching up and reversing exponentially harder.
In a flash, he ran through the moves Serperior had mastered in his mind; rashly attacking wouldn’t do, it needed to be continuous and multiple times for a chance, and boosting the move’s power was necessary too.
“Leaf Storm!”
As green light bloomed on Serperior and the grassy field began spreading outward, Xiao Jin continued to command Serperior.
The grassy field’s spread was obstructed; the Blizzard expanding from Glaceon had frozen all the ‘overreaching’ grassy field into ice blocks. In a bit, Serperior’s terrain move might fail entirely—his chance was only once!
He had to hit Glaceon and seize the initiative!
But.
His plan fell through; he severely underestimated Glaceon’s strength—or rather, Eevee’s strength after over a month of rigorous special training, now nearly fully mastering the Ice Attribute.
Serperior’s move only briefly hindered the Blizzard’s spread.
Seeing this, Xiao Jin’s eyes widened in shock, his thoughts stalling.
In that short few seconds of daze, the Blizzard controlled by Glaceon rapidly expanded across the entire field.
‘Won.’
Li Wei judged inwardly.
Just a Serperior that had barely grasped Elite Level strength—how could it be a match for his precious… his adorable Eevee!
“Eevee, finish it with a combo.”
The battle was decided; Li Wei didn’t want to waste time. Ending the match quickly to rest and prepare for the finals was the way.
But as Serperior’s trainer, Xiao Jin didn’t want to give up his first Grand Festival.
Watching Glaceon charge up an Ice Beam to take him out, he issued commands for a final struggle.
In an instant, Serperior unleashed all its learned moves—Leafage, Leaf Blade, Magical Leaf, and more. The moves were indeed flashy with good power; the desperate counterattack spirit paired with Serperior’s innate nobility actually deducted a few Contest Points from Glaceon, who was charging her finisher.
What!?
There’s such a thing!?!?
The score change shocked both Eevee and Li Wei, followed by anger!
Li Wei was okay, just reflecting on the importance of choosing Pokémon in Grand Festivals, but Eevee was genuinely furious!
What’s going on? These referees!
Do they think I’m not pretty enough!?
A bit retarded.
No more holding back; in a mere second, Glaceon gathered massive Ice Attribute Energy, and with a majestic angry roar, unleashed a fatal attack on Serperior.
The Ice Beam broke through Serperior’s defense, locking onto his form tightly. The moment it hit, frost formed on Serperior’s body, and the move’s immense power and force quickly shoved his body backward.
Boom.
The familiar wall embed.
Once the freezing chill dissipated, Serperior was unable to battle.
