"Impressive."
Mr. Baimu had to admit that Xiaoguang and Piplup had their own unique strengths.
Even without the deliberate guidance of the scriptwriters, sometimes they could have a flash of inspiration, performing miraculous feats almost capable of turning the tide just like Ash Ketchum.
And for Piplup to have learned the move Water Flow Rupture from the Seventh Generation, it must have been from an Alola Trainer traveling around.
But alas.
Turning the tide also requires capital.
"Foggy Field."
With his command, the Giant Jaw at the back of Mawile's head spewed out a large amount of thick light blue mist, quickly covering the entire field and hiding its figure.
"Piplup!?"
As it landed, Piplup turned its head, suddenly realizing Mawile's silhouette had disappeared from its sight.
Xiaoguang also lost sight of it, watching the dense smoke drifting toward the sky, feeling a twinge of anxiety, she clenched her teeth and shouted, "Use Beak Drill to disperse the smoke!"
"Piplup!"
Piplup leaped into the air, its body involuntarily spinning, the short beak enveloped in a golden light, extending, transforming into a whirlwind rolling forward!
Where it passed, the mist turbulently scattered, creating a clear path.
Yet, Mawile seemed to have mysteriously vanished, forcing Piplup to change direction and charge forward to clear the smoke once more.
Still, there was no sign of it.
Piplup landed on the ground, slightly panting and showing some signs of fatigue.
After two attempts, it still couldn't find Mawile, and the mysterious and elusive Foggy Field caused Xiaoguang's score to be deducted.
More than the deduction, what confused her was the opponent's whereabouts.
How could such a well and alive Pokémon just disappear?
No, that can't be right.
"Listen for the sound! Listen for the bell!"
She shouted, reminding Piplup.
The two focused on listening and soon heard a crisp ringing sound.
The source of the sound—
In the sky!
Startled, Xiaoguang and Piplup looked up, and host Vivian also raised her head, only to see Mawile standing atop thunder, having somehow ascended into the sky unnoticed while the smoke rose.
It was performing a mysterious War Dance, with its momentum growing stronger with each repetition.
Vivian shouted loudly, "Unbelievable! Mawile quietly ascended into the sky as the smoke rose!"
Mr. Baimu smiled.
"Sword Dance—Frozen Fist!"
Crack! Crack!
Along with the soft sound of frost freezing, two slender ice blades gradually formed in Mawile's hands, reflecting a chilling light under the spotlight!
"Go!"
Mr. Baimu shouted, and Mawile immediately manipulated the Electromagnetic Force, twisting its body, transforming into a terrifying ice vortex from top to bottom, like a tornado gale!
"Tide Spin!"
"Piplup!"
As Xiaoguang shouted, a water vortex twice as large as before was lifted by Piplup, suddenly surging skyward!
Boom!
The Tide Spin and the ice tornado collided fiercely, immediately locked in a stalemate.
But the former was clearly not a match for the latter, gradually being easily cut into pieces by the high-speed spinning ice blades, the cold wind turning them into icy snowflakes, adding more power to the ice blade storm.
At this moment.
Xiaoguang and Piplup understood that ordinary means could no longer affect Mawile's attack, and this battle had reached its final moment!
"Let's show them we'll never lose! Face the remaining Tide Spin with Water Flow Rupture!"
"Piplup!"
Piplup jumped up abruptly, azure water streams appeared to be guided by some force, swirling around its body, forming a water spiral as it spun, charging into the blue vortex, toward the ice blade storm in the sky!
BOOM——!!
The two high-speed spinning energies collided violently like a comet hitting the Earth, the blue and azure energies and the vast dust, exploded under the intense flash with a deafening bang!
The shockwave was like a tangible wall of air, bringing an extremely powerful gale to the contestants and judges on site.
The blinding light made everyone present instinctively close their eyes, trying to peek at the explosion center, not daring to miss a single detail.
And in the slowly fading white light, the two figures fell to the ground, one on the left and the other on the right.
On the big screen shrouded in smoke, the scores were being deducted, and the countdown gradually reached zero.
A moment later.
The strong light and dust completely disappeared, and the environment of the venue quickly "dimmed," allowing those present to finally see everything on the field clearly.
Dong!
A soft whistle sounded like a steam whistle.
"Time's up!"
Vivian shouted, her clothes a bit disheveled.
Baimu and Xiaoguang simultaneously looked at the big screen beside them and suddenly saw that Baimu's score bar was only one-sixteenth, perhaps even less.
While Xiaoguang's score bar was already completely zero.
Without any doubt.
This was due to Piplup losing its combat capability.
The two looked towards the field again, seeing Mawile panting heavily and looking quite exhausted, while Piplup lay on its back with its eyes turned into two black rings.
Vivian loudly announced the results of the competition.
"The winner in the final is Mr. Baimu and Mawile! Let's congratulate them on achieving ultimate victory in the Kaina Tournament!"
In an instant.
Thunderous applause and earth-shaking cheers erupted together, the audience's spirits soared, with many people even standing up in excitement, screaming and shouting.
Countless ribbons fell from the sky, and congratulatory music played from the speakers.
"Won!"
Baimu's face was full of an uncontrollable smile, and Mawile excitedly turned and lunged towards him, diving into his arms.
"Chidoo!"
The lady-like reserve was completely abandoned at this moment, and its heart was filled with joy from winning.
Only it knew how hard it was to win this match, and how strong Xiaoguang and Piplup were in the Gorgeous Competition.
Baimu held Mawile, spending over ten seconds to calm down his emotions.
Upon realizing it had lost composure, Mawile hurriedly detached from its trainer's embrace, as if nothing had happened, tidying its messy hair.
The two walked towards Xiaoguang, who was comforting Piplup.
"That was a wonderful performance, your response was like a flash of inspiration that amazed me."
"You flatter us, yours was just as great. The fusion of Sword Dance and Frozen Fist was beautiful; I never thought Frozen Fist could be used like a storm. Congratulations! You deserved this Ribbon Medal!"
"Thank you!"
The two smiled at each other and suddenly raised their hands for a high-five.
Pa!
On the other side.
Mawile also smiled at Piplup, reaching out its tiny paw, "Chidoo~"
It had to admit that the latter was indeed very strong, especially triggering a blizzard to freeze it. For a sufficiently powerful opponent, it was not stingy in giving praise and friendship.
After all, as the trainer said, today's rival is tomorrow's friend, which is an absolute truth in the Trainer Realm.
Yet after it stretched out its hand, it hadn't received any response from Piplup.
Mawile looked at Piplup's stunned expression and hesitantly shook its paw, "Chidoo?"
You okay?
Has this kid been hit silly and hasn't reacted yet?
Little did it know, Piplup, who had initially decided to give up on Mawile, upon seeing its smile just now, already fell into self-doubt.
The goddess smiled at me? Was it a smile? Did it reach out too?
What a beautiful day today?
No, I already decided to give up on this affection! How can you tempt me? Hold on, Piplup! You can't be captured by it again!
In Piplup's heart, there seemed to be a smaller version of itself shouting, constantly trying to make it wake up.
But when Mawile showed a worried look and asked if it was okay.
This smaller version of Piplup was decisively and mercilessly killed by it!
Little Penguin.
Falling in love again for a second time!
"Bokaa~~~" It flapped its wings, its eyes turning into huge hearts.
Mawile saw Piplup in this state and regretfully shook its head.
Sick again... alas.