Chapter 270: Poor Flint, Please Wait Another Lifetime!

[VIP Chat Group]

[Gardenia]: Shaymin actually fell out of the sky? Isn’t this development a little too dramatic...?

[Bruno]: Compared to Shaymin, I’m more interested in Quaxwell. That midair volley was exceptionally clean! Kanto’s soccer league could use talent like that. I suggest it consider branching out into another career.

[Maylene]: Kung-fu duck! It’s a real kung-fu duck! The power, angle, and rotation behind that kick were all practically perfect! Can a Water-type Pokémon really kick like that?!

[Korrina]: Even my Lucario needs a two-step run-up to pull off a volley like that. Quaxwell jumped straight from a standstill, kicked with that much force, and didn’t even lose its stance when it landed. How was it trained like this?!

[Brawly]: Before evolving into Quaquaval, a pure Water-type Quaxwell really shouldn’t have this level of fighting ability... But since it’s a duck raised by Asher’s family, I’ve decided not to think too hard about it.

[Asher]: Hina chose the Egg herself. Quaxly isn’t even some rare Pokémon. Could you guys stop assuming I secretly rigged everything?

[Wallace]: You put a Quaxly Egg next to a whole pile of pseudo-Legendary Eggs, and somehow Hina just happened to pick that exact one. Who’s going to believe that wasn’t rigged?

[Raihan]: Asher’s credibility has been in the negatives for ages. Does anyone still believe a word he says?

[Tiana]: I do! I swear eternal loyalty to Dad! (￣^￣)ゞ (Loyalty!)

[Asher]: Good daughter. Dad didn’t spoil you for nothing.

[Steven]: Brother Asher, I swear eternal loyalty to you too! Just tell me where Diancie is!

[Asher]:(Can’t see it.) (Can’t see it.)

[Tiana]:(I’m blind.) (I’m blind.)

[Cynthia]: ...

[Lorelei]: I think I’m starting to understand exactly how Tiana ended up like this...

[Lucian]:@Cynthia, Champion, please don’t let Asher raise the child this time. I’m genuinely begging you!

[Aaron]:@Cynthia, even Flint dragged himself out of his hospital bed to beg you. I’m begging too.

[Leon]: Um... I hate to ruin your hopes, but Tiana came here from the future. So the outcome is probably already set in stone.

[Aaron]: Flint fainted again!

[Volkner]: Poor Flint... please wait another lifetime!

The video continued playing.

After Shaymin joined the team, Hina finally arrived at the first destination of her journey—Jubilife City.

Hina stood at the entrance to the city, staring at the bustling crowds and lively streets around her.

All she could do was take deep breath after deep breath to calm herself down.

"N-No problem..."

"It’s just a Pokémon Contest..."

"If Mom can do it, then I can do it too..."

Quaxwell gently patted her arm with one wing to reassure her.

Shaymin lay on top of her head, its tail softly brushing against her cheek.

"Don’t be scared, Hina! Shaymin will cheer you on!"

"Shaymin..."

"When we enter the Contest later, you need to be careful."

"You can’t just talk in front of other people... okay?"

Hina lifted Shaymin off her head and carefully placed it inside her backpack.

"Shaymin understands! Shaymin will pretend to be an ordinary hedgehog!"

The performance order for the first round of the Jubilife Pokémon Contest was decided by random draw.

Hina drew number seven, placing her fairly early in the lineup.

In one corner of the waiting room, Hina sat on a bench.

Quaxwell crouched to her left.

Shaymin poked half its head out of the backpack on her right.

One girl and two Pokémon maintained exactly the same posture—

Their eyes locked firmly on the television mounted to the wall in front of them, which was broadcasting the live performance onstage.

The first contestant took the stage with a Glameow.

Glameow performed an elegant dance using its tail, earning enthusiastic applause from the audience.

Hina: Staaare....

The second contestant appeared with a Luxio.

Luxio used electricity to draw a sparkling star across the stage, earning high praise from the judges.

Hina: Still staring....

The fourth, fifth, and sixth contestants took the stage one after another.

As Hina watched, she used a notebook to record the highlights of every performance, along with anything that could cost points.

It was a habit she’d developed from years of training under both her mother and grandmother.

Once the sixth contestant’s performance ended, a staff member poked their head into the waiting room.

"Contestant Number Seven—Miss Hina! Please prepare backstage!"

Hina took a deep breath.

She closed her notebook, slipped it into her backpack, then looked down at Quaxwell.

"Ducky."

"It’s our turn."

Shaymin poked its head out of the backpack and whispered as quietly as possible,

"Good luck, Hina!"

Then it immediately ducked back inside and pretended to be a fluffy bag charm.

The stage lights dimmed for a moment.

Then a spotlight illuminated the entrance to the contestants’ tunnel.

Marian raised her microphone, her energetic voice carrying throughout the entire venue.

"Next up is Contestant Number Seven—Hina, from Twinleaf Town!"

"This is her very first Pokémon Contest!"

"Everyone, let’s welcome her with a huge round of applause!"

As Hina stepped out of the tunnel, her heart pounded so violently that even her breathing seemed to lose its rhythm.

"N-No problem..."

"Just pretend the audience isn’t there..."

"They’re air..."

"Just air..."

She reached the center of the stage and stopped.

Holding Quaxwell’s Poké Ball tightly in her palm, Hina closed her eyes.

Every movement and every beat she’d practiced with her parents raced through her mind.

Then—

She opened her eyes and threw the Poké Ball.

"Ducky, take the stage!"

The Poké Ball burst open.

Its Seal effect transformed into a shower of pale-blue starlight.

Quaxwell leaped from within the sparkling lights and landed steadily in the center of the stage.

"Ducky, Aqua Cutter."

A blade of water, thin as a cicada’s wing, formed along the edge of Quaxwell’s wing.

With a powerful swing—

The water blade swept through the air in a flawless circular arc.

"Aqua Jet."

Quaxwell kicked off the stage.

High-speed water engulfed its body, turning it into a blue bullet that shot straight through the ring of water still suspended in midair.

The water surrounding its body collided with the Aqua Cutter.

Every droplet was sliced into even finer particles—

Creating a miniature cloud of suspended mist across the stage.

"Air Slash!"

Quaxwell flipped through the air.

White light gathered along the edge of its wing before precisely slicing through the mist.

The airborne water was split into dozens of extremely fine streams.

Under the spotlights—

Countless tiny rainbows appeared.

Quaxwell flew through the curtain of water.

The fine streams clung to the surface of its feathers, glittering beneath the stage lights like a cape covered in crushed diamonds.

Hina stepped forward.

At the same moment—

She and Quaxwell bowed together.

Thunderous applause immediately erupted throughout the entire venue.

"Using Air Slash to divide the water, then allowing those fine streams to cling to Quaxwell’s feathers—the result makes Quaxwell itself seem to sparkle!"

"The beauty of a Water-type Pokémon has been brought out wonderfully!"

"Ah, I like this one!"

"The sheen of its feathers beneath the mist is excellent as well. You can tell this Quaxwell has been raised with exceptional care."