Wallace's Glamorous Entrance

The second judge was a slightly plump middle-aged man wearing a loose beige jacket. His eyes were narrowed into slits, making him look especially amiable.

He was Sukizo, president of the Pokémon Fan Club.

"Hello, everyone~"

Sukizo's voice brimmed with laughter as he spoke, patting his stomach.

"I don't have any special requirements when judging. As long as a performance makes me say, 'I like this,' then it's a good performance!"

"Mr. Sukizo, I like you!"

Someone shouted from the audience, drawing a wave of good-natured laughter.

Judge Sukizo was beloved by the audience for his easygoing personality and blunt commentary. His phrase, "I like this," had even become an iconic saying of the Pokémon Contest.

When the third judge rose to her feet, a gentle cheer swept through the audience. She was Nurse Joy from the Rustboro City Pokémon Center.

She wore her signature pink nurse uniform, her long hair tied into a neat bun behind her head. A professional, gentle smile rested on her face.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Joy. I hope all the Pokémon today can show their healthy, energetic sides. After all, Pokémon are cutest when they're full of vitality."

"Ahhh!! Nurse Joy is so beautiful! As expected, every Nurse Joy comes with a gentleness buff!"

"Waaah, the moment Nurse Joy speaks, my heart melts!"

"Me too. She's truly so beautiful, Nurse Joy..."

Cheers and declarations of love rose one after another from the audience, while the livestream comments flooded the screen even more densely.

After the three judges had introduced themselves, Kotaro took a deep breath. The smile faded from his face, replaced by utmost solemnity.

He slowly raised his right hand, unable to suppress the excitement in his voice as it rang through the venue over the microphone.

"Next, let us welcome the most special guest of this competition with our warmest applause:

"He is a legend of Pokémon Contests, the lifelong idol of countless Coordinators, and a master who has carved the word 'elegance' into his very soul!"

"Please welcome—Master Wallace!!"

"Whoa—!"

The applause and cheers instantly reached their peak, even more fervent than those for all three previous judges combined.

The lights flashed urgently above the stage, rings of light sweeping across the empty center stage, yet no one appeared.

The cheers from the audience gradually faded into puzzled murmurs, while the livestream comments flooded the screen.

"Where is he? Why hasn't Master Wallace come out yet?"

"What are the lights shining on? Where is Master Wallace? This is driving me crazy!"

"Is something wrong? Isn't Master Wallace coming?"

"..."

Before the whispers in the venue could die down, a faint rustling suddenly came from above the arena.

Then, without warning, a fine drizzle began to fall, carrying a cool mist as it refracted tiny silvery glimmers beneath the spotlights.

The rain was not heavy, but it seemed to possess a peculiar magic that instantly silenced the entire audience.

Everyone instinctively looked up at the rain curtain that had appeared from nowhere. A faint, fresh scent of water lingered around their noses, as though they had been transported to a lakeside at dawn, making even their breaths feel sweet and clear.

"Is that... rain?"

"How can it rain indoors? Did something happen?"

"Is this part of the performance?"

Just as everyone was uncertain and bewildered, a clear, pleasant hum drifted leisurely from within the curtain of rain.

The sound was like jade stones gently striking together, like flowing water passing over bluestone—something impossible to describe with words.

The instant it entered their ears, every trace of restlessness and worry in their hearts seemed soothed away by that gentle song, leaving behind only peace and tranquility.

Following the sound, they saw ripples quietly spreading across the center of the stage. Then, a blue water sphere as tall as a person appeared out of thin air.

Silken light flowed across its surface. It slowly rotated beneath the lights while continuously expanding, and the beautiful hum from before drifted leisurely from within it.

As the hum continued, the water sphere gradually floated into the air. The rain in the arena seemed drawn by an invisible force, gathering along fine trails and streaming toward the sphere.

With the rain flowing into it, the sphere became increasingly large and full. The light rippling across its surface grew ever more lively as it maintained an elegant rotation in the air. A moment later, it slowly descended and landed steadily in the center of the stage.

The water sphere began changing rapidly, swelling at times and gently contracting at others. Each pulse tugged at the hearts of everyone in the audience.

Suddenly, there was a soft pop.

The water sphere burst open!

Countless droplets instantly transformed into a hazy mist that spread like a gauzy veil. Refracting, gathering, and condensing beneath the venue lights, it formed a fleeting rainbow.

The spotlight instantly focused on the center of the stage. As the mist gradually dispersed, the figures of a man and a Pokémon slowly emerged within the light.

Wallace and Milotic!

"Wow—!"

The entire venue erupted into even louder cheers. Thunderous applause rang deafeningly through the arena as many audience members leaped to their feet, waving their glow sticks like a boiling sea of light.

"It's Master Wallace! And Milotic! That was absolutely breathtaking!"

"This ticket was so worth it! I'll never forget that entrance for the rest of my life!"

"Oh my god, that entrance was unbelievably beautiful! As expected of Master Wallace!"

The cries of amazement from the live audience came one after another without end. Meanwhile, viewers who had been unable to attend in person wailed in regret.

"What a loss! If I'd known, I would have done everything possible to get there!"

"That was already so stunning through a screen. How incredible must it be in person?!"

Inside Devon Corporation, Steven was staring intently at the broadcast screen before him. When his gaze fell on Wallace, the corner of his mouth lifted into a helpless yet admiring smile.

"That guy... he's still the same as ever. Always loves stealing the spotlight."

At the same time, at the judges' table, Contesta pushed up his glasses and instinctively exchanged a glance with Sukizo beside him.

Identical, resigned smiles of we're used to this instantly appeared on their faces. In the instant their gazes met, they seemed to complain silently.

See? He's still the same. No matter where he goes, he steals all the attention the moment he appears.

Wallace wore a long white coat, his turquoise-green hair tied behind his head with a silver ribbon. A few damp strands clung to the side of his neck, adding a touch of gentle handsomeness.

Milotic floated elegantly beside him, swaying its body as the pink-and-blue scales on its tail glimmered with pearly soft light through the lingering mist.

Clearly, that moving hum, the sudden rain, and the stunning water sphere performance had all been its doing.

Wallace gave a slight bow toward the audience, his movements as smooth as flowing clouds and running water, carrying an innate elegance.

Milotic beside him cooperatively curled its tail around a stream of water, turning it into a crystal-clear ring around him. The flowing waterlight made Wallace appear like a water fairy.

"Hello, everyone. I'm Wallace."

Wallace gave the audience a deep bow. As he straightened, his gaze slowly swept across the entire venue, his eyes filled with sincere anticipation.

"It is a great honor to come to Rustboro City and witness the graceful dance between all of you Trainers and your Pokémon.

"To me, the most precious quality of a Coordinator is the ability to discover the unique beauty of every Pokémon. Every Pokémon in this world possesses its own dazzling light.

"The meaning of being a Coordinator is to uncover that charm alongside one's Pokémon partners and present it perfectly to the world.

"May today's contestants leave me with a profound and unforgettable memory in this splendid feast of beauty!"