Lisia and Dawn's Contest Battle had gone down to the final second.
Both sides were almost out of points, and the countdown had reached zero.
The intensity of the battle spoke for itself.
Though Dawn's Piplup had activated its Torrent Ability under the pressure of a formidable opponent like Mega Altaria, dramatically boosting its Water-type moves and scoring so many points it was as if its personal theme song had kicked in, allowing Dawn to pull ahead of Lisia for a moment...
She had still lost by a hair.
At the very end, the battered Mega Altaria had drawn on the Draco Meteor it had released earlier, creating a strange Resonance with Dazzling Gleam.
The conflicting energies had briefly come together, forming a shower of radiant meteors like fleeting fireworks.
The meteors then plunged into the Whirlpool Piplup was sustaining, setting it off like a giant firework and shattering it completely.
The sight was magnificent and breathtaking.
Countless spectators cheered, and all four judges heaped praise on the battle.
"Now that's what I call a semifinal!"
Wally watched the television approvingly.
It wasn't that he had any complaints about the earlier Contest Battle. But watching his sister May get overwhelmed from start to finish by Baimu and his Pokémon had hit a little too close to home.
After all, he had been on the receiving end of a beating himself. Twice, at that.
I hope it doesn't leave my sister with a complex...
But May was far more mature than Wally imagined. She was currently reviewing Lisia and Dawn's battle with Baimu, Dawn, and Drew.
She was still frustrated by her loss, but she had never fixated on it. Fighting Baimu had shown her where she fell short, while also making her realize she had never been a prodigy.
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