Boom!
In the arena, Espeon, its eyes glowing with purple light, confronted the now ominous-looking Cavendish.
With its ability to teleport and the heightened perception granted by Observation Haki, Espeon managed to hold its own against the darkened Cavendish, engaging in an intense back-and-forth.
However...
Thanks to Robin's earlier remarks, what should have been perceived as an evenly matched duel by the audience now seemed more like a one-sided lesson.
The spectators began commenting on Cavendish's performance:
"What? Miss Robin isn't even fighting, and that Cavendish is struggling so much?"
"It's like Miss Robin has been going easy on him from the start."
"Of course! Miss Robin is one of the Four Heavenly Kings of the Battle Zone. How could a mere upstart pose any real threat to her?"
As the battle raged on, even the blackened Cavendish began to show signs of fatigue. While Espeon's power and speed were inferior to Cavendish's, its teleportation and Observation Haki made it untouchable, allowing it to continue dodging until its energy ran out.
Meanwhile, Cavendish's second personality, though incredibly powerful, was driven by madness, pushing his body beyond its limits without regard for the consequences. Over time, his body began to show the strain of this overclocked state, and his movements became increasingly stiff.
...
"I didn't expect her to turn things around like this."
In the arena's control room, Leo watched the unfolding battle with a mix of admiration and respect for Robin's cunning. He gave her a thumbs-up, impressed by her strategic thinking.
Leo had chosen Cavendish, a recent addition to the training ranks, for this first grand competition because of his large fanbase and the sheer power of his second personality. Initially, this seemed like a smart move. Cavendish had even garnered higher rewards than Robin at the start of the battle.
Indeed, Cavendish was a formidable fighter, but his fame far outweighed his actual skill.
To some extent, his popularity was comparable to that of the Yonko or the Shichibukai, and his fanbase was massive. Over 3,000 of his die-hard fans had shown up to watch the match, eager to support their idol.
But Robin, with her shrewd tactics, had not only maintained her own fanbase but also swayed many of Cavendish's supporters to her side, drawing in a large number of new fans in the process.
Though some might find Robin's approach unappealing, Leo couldn't help but be impressed as he watched her reward total skyrocket to 3 billion Beli in such a short time.
This, he thought, was what a real grand competition should look like!
On the battlefield, Cavendish's second personality continued its relentless pursuit of Espeon, like a rabid dog. However, his speed was visibly decreasing.
Had he still been in his right mind, with his remaining strength, he might have been able to knock Robin off her perch.
But as Robin had pointed out, his power alone was not enough. Now, he was just a slave to his own strength and desires.
As Cavendish neared defeat, Robin stood tall on her giant palm, her expression one of deep disappointment. She gave Espeon a final command:
"Espeon, use Psychic!"
"eon~"
Espeon, having prepared for this moment, let out a soft cry. After teleporting to dodge an incoming slash, the ruby on its forehead glowed brightly, unleashing a powerful wave of psychic energy.
Buzz!
The air between Espeon and Cavendish rippled, as though reality itself was distorting under the force of Espeon's power.
Crack!
Cavendish, who was about to launch another attack, suddenly froze. An immense force pinned him in place, squeezing his body with terrifying pressure.
He struggled to break free, but his exhausted body could no longer keep up with the demands of the battle.
The sudden confinement jolted Cavendish back to consciousness, his dark aura fading away. But before he could fully regain his senses, a searing pain coursed through every inch of his body.
"Damn it! Not even this could work?" Cavendish muttered, realizing he had lost the battle. Resignation filled his voice as he understood that defeat was inevitable.
At the same time, the giant palm beneath Robin disintegrated into petals, scattering through the air.
Robin crossed her arms, and two large wings appeared from her back, suspending her amid the falling petals. The arena lights bathed her in a radiant glow, making her look as divine and beautiful as an angel.
The audience was mesmerized, and even Cavendish, trapped by Espeon's psychic hold, couldn't help but stare in awe.
Robin extended her hand, her voice cold and resolute:
"What a pity, but this battle is over."
"Espeon, Shadow Ball!"
Boom!
A deafening explosion filled the arena as a small mushroom cloud erupted, enveloping Cavendish in smoke and dust.
But everyone knew the outcome was already decided.
Miss Joy, serving as the referee, descended into the arena on a Charizard, arriving at the scene as the dust began to settle.
In the massive crater left by the explosion, Cavendish lay unconscious, his body charred and blackened, utterly defeated.
Joy quickly retrieved Cavendish's Pheromosa with his Poké Ball, placed his unconscious body on Charizard's back, and sent them off to the medical bay for treatment.
Once everything was in order, Joy, standing under the spotlight, smiled approvingly at Robin. A Rotom microphone appeared out of nowhere, hovering beside her.
Joy took the mic and, in her sweet but commanding voice, announced to the crowd:
"I declare!"
"The winner of the first battle of the Pokémon Contest is..."
"Nico Robin!"
"OOOOOHHHHHH!!!!"
Amid the fans' screams, a massive projection screen in the center of the arena displayed the reward totals for Robin and Cavendish in this glamorous competition, now labeled as "Glamour Points."
Robin's total stood at an impressive 3.5 billion Beli.
Cavendish's total was 1.5 billion Beli.
The winner was clear.
As Joy's announcement echoed through the arena, the crowd erupted in wild cheers, chanting Robin's name.
"Robin! Robin! Robin!..."
Fireworks burst in the sky as the celebratory music played, marking the official end of this grand battle.
However, according to the contest rules, the audience had ten more minutes to continue rewarding the victorious contestant.
This was the moment for Robin's supporters to shine.
Many wealthy spectators, delighted by the match, eagerly sent additional gifts Robin's way.
Thanks to the special effects of Rotom's projection, these gifts appeared to rain down from the sky—white feathers, beautiful flowers, large diamonds, and crowns.
Though the gifts were just holographic images, the feature, which only became available post-battle, immediately stirred the curiosity of those watching, leading them to shower Robin with even more rewards.
It could be said that in his effort to maximize fan contributions, Leo had borrowed heavily from live-streaming models, ensuring every penny was squeezed out of the spectators' pockets!
Back in the control room, Leo could barely contain his laughter as Robin's reward total continued to climb.
"Well done! Well done!"
Ten minutes later, when Robin's Glamour Points had increased by another billion, bringing her total to 4.5 billion Beli, Leo couldn't help but applaud.
Earning 6 billion Beli in a single match—surely, being a star was far more profitable than robbing a bank!
...
...
"Thank you for your hard work, Sister Robin!"
Backstage, Kalifa, acting as Robin's assistant, immediately brought her a glass of water.
"Thank you."
Robin, slightly out of breath, took the glass, while thin beads of sweat trickled down her smooth neck, soaking the fabric of her dress and clinging to her body. It was evident that Robin was not as relaxed as she had appeared during the battle. The demanding performance had drained her physical strength after executing several powerful moves.
Fortunately, she managed to solidify her persona as a formidable force. Soon, the news of her effortless victory over the dazzling Cavendish would spread across the seas, and her reputation would expand from Alabasta to the entire world.
Exhausted, Robin collapsed onto the sofa, showing her true state only after seeing Kalifa. As she removed her elaborate dress, her graceful figure, clad in a tight shirt, was revealed. She had already handed over her Espeon to Miss Joy for recovery, giving her a chance to rest.
At that moment, an unexpected figure approached from the contestants' tunnel.
Clap, clap, clap...
"Congratulations, Miss Robin."
With a series of slow claps, Leo entered the player's lounge, wearing his usual kind smile.
"Sir Leo!?"
Despite her exhaustion, Robin quickly straightened up, trying to rise from the sofa to greet him. Kalifa, too, snapped to attention upon hearing Robin's words and turned her gaze toward Leo.
"No need for formalities," Leo said, smiling warmly as he waved his hand, infusing Robin with a burst of life energy.
All of a sudden, Robin felt a tingling sensation coursing through her body, as if countless tiny hands were massaging her all over.
"Mmm~"
The sudden wave of pleasure made Robin let out an involuntary moan, but she quickly realized her slip and covered her mouth, her face flushing with embarrassment.
"S-Sorry..." Robin murmured, as if she had committed some grave offense.
"Hahaha..."
Leo let out a hearty laugh and waved it off dismissively.
"It's quite alright."
Although Leo reassured her, Robin was still deeply embarrassed, her demeanor now entirely different from the commanding presence she had displayed in the arena. Fully recovered, she stepped forward hesitantly and thanked Leo:
"Thank you, Sir Leo. Is there something you need from me?"
"Not particularly," Leo responded with a cheerful smile. "I just came to remind you that with your current points, you can now purchase the resurrection item, [Ho-Oh Feather]..."
He continued, "Would you like to resurrect the person in your heart right away?"
"What!?"
Robin was taken aback and quickly picked up her Rotom phone. She had been too exhausted to check earlier, but now, prompted by Leo's words, she hurriedly reviewed her points balance.
"One hundred thousand... ten thousand!!?"
"My points are over 10,000!?"
Robin was shocked. Before entering the Pokémon Contest, she had accumulated just over a thousand points. Now, with the rewards from the competition, her total had soared past 10,000 in one fell swoop!
The benefits of the contest were far greater than she had imagined. Of course, this was partly due to the excitement of the first match, which had driven the audience to be more generous with their rewards. But regardless...
Her wish had just taken a significant step closer to fulfillment!
"I want it! I want it!" Robin exclaimed excitedly.
Her fists clenched tightly, and stars sparkled in her eyes, as if she still couldn't believe this was real.
Leo chuckled. As a dimensional merchant who never let his customers hold onto spare money, he immediately exchanged a Ho-Oh's Feather from the system with a wave of his hand and presented it to Robin.
"So..." Leo asked, "Please tell me the name of the person you wish to resurrect. I will use your points to retrieve their soul from the underworld for you."
Robin took a deep breath and immediately replied, "I want to resurrect my mother, Nico Olvia!!!"
"As you wish~"
With another wave of his hand, Leo deducted 1,000 points from Robin's account.
In an instant, a glowing orb with a cold aura appeared out of the void. The next moment, the orb and the Ho-Oh's Feather floated into the air and merged, like positively and negatively charged magnets.
Under the surge of life energy, a captivating figure, rivaling Robin's own beauty, materialized in the lounge. Her skin was flawless like that of a baby, her curves were pronounced in all the right places, and she had striking white hair.
Robin's mother, Nico Olvia…
was back in the world.
(End of this chapter)