The voices of the two contestants, amplified by the omnidirectional speakers, echoed throughout the arena, reaching every ear in the audience.
Even though the spectators were seated far from the battlefield, they could clearly see the expressions of both competitors on the high-definition screens scattered throughout the Pokémon world.
At this moment, all eyes were drawn to them.
"Prince Cavendish, you're the most handsome man in the world!!!"
"Miss Robin, crush that pretty boy!!!"
The fans of both competitors shouted wildly from the stands.
Even casual onlookers and spectators were swept up in the excitement, choosing sides in the escalating tension.
The battle hadn't even begun, yet the stakes were already climbing as bets poured in from both camps.
A gentle breeze brushed past Robin and Cavendish, lifting their hair slightly, as if signaling a spark of recognition in their eyes.
The battle was about to ignite.
Cavendish swiftly assumed an attacking stance, immediately commanding his Pheromosa:
"Pheromosa, use Agility!"
"Mosa~"
With a graceful bow, Pheromosa' slender figure suddenly shot forward like a bullet.
At the same moment, Cavendish's white-clad figure moved, executing a rapid maneuver akin to a "shave," their movements forming a figure-eight pattern as they crisscrossed the battlefield like a hurricane.
In the blink of an eye, both Cavendish and Pheromosa were positioned on either side of Robin and her Espeon.
Cavendish's eyes gleamed as he issued another command:
"Pheromosa, Double Kick!"
"Mosa!"
Pheromosa elegantly stretched its body and tilted sideways into the air, its slender legs aimed directly at Robin.
Simultaneously, Cavendish, with a flourish, thrust his sword toward Espeon.
"Beautiful Sword: Swan Lake!"
The two figures moved as if performing a ballet, their graceful motions and fluidity almost mesmerizing.
"Gotcha!"
Seeing Robin seemingly unperturbed by his attack, Cavendish smirked.
Though the battle might end quickly, this swiftness was a hallmark of his swordsmanship.
Graceful and swift.
As a man who was not only narcissistic but also undefeated, Cavendish knew his strength wasn't just in his looks—his swordsmanship was formidable.
In nearly a year of sailing, Cavendish had yet to taste defeat, earning him the title of "Gorgeous Supernova."
Since he was relatively new to the world of Pokémon training, his understanding of the Pokémon realm wasn't deep. He knew only the basics about Robin, primarily from Joy's introduction.
Confident in his abilities, Cavendish saw Robin as riddled with vulnerabilities.
However...
Despite the speed and precision of the attacks, Robin's expression remained unchanged. A single thought flashed through her mind:
"This Cavendish is indeed a novice trainer!"
Feeling the light, non-threatening attack from Pheromosa, a confident smile bloomed on Robin's face.
Three days earlier, after learning that Cavendish would be her first opponent, Robin and Kalifa conducted a thorough investigation into this man who often found himself in the spotlight.
After some analysis, they concluded that Cavendish would be a formidable adversary in this dazzling contest!
His fanbase and his spectacular moves were the key elements Robin needed to be mindful of in the arena.
Indeed, even before the battle began, Cavendish had already edged out Robin in terms of betting due to his long-standing fanbase and the fervent nature of his female followers.
But Robin and her team had prepared extensively for this first battle.
For instance, they had devised a theme for today's performance.
Yes.
Based on discussions between Robin and Kalifa, they decided that each future contest would be like a stage play, with a theme running through the entire battle.
For today's competition, Robin had prepared three potential themes for her performance:
If the battle became fierce, she would activate Plan A: The Naughty Battle Princess;
If she found herself on the defensive, Plan B: The Unyielding Queen of Desolation;
And if the opponent proved weak and easily manipulated, Plan C would be activated: The Goddess Who Commands All!
Initially, Robin believed that Cavendish, like her, would opt for a performance themed around beauty and elegance...
However, seeing him charge in immediately with a straightforward attack, aiming solely for victory without any embellishments, Robin instantly realized that Cavendish had not grasped the true essence of a Contest Spectacular.
As Cavendish and Pheromosa closed in, a bright glint flashed in Robin's eyes, and she smiled.
In that moment, she knew the outcome of this battle was already decided.
"Looks like I was too tense for nothing."
Confidently, Robin reached forward with her slender hand, summoning a dazzling purple barrier that enveloped both her and Espeon.
This barrier, of course, was powered by Espeon.
But Robin's perfect synchronization with Espeon made it appear as though she had cast it herself.
And thus began the true spectacle!
Clang!
Cavendish's attack struck Espeon's protective shield with a crisp sound.
Robin smiled softly, her gaze lingering on Cavendish with an indifferent expression as she remarked:
"You're strong, but unfortunately for you, you're facing me."
The cameras zoomed in, capturing Robin's face on the giant screens for every spectator to see.
"So sassy!!!"
Robin's confident expression flashed across the screens, momentarily stunning the female onlookers who had initially been drawn to Cavendish's appearance. They shifted their focus from Cavendish to this cold, indifferent goddess.
Even Cavendish's most loyal female fans paused, their hands frozen in mid-action as they curiously observed the unfolding battle.
"What... what just happened? Why didn't Cavendish's attack connect?"
The fangirls, who had only been focused on Cavendish's looks, began questioning what was happening.
But in the next second, their expressions changed drastically!
Swish!
Robin crossed her hands over her chest, her gaze still coolly fixed ahead. As Cavendish hesitated, she suddenly activated the power of the Flower-Flower Fruit.
"Black Roses!"
In an instant, thousands of arms sprouted from the ground, climbing upward like flower stems, seizing Cavendish and pinning him down.
Each arm was imbued with Haki, forming a massive flower pattern that encased Cavendish in the center, like the stamen of a flower.
The dark aura from the Haki-covered arms created a gigantic black rose, a breathtaking sight that left the audience in awe.
For those seeing Robin's abilities for the first time, the combination of Pokémon and Devil Fruit powers was nothing short of astonishing.
"Oh my god! Miss Robin actually restrained Cavendish!"
"So this is why she's called the 'Thousand-Handed Succubus'?"
"Yes! Get him! Take down that pretty boy!!!"
The audience roared in approval.
But Robin, like a goddess surveying the world, remained composed, her attention fully on Cavendish.
As for Pheromosa, from Robin's observation, it was only around level 20—a level too low to even scratch Espeon's mental shield. It was nothing to worry about.
"What… what is this?!"
Cavendish, now restrained, was momentarily stunned before a surge of powerful energy erupted from within him.
With a Navy bounty of 280 million Berries, his strength was no joke.
Boom!
A powerful aura exploded from the heart of the black rose, as Cavendish's body was ensnared by the crossed arms.
He immediately used his sheer physical strength to break or crush the arms one by one, freeing himself.
His strength was on par with some of the weaker Warlords of the Sea; he was undeniably a formidable presence on these seas.
Even though Robin's summoned arms were reinforced with Haki, they were no match for Cavendish's raw power. He struggled but managed to shatter them one by one, the arms dissolving into petals and vanishing into the air.
In mere moments, Cavendish had freed himself.
But…
Even as he broke free, he failed to notice that the smile on Robin's face had only grown wider.
"This really isn't much of a challenge," Robin mused.
She glanced up at the reward PK board. Although both their reward totals were still climbing, Robin's had already surged past Cavendish's.
"A gorgeous battle isn't just about defeating your opponent~"
Robin murmured softly, her smile never faltering.
The black rose she had just conjured, despite the enormous energy expenditure, was not merely for show.
Sure, the splendor and grandeur of the move were crucial.
But in a contest of beauty, making your opponent look foolish was equally vital!
In Cavendish's efforts to break free from Robin's constraints, he had to make awkward movements, struggling within the petals like a trapped insect, his white attire only amplifying the absurdity of the situation.
This was painfully clear to the audience.
As they witnessed Cavendish's futile struggle, some who had been rooting for him began to pause. Their idol, usually so graceful, now looked anything but that…
On the other hand…
Robin's fans erupted in excitement, seeing her so effortlessly entangle a notorious pirate like Cavendish.
Their faith in their chosen champion was reaffirmed—Robin, the "Thousand-Handed Succubus," was indeed a force to be reckoned with!
Spurred on by this belief, they flooded Robin with gifts, propelling her PK bar far beyond that of Cavendish, who had once held the lead.
Hmph!
Cavendish landed back on the ground and with a flourish of his sword, straightened his slightly disheveled white cloak.
Truth be told…
He couldn't quite grasp what Robin had just done.
Having only recently become a Trainer, he still didn't fully understand the intricacies of a contest of beauty.
To him, Robin's last move had been neither splendid nor effective—it seemed almost nonsensical.
Exerting so much energy just to restrain him for a few seconds? What a waste!
On a real battlefield, such wastefulness was nothing short of a cardinal sin.
As an elite warrior, Cavendish couldn't comprehend Robin's strategy.
He could sense that her aura was now faltering, clearly indicating she had expended a significant amount of energy in that last attack.
And indeed, Robin had little energy left for another high-intensity move.
Yet…
Her face still radiated confidence, as though victory was certain, and her opponent was nothing more than a minor inconvenience.
This aura of assuredness quickly influenced the spectators watching on the big screen.
"Oh my gosh! Miss Robin, her smile is so stunning!"
"It seems the outcome is decided! No way that pretty boy can win against Miss Robin!"
Some of the more casual viewers quickly switched sides, joining Robin's cheering section.
At that moment, Robin calmly commanded her Espeon:
"Espeon, use Psybeam!"
"eon~"
Espeon responded with a soft cry, and a dazzling light flashed from its ruby-like eyes.
In the next instant, a brilliant beam of colorful energy shot forth, and Cavendish's expression shifted dramatically!
As Espeon aimed directly at him, it suddenly swiveled its head, redirecting the terrifying energy at the struggling Pheromosa!
This time, it wasn't a mere "weakling" like Robin launching the attack.
"No!" Cavendish shouted, but as a novice Trainer, he hadn't yet mastered the art of rapid evasion.
The Psybeam, emanating an aura of mystery and chaos, struck the Pheromosa squarely, engulfing its delicate frame.
"Mosaa!!!"
Pheromosa let out a pained cry as it was overwhelmed by the attack.
Against the level 48 Espeon, the inexperienced Pheromosa had no chance of survival.
The level gap was too vast, and Cavendish's strategy of close-quarters combat had failed him.
With just one blow, Robin and her Espeon had taken down one of Cavendish's key combatants!
This sudden turn of events electrified the audience, who began to chant Robin's name, as if she had already claimed the title on the grand stage of the beauty contest.
Cavendish's popularity plummeted even further after his Pokémon's defeat.
And all of this… had been meticulously planned by Robin.
After researching Cavendish's background, both Robin and Kalifa had concluded that he likely didn't have many points left to purchase powerful Pokémon.
This was the key to Robin's victory!
By targeting his Pokémon first, Robin knew she could diminish his popularity.
"Pheromosa!"
Cavendish shouted in concern as his Pokémon fell.
At that moment, it dawned on him that he might have made a grave miscalculation.
After all, he had only been a Trainer for about 20 days, and his understanding of Pokémon battles was still shallow.
This was especially true for the rules of a beauty contest.
Initially, he believed that his charm, fan base, and the elegance of his Pheromosa made him a perfect fit for the beauty contest.
But seeing how quickly Robin had turned the tide in her favor, Cavendish realized…
The beauty contest wasn't as simple as he had imagined!
But now, it was too late to backtrack—he was already caught in Robin's web.
All he could do now was showcase his beauty in the way he knew best, and then…
Defeat her!
"Beautiful Sword: Azure!"
Cavendish suddenly leaped into the air, and his sword, catching the light, glowed with a blue hue as it slashed towards Robin.
Since she had already taken out his Pheromosa, Cavendish decided to return the favor by targeting Robin, the weaker link, first.
However…
This was where the difference between a strong opponent with a weak Pokémon and a weak opponent with a strong Pokémon became glaringly apparent.
Espeon instantly reacted after defeating Pheromosa. Without waiting for Robin's command, it summoned a telekinetic shield, which materialized just in time to block Cavendish's sword.
The blade stopped mere inches from Robin's body.
Robin, still putting on a flawless performance despite her exhaustion, gazed steadily at the sword before her.
Through the reflection on the blade, she could see Cavendish's frustrated face.
Robin chuckled softly and spoke slowly:
"In the world of beauty contests…"
"You still have a long way to go~"
(End of this chapter)