"Oh, no. There's no way this tournament could happen in one day," Shalin raplied with a laugh. "Even 24 rounds over two days is grueling. Plus the top finishers will have to come back tomorrow for the brackets." There would be little time for their banter to continue, interrupted by the starting horn.

Even if Shalin wanted to talk mid-match, she couldn't be heard. Not over the wasp's giant wings' deafening droning sound. Flying toward the Absol, the green Beedrill extended her FELL STINGER toward Jack's Pokémon trying to pluck it in its soft belly.

Absol were truly incredible creatures, able to see the future, whether distant or near. Cordy's vision of the near future let her sidestep the sting and rake across the Beedrill's carapace. Flinching, Shalin raised her index and middle fingers over the KEY STONE of her MEGA CIRCLET. Both her and her Pokémon emitted the purple-pink light of MEGA EVOLUTION, Queen Zing growing two extra stings and a vicious temperament.

The berserk wasp's wings buzzed all the louder, forcing even Shalin to cover her ears. The Mega Evolved bug-type zipped skyward, diving directly on top of Cordy in an effort to DRAGON HAMMER her into the ground.

The attempt to DETECT the slam from above was too late. With the DRAGON HAMMER pinning Cordy, Shalin smiled, knowing she had the upper hand. She worried for the Absol's health, though; when Mega Evolved, Queen Zing was incapable of holding back. Her five stings were potent, but she had far more potent weapons in her arsenal.

Jabbing her FELL STINGER toward Cordy's chest, the true pain wouldn't come from the piercing needle or the venom. It would come from the wasp vibrating his wings at full thrust. Not to fly, but to mess up the poor Pokémon's insides!

Jack's cheer made all the difference, the SUCKER PUNCH with Cordy's forehead blade dislodging the wasp with such force that she could no longer maintain her apex form. Reverting back to her kinder, calmer, and less aggressive form, she struggled to maintain flight. Knowing these were her last moments in the air, at least until the end of the round, she thrust her wings sideways, diving toward Cordy with her POISON JABBING foreleg stings extended.

With the balloon-shaped crown granting the Absol the ability to levitate out of reach of her grounded attacks, Shalin was behind the eight ball. She would be entirely reliant on her Beedrill's venom rendering the dark-type unable to maintain her own heightened form. The judges likely would not be on Shalin's side, either.

She needed an outright knockout if she wanted to win.

Shalin wouldn't get her wish; the close-range NIGHT SLASH tore three gashes in her carapace. While it was nothing a routine Pokémon treatment couldn't repair, it still made Shalin flinch to hear the sound of Queen Zing's armor being torn up. The side judge called the match, declaring Jack the winner.

"Jack, this is how you got so far," Shalin sighed, recalling her Pokémon and getting it ready to take to one of the many machines scattered throughout the venue. "You're a lot better than you give yourself credit for. Now go get in that money bubble!" She waved goodbye and started to head to the commons before turning around. "Oh, and if you're ever around for my Sygna shows, I've got a new act that I'm sure you'll want to see!"