Chapter 1142

"You're using a Dragon Head Mole Rat? It's not Dragon-type, is it?"

"I think it is!"

"... Okay, okay, okay."

Looking at Elise's confident expression, Baimu chose to agree.

Of course, he knew the Dragon Head Mole Rat could participate because it was born near Dragon's Hometown, meeting the entry requirements.

Baimu sighed: "Now that you say it, I also think my Geng Ghost has quite a Dragon aura!"

"Geng Ghost?"

Now it was Elise's turn to be startled.

Baimu smiled faintly: "Its awakened power is Dragon-type."

"Ah, I see."

Elise suddenly understood, and the two exchanged a smile that needed no words.

Unfortunately, Multibear II cannot learn Dragon-type moves.

Pattern 2 can indeed turn it into Dragon-type, but it requires the opponent to use moves not ideal against Dragon-type.

Otherwise, it could compete as a 3D Dragon!

During casual chat.

Two Dragon Champion Trainers, holding non-Dragon-type Pokémon, headed to the festival to register.

The registration officer glared at them, and they returned sincere gazes.

"..."

He silently registered.

Beside him, Bilberry laughed: "You Dragon Champion Trainers, do you have some kind of fetish?"

There are only three Dragon Champion Trainers in the world, yet it seems they all like using non-Dragon-type Pokémon.

——Ah Tu's Shiny Gyarados is world-famous.

Baimu avoided Bilberry's comment, instead looking with interest at the Pokémon beside him: "Sandy Croc... is this your competition Pokémon?"

"Wa-eru wa-eru~"

This is a Pokémon that looks like it has big eyes, but actually has dark patterns and tiny pupils—a red-skinned, black-patterned giant crocodile.

At least two meters long, with a thick, long tail, powerful forelimbs, and a long snout that opens and closes to reveal sharp teeth flashing silver.

Overall, it looks quite intimidating.

Bilberry laughed: "It knows plenty of Dragon-type moves—perfectly meeting the competition requirements."

That's true—Sandy Croc can learn Dragon Claw, Dragon Tail, Dragon Breath, Scale Shot, Outrage, and other Dragon-type moves; it's practically a Dragon!

The girl holding a notebook, Wan Long, looked displeased.

She had thought she could calmly gather materials, but instead was asked to be a guest commentator...

All she could do was first draft some notes.

As several people waited silently, more and more Dragon Trainers and outsiders completed registration.

By the deadline, participants numbered over one hundred fifty.

"So many!"

Elise exclaimed: "Last year, only about fifty people participated!"

Baimu turned to her: "About fifty? The Dragon Trainers from Dragon's Hometown alone must be at least ten times that!"

"That's because, compared to the festival, everyone values the Long Wang Battle more."

Iris, who had somehow arrived beside them, explained: "The festival is just a warm-up; what matters is the 【Long Wang】 and the grandmother's blessing."

Baimu: "Blessing..."

It sounds almost like a divine gift from some deity.

"This year, everyone is participating mainly to welcome the Star-Stream People." Iris seemed to have figured everything out: "The foreign visitors are here for Elise."

Elise may not be as famous as Ash outside her region, but she has recently gained considerable fame.

Coincidentally, Dragon's Hometown's festival promotion attracted many trainers who came specifically to battle her.

A fifteen-year-old reigning champion—extremely rare worldwide!

"Ah, I see."

Baimu scanned the trainers gathered nearby.

Indeed, many people's attire clearly differed from Dragon Trainers'; occasionally they glanced this way, then quickly looked away.

He couldn't help but say: "Elise, are you ready? These are all your challengers."

"Leave it to me!"

Elise shouted with fighting spirit, then grinned at him: "You also need to get ready! Now I'm really strong!"

I've said harsh things in public!

However, the festival's rule is simple one-on-one single battles, one match decides the winner.

This means low tolerance for error; animated battles aren't like games where both sides' levels are balanced—larger gaps end fights quickly.

Even if strength is equal, if one happens to face a player who counters them well, a Pokémon with few moves struggles to respond.

Thus, both strength and luck are needed.

Moreover, according to Ah Wu, the festival was mainly used to scout new generations, after all, practical testing standards are highest.

This made Baimu recall the anime scene where Elise was noticed by Xia Ka.

How old was Elise back then?

Under ten, right?

"Mr. Xia Ka has arrived!"

A shout rose from the crowd, followed immediately by an uproar.

Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao appears.

Xia Ka, the Gym Leader of Shuanglong City, made a grand entrance; throngs of people surrounded him on all sides, yet they still could not conceal his towering figure that stood head and shoulders above the rest — his every gesture both athletic and gentlemanly —

Xia Ka, sixty-nine years old this year, height 201cm.

Professional wrestler and Gold Belt holder, Mayor of Shuanglong City, Principal of Shuanglong Academy, holder of the title Dragon Master, among many other appellations.

A living legend of the Hezhong region.

"Teacher Xia Ka!"

Alice was the first to rush forward, beaming: "My friend, the Champion of the Aole region has come too! And the Meteor People of the Fengyuan region!"

"Oh? The Aole Champion?"

Xia Ka cast his gaze from afar and distinctly saw a young man with a cold expression standing beside the Elite Four member Yueju, nodding in greeting to him.

He nodded back in return, then looked toward the other group — the Meteor People Alice had mentioned.

Upon seeing the leader, Miss Xijiana, he revealed a pensive expression.

After the important guest Xia Ka appeared, the celebration ceremony officially opened; because the number of participants far exceeded expectations, Longzhi Village added an extra battle arena.

Two arenas conducted battles simultaneously; even with many total matches, the pace would still be very fast under single-battle format.

Baimu stood in the crowd and discovered that the visiting Trainers all battled very seriously; by comparison, the Meteor People and Longzhi Village Dragon Tamers appeared rather "lax."

They're not battling but social obligations, huh...

Or perhaps conserving strength for the Long Wang showdown?

Baimu took the field before long; his assigned opponent was a Longzhi Village youth using the Pokémon Scraggy.

This Pokémon can not only learn Dragon-type moves, but its own Egg Group is also the Dragon Group.

Very much the feel of a dragon-blooded lizardman from a Western fantasy novel.

"Gheh~gah!"

The Shiny Gengar emerged from the shadow, baring claws and fangs to intimidate Scraggy, though its expression looked slightly comical.

Causing Scraggy's nostrils to flare unconsciously, "Squeak!"

Gengar: "..."

Does my dragon act not look convincing?

I was clearly modeling it after Hydreigon.

Gengar sighed, then suddenly dodged to the side, avoiding the Scraggy that lunged fiercely.

Crack!

Jet-black energy fangs bit into empty air.

"Such fast reflexes!?" The opponent froze; he had deliberately given the order while Gengar was spacing out, hoping to catch it off guard.

Even this was dodged?

He hurriedly shouted: "Pin it down! Shadow Claw!"

"Squeak!"

Scraggy's dual claws lit up with dark radiance, slashing viciously in rapid succession, like an airtight great net!

But this continuous move was all easily and leisurely dodged by Gengar.

Puff puff puff!

One moment it turned to shadow, the next to smoke, appearing and disappearing unpredictably, leaping left and right — not a single hit landed.

The onlookers gasped incessantly.

Too good at dodging!

The gap between the two sides was despairingly large!

"Squeak..."

Scraggy, exhausted from its burst of furious attacks, panted heavily yet still had to step backward.

Gengar wore a beaming smile, "Geh-gah?"

Done?

Then it's my turn!

The gray fatty abruptly raised its dual claws; taking advantage of Scraggy tensely looking up, while simultaneously tugging at its own skin, its whole body burst forth with multicolored intense light!

"Dazzling Gleam."

Countless colorful radiances suddenly appeared, like countless steel needles spreading outward, frantically scouring Scraggy's skin!

Hum!!

"Squeak!"

Blinding flash occupied the surrounding spectators' eyes; by the time a muffled roar of energy explosion reverberated at their ears and a gust of strong wind blew past their faces.

Blurred vision gradually recovered.

Everyone shockingly saw Scraggy had flown from one end of the arena to the other.

Lying on its back, utterly silent.

"It's over?"

"So fast! What's this person's background!"

"You don't even know the Aole Champion? Do you ever go online?"

The crowd discussed heatedly; Longzhi Village's Dragon Tamers also weren't all familiar with Baimu — some of them simply never go online, spending all day deep in mountains and old forests —

Being cut off from the internet is very common in the Pokémon world.

Like Satoshi, he belongs to the real-world players; he basically doesn't touch the internet, and even rarely contacts his old friends through the Pokemon line — it's all active video calls, or going over to see them.

In short, for a moment countless gazes converged on Baimu and Gengar — curiosity, admiration, awe, and wariness all mixed together.

Ailisi and Yueju grew even more eager for their battle with him; Xia Ka gazed silently, not uttering a word.

Baimu brought the grinning Gengar off the field.

Miss Xijiana took the field next; the Dragon Village likewise arranged a Dragon Tamer opponent for her, and the two sides launched into an exchange battle —

Hydreigon versus Druddigon.

Without a doubt, the Pokemon Miss Xijiana entered was not her ace.

Although neither held back during the battle, it was clear both sides weren't that relaxed.

She did win...

"You seem to have reservations?" Baimu struck up a conversation with Miss Xijiana as she came off.

Miss Xijiana glanced at him. "I'm here to establish exchange and cooperation between the two places, not to win a competition."

"A battle ought to remain pure; like this you'll never be able to catch Kyurem." Baimu wasn't lecturing her, but giving Miss Xijiana a preventive inoculation.

In the movie, Kyurem places great importance on the quality of a duel — it doesn't allow outsiders to participate, doesn't allow opponents to flee, and so on.

Once you make a mistake, the consequences are quite severe.

Miss Xijiana hmphed. "Public and private, I distinguish clearly."

At the same time Xia Ka suddenly walked over this way; he looked at Miss Xijiana and said, "You have excellent Dragon-type talent; have you considered studying abroad in Unova?"

"Study abroad? Me?"

Miss Xijiana was bewildered by this out-of-the-blue remark.

Xia Ka nodded. "I've opened a Souryuu Academy, which has gathered many outstanding trainers from the Unova region; if you're willing, I can arrange it."

"... No need, thank you."

Miss Xijiana refused decisively.

Although her age was at most two or three years older than Ailisi, she had never attended school since she could remember; elders had always taught her to read.

Now it was even more impossible for her to go attend some school for no reason.

"Is that so, I understand. If you change your mind, you can come find me at the Souryuu Gym."

Xia Ka turned and left.

Miss Xijiana still felt somewhat baffled — is the Souryuu Gym Leader that fond of recruiting students?

Ailisi said softly, "Teacher Xia Ka might have taken a liking to her!"

Baimu: "Hm?"

Yueju chuckled. "The old man's looking for a successor; he'd already found one, but then that one became Champion."

"Successor?"

Miss Xijiana half-understood, half-didn't.

Baimu understood and said, "He wants to cultivate you into the next Souryuu Gym Leader."

"This... isn't that too rash?" Miss Xijiana found it hard to believe.

He said, "He merely has that thought; he feels you have talent, ability."

Back then Ailisi was also spotted by Xia Ka at a glance.

It's just a pity this little miss didn't follow the game's path of serving as Gym Leader first, then becoming Champion — instead she leapt three chi high and directly became Unova's strongest.

Ailisi fretted, "If possible, I'd actually be willing to serve concurrently as Gym Leader..."

What a terrifying thought!

Making League challengers adapt to the Champion League in advance, is that it?

Baimu was speechless; he thought to himself that these two years there've really been many successor searches — first the Ruri Gym, Elite Four Shi Yuan Zhi, now the Souryuu Gym.

Soon the celebration tournament proceeded a few more rounds.

None were a match for a single exchange.

Baimu, Yueju, Ailisi, and Miss Xijiana — the four of them stood out.

The Dragon Village also deliberately didn't arrange them to meet early; one can see just how casual the celebration tournament was — truly entertainment value outweighed competitiveness.

That afternoon.

The celebration tournament entered its final stage.

The four who stood out began to face off — Baimu versus Yueju, Ailisi versus Miss Xijiana.

Before the match began.

Yueju suddenly fished a coin from between his fingers. "Just a single one-on-one — you shouldn't feel satisfied with that, right?"

"What do you mean?"

Baimu watched him pull out his phone and light up the screen.

【World Championships Super Ball Tier Rank 101】

He smiled. "Right now I'm only a step away from Hyper Ball Tier; if I beat you, I can reach Hyper Ball Tier. How about it?"

"A mixed battle? Would doing this at the Dragon Village's festival be inappropriate?" Baimu considered the Dragon Village's feelings first.

Although the celebration doesn't seem very serious, everyone's laughing and joking, one still can't just act recklessly.

Yueju said, "I naturally sought their opinion already. Don't worry, the celebration tournament isn't that strict a competition; it's only equivalent to a ball's opening dance."

"... Then alright."

Baimu couldn't wait to reach Hyper Ball Tier sooner, get selected for the Eight Masters.

Match successful!

Rotom Drone entered the field.

It announced the rules publicly, and the Dragon Tamers of Dragon Village not only didn't get angry, but watched with great interest.

"Aureole Champion versus the Unova Four! It's getting serious now!"

"How many versus how many? Two on two? If only it were a full battle..."

"Master Ball tier doesn't have full battle rules!"

The crowd discussed animatedly.

Inside the battlefield.

Gengar entered like a wraith, still serving as the vanguard to face the Unova Four member Bilberry's Pokemon.

But Bilberry didn't choose Krookodile.

His choice was——

"Bisharp!"

A humanoid Pokemon with blades on its head and cheeks, Bisharp appears!

Bilberry fiddled with a coin, smiling: "Let me experience the feeling of walking a tightrope. The gamble begins!"

?? ps: promoting a new book

?"Pokemon Livestream: Who Says This Pokemon Is Trash?"

? Synopsis:

?"Poor Vulpix, can't breathe fire, can't use psychic, weak constitution and even self-ignites.

? Everyone thinks it's trash, but only the streamer tells it, steady! All steady!"

?"Infernape has a good temper, can't learn Frustration, can't evolve?"

?"Steady!"

?"Lucario can't sense Aura?"

?"Steady, all steady!"

?"All trash Pokemon are steady!"

?"Follow the streamer's rhythm, break through the Elite Four in the future, surpass the Champion, complete the comeback against the wind!"

? At first, people only thought Xia Mu was doing it for show effect.

? But to everyone's surprise, not long after, the former trash actually surpassed the Champion, successfully turning the tables against the wind.

? Regarding this, trash breeding master Xia Mu said:

?"Who says this Pokemon is trash?"

?"There are no trash Pokemon, only trash Trainers."

?...

? 【Livestream + Breeding + Appraisal + Gym】

? 【Fused worldview, game + anime, adopting some Special Chapter settings】

? Keywords: Spirit, Pokemon, Magical Baby, Pocket Monsters, Pet Little Spirits

? (End of chapter)