Chapter 211: Big and Little Steelix

Since Steelix's body was far too massive, there was simply no place indoors where it could stay.

Baimu had no choice but to carry a huge plate of curry rice to the back of the Pokémon Center, borrowing the open space there to feed Steelix.

It was now evening.

The changing of seasons from spring to summer made the daylight stretch a little longer.

The small park behind the Pokémon Center was crowded with people — some having impromptu battles, others taking post-meal walks to aid digestion, and still others chatting idly with nothing to do. Seeing him come out carrying such a giant basin of curry rice, they all cast curious glances his way.

Feeding Pokémon here was common enough, but serving up such a huge basin was rare.

Baimu had no wish to draw attention, so he wandered around the small park for quite a while before finding a spot with relatively few people.

Bang!

A white light flickered.

"Nyoro!"

The super-giant Steelix that landed let out a thunderous, muffled roar. Its bronze-cast, dark-red eyes fell upon Baimu and the curry rice, and it excitedly lowered its head. "Roar!

"Yes, it's lunchtime!" Baimu smiled and patted its head. "Was the food good in Iron Town? I doubt N would have mistreated you."

"Roar~" Steelix let out an eager, chirping cry.

As the two exchanged greetings, Steelix's enormous figure drew the attention of the surrounding people. Steelix wasn't exactly a common Pokémon to begin with, and its terrifying size left them utterly awestruck.

"Is that a Pokémon?"

"What a frightening size! It's got to be over ten meters, right?"

"A Steelix, huh. I've wanted to see one for ages but never had the chance… I really want a Pokémon like that."

"Then go trade with him, hehe."

"Forget it, that guy looks pretty fierce to me."

The mosquito-whisper conversations let Baimu relax, though he grew a little curious and used Steelix's forehead as a mirror to check his own reflection. Did he really look fierce?

It shouldn't be that bad.

He was clearly quite popular aboard the Eon MS. Pascalia.

It was probably because those people were all around the same age — Baimu recalled that most of those acquaintances were around eighteen or nineteen.

And as a starting point for newcomers, most of the trainers appearing at the Whitewood Town Pokémon Center wouldn't be very old.

"I'll just take it as a novelty. I don't dare ask for too much."

He patted Steelix's head, and the latter eagerly began to enjoy the curry rice. The portion was admittedly small, but it ate with great relish, utterly absorbed in the meal.

Just as it was eating with gusto, Brock's voice came from a distance.

"Baimu!"

"I'm over here!"

Baimu called back, and when he went over, he found Brock running toward him with the leftover curry. "That was the last pot — everyone's finished eating — huh! That's huge!"

Even Brock, with his vast experience traveling across four regions, couldn't help being moved at the sight of the super-giant Steelix.

"Roar… roar?!"

Steelix, which had just finished its curry rice, turned its head and, spotting the newcomer still holding curry rice, its eyes lit up instantly. It immediately prepared to rush over and feast.

But the moment it caught sight of Baimu in its peripheral vision, it calmed right down.

"Roar~"

The super-giant Steelix let out a pleading, low rumble, looking pitifully at its Trainer.

Brock laughed. "Looks like you're pretty strict about its portions?"

"Small meals, more often. If you're not careful, it's easy to overeat — they're just like little children."

Baimu gently stroked Steelix's head. "But getting to eat such delicious curry rice for once and not being able to eat its fill just won't do — it'd be a real shame."

Being indirectly praised left Brock a little embarrassed. He carried the pot over to the food basin and poured all the remaining curry in.

"Roar~"

Extra serving~

Steelix eagerly twisted its body forward.

"It's at least eighteen meters, right? Truly magnificent — you raised it yourself?" While Steelix ate, Brock reached out and touched its metallic shell.

The latter didn't mind, seemingly sensing that this person was on good terms with its Trainer.

In the past, Steelix wouldn't have been this easygoing. But after spending so long in Iron Town, being used as a slide by the local children, and with N stepping in to soothe it, its temperament had grown considerably milder than before.

"No, when I got it, it was already this size — a result of natural growth." Baimu shook his head. That Steelix was wild-caught had been confirmed by N.

"Wild, huh… impressive."

Brock nodded. He had heard Ash mention encountering an Onix made entirely of crystal over in the Orange Islands.

If even a Pokémon like that existed, a super-giant Steelix was naturally nothing out of the ordinary.

"By the way, you wanted to ask me how to raise Steelix?"

He turned his head and asked, somewhat uncertain.

"That's right."

Baimu pulled two Poké Balls from his pocket again. "I'd also like your guidance on raising Chansey and Aggron."

Aggron was a Rock-type Pokémon, so Brock, as a Rock specialist, ought to be able to give him some good advice.

Brock, holding the pot, pondered for a few seconds, then suggested: "How about we have a Pokémon battle?"

"Uh, but what I want to know about is the raising side of things…"

"A battle will let you notice the differences between our two Steelix. Once you actively recognize those differences, my explanation afterward will go much more smoothly."

"…Fair point."

Baimu was persuaded by Brock, so the latter took the pot and ran back to change clothes.

—

As a former Gym Leader, Xiaogang's strength was naturally not to be underestimated.

Traveling together with Xiaozhi, he had not only gathered more varieties of Pokémon, but his strength had also greatly increased compared to the past.

More crucially—

During the Sun and Moon period, he had displayed the power of Mega Evolution.

All Baimu was not sure whether, at his current stage, he could Mega Evolve his Steelix, but he had to keep an eye out and summon every ounce of focus to face him as an enemy.

Dusk. The sun was setting.

In a spacious battleground near the Pokémon Center.

The two took their respective positions.

"Although the goal is to discover each other's shining points, I hope you can bring out your full strength and let me see the coordination between you. That matters more than victory or defeat."

Although he had already stepped down from his position as Gym Leader, every time he battled someone, Xiaogang could not help but view things from a Gym Leader's perspective.

"Of course!"

Meeting Xiaogang's words, All Baimu nodded without the slightest hesitation.

Immediately after.

Both sides released their respective Pokémon.

The first to appear were undoubtedly two Steelix whose size difference was extremely obvious.

To be fair, Xiaogang's was not raised poorly either; his Steelix was roughly estimated to be about twelve or thirteen meters long, but regrettably, whether in length or in other aspects, there was still a gap compared to All Baimu's Steelix with four horizontal steel frames.

"Hah-roo!"

Xiaogang's Steelix stared in astonishment at the super-giant Steelix not far away, and could not help but turn its head to glance at its Trainer.

What on earth did this thing eat to grow this big?

Compared to it, I can only count as a Little Steelix, right?

"Careful! The attack is coming!" Xiaogang did not answer Steelix's doubt, only swiftly giving a reminder, "Use Gyro Ball!"

*slurp slurp*.