Chapter 529: Brute Force, That's All

【You have defeated Bottle Gym Leader Haide and obtained the Bottle Badge】

Successfully obtained the fourth badge.

The Dancer did not rush to the next city, but hoped to taste Haide's Surging Seas cuisine one more time—after all, Burn Bug had never tried such a delicacy before.

Haide was flattered by the praise; being naturally warm and cheerful, how could he possibly refuse.

It happened that the Dancer had brought back some Alola Golden Seaweed, so he simply used it as a base to whip up a seafood feast.

【You ate so well you nearly swallowed your own tongue, and seeing your Pokémon so happy made you smile from the heart】

Meal over.

The Dancer set off on a new journey.

The next stop was Jinhui Town, also located in West Area 3 and extremely close to the previous city; even with the Dancer battling wild classmates along the roadside while traveling, she still arrived in less than a day.

Having gathered relevant intel in advance, she once again changed Oricorio's style.

【Your Oricorio's Pom-Pom Style has changed to Baile Style】

Baile Style transformed Oricorio from a peppy cheerleader into a beautiful dancer holding a folding fan, its purple feathers giving off an air of quiet mystique.

【You have arrived at Jinhui Town, a town that exudes a nostalgic atmosphere; its tangled roads and eateries found everywhere delight you】

Paldea's food culture seemed exceptionally developed; since the Dancer arrived in the west, nearly every town offered her some culinary delight that caught her interest.

Interestingly enough.

When the Dancer resisted the temptation and went to register at the Gym, the front desk staff instead told her that Gym Leader Aoki was currently dining at a restaurant called Treasure Canteen.

Because it was currently break time.

【You think, well in that case, you might as well go sample Jinhui Town's cuisine too】

The Dancer headed to Treasure Canteen with her Pokémon.

She actually wanted to meet the Jinhui Gym Leader, but after wandering around Treasure Canteen for several loops, none of the patrons seemed like a Gym Leader.

Either office workers or old men and women—and half of them might even be her classmates.

【You can only sit down near the bar and ask a weary-looking middle-aged man for information】

But the innate high affinity that always worked in the past seemed to have failed.

The Dancer couldn't get much useful Gym intel from him, only learning that Treasure Canteen had a secret menu, and that squeezing lemon juice over grilled rice balls was a grown-up taste that kids wouldn't understand, and so on.

【Seeing the weariness on his face and his sincere attitude toward the food, you decide not to disturb his private time any further】

Baimu looked at that middle-aged man and couldn't help but quip, "This guy's gotta be the Gym Leader, right?"

He was the only one nearby with a different portrait—had to be the Gym Leader.

Too bad the Dancer didn't have his "god's-eye view," and assumed he was just an ordinary diner, not daring to interrupt his enjoyment too much.

Not long after.

When the Dancer arrived at the Gym once more.

The front desk accepted her registration and once again sent her to Treasure Canteen, because the Jinhui Gym's trial was to order a secret set meal from there.

The Dancer's face went blank.

"That counts as a trial?" Baimu couldn't help but complain—cooperating with livestreams, running errands, fine, but ordering a hidden menu at a restaurant? Really now.

A trial purely tailored to the Gym Leader's personal tastes, isn't it?

On screen, the Dancer rushed back to Treasure Canteen without delay, and learned from the order-taker that he couldn't reveal the secret menu, only giving feedback on whether the secret menu was correct based on the dish, quantity, doneness, and left-over results of the Dancer's order.

The order-taker helpfully hinted that she could obtain the answer from other Gym challengers in town.

So.

The Dancer turned around, ready to leave.

But halfway there, the Dancer stopped in her tracks.

【You turn around and ask the order-taker if there's a limit on how many times you can order the secret menu; hearing him say there isn't, the corner of your mouth curls up】

Undoubtedly, faced with a trial that had fixed options, the Dancer figured she could crack it through trial and error.

The order-taker clearly wasn't facing this kind of Gym challenger for the first time, and remained utterly composed.

The Dancer began choosing one by one.

Because the simulation sped up this segment, Baimu had a hard time figuring out exactly how many options Treasure Canteen's menu had; he only knew that the order-taker's composure quickly vanished.

The little expressions in the speech bubble above this guy's head kept changing rapidly, looking like he was on the verge of a breakdown.

Heaven knows how long passed.

Accompanied by Flamigo, the Dancer displayed unprecedented perseverance and thick skin; without disturbing other customers and only pestering the order-taker, she successfully ordered the secret set meal.

In the simulation, the order-taker's face flushed red, as if his brain had overheated, and he left right after confirming the secret set meal.

【You learn from a regular customer that many Gym challengers have harbored similar ideas, but without exception, they either guessed correctly early on or were too thin-skinned to see it through】

In other words, the Dancer was the first to brute-force her way through with sheer "perseverance."

【Hearing his admiring words, you suddenly feel a bit embarrassed, but what made you keep going? You can't help but look at Flamigo】

Traveling together with Pokémon really can change a person in many ways.

The Dancer had gone from her original introverted, withdrawn personality to becoming confident and cheerful, her courage growing too—not only daring to run around everywhere, but even after being attacked by Team Star, she had the nerve to approach them and explain herself.

Who in their right mind would walk into an environment so obviously unfavorable to themselves?

Just then.

The diners in Treasure Canteen's main hall began to leave one after another; tables and cushions were carried away by the staff, and then, under the Dancer's stunned gaze, the main hall transformed into a battle arena.

"Hiss! That's impressive!"

Baimu sucked in a breath of cold air, unable to fathom how the Jinhui Gym Leader had convinced Treasure Canteen's owner to remodel his restaurant.

Could the backer be the same person?

Heaven knows.

A middle-aged man with an unexpectedly different pixel art sprite walked over from the bar; the dancer's head displayed an exclamation mark—she hadn't expected her randomly chosen information source to be the Gym Leader herself.

【You observed the opponent's listless movements and strongly doubted whether they were fit to serve as Gym Leader.】

But the facts proved otherwise.

A Trainer's strength has no fixed connection to how weak they appear.

Aoki, Gym Leader of Jinhuí Gym, also a staff member of the Paldea Pokémon League and one of the Four Guardians, specializes in Normal-type Pokémon…

Very strong.

【You noticed Aoki's moves and tactics were quite ordinary; he himself admitted his strength was average among Gym Leaders, yet within this mediocrity lingered an unmistakable power.】

Perhaps difficulty surged starting from the fifth Gym Badge, or perhaps strength had reached a bottleneck.

Though the dancer won, it was hard-fought—Aoki's socialite skill 【Endure】 was astonishingly resilient, knocking out Sweetlily and Blaziken.

Even Flowerdancer had barely any HP left; though immune to 【Endure】, it couldn't resist the sharp rock strikes of Terrakion's Stone Edge.

In the end, the dancer defeated the transformed Tera-type Mimikyu using her Tera-converted Water-type Excadrill.

【You defeated Gym Leader Aoki of Jinhuí Gym and earned the Jinhuí Badge.】

【You were treated to a meal by Aoki.】

Treating victorious Gym challengers to meals seemed to be Aoki's habit; judging by who paid, this Pokémon Bistro was not his own.

"Hmm… why does this feel so much like Gorou?" Baimu fell into deep thought.

A salaryman, middle-aged, thin-faced, fond of food—wasn't this just "Lonely Gourmet" incarnate?

Of course, it might just be an illusion.

——

Leaving Jinhuí Town.

As before, the dancer received a notification about a new course added by her school.

She couldn't help but feel conflicted.

【From Aoki, you learned that future Gym battles would grow increasingly difficult, and the Gym Leader of Frostveil Mountain, Gulu Xia, was called the strongest Gym Leader.】

Simply put, it had nothing to do with the course—she simply wanted to return and train further with her Battle Studies teacher, Huang Bo, but feared missing Mei Loke, leaving her torn.

In contrast to her hesitation.

Excadrill and the other Pokémon were more decisive; once the dancer delegated part of the decision to them, they unanimously agreed they should return to train.

【A stable, long-running novel app, rivaling the classic "Chase the Book Miracle," used by veteran readers for source switching.】

The battle with Aoki made them aware of their own weaknesses—without improvement, they could never defeat stronger Gyms.

Under the Pokémon's encouragement, the dancer accepted their proposal and prepared to train at maximum speed.

"Lucky you have the Talent for Skilled Training."

Baimu watched the dancer return to campus and begin her course-sweeping routine, thinking Paldea's Gym Leaders, like those of Galar, generally deployed stronger Pokémon against challengers than other regions.

Why?

Because there's no League Conference!

He had researched Paldea's League and discovered it didn't hold League Conferences at all—only the Champion League, the Four Guardians battles, which seemed tied to Paldea's unique Champion-tier Trainer positions.

Only the person at the apex of the Champion tier—the "Chief Champion"—was equivalent to a League staff member, regarded as the Regional Champion elsewhere.

Similar to Galar, which held only the Champion Cup, not League Conferences or Champion Leagues.

According to the narrator, the dancer, with five Badges, was already considered strong within Orange Academy, and her status within the school grew ever higher.

Specifically, whenever she walked down the halls, men, women, young, and old all stopped and stepped aside for her, while little red hearts floated above their heads.

Baimu: "?"

What third-rate domestic school drama trope is this? Campus goddess?

But the dancer clearly didn't care—what she most wanted now was to grow stronger as fast as possible, then head straight to Frostveil Mountain to challenge its two Gyms.

【You passed the Home Economics midterm exam.】

【You passed the Art midterm exam.】

…

After successfully passing a series of new course midterms and earning recognition of her strength from Battle Studies teacher Huang Bo.

The dancer finally fulfilled her wish and set off for Frostveil Mountain.

During this time.

【Your Blaziken evolved into Volcarona.】

From silkworm to moth was a devastating blow to Blaziken, for it lost its "legs."

How can you dance without legs?

Volcarona remained despondent for a long time, but gradually accepted reality after being comforted by the dancer and Excadrill, eventually creating its own "Fire Dance," based on 【Butterfly Dance】 and 【Fire Dance】.

Merging entertainment and combat into one.

Of course.

It wasn't just Volcarona—through the dancer's intervention and the Pokémon's own encouragement, they all successfully created a unique "Battle Dance."

It greatly aided positioning and rhythm control.

When Baimu saw it, he thought it was slightly stronger than the Ghost Step dance known by all Tiyeluno members.

"Battle Dance… if only this could be rewarded."

He thought that although most of his Pokémon lacked dance talent, if Big-Mouth Baby could do it, that was enough—why be greedy?

Unfortunately, luck might not be so kind.

In the scene.

The dancer activated her travel mode; the screen changed rapidly—but before reaching Frostveil Mountain, the simulation speed suddenly returned to normal.

The reason was that the Dancer had suddenly discovered a glowing Skitty in the Western Third District.

【Through your knowledge, you learn that this opponent is a special Dynamaxed Pokémon born from environmental influence, possessing a Dynamax type different from its own】

This was the first time the Dancer had been drawn in by a wild Pokémon; its soothing fragrance and graceful figure deeply captivated her.

【You decide to catch this Skitty】

The Dancer, now swift and decisive, sent out Magmortar; although Skitty's Dynamax type turned out to be Fairy, Magmortar still overpowered it with sheer strength.

【You caught Skitty, and your shy dance partner increased】

"Hmm… even though both are Grass-type, Skitty specializes in Special Attack and its Dynamax type is Fairy, so it's not too similar."

Baimu nodded firmly.

In an instant.

The Dancer arrived safely at Frosty Mountain, but as someone who could get lost even with a map and compass, the snow-covered, barren expanse of Frosty Mountain left her lost.

She had planned to challenge the Frosty Mountain Gym first, but after wandering for hours, she only found Icebox Town.

【You arrived at Icebox Town; its lights filled you with unusual warmth】

On the frigid snowy mountain, Icebox Town was so comforting that the Dancer couldn't bear to leave—she had been frozen for too long.

So.

【You decide to challenge the Icebox Gym first】

Considering her own need for warmth, the Dancer signed up at the Icebox Gym.

Unexpectedly…

The Icebox Gym Leader, Taim, made her solve math problems!

【You hear Taim laughing as he claims he wants to quit being Gym Leader and become a math teacher at Orange Academy】

No way!

Baimu bared his teeth. "Gym Leader becomes a teacher?"

He couldn't understand it, but the Dancer's expression suggested she wholeheartedly agreed—perhaps because of all the teachers who had cared for her at Orange Academy?

As an academic prodigy, basic math was no challenge for the Dancer; she passed effortlessly.

The Gym battle officially began.

For the first time, she integrated Dance Combat techniques into battle; Pokémon like Wild Dance Duck performed far beyond her expectations, especially since Taim, a Rock-type Gym Leader, was weak to Wild Dance Duck, Sweet Cold Queen, and Skitty.

Lycanroc, Giant Rock, and Charcoal Mountain all fell easily to the Dancer.

【You notice the previous sense of limit has vanished】

During her battle with Jin Hui Gym Leader Qingmu, the Dancer had felt the limits of herself and Wild Dance Duck and the others; now, she finally regained her initial ease and comfort.

Taim's final Pokémon, Saltstone Colossus, was defeated by Wild Dance Duck's Soul Leap—【Takedown】.

【You defeated Icebox Town Gym Leader Taim and earned the Icebox Badge】