Chapter 728: To Take Leave or Not

The standoff between the two sides lasted only an instant.

The Sunflora's translucent sound waves shattered Ursaring's sound waves like a tsunami.

"Big bro!"

Silver watched in alarm as Ursaring was blasted away once more, his hands covering his ears tightening slightly.

【Uproar】 may be a Normal-type move, but when used by the physically-oriented Ursaring, its power was truly limited.

By contrast, the Sunflora's Special Attack received a leap in power under the effect of the 【Solar Power】 Ability, so it was hardly surprising that it could win a beam clash even against a non-STAB opponent.

Setting aside the triggering conditions and side effects, Solar Power could be called a god-tier Ability.

It was perfectly normal for Ursaring to be outmatched.

"Boss…"

"Hang in there, boss!"

Some of the Arena trainers, looking at Silver's solemn expression, couldn't help but shout out.

Seeing that All Baimu didn't stop them, the rest scrambled to start cheering for Silver too, so worked up that some even looked ready to rush down and take Ursaring's place in the battle.

On the opposite side, the noise was just as relentless.

The topic of their chatter was the fact that Ursaring still hadn't gone down — Solar Beam plus two rounds of Uproar, and this Pokémon was just too damn thick-skinned and tough.

But even thick skin and toughness had a limit.

Seeing that Ursaring's remaining stamina was running low, Silver decided to go for broke.

"Thrash!"

【Thrash】 is essentially the Normal-type 【Outrage】, driving the Pokémon into a berserker-like rampage where it mindlessly attacks the opponent.

The key was that during this period of attack, the Pokémon would very likely forget pain, unleashing one hundred percent of its strength — which made Silver feel a turnaround was possible.

If it could take hits and still dish them out, there was no reason to lose.

Sunflora might not have that strong a defense — Silver had privately crammed Pokémon knowledge and knew the opponent's defensive base was very thin.

"Guma!"

Ursaring, wreathed in red smoke, howled and lunged at Sunflora; the translucent sound waves could no longer blast it away like before.

Masayoshi, seeing this scene, wore a very grave expression.

The hallmark of 【Uproar】 was that once it started, it was hard to stop — unless something like the beam clash just now counted as an outside interruption, the energy inside kept surging wave after wave, and there was simply no way to switch moves mid-stream.

"Take it! Sunflora!" he roared.

Inside the field, Ursaring pounced in close and swiped with a paw!

Thud!

With a dull smack, Sunflora took a paw full in the face, the back of its head kissing the ground and cratering out a small pit.

The creature that had been full of spirit just moments ago instantly wilted.

Ursaring still had strength to spare and swiped again, pounding Sunflora's big face with thud-thud-thud like it was pounding mochi — a rather gruesome sight.

The youths of Silph Co. City erupted.

Was a comeback on?

Even though Pokémon battles could shift in the blink of an eye, this was a bit too fast, wasn't it?

Silver and the others were especially fired up, even standing from their seats to wave flags and cheer for Ursaring.

"Take it down!"

"Just one more hit! Just one more!"

Sunflora's head had no HP bar, but everyone could see it was about to give out under Ursaring's paws — just as they were shouting, just one more hit.

"Unfortunately…"

All Baimu sounded faintly regretful.

As the words fell, a brilliant green light blazed like a starburst from beneath the wildly swiping Ursaring; in an instant, countless energy leaves coalesced into a massive tornado, howling as it hurled Ursaring's bulky frame into the air and sent it crashing back down!

Thud!

Dust billowed!

Silver and the others' cheers cut off abruptly, like a Fearow with its throat gripped.

They stared dumbly at Ursaring, whose eyes had become spirals, then at Sunflora, which couldn't lift its head for the longest time, unable to believe how fast the situation had changed.

But in fact, Sunflora's 【Leaf Storm】 wind-up motion had been quite obvious.

Ursaring had pinned down Sunflora's head to stop it from firing Solar Beam back, but forgot that Sunflora's leaves could also attack.

So after using Thrash to interrupt Sunflora's Uproar, it had given the opponent the chance to counterattack.

Of course.

This was also tied to Sunflora's astonishing endurance and the outstanding recovery effect of its rooting.

Ursaring's Attack, buffed by Bulk Up, plus a STAB move, and it still couldn't break through — in the games, ten Sunflora probably wouldn't be enough for one bear to beat.

The youths on the opposite side cheered their victory.

Silver and the others, meanwhile, wilted like eggplants after a frost, dejected and silent.

On the field.

Silver and Masayoshi shook hands, completing the battle's formalities.

All Baimu looked around at everyone, amused: "What? Why the long faces, one and all? If the folks across the way see this they'll think our Pyrite Town people can't take a loss! If you're really not satisfied, then win the next one back!"

"Oh…"

"How about I throw together an impromptu tournament to wake everyone up?"

"Oh!!"

Only then did the Arena trainers answer in loud agreement.

The trainers from Silicon Beryllium City laughed at their strong opening, hearing the unified shouts from across the field with no concern, eagerly anticipating the upcoming battle exchanges.

"If we knock them all down, Baimu will definitely accept our challenge, right?"

"It'll be a breeze!"

"I heard the higher-ups are placing great importance on the outcome of this exchange—everyone must perform well!"

"My Pokémon are already desperate to fight!"

Amid the chaotic chatter, Jin Ge gripped his Poké Ball, his expression filled with anticipation.

He resolved to stand out in this exchange battle to draw Baimu's attention and secure his agreement to the challenge.

——

The exchange entered its formal phase.

The arena's daily mode featured ten standard-sized battlefields.

But to ensure minimal interference between fields and to grant Pokémon more space to move, only five were activated.

"Never mind Did Yin Ma and the others—if any of you lose, don't blame me for making you the first to pay."

Baimu said to Da Zhuang and the others.

The young boys shivered, loudly boasting that even a Legendary would lose to them.

Lady Ayana's lips twitched as she gazed at the group of young trainers across the field, unable to find a suitable "prey."

She had no airs about her, but it was hard for her to initiate a challenge against someone so much younger.

Baimu seemed to sense her hesitation and said, "Don't worry—I'll assign you one. Among these kids, there are likely hidden dragons and tigers—don't underestimate them just because they're young."

"I understand."

Lady Ayana nodded.

The first round of exchange battles began with team selection.

Baimu Sect fielded Cheng Hong and four male arena trainers; Did Yin Ma, Lady Ayana, Kendall, and others watched for now; Silicon Beryllium City sent five teenagers—three boys and two girls.

Both sides freely chose their opponents.

These kids had never faced powerful female trainers from outside, and none dared to bully the thirteen- or fourteen-year-old girls—they rushed to claim the three boys, nearly coming to blows.

The scene was so absurd that laughter erupted from Silicon Beryllium City's side.

Baimu covered his face and sighed.

Fortunately, after much fuss, the lineups were finally settled.

The format was single battles of three-on-three, with electronic referees ensuring impartiality and fairness.

At the moment the match was declared, the ten trainers released their Pokémon one after another.

Baimu focused intently on Cheng Hong.

As a childhood friend, he knew Cheng Hong lacked natural talent in Pokémon breeding, but there's a saying: diligence compensates for lack of talent.

During his six-month journey, Cheng Hong never neglected training his Pokémon, and life aboard the Furious Roar had given him new insights—now was the time to test his progress.

"Gaaao!"

Pang Yan Guai, resembling a rock monster, roared, kicking up a storm of dust.

Opposite it stood the slumbering, pinky-nose-picking Absol, a giant that ignored the sandstorm as if lounging in its bedroom.

Honestly,

Absol was undoubtedly a very powerful Pokémon, but few trainers could properly handle it.

Cheng Hong's opponent—

"Hyper Beam!"

Seeing the silverback-gorilla-like Absol unleash a golden beam of light, Baimu was momentarily speechless.

Meanwhile, Did Yin Ma and the others thought Absol's Hyper Beam looked terrifying, suspecting Pang Yan Guai couldn't withstand it—

But it did withstand it.

Cheng Hong had anticipated the fierce opening attack and immediately ordered Pang Yan Guai to use 【Protect】, causing the Hyper Beam to strike its shield with violent shaking but leaving no sign of breaking through.

He gained an advantage with the first move.

Pang Yan Guai then activated the terrain move 【Stealth Rock】; Absol, affected by its ability, closed its eyes and dozed off.

After laying this "trap," Cheng Hong remained calm, continuing to use 【Protect】; Absol charged in with Arm Hammer, dealing only superficial damage to the shield.

It had no choice but to retreat to safety before its ability's effect expired.

But unexpectedly, Cheng Hong still didn't attack—he chose to boost Defense instead, revealing he had a plan.

After two failed attacks, the opponent refused to withdraw Absol and tried using Yawn to restrict it—but Cheng Hong was too cautious, and on the third try, he used 【Protect】 again.

Now the opponent panicked.

How many opportunities had three useless attacks wasted?

Faint boos drifted from the sidelines, and as the Yawn failed against the 【Protect】 shield, the opponent frantically recalled Absol.

"A rookie? Then it's fine."

Baimu had briefly worried, but seeing the opponent hastily recall his Pokémon, he relaxed completely.

Cheng Hong lacked battle experience, but neither did his opponent have much.

Now look at the other battlefields…

It was a stalemate between evenly matched rivals.

Perhaps due to nervousness, or perhaps because they couldn't decide on a strategy, both trainers gave hesitant commands, causing their Pokémon to hesitate as well.

"You—" Baimu opened his mouth, then reconsidered and decided against it.

If he spoke now, they'd lose focus; besides, the main purpose of this exchange battle was to help them adapt to fighting strangers.

Outside, trainers were everywhere—no need to overcomplicate things; in the Orei region, trainers were scarce, so they had to find ways to increase their battle experience.

Not long after.

Cheng Hong had gained a victory on his end.

The opponent's newly sent-out Persian ate the Stealth Rock first, then ate the Rock Slide Pang Yan Guai had prepared in advance — chunk after chunk of boulder rained down precisely on its skull. It barely managed to stand and tried to counterattack, only to see that monster-like Pokémon charge over first.

【Pursuit】!

Thud!

Persian was seen pinned heavily beneath Pang Yan Guai, nearly squashed from a sleek, leopard-sized cat into a pitiful cat-pancake.

"Collapsed that fast?"

He saw his opponent growing anxious and flustered, and found it quite unexpected.

By all rights, the students under Zhengyi shouldn't have weak mental fortitude, right? Why are they acting like early-indies Ash?

Maybe this person himself was just bottom-tier.

All Baimu looked at the other battlefields — and honestly, the four Pewter City trainers over there were all commanding decently, having reached a stalemate with the Arena trainers.

Not long after.

Cheng Hong, riding Pang Yan Guai's momentum like a hot knife through butter, defeated Slaking as well.

Although Pang Yan Guai was soon taken down by Ambipom's four-hit 【Brick Break】 — two tails, two hands — it still dealt considerable damage to Ambipom before going down.

The replacement Sudowoodo, leveraging Mimic and the damage accumulated from the Sandstorm weather, took it down.

"Ambipom is unable to battle!" The electronic referee's voice rang out loud and clear.

Not counting the warm-up matches of the two Arena leaders.

The Iron Island Arena trainers' side was the first to claim the lead, greatly boosting the morale of Did Yin Ma and the others, and also making the people in the remaining four arenas quickly grow fierce and aggressive.

The Pewter City trainers' faces looked very ugly.

Momentum.

It really is something ethereal and intangible.

Once the remaining four arenas finished their battles, Iron Island Arena had, by some miracle, taken a temporary lead over the Trainer Training Center with a 4:1 advantage.

"Not bad, not bad."

All Baimu nodded in satisfaction, while feeling a bit disappointed in the quality of the Pewter City trainers at this exchange.

In his view, Pewter City's average level should be stronger than Iron Island Town. An exchange between the two sides would help the Arena trainers broaden their horizons, and if they lost badly, it could even serve as a heartening "pull yourself together" pep talk.

But these brats just aren't pulling their weight!

A ten-year-old kid with twenty years of travel experience is about to become a regional champion — how come you lot can't even raid the neighboring town without losing 1:4?

"All of you, get serious! Show me your usual strength!"

Zhengyi's pride couldn't quite bear it. Even he, who didn't pay much attention to results, found the current score bizarre.

"Got it!"

The Pewter City trainers replied in a scattered, half-hearted chorus.

The second wave of battles.

All Baimu sent up Otsuka and Did Yin Ma, who had long been itching to go. Cheng Hong's moment in the spotlight made them feel like they could do it too.

He then picked three Arena trainers who had volunteered, and sat waiting for Pewter City to send out their people.

Across the way.

After careful deliberation, Zhengyi decided to send up a few of the young trainers he thought more highly of.

"Jin Ge! Fude! You two, up!"

"Leave it to me!"

Fude snickered. Jin Ge, on the other hand, silently glanced at Did Yin Ma and Otsuka — he, who had been sneaking peeks at All Baimu, knew these two were personally chosen by All Baimu.

Beating which one would draw All Baimu's attention more?

"Hey! Jin Ge, don't steal that guy from me, got it?" Fude suddenly spoke up, sneakily pointing at Otsuka. "I've been wanting to bully that little blond brat for a while now!"

Little blond brat…

Jin Ge shot him a contemptuous look — his own hair was golden too, and he had the nerve to call someone else a little blond brat.

But if that's the case.

You too, then.

Jin Ge saw Did Yin Ma excitedly turning his head to say something to All Baimu, and secretly resolved to defeat him.

The second wave of the exchange battles began quickly.

Fude got his wish and faced Otsuka; Jin Ge also paired up with Did Yin Ma.

"Hey! Jin Ge! Let's see who wins first!" Fude raised his hand and shouted, completely ignoring the strange looks from the people around him.

Otsuka was stunned.

"What an arrogant little punk! Now I'm definitely gonna make you cry!"