Chapter 1456

The Mew Project.

A special project established with the purpose of exploring the border islands and unveiling Mew, the world's most mysterious Pokémon.

The leaders are Professor Suigao and his two students, Asahi and Aken.

As early as the year before last, Baimu got to know them by chance while capturing the Rock Pillar and the Ice Pillar, and together they launched the capture plan for the Hoenn Three Pillars.

In the end, the Three Pillars were all captured by him, and this has continued to the present.

And when Baimu participated in the World Championships, Professor Suigao, considering the manpower issue, publicly recruited new members worldwide.

Currently, five people have been confirmed——

Aken, Asahi, Xiao Mao, Shichuo, and Baimu.

Huh?

The headcount doesn't seem quite right?

Baimu vaguely remembered that the Mew Project originally should have had another member.

Asahi explained: "Xiao Mao and Shichuo ranked first and second in stamp count, so we chose them, especially Shichuo, who gained Regigigas's acknowledgment."

So it was downsized!

Baimu suddenly realized, thinking to himself that it was most likely his own fault again.

Because he had promised Professor Suigao that he would participate in the Mew Project and explore the border islands together with everyone.

So Professor Suigao reduced the originally required headcount to four, leaving a spot for him.

This left Baimu at a loss for words for a moment.

Moreover, he had already met Mew, and this guy had even introduced a Mewtwo; in a certain sense, it wasn't really necessary……

Forget it, since he had promised, he couldn't just go back on his word halfway.

What if the Mew on the border islands isn't the same one he knows?

"I might still need some time."

Once he returned to the Orre region, Baimu would have to get busy.

Asahi smiled: "No problem! The climate over at the border islands hasn't reached a level where landing is possible yet."

Climate, huh.

Baimu thought of the Shiny Rayquaza again; that guy ran off during the semifinals, and wild Legendary Pokémon mostly cannot adapt long-term to places with too much human presence.

If it's still there, resolving the extreme weather phenomena on the border islands shouldn't be a big problem.

The three exchanged greetings and said their goodbyes after chatting for just a few sentences.

Asahi and Aken had to go meet up with Professor Suigao in the wilderness area, while Xiao Mao went to look for Xiao Zhi; the two had already met yesterday and agreed to return to Pallet Town together today.

After the Eight Masters Tournament ended, tourists also left Gong Sect City one after another, including Baimu's circle of relatives and friends.

The Orre team led by Shanren left in the greatest hurry, not even bringing this core figure along; the Team Rocket trio left with the group, heard their performance was good, and the TV station was going to distribute bonuses to them.

Poor Team Rocket trio, their financial situation is often so dire they can't even feed themselves; days when they can collect a bonus are rare.

The Elder also left with the People of the Meteor; Xijiana didn't take the same flight as them, but instead went to Unova together with Ellis.

This made Baimu suspect whether she would be able to capture Kyurem very soon.

Regarding this, Xijiana just wanted to roll her eyes, "Dragons only submit to the strong; I at most earned its respect, allowed to appear within its territory."

Although she also really wanted to capture Kyurem, she understood even more that such a Legendary Pokémon was absolutely not something she could control.

If it were Baimu, there would still be some slight possibility.

The performance of Mega Aggron in the Eight Masters finals let her glimpse a sliver of opportunity.

However, on the matter of capturing Kyurem, Baimu didn't have much desire.

He is a Dragon Tamer, that's true, but he hasn't developed to the stage of "dragon cancer" yet; Kyurem is indeed cool and strong, but raising it is a separate matter entirely.

At least for now, Kyurem isn't worth a single Bear Disciple!

Xijiana continuously running to the abandoned mine to wrangle with Kyurem was her way of tempering herself; the girl believed that mastering the Absolute Zero cold of the evil dragon would help her and her dragons adapt to the weakness of low temperatures.

Therefore, even with frostbite in multiple places on her body, she still had to go find Kyurem.

Baimu silently gave a thumbs up.

Worthy of being the cream of the crop among Pokémon people, a Dragon Tamer!

If it were an ordinary person, frozen that many times their body would have developed problems long ago, possibly even requiring amputation.

How could they be like Xijiana, acting like nothing happened, continuing to jump around in front of Kyurem?

As for Xijiana's invitation, we'll talk if there's time later!

Seeing off so many people one after another, Baimu realized he probably wouldn't be able to retire immediately; at the very least, he'd have to make a trip around the world.

Otherwise, there's no way to repay the favor of those who came in person to cheer him on.

An Xier didn't leave with Carnie; after all, she's not her biological daughter, and she still has three good friends at the Orre Academy, so she has to return to the parallel world sooner or later.

Miss Liuqi felt regret upon learning this, that she couldn't personally cultivate a top-tier Coordinator.

She really thought highly of An Xier, feeling the latter had an innate aura that could make the masses like her, very suitable for careers as a star, idol, Coordinator, etc.

An Xier was quite tempted, but actually more willing to be a Trainer.

The wish to capture Rayquaza for her mother has not changed to this day, even after witnessing how powerful the real Rayquaza is.

Hu Pa can definitely do it!

An Xier bet all her chips on it.

One must say, this counts as one of the most perfect investments in history; sooner or later there will be high returns.

Around nine o'clock.

Masude and his wife arrived at the hotel backyard with Bear Disciple in tow, and without saying two sentences, they went off lovey-dovey to shop.

Bear Disciple instantly fell into a helpless, isolated situation.

It was just that it wasn't like Big Mouth Baby and other Pokémon, who were flustered when they first arrived; one could see its temperament was more resilient and serious, even somewhat rigid.

When formally meeting Baimu, it clasped its fists in a martial salute, just like a junior martial artist coming to seek instruction.

"Gu ma!"

"... Hello."

Baimu looked at it and returned the martial salute in the same way, also recalling Tong Ou Xiong.

The two Pokémon were about the same size, but their temperaments were worlds apart.

However.

They seemed to both enjoy beating people up?

"Gu ma!"

When the bear apprentice assumed an attacking stance toward Baimu, not only him, but the other Pokémon were somewhat dazed.

Multi-function phone: "Who are you challenging?"

"Gu ma!"

The bear apprentice stared fixedly at Baimu, its meaning obvious.

The Three-Headed Evil Dragon and Roaring Tail immediately charged at it angrily, their loud voices wailing nonstop, fortunately held back by Gastly and Happiny.

Milleron activated a combat stance, Tao Dai Lang silently kneaded toxic sticky cake, the Three Treasures exchanged glances looking for an opportunity to strike secretly, even E Gui Peng pulled out a spiked rod from its clothes.

Some Pokémon had indeed entered a combat-ready state.

Fortunately, the calm Pokémon were in the majority; Bosokudora stepped forward to look down at this little bean, its overwhelming pressure making the bear apprentice break out in cold sweat.

Yet its movements did not change, its expression remained resolute.

"Gu hou?"

"Gu ma! Gu ma!"

The bear apprentice was not acting aimlessly; it had resolved to fight Baimu, and it had also clarified its reason.

— As a martial arts-seeking Pokémon, it could tell that even without Pokémon, Baimu was very strong; thus, it might as well have them spar!

As long as Baimu wins, it will gain its recognition!

The bear apprentice knew it could certainly not defeat Baimu's Pokémon, but it also hoped to find an opportunity to prove itself and tell Baimu its worth.

Incidentally, it could also get a glimpse of Baimu's strength.

"Miao!"

Alolan Meowth stepped forward to challenge, believing it should be about equal to Baimu and very suitable to fight the bear apprentice.

Roaring Tail quickly chimed in, saying it had disliked the bear apprentice since yesterday, and new and old grievances would be settled together!

Multi-function phone looked at Baimu: "What do you think?"

"Of course I agree."

Baimu agreed without hesitation.

All the Pokémon turned to look at him, their gazes varied.

"The bear apprentice isn't just looking for a trainer, but rather a partner to grow together, right?"

He looked at the bear apprentice's stubborn face and smiled: "A partner and a trainer are different, aren't they?"

"Gu ma..."

The bear apprentice blinked, then showed a deeply moved expression.

He understood!

He truly understood!

As Baimu said, the bear apprentice isn't always thinking about fighting other Pokémon like a battle maniac; it only wants to pursue the limits of martial arts and combat, and for that needs a partner to advance together.

The usual Pokémon-trainer relationship doesn't suit it.

The bear apprentice had already prepared itself for rejection, never expecting Baimu to understand it so well, and suddenly felt the sensation of finding a kindred spirit like flowing water meeting high mountains.

"Gu ma~"

"Alright, everyone step back."

Baimu waved his hand, signaling the Pokémon to make way.

The livestream was still ongoing, and many people found it wonderful that the new world champion was about to engage in hand-to-hand combat with a strange Pokémon.

Is this how high-end trainers fight?

Capturing Pokémon relies entirely on oneself?

No matter what, a battle between human and Pokémon instantly kicked off.

"Gu ma!"

The bear apprentice shouted, charging at Baimu at breakneck speed, this posture clearly showing no intention of holding back.

Obviously, it was exerting a hundred percent of its strength.

Meanwhile, Baimu refused the electric baton silently offered by the Shiny Gastly, as dealing with the bear apprentice truly wasn't necessary.

Don't forget, he now wields the power of the stone tablet!

Although during the livestream it's not good to show it too obviously, but dealing with a bear apprentice is still more than enough!

Faced with the bear apprentice lunging in, he simply shifted his body to dodge the knife-hand strike from the side, and using his size advantage, he fiercely kicked toward it!

"Gu ma!"

The bear apprentice reacted well, sensing the strong wind behind it, immediately leapt to avoid it, and simultaneously its head lit up with white light, like a fleeting white meteor, until it rushed toward Baimu!

【Headbutt】!

This guy even used his move, clearly going all out.

Baimu also had no intention of holding back, dodged sideways again, his feet flashing with faint, almost imperceptible thin white light, his overall speed suddenly increasing by a notch, his right hand shooting out like lightning, grabbing the bear apprentice's occiput.

Then...

Indestructible Grasp! Noxus Guillotine!

Baimu ruthlessly slammed the bear disciple's head into the lawn, then mercilessly continued the war stomping, the thudding sounds continuous and unbroken.

The livestream fell silent, hundreds of thousands watching online, as if they were all robots.

A few seconds later.

Baimu stepped back, the dust raised by the relentless stomping gradually clearing, revealing the bear disciple propping itself up, dizzy and disoriented.

Beneath it appeared a pit equal in size to itself, having been completely embedded just moments ago.

"Gu, gu ma?"

The bear disciple looked somewhat dazed, seemingly unable to process what had just happened.

It turned its head toward the watching Pokémon, seeing not mockery or ridicule in their eyes, but undisguised pity.

Even the three-headed dragon felt a bit sorry for this guy.

The trainer lacks martial virtue, using the power of stone slabs to bully children.

Happiny kindly stepped forward, trying to help the bear disciple up, "happy~"

"Gu ma!"

The bear disciple waved its hand.

It could still keep fighting!

Baimu smiled and said: "Not admitting defeat?"

"Gu ma!"

The bear disciple indicated that boxing matches have three rounds, and what just happened could only count as one round.

Baimu nodded and said: "Alright."

The second round began accordingly.

This time the bear disciple became clever, no longer recklessly attacking Baimu, but instead trying to use its agility to attack his lower body.

To be honest, this fighting style of theirs is actually quite effective.

Although Baimu certainly had the size advantage, dealing with the bear disciple's tactic of sticking close to the legs and dodging, he truly found it hard to counter for a moment.

So.

He feigned an opening.

Deliberately retreating to the pit where the bear disciple had just been smashed, pretending to lose balance and fall backward.

Seeing this, the bear disciple indeed fell for it, eyes lighting up as it lunged forward, swinging out a 【Rock Smash】 heavy punch, hoping to knock Baimu down in one blow.

Unfortunately too young, the moment Baimu hit the ground he immediately braced himself with one hand, then his legs swept out like a propeller, firmly kicking the bear disciple flying.

And then——

Dragon Impact! Charged Power Punch! War Stomp! Stomp!

A small combo again defeated the bear disciple.

"Hah."

Baimu exhaled a turbid breath, then said to the livestream audience staring blankly again: "Good kids don't learn this, proper trainers catch Pokémon, and still need to rely on Pokémon!"

Need to explain?

Common sense!

Many watching the livestream went berserk with criticism, their impression of Baimu refreshed once again.

How can this person be so strong in fighting too!

In the Pokémon world, martial artists who can defeat Pokémon are not few; most gym leaders of fighting-type gyms can battle low-level Pokémon.

But so far, no champion has been heard of who relies on their own strength to catch Pokémon.

"Gu ma..."

The bear disciple struggled to prop up its body, this time feeling even more dizzy.

Happiny observed its mental state, unable to help but feel pity: "happy..."

This kid, don't get stepped on and made stupid by the trainer.

Bonsly also chimed in, "Gu hou."

"Not letting you step on? Fine then."

Baimu easily accepted Bonsly's suggestion, his gaze sweeping over a certain fat fox watching the show.

Shiny Zoroak's expression stiffened, it immediately shrank behind the other Pokémon, simultaneously beginning to tremble.

Mom! Too brutal!

Good thing I didn't resist much back then, if caught, I'd probably get beaten even more fiercely!

It truly felt the bear disciple was pitiful, thinking it had come to a good home, but actually this place is a demon's den!

Shiny Zoroak saw Baimu quickly grab the bear disciple, pressing it to the ground to rub, and swallowed hard with difficulty.

Anciently, when the rabbit dies the fox grieves; now, when the bear hurts the fox fears!