Chapter 262: The Fighting Battle

The next day.

Baimu drew open the curtains and saw dark clouds massed outside; the beautiful blue sea had taken on a rather frightening look.

"This weather... I suppose Fujimura won't be able to go surfing?"

He had spent the previous day online cramming up on Fujimura's reviews, and discovered that the interesting thing about the Fighting Dojo was that in autumn, winter, and spring it was basically five-star reviews, but in summer it didn't have a single star — strongly not recommended.

Because the summer environment was so good, this guy ran off to the seaside every other day, insisting on being caught in person before he'd go back to battle.

"Tricked Kangxi"

But in the other three seasons, Fujimura was comparatively diligent, only ever sneaking off to the secret training base.

"After all these years, it's a wonder he never got taught a lesson by Miss Qiao Yin."

Baimu was very curious whether that Pokémon Inspector Qiao Yin, who carried a Latias, had ever come to the Fighting Dojo.

Arriving at the Fighting Dojo.

The front door was indeed wide open.

Fujimura was sitting right at the entrance, staring at the overcast sky in low spirits.

After all, summer was one day less with every passing day — one overcast day meant one fewer chance to surf; as a surfing fanatic, how could he not feel down?

But upon seeing a challenger arrive, he still forced himself to perk up and rose to greet them.

"Welcome to the Fighting Dojo. You're called Baimu, right?"

"That's right."

Baimu wasn't surprised the other knew who he was — once a reservation was made, the relevant record would naturally appear in the dojo's computer, and the Gym Leader would understand at a glance.

"Then follow me."

Fujimura took the lead, walking into the dojo while saying, "Yesterday I watched your coordination with Bossgodora. I thought it was pretty good. But surfing with a Pokémon is very dangerous — both to yourself and to others — so next time it'd be better to use a surfboard."

He seemed to place particular emphasis on this point — he'd already reminded once yesterday, and today couldn't help but remind again.

He'd even specially weighed his words.

"Understood."

Baimu caught the seriousness in his tone and nodded once more to show he understood.

Passing through a door at the end of the corridor.

A semi-enclosed battle field immediately came into view, but unlike the rock-themed field of the Cianwood Gym, the Fighting Dojo's field was very ordinary.

A girl with a blue ponytail stood within it, wearing what looked like a rather crisp training outfit.

"Master!"

She ran up to Fujimura carrying a number of Poké Balls.

"Thanks." Fujimura thanked her, and noticing Baimu's curious gaze, said: "This is my disciple — Xiao Ren. She's currently training under me, and today she's in charge of being our referee."

"Hello."

Baimu nodded in greeting.

Xiao Ren hurriedly replied, "Hello, please take care of me."

He hadn't recalled who this person was at first, but after thinking it over, he remembered she was also a character who'd appeared in the anime — she'd even nearly thrown a fixed match against the Pikachu God using her Meditite.

Both sides took their positions.

Xiao Ren, flag in hand, loudly read out the match rules.

After she finished reading.

Fujimura took out a Poké Ball and smiled: "Would you mind if I raise the difficulty just a little? Mr. Qianli and Miss Du Juan both rated you quite highly.

"If we still set the difficulty according to the Badge, a Gym battle that's too easy won't do much to train you, will it?"

"You're the Gym Leader — it's up to you to decide."

Baimu had no objections whatsoever.

Hearing this, Fujimura immediately threw his Poké Ball forward. "In that case — Machamp! I'm counting on you!"

Bang!

"Hrah!"

A four-armed humanoid Pokémon, Machamp, its skin like grey rock and its muscles thick and powerful, landed on the ground.

"Just a little" raise in difficulty.

Baimu grumbled inwardly, but his hand was already throwing out the Poké Ball he'd prepared long ago.

Bang!

Cherry-pink petals fluttered through the air as Mawile slowly landed.

Xiao Ren saw those illusory cherry blossoms, and her gaze toward Baimu turned a little odd — she probably hadn't expected that such a big, burly guy would have such a girlish heart.

The Pokémon had entered the field, but Fujimura didn't issue a command, as if deliberately giving him an opening.

Baimu knew he most likely planned to use the HP-draining technique he'd used against Ash before, and silently readied himself, saying to Mawile, who had already used Magnet Rise to lift off the ground:

"Charge in!"

"Chiyu!"

Mawile responded in a low voice, returned to the ground, kicked hard backward with its right foot, and shot forward like an arrow leaving the bowstring!

"So fast! Machamp, use Bulk Up!"

Fujimura apparently hadn't gotten detailed intel from Du Juan, and upon suddenly seeing Mawile turn into an afterimage couldn't help being startled, immediately not daring to be careless and using the move.

"Hrah!"

Machamp clenched its four fists, tensing every muscle until they were like coiled steel cables.

But just as a momentum gathered over its body, Mawile had already arrived before it, casting a contemptuous glance and beckoning it with a little finger.

In an instant, Machamp's skin flushed visibly red, and a red glow surged across its forehead.

"Kaa!"

It let out an angry roar, raised all four arms, and swung them down at Munchlax!

The Teng Tree, whose view was blocked, initially thought Bulk Up had worked; only when he realized Machoke had attacked without his command did he suddenly look over at All Baimu, who was smiling.

"Machoke, snap out of it! Don't fall for its provocation!"

"Iron Wall!"

The shout came with the action. Machoke only felt its vision blur, and a pitch-black thing with yellow spots appeared before it in Munchlax's place.

When the hand-chop came down, the pitch-black thing suddenly gleamed silver.

Clang!

A cloud of smoke burst open.

Then Munchlax leapt straight out from within, spinning around with great agility.

"Chiyu!"

It called out, sounding somewhat serious.

"Obviously — its four hands mean one hit from it equals four hits from someone else!" All Baimu replied. "As long as we don't let it power up, we're ahead! Fairy Wind!"

Before the smoke had fully cleared, Munchlax spun forward in a charge; the pink wind turned it into a tornado that slammed hard into Machoke's chest!

"Knock it into the air! Don't let it touch the ground!" All Baimu shouted after.

Teng Tree refused to be outdone. "Grab it! Use Seismic Toss!"

"Kaa!"

Machoke, struck head-on by Fairy Wind, let out a muffled grunt. Brows tightly knit, it tried to grab the spinning Munchlax — but the latter was hardly so easy to catch.

Its spin suddenly accelerated, the force of Fairy Wind surging in an instant, and under its deliberate control it lifted Machoke up and slammed it into the ceiling!

"What ferocious Fairy Wind!" Teng Tree couldn't help exclaiming. He had rarely seen a Pokémon that could make Fairy Wind's gusts as fierce as a storm; today his eyes had truly been opened.

"Play Rough!" All Baimu shouted.

Midair.

The pained Machoke still hadn't forgotten to grab Munchlax, and the latter had just finished its Fairy Wind, so it was caught with perfect ease.

But it soon discovered a very awkward thing—

It couldn't reach the ground; to use Seismic Toss it would have to hurl Munchlax away.

Yet just as it was about to make a move, it found that the Munchlax it had caught was not frightened but delighted, and threw itself straight into its arms, landing two solid punches right on its face!

Bang bang!

Machoke was beaten until it saw stars, dizzy and dazed.

"Dynamic Punch!"

Seeing that Machoke couldn't get back down, Teng Tree grew a little flustered. Fighting styles draw power from the ground; without a complete upward drive from below, the force could never reach its peak.

So, facing Machoke's reddened fists, Munchlax showed not the slightest fear. It not only took the hits head-on, but used the explosive force to start spinning, whirling Machoke around like a giant windmill.

In a playful manner, it kept slamming Machoke into the ceiling — once, twice, again and again.

When it judged the moment right, it hurled Machoke toward the ground with all its might!

Boom!

Machoke crashed into the ground, dust billowing up.

Two seconds later the smoke cleared, revealing Machoke collapsed unconscious.

"Machoke is unable to battle; Munchlax wins!"