Chapter 683

The Gyarados' roar was high-pitched, neither hostile nor overly warm.

Clearly, the visitor was a stranger.

Baimu walked out through the main gate and saw two men standing outside the courtyard—one tall, one short.

The tall one wore a baseball cap, his body immensely muscular like a bodybuilder, with shoulder-length light brown hair and a thick mustache beneath his nose.

The shorter one appeared to be around Baimu's age, his face ordinary but full of vitality.

"Silver Monkey? Did Did Yin Ma?"

He was surprised these brothers had come to find him.

They had met only once or twice before, at the initial meeting for the reconstruction of Huang Tie Town hosted by Shanren, and had exchanged little words.

He remembered that after Huang Tie Town was liberated by the Rescue Organization, the Silver Monkey brothers voluntarily surrendered all the wealth they had accumulated over the years from the Huang Tie Arena and the Underground Arena, and disbanded their entire crew.

In gratitude for their exemplary conduct, the Rescue Organization still entrusted the Huang Tie Arena to the brothers' management.

The Underground Arena was shut down permanently.

"Mr. Baimu!"

Did Did Yin Ma immediately became wildly excited, waving his arms vigorously and shouting: "Welcome back to Huang Tie Town! We've been waiting for you!"

"Apologies for the unannounced visit, Mr. Baimu."

Silver Monkey nodded calmly and presented a gift he had brought without invitation.

Baimu immediately pushed away the clingy three-headed dragon, smiled faintly, and ushered the two inside, inviting them into the villa's parlor and serving them tea.

Did Did Yin Ma stared at the ornate tea set and the fragrant black tea, his eyes gleaming, unable to help exclaiming: "Is this the famous tea set and black tea from Carlos?"

"... Yes."

Baimu didn't understand why he was so excited.

A hobby?

Silver Monkey sipped from a teacup that looked absurdly small for his build and said calmly: "My younger brother has long yearned for other regions. I hope Mr. Baimu won't take offense."

"You're joking. But if you yearn for other regions, why not travel?"

As soon as Baimu spoke, he suddenly realized something.

Silver Monkey explained frankly: "I've always restrained him, disapproving of his traveling beyond the Orei territory. I believe it's an extremely dangerous thing..."

This master of the Huang Tie Arena had witnessed the Shadow Team's three comebacks and harbored deep insecurity.

After finally seeing the entire Orei region liberated and Huang Tie Town made utterly safe, he naturally didn't want Did Did Yin Ma venturing out to places he knew nothing about.

If Did Did Yin Ma accidentally wandered into a place like Huang Tie Town, he wouldn't be able to save him.

Of course.

He wasn't some outdated old fool—he had promised Did Did Yin Ma that if Baimu returned safely and shared his travel experiences, he would allow Did Did Yin Ma to leave.

Apart from that.

"Please fight my brother! I beg you!"

Did Did Yin Ma suddenly stood up and bowed 90 degrees to Baimu, his loud voice startling the serene Big Mouth on the floor-to-ceiling window and waking the dozing Galarian Sunflora.

A wave of resentment rose from it.

Baimu's lip twitched as he looked at Silver Monkey and said: "Is this your second request?"

"Yes. Did Did Yin Ma believes travel will bring him great growth, and claims that staying in Huang Tie Town forever will make him nothing more than a pond frog who sees only the sky through a well—he even cited your achievements as an example..."

Silver Monkey replied: "In that case, if you fight me, I'll finally know whether letting Did Did Yin Ma go is a good or bad thing. Name your reward—I'll give you anything I have."

"Please! Mr. Baimu... no, Boss Baimu!"

Did Did Yin Ma, desperate to leave, dropped to the ground in a full prostration.

Baimu quickly helped him up, saying repeatedly: "No need, no need—it's just a Pokémon battle, nothing major. Why bow like this? There's a saying out there: 'When trainers' eyes meet, it's a signal to fight.' Battles are commonplace."

"Thank you so much!"

Did Did Yin Ma was overjoyed.

Silver Monkey said nothing, only fell silent, staring at the several Pokémon in the parlor.

The three quickly went to the back courtyard's battle arena.

The watering Bellossom, seeing Baimu's expression, knew a battle was coming and carefully turned off the faucet before walking over.

Other Pokémon in the villa, hearing the news, hurried over, gathering in small groups.

Did Did Yin Ma watched these Pokémon with envy and anticipation.

"Before we begin, Mr. Silver Monkey, do you know what's happened to me outside?" Baimu called out from afar.

Silver Monkey nodded. "The League Conference, the Beauty Contest—both victories. You recently defeated the top Elite Four member, Shi Yuan Zhi. My brother has already told me all of this."

"Then good."

He grew eager.

Silver Monkey was someone even Elder Ejin avoided provoking lightly; his strength must be considerable. And knowing Baimu's record yet remaining so calm, he might be even stronger than Baimu imagined.

The arena masters of the Orei region were roughly equivalent to Gym Leaders outside, but due to regional influences, their power levels likely varied greatly.

They agreed on a best-of-three singles format, one of the main battle systems of the Huang Tie Arena.

Baimu's gaze drifted among the Pokémon behind him, preparing to choose—then his peripheral vision caught someone already on the field.

"Sunflora?"

He stared in surprise at the Galarian Sunflora, its entire body spewing thick black smoke, its attack-oriented smoke tendrils unfurled.

This thing never attacked first.

Ah~

Had Did Did Yin Ma's voice woken it up?

Baimu smiled silently—he knew very well that while Sunflora loved slacking off, it was also deeply vengeful and always settled scores immediately.

The three-headed dragon often gnawed on it as a cub, and it frequently tortured the single-headed dragon by draining its power.

The two have been entangled with each other ever since.

Unfortunately, the Sun Coral slacked off too much, and Baimu fed too many levels to the three-headed dragon, causing the gap between them to widen—now the three-headed dragon began to oppress the Sun Coral.

They had a bitter falling-out recently due to his autocratic decisions, but then inexplicably made up again.

Did Did Yin Ma, seeing the Sun Coral, immediately said to Silver Monkey: "This is Sun Coral, unique to the Galar region—it's a Ghost-type… uh!"

He suddenly remembered that this battle would determine whether Silver Monkey agreed to let him leave, and he ought to stand on Baimu's side.

Wouldn't casually revealing information be aiding the enemy?

Silver Monkey paid no attention, turning to Baimu: "Since you've already chosen your first one, it's my turn now."

The Poké Ball flew out.

Boom!

A flash of white light.

"Gumaa!"

The large, muscular Ursaring stood upright.

Normal-type versus Ghost-type?

Baimu was greatly surprised by Silver Monkey's second choice; though he knew little of its strength or Pokémon due to its rare battles with outsiders, as a former champion of the Yellow Iron Arena, it shouldn't have been unable to produce a Dark-type Pokémon.

He wanted to see what tricks the Ursaring had up its sleeve.

Did Did Yin Ma served as referee and shouted "Begin!" with eager urgency.

Both sides gave their commands nearly in unison.

"Bulk Up!"

"Curse."

"Gumaaa!!"

The Ursaring threw its head back and roared, its body glowing with red mist-like energy; beneath its thick fur, terrifying muscle contours faintly emerged.

The black mist formed from the Sun Coral's resentment rapidly transformed into terrifying ghostly figures; its eyes bled crimson, and the overwhelming negative emotion made Did Did Yin Ma shudder.

What's going on?

Bad mood!

"Ssng!"

The Sun Coral viciously unleashed the Curse; the ghostly figure, unafraid of direct sunlight, let out a piercing, horrifying scream—even Silver Monkey, who had remained calm until now, couldn't help but change expression.

Huh!

Wind howled.

The ghostly Curse teleported instantly before the Ursaring; the red-glowing blood-red eyes fixed upon it, staring until its roaring faded, then revealed a grotesque expression before sinking into its body.

Could a Curse made of Ghost-type energy be this lifelike?

It was hard not to wonder whether it was a true ghost.

"Don't be afraid! Curse is just a special status! The opponent has already lost half its HP—that's our chance!"

Silver Monkey roared to shatter Did Did Yin Ma's and the Ursaring's fears, then decisively ordered: "Crunch! Finish it with one blow!"

"Gumaa!"

The Ursaring roared to steel itself, then charged headlong toward the Sun Coral, lowering its body and lunging forward!

Baimu stared at the charging Ursaring, remaining silent.

Seeing this, Did Did Yin Ma grew frantic; he wanted to warn Baimu, but as referee, he couldn't speak without violating the rules.

And as the Ursaring drew near, a set of fangs formed from dark energy had already coalesced.

As it opened its bloodied maw, the fangs enveloped the Sun Coral, which had remained motionless—

"Drain Power."

Baimu finally gave the command.

Silver Monkey snorted: "Too late!"

The black energy fangs snapped shut abruptly!

Boom!

Smoke exploded outward!

Did Did Yin Ma stared, dumbfounded—he never imagined Baimu, whom he had high hopes for, would flop so badly right at the start. How could you give an order like that?

Wait until the opponent's move is nearly upon you—or even lands—before acting?

Are you kidding me?

He strongly suspected Baimu and Silver Monkey had secretly agreed on some arrangement—this couldn't possibly be Baimu's true level!

Did Did Yin Ma clenched his fists in anger.

Suddenly—

"Why are you more anxious than I am?"

A voice slipped into his ear; Did Did Yin Ma turned and saw Baimu, expression puzzled.

He protested: "But the Sun Coral—"

"Look closely at the battlefield. The smoke has cleared now—open your eyes and look carefully."

Interrupted, Did Did Yin Ma had no time to be angry—he suddenly saw the Sun Coral, struck by Crunch, still hovering in midair, glowing green.

Its smoky tentacles had sunk into the bulky Ursaring's body; the latter's face twisted in pain, unable to move.

Blue light flared.

Both Did Did Yin Ma and Silver Monkey gasped: "Drain Power! But this is—"

"Have you ever watched my matches?"

Baimu felt Did Did Yin Ma was strange—on the surface he acted as if he idolized him, and seemed to know every detail of his Pokémon's moves, yet he clearly didn't understand his battle style at all.

Silver Monkey shouted: "Circling Bear break free!"

"Guu—ma—"

Circling Bear struggled fiercely, but its body was as if bound, utterly motionless.

The curse descended; intense mental agony made it howl without end.

Baimu shook his head slightly and said: "Will-o'-the-Wisp!"

Sun Coral retracted its smoke-like tentacles that had been draining power; Circling Bear's stiff body instantly regained mobility. Silver Monkey gave no hesitation: "Fight back with your own!"

"Guma!"

Pain transformed into Circling Bear's strength; its eyes turned a furious crimson, its claws glowed with a dark blood-red light as it slammed hard against Sun Coral!

Crack!

A sharp sound.

Sun Coral flew backward like a volleyball struck by a server, yet the floating Will-o'-the-Wisp flames formed a spinning wheel of fire that landed on Circling Bear, too slow to dodge.

Boom!

Blazing flames engulfed Circling Bear.

The dual agony of burns and curse caused its spirit and vigor to wither visibly.

Meanwhile, Sun Coral, flung out of the arena, floated up unharmed, drifting back slowly; its surface gleamed slick and glossy under sunlight, not a single crack to be seen.

Did Did Yin Ma gasped: "Impossible! How could it be completely unharmed!"

His knowledge of Baimu's strength came mostly from battle videos; he himself was a mediocre Trainer, with no real sense of relative power.

He only knew his brother Silver Monkey's Circling Bear was an extremely powerful Pokémon—once, Elder Ejin had sent people to provoke them, and Circling Bear had fought alone against many, repelling their Pokémon countless times.

Yet now it was being pushed back by Sun Coral?

Both Silver Monkey and Circling Bear were stunned into silence.

"It's over. Power Stone."

Baimu waved his hand.

Silver Monkey refused to give up: "Use Hard Press to shatter the Power Stone!"

A brilliant light wheel appeared behind Sun Coral; an irregular beam, white on the outside and blue within, shot forward and reached Circling Bear, whose claws glowed white, in an instant!

"Guma!"

Circling Bear swung its claws to block, but the force was far greater than it imagined—after only two seconds of resistance, its claws were knocked aside, and the beam struck its chest dead center.

Boom!

"Guma..."

With the explosion and muffled roar, Circling Bear's massive form reeled backward and fell, scattering some dust and kicking up a few stones as the smoke thinned.

Did Did Yin Ma's mouth hung open, nearly unable to close.

Silver Monkey frowned in silence.

The black mist symbolizing resentment on Sun Coral's body dissipated; it felt relieved, and now regretted why it had volunteered for overtime.

Impulse is the devil.

"Squeak..."

It turned to look at its Trainer, hoping to be recalled.

Baimu raised his index finger and shook it at it, then looked across at Silver Monkey, speechless.

He had assumed Silver Monkey was at least a mid-tier Sinnoh Gym Leader in strength—but judging by this Circling Bear alone, it was barely stronger than a newly appointed Gym Leader.

It wasn't a level issue.

It was a matter of post-birth training and battle experience.

Trainers from the Oule region might have more experience fighting humans, knowing how to target vital points or even strike directly at the life core—but in competitive battles, they were far behind.

Can you win a battle just by being ruthless?

Silver Monkey was among the top Trainers in Huang Tie Town—if all other Trainers from the arenas, Silber City, and Qinggang were like this...

Then Baimu would be deeply disappointed.

"Mr. Silver Monkey, please continue."

He spoke, snapping Silver Monkey and Did Did Yin Ma out of their daze.

Did Did Yin Ma quickly shouted: "Circling Bear is unable to battle—Sun Coral wins!"

"You've surprised me, Boss Baimu."

After a moment of silence, Silver Monkey changed how he addressed Baimu: "It seems the facing world is far broader than I imagined."

Baimu gave no reply: "Continue."

Previously, he had always brought Oule people a shock from Sinnoh.

Now.

He would give the Oule "country bumpkins" a shock from mainstream competitive battling!