Chapter 689: New · Dragon Heart

Lady Ayana wanted to say she had always been confident in her Pokémon.

But seeing Baimu's expression, then looking at the unconscious Machamp, it was easy to guess their notions of confidence differed.

She fell silent.

The arena trainers were equally silent; Kendall, as Deputy of the Silver Monkeys, was so powerful that even the leader of the Flowing Sands Team would have given him due respect in the past.

Yet now his Pokémon couldn't even last a single round.

The terrifying gap left them bewildered.

How could something like this happen!

Only the outsider trainers were eagerly interested, gazing with faint awe at the Shiny Milotic standing tall and looking down upon Machamp—such a powerful Pokémon was rare even in mainstream regions.

Yet it existed in Yellow Iron Town.

They had never heard of it before!

They couldn't help asking the arena trainers the name and background of the trainer.

When they learned the name Baimu, someone gasped.

"So it's him! The one who quit the Hoenn Champion League yet defeated the Four Guardians, Shi Yuan Zhi!"

"Huh? Defeated Shi Yuan Zhi? The Dragon Guardian of Hoenn? Are you kidding?"

"What joke! Don't you read Pokémon Blogs?!"

The outsider trainers chattered back and forth, leaving the arena trainers with strange expressions.

Baimu's fame beyond was no secret—Did Did Yin Ma had long been shouting about learning from him and recounting every feat.

Yet seeing how excited these outsiders were, the double champion title and defeating one of the Four Guardians seemed even greater than they'd thought.

Champion League… Four Guardians…

These two unfamiliar terms made it hard for them to judge their true weight.

Inside the arena.

The Shiny Milotic looked at its trainer; a long time had passed since the last command—free attack?

Baimu shook his head and said to Kendall, who had abandoned giving orders from afar:

"Mr. Kendall, the battle isn't over—why not try calling your Pokémon back?"

Kendall frowned: "Because I see defeat as inevitable. Even if I woke Machamp, it would mean nothing. Milotic has the power to knock it out in one strike—the gap is too great."

"Too great a gap…"

He silently stared at Milotic, then glanced at the sleeping Machamp on the ground, and nodded slightly: "Alright, then let's end the second match. Shall we proceed to the third?"

Kendall hesitated. The gap between them was obvious now; the arena trainers had surely recognized the power Baimu possessed.

Continuing would be pointless.

Yet before he could refuse, Baimu suddenly said: "For the third match, I'll borrow one of Did Did Yin Ma's Pokémon to face you. Do you mind?"

Huh!?

Kendall froze. The surrounding trainers stared at Baimu in shock. Lady Ayana and Silver Monkey were confused; Did Did Yin Ma gaped open-mouthed.

"Eh? Eh!!"

"Can I borrow your Pokémon?" Baimu turned and asked.

Did Did Yin Ma replied uncertainly: "I suppose I can, but you're going to use my Pokémon to fight Kendall? On short notice?"

"Yes. Since Mr. Kendall believes there's a large gap between my Pokémon and his, perhaps for the third match we should each send out one of similar strength." He nodded.

Did Did Yin Ma hurried to say: "But my Pokémon aren't as strong as—"

"A slight disadvantage doesn't matter. Some things can be compensated for by other factors. What do you think, Mr. Kendall?"

Baimu turned to seek Kendall's opinion.

The man fell silent for a moment, then said: "You're serious? Borrowing another's Pokémon makes it hard to unleash full power."

"That's why I need half an hour… no, fifteen minutes of practice time with it." Baimu smiled modestly.

The arena trainers erupted in encouragement, urging Kendall to accept—they had indeed been convinced of Baimu's strength, but borrowing a Pokémon to fight?

Especially one from Did Did Yin Ma, who had never once beaten Kendall.

It was outright arrogance!

They desperately wanted to see Baimu stumble from overconfidence, then laugh bitterly at this conceited fool.

Kendall glanced subtly at Silver Monkey, saw him hesitate briefly, then give a slight nod, and agreed.

Thus.

Baimu recalled Milotic and went with Did Did Yin Ma to the adjacent arena.

The others did not disperse; some gathered around Kendall, sneaking glances their way, while others clustered near Silver Monkey, whispering.

Lady Ayana followed, whispering: "Why not use my Pokémon instead?"

"Hey hey! Are you saying my Pokémon aren't as strong as yours?" Did Did Yin Ma's ears were sharp; his gaze turned slightly hostile.

He idolized Baimu and thus lowered himself, but Lady Ayana—who had barely fought during her time as a Flowing Sands Team officer—meant nothing to him.

Lady Ayana ignored him.

"No. Everyone here knows Did Did Yin Ma's Pokémon. That makes it more convincing. If I used mine, they'd secretly think it's a trick—that I've long trained your Pokémon."

Baimu smiled in reply: "Moreover, my reason for borrowing a Pokémon is mainly to highlight one of the most crucial elements in Pokémon battles—tactics."

Tactics?

Did Did Yin Ma and Lady Ayana understood the word's meaning, but couldn't imagine what Baimu meant by "tactics."

"My Pokémon are all here—pick any one you like."

He held several Poké Balls, thought for a moment, then pulled out one more, and hurled them all forward together.

Boom—boom—boom—

Seven white lights descended to the ground, transforming into Pokémon of various sizes.

High-pitched and low-pitched cries rose one after another.

Baimu was pleasantly surprised: "Not bad at all!"

"Hmph! I've worked hard raising them!"

The Did Did Yin Ma, praised, felt immensely proud.

But in reality,

Baimu's praise had nothing to do with cultivation—it was mainly because Did Did Yin Ma, as the former underground arena master, had Pokémon of excellent types and sizes, regardless of actual strength.

Did Did Yin Ma walked toward the Venusaur bearing a red giant flower, patted its head, and said: "I highly recommend you choose Venusaur—it's not only extremely gentle and obedient, but also incredibly powerful; it won't disappoint you!"

"Venusaur, huh…"

Baimu nodded slightly; Venusaur, ranked among the top of the starter trio, was indeed a decent choice—but there existed Pokémon better suited.

He walked straight toward the lone Gyarados at the far end, the only one whose gaze wasn't glued to Did Did Yin Ma, idly observing its surroundings.

Did Did Yin Ma gasped in alarm and rushed forward, frantically stopping him: "Wait! Wait! Pick another! How about switching?"

"No. I'll take this one."

Baimu studied the muscular Gyarados, nodding in satisfaction: "It's excellent."

Did Did Yin Ma anxiously said: "But it—"

"Hahaha! Baimu Boss, we didn't warn you! Did Did Yin Ma's Gyarados is infamous for its terrible temper—even Did Did Yin Ma doesn't get much respect from it!"

Someone beside Kendall shouted loudly.

Did Did Yin Ma's expression darkened, yet he still nodded: "Y-yes, more or less as he said—Gyarados has a bad temper, and bonding with it is difficult."

"Bad temper?"

As Baimu spoke, he slowly raised his hands. Gyarados seemed to sense someone approaching, turned its gaze downward, and looked at Baimu as he drew near.

Its previously lazy demeanor instantly turned hostile; its jagged mouth opened slightly, revealing sharp white fangs, and it raised its broad fin-blades, letting out a low, guttural growl:

"Kap—"

Did Did Yin Ma sensed trouble and moved to intervene: "Gyarados—"

Before he could finish speaking,

Baimu's hands had already landed on the gray-blue fin-blades; a faint golden glow flickered across his palms, and the ferocious Gyarados froze rigidly, its fin-blades lowering involuntarily.

Then,

His hands moved upward from the fin-blades, over the shoulders, then along its neck.

Under the stunned stares of everyone, Baimu smiled and scratched Gyarados beneath its chin; the creature lowered its head obediently, emitting a contented hum from its snout.

"Kap~"

Did Did Yin Ma rubbed his eyes. Gyarados, who rarely even respected him, now submitted so easily to casual petting?

For a moment, he didn't know whether to be shocked or jealous.

Baimu smiled faintly: "How could it have a bad temper? Its disposition is far better than you imagine. Enough with these trivial details—give me its Poké Ball."

Did Did Yin Ma obediently handed over the Poké Ball.

Merely by this single act, he knew he had no right to speak loudly before Baimu—he was far too lacking.

Poliwhirl II scanned the information inside the Poké Ball via its smartphone Pokédex.

Modern Poké Balls often record a Pokémon's data and transmit it to a Pokédex or computer; though they appear simple, they conceal black tech beyond ordinary comprehension.

Baimu gently stroked Gyarados's chin and gill membranes while reviewing its data.

Moments later,

He sighed.

Did Did Yin Ma asked nervously: "What's wrong?"

"You truly need to go traveling," Baimu said meaningfully.

Such an outstanding Dragon-type Pokémon had been ruined like this—this guy had utterly failed as a Trainer.

Did Did Yin Ma understood nothing.

Lady Ayana understood, and found it perfectly reasonable.

The underground arena had once thrived largely thanks to Silver Monkey; most faction leaders in Huang Tie Town considered Did Did Yin Ma a fool.

Though most of those leaders who thought him a fool had since been captured, forced to sew machines, or sent to the wilderness to plant trees, his nature remained unchanged.

"Handsome big guy, show me your true power."

After reviewing the paper data, Baimu patted Gyarados's thick arm expectantly.

"Kap!"

Gyarados responded with heightened enthusiasm.

Did Did Yin Ma muttered inwardly: His own Pokémon obeyed others without his command—is this reasonable?

During their bonding period,

Da Zong arrived, panting, with Cheng Hong and others.

"Big Sis! What's the situation?"

"Nothing much. Baimu's about to start Lesson Three. You're too slow," Lady Ayana said, ignoring everything that had just happened.

She knew Baimu had no time to deal with potential conflicts between the arena Trainers and Da Zong's group.

Silver Monkey also understood how easily young people clashed; his gaze swept over every arena Trainer who wanted to say something.

Da Zong and the others, seeing Baimu commanding Gyarados to summon moves out of thin air, dared not interrupt him, and instead boldly asked Lady Ayana and Did Did Yin Ma what Baimu had just taught.

Did Did Yin Ma said: "Your boss demonstrated to us how to utilize a Pokémon's body structure, the techniques of using moves, and the importance of a Pokémon's physical conditioning…"

Da Zong and the others exchanged astonished glances.

It wasn't that the Baimu Sect had taught them anything extraordinary—it was that all of this was too basic!

So basic that back on the ship…

Ah!

Da Zhong and the others suddenly realized that the trainers of Huang Tie Town had never been trained by the Furious Tide crew.

What was now considered basic knowledge was, to these people, precious wisdom.

"Who would've thought we'd be ahead of others for once?"

Da Zhong, quick to glow at the slightest praise, said with a touch of pride.

Lady Ayana, who understood well that the five had been trained and hardened by the Furious Tide crew, quietly masked the faint envy in her eyes.

Cheng Hong, more composed, politely asked Did Yin Ma for more specific details.

Only then did they learn that Baimu intended to have his Pokémon battle Kendall.

Da Zhong slapped his thigh in dismay. "Oh no! We should've come sooner—let Baimu use my Pokémon!"

"Hey! Do you look down on my Garchomp?"

Did Yin Ma heard this for the second time and was deeply displeased.

Da Zhong protested innocently: "No, I just think my Pokémon knows Baimu better—it'll surely execute his commands more perfectly."

As he said, the point of bonding is for the Pokémon to respond promptly to its trainer's commands.

Compared to a Pokémon met for the first time, one already familiar is undoubtedly superior.

Did Yin Ma snorted, glancing at Garchomp and Baimu with concern.

Though it was incredible that Garchomp, once so temperamental, had suddenly become docile, how much bonding could truly occur in just fifteen minutes?

Right now, Baimu hadn't even pulled out any secret techniques.

He simply had Garchomp use various moves, occasionally making small gestures.

The trainers watching from afar felt a tangled mix of relief and disappointment.

Honestly, they both wanted to see Baimu humiliated and wanted to see him produce something as shocking as before.

Alas.

Everything was just too ordinary!

Baimu, focused on sensing the emotions transmitted by Garchomp, felt inner joy.

Since achieving resonance with Salamence, the Divine Heart seemed to have regained abilities from past versions—it could now sense and transmit emotions to Dragon-type Pokémon again.

Though he couldn't communicate mentally with Dragon-type Pokémon or read their memories like Alice could, simply being able to transmit emotions was more than enough to satisfy him.

A proper Dragon Tamer ought to possess some special ability targeting Dragon-type Pokémon!

The Divine Heart was too strange.

He didn't even know how it had become like this.

"What a pity."

Baimu lamented that Garchomp's exceptional talent was being wasted—but fortunately, Dragon-type Pokémon lived long lives; wasting a few years didn't matter.

Of course.

Even though Garchomp was outstanding, he had no intention of stealing it.

After all, Did Yin Ma had raised it since it was a Gible, and no matter how poorly trained, the bond between them remained deep.

Moreover, Did Yin Ma would surely grow stronger in time—three days apart, one should look upon a person anew; there was no reason to believe this youth, who longed for the outside world, would remain mediocre forever.

"Let's stop here for now."

Baimu stepped forward and extended his hand; Garchomp lowered its head slightly so he could stroke its skull, smiling: "Let your incompetent trainer see your true ability! Hah! How dare you say you have a bad temper?"

"Kapu~"

Garchomp nodded vigorously in full agreement, looking at him as if he were a kindred spirit.