Chapter 347: I, the Strange Tree, Am Super Strong!

July 29th, Thursday.

Less than three days remained until the new semester began at Grape Academy.

Aside from being busy with farm operations and enduring Miss Joy's knowledge grilling, Luo Mu devoted most of his energy to training the younger Shuckle.

Unlike the older Shuckle, who disliked battle, the younger Shuckle was not particularly averse to fighting; furthermore, based on Luo Mu's observations, the younger Shuckle's move pool was nine out of ten parts comprehensive.

It had learned nearly every move required for the tactics common to its species, and the effects when used appeared quite good.

It was well-versed in moves like Guard Split, Power Split, Power Trick, Sticky Web, Stealth Rock, Toxic, Protect, and Substitute, wielding them with great proficiency.

However, the main problem indeed lay in the younger Shuckle's own timid and sensitive personality.

Although it was a relief that real-world personality did not affect a Pokémon's physical stats, in a certain sense, this made things even more unfavorable.

Pokémon battles tested not only daily training and inherent strength, but the trust between Trainer and Pokémon was the Top Priority.

Just imagine the helplessness a Trainer would feel during a Pokémon battle if the situation were like the early stages of Ash's Charmander and Charizard.

However, the younger Shuckle's situation could only be described as somewhat similar.

Although its personality was sensitive, it was still very well-behaved and obedient.

But once the pressure exerted by an opponent during battle became too great, the younger Shuckle would panic, subconsciously ignore Luo Mu's commands, and directly choose to hide fearfully inside its shell.

Just as when Luo Mu, after conducting a few days of simple basic training for the Shuckle, had it battle the Feng Su Gou; due to the scorching aura released by the Feng Su Gou during the fight and its powerful oppressive presence, the younger Shuckle, out of fear, chose to hide in its shell and was sent flying by a single headbutt from the Feng Su Gou.

Clearly, when battling the Oranguru, the younger Shuckle had been able to properly execute its commands.

In the end, Luo Mu could only attribute the result to the fact that the Oranguru knew how to control its strength, so the oppressive pressure it inflicted on the younger Shuckle was not that strong.

According to several methods outlined in "Pokémon Psychology," what the younger Shuckle currently lacked was "self-confidence."

Self-confidence is a psychological trait reflecting the degree of an individual's belief in their own ability to successfully complete a certain goal or task.

It was like in a certain episode of the original anime where Ash and his group arrived at Matsuba Town and encountered a Paras lacking confidence.

Paras's Trainer, Kiyomi, and her grandmother ran a Chinese medicine shop in Matsuba Town; Kiyomi asked Ash to train Paras so it would evolve into Parasect, allowing her to use Parasect's mushrooms to make medicine.

The Paras in the story was undoubtedly a typical example of a Pokémon lacking confidence and doubting itself, just like the younger Shuckle.

Paras was extremely weak; even Pikachu's ten-volt attack or Squirtle's super-weak Water Gun move would cause Paras to faint.

Yet, this very Paras, through a twist of fate, defeated Ash's Charmander, regained its confidence, and directly evolved into Parasect.

This also signified how important self-confidence was for a Pokémon, not to mention that the younger Shuckle was not as weak as the Paras in the anime.

To cultivate the younger Shuckle's self-confidence, starting with battles and victories was the best choice.

Furthermore, the opponent the younger Shuckle defeated could not be too weak, nor so strong like Luxray or Swampert that there was absolutely no hope of victory.

After comprehensive comparison, and with a hint from the Oranguru.

Luo Mu used a certain livestreaming website to locate a currently somewhat popular internet celebrity Gym Leader named Hearing Hearing Nimo, whose livestreams now reached peak viewership of nearly a thousand people.

Hearing Hearing Nimo had already been broadcasting for some time.

She was in the Central Plaza of Levincia City, accepting challenges from passing Trainers.

After observing the livestream for a while and roughly determining the strength of the Pokémon Hearing Hearing Nimo deployed, Luo Mu slowly revealed a smile.

This was truly coincidental; it perfectly matched his requirements—neither so weak that the younger Shuckle would feel nothing upon winning, nor so strong that the younger Shuckle would see no hope of victory at all.

Thinking this, Luo Mu immediately called over the Dragonite nearby, which was enthusiastically hugging Victini, Vulpix, Shuang Nai Xian, and Mimikyu, picked up the Shuckle siblings in the Berry Forest, and headed straight for Levincia City.

Levincia City, Central Plaza.

At this moment, a considerable crowd had gathered here, everyone staring intently at the battlefield crackling with electric sparks, as if afraid to miss a single detail of the battle.

Compared to the Galar region, where Pokémon battles had become commercialized, many people in the Paldea region actually did not aim to become Pokémon Trainers, treating it more as a side job than a main profession.

This also resulted in Pokémon battles not being as popular throughout the region in Paldea as they were in Galar; when Hearing Hearing Nimo wanted to become a Trainer, her father had even expressed confusion.

Compared to becoming a Trainer, why not just idle in a position at the family company, since other professions could earn just as much money through exhausting work and completing tasks?

Fortunately, after the current Champion and Paldea League Chairwoman Geeta took office, she vigorously developed the Pokémon Trainer profession, successively launching numerous services exclusive to Trainers.

These included free starter Pokémon from the three options, free medical treatment and accommodation benefits at Pokémon Centers, and so on.

Nowadays, the slightly famous livestreamer and Gym Leader Hearing Hearing Nimo had undertaken a mission from Chairwoman Geeta; through a dual approach of livestreaming and on-site events, she promoted the unique charms of Pokémon battles to Paldea's residents, attracting more people to embark on the path of becoming Trainers.

"Pikachu, Sweet Kiss~"

Wearing an adorable smile she had practiced countless times in front of a mirror, Hearing Hearing Nimo, dressed in loose clothing, made a very playful blowing-kiss gesture toward the recording equipment and part of the audience.

"Pika-Pikachu~"

Her female Pikachu, sent out onto the field, also threw an angelic kiss at the male Kricketune belonging to the Bug Catcher.

In an instant, the Kricketune, surrounded by hearts, was immediately bewitched into a daze, swaying back and forth like a drunkard.

"Here we go, Shock Wave! Everyone watch closely, who's here to tell the tale? Hearing Hearing Nimo has arrived, using Electric Net to capture your eyeballs!"

"Pikachu, final Electric Net~!"

As Hearing Hearing Nimo's words fell, the Electric Net released by Pikachu enveloped the Kricketune, instantly lighting up the entire battlefield with dazzling electric sparks.

The Kricketune naturally fainted immediately.

After Hearing Hearing Nimo cheerfully encouraged the Bug Catcher to try again, she, having achieved ten consecutive victories, nimbly spun in a circle and cast a cunning glance at the surrounding crowd.

"Does anyone else want to battle? Hearing Hearing Nimo is always welcoming~!"

"However, everyone had better think carefully before making a decision, after all, I, Hearing Hearing Nimo, am super strong~!"

As Hearing Hearing Nimo's words fell, the entire Central Plaza fell temporarily silent.

After all, they had all witnessed with their own eyes how not only the Bug Catcher, but also passing office workers and even students from Grape Academy had been defeated by Hearing Hearing Nimo.

No one wanted to seek out abuse for themselves.

Hearing Hearing Nimo looked surprised: "Eh? Is no one challenging Hearing Hearing Nimo? No way!"

Just as Hearing Hearing Nimo thought her livestream for the day was over, a hand with beautiful, slender fingers suddenly rose from within the crowd.

"Um... can I participate too?"

(End of Chapter)