The time left for Baimu is running out.
Therefore, in the next few days, he had to cut down on basic education sessions and increase his battle time in the Underground City to get familiar with the Pokémon he owned.
Since the battle mode in the competition is unrestricted, everyone occasionally plays two-on-two or three-on-three matches. After all, it's like a wild, rule-free battle with the sole purpose of defeating the opponent.
If you don't cooperate well, and accidentally sabotage your teammates in a mixed battle, it would be embarrassing.
Fortunately, Chansey just needed more practice with its Healing Ability to boost its courage, so it didn't burden him much.
Finding the right position is really important.
Undoubtedly, the gigantic Vibrava attracted a lot of attention, with many eyes filled with envy, after all, that Pokémon was gifted in front of a big crowd.
Wasn't it just climbing up from below? Why does it receive so much favor?
Clearly, Lord Liu Ge is a successor just like us! Clearly, we're all in the same group!
If it weren't for the worrisome declaration the day before, if it weren't for Otsuka and others already in close contact with him, and if it weren't for Liu Ge's undisguised care, these envious folks would have probably already started excluding Baimu.
Jealousy of the virtuous and talented is inevitable.
"These people change so easily," Baimu sighed helplessly.
Despite the changes in the world, the awkwardness of adolescence never changes. These guys put away their hostility due to Liu Ge's appreciation, only to surface it again due to over-appreciation.
Of course, for him, it's just a topic for laughs outside of battles. Compared to this, he's more concerned about the ranged move that Aron learned through painstaking effort—
[Rock Lock]
Initially, the goal was Rockslide. He asked Otsuka's Golem every day to stack big stones for Aron to throw, push, and hit, but somehow it turned into this move called Rock Lock.
"Learning moves is like that; being able to learn whatever you want, that's the mark of a move master," Otsuka tried to console Baimu.
The latter asked back, "Move master?"
"Yeah, some people have unique training skills and can teach Pokémon predetermined moves," Otsuka said longingly, "Such people hold extremely high status anywhere."
Ah~
So that's the case.
Baimu raised an eyebrow, suddenly wanting to pose as this so-called move master, using the skills rewarded by the simulator.
But he soon dismissed the idea, as the skills from the simulator aren't fixed and take a long time to simulate again. Leaving the opportunity for others would be quite a waste.
Unless he's especially short on money or the random move is really of no use.
"It's good enough."
Baimu patted Aron's head. Though Rock Lock is slightly weaker than Rockslide, it can restrict the opponent's movement with an excessive number of stones, thereby reducing their speed.
A standard functional move.
"Gugu!"
Aron responded with a smile.
——
"I gave you so much time, yet he's still unharmed?"
"I'm terribly sorry, the opponent is really vigilant, rarely staying long in the Underground City, even eating and resting above ground, and Liu Ge..."
"I don't want to hear your excuses. Tell me, what do you plan to do next?"
"...I have already contacted the Evil Dog Team's pawn and successfully stirred up emotions on their side. When the competition starts, someone will go to intercept him!"
"Hmph, hopefully so. If the competition ends and I don't see his legs, I'll take yours!"
"I'm terribly sorry!"
"Get out!"
"Yes!"
In the darkness, a figure kept nodding and bowing, seemingly making salutes until after the sound of Doduo, then cursed in a low voice.
"Stupid baldie! You don't understand my struggles at all! Push push push! Pushing as if your life depends on it!"
Talking about undermining Cang Zhilang's forces to prevent their group from expanding again, isn't it just because your pride is hurt?
Messing around with dirty tricks, failing, and being spread everywhere, unable to minimize the situation, you then resort to shadowy schemes, how does it relate to him?
Who messes up finds whom to blame!
Can't even bear to kill others, just break their legs, hahaha, ridiculous to the extreme!
If it weren't for being stuck to the boat of thieves unable to get off, he really wouldn't want to mix with such a visionless big shot.
Being an undercover is so miserable.
"Yuan Du! Going to the toilet for so long? Maybe you should see a doctor, seriously, it might be an illness!"
"Coming, coming!"
Yuan Du jolted, pretended to be pulling up his pants, and walked out of the dark alley, meeting the curious eyes of Baimu and Otsuka, "Hehe, sorry about that."
"Drink more water, sometimes drinking water solves many problems."
Baimu sincerely patted Yuan Du on the shoulder.
"I will." He laughed shyly.
To defeat the enemy, you must understand them, Yuan Du deeply understood the subtleties of the backstab aesthetics and found an opportunity early on to communicate with Baimu.
Taking advantage of the time when the other was shunned by those around, he quickly built rapport with him.
By now, Baimu mostly fully trusts him. Yuan Du occasionally started imagining what kind of wonderful expression the other would show when backstabbed.
Would it be disbelief? Heartbreak? Or despair?
"Hehehe..."
Yuan Du couldn't help but laugh, not noticing the strange looks from Baimu and Otsuka beside him.
'What's up with this kid?'
'Not sure, it's an old problem, you know.'
The two exchanged glances, but didn't pay much heed either, knowing that he usually liked to space out and giggle, always seeming a bit off.
Returning to the field to continue battling until the trainers and Pokémon were exhausted.
Since having Chansey, Baimu's Aron has gained much more endurance, no longer draining energy to the bottom after a few fights like before.
He even asked Aron if battling every day is too exhausting, and if the intensity needs to be reduced somewhat.
The latter shook its head wildly, indicating it's not tiring at all, and they can take more.
Baimu found it hard to determine if this response was genuine, considering Aron had been abandoned before, it might harbor the idea that if it doesn't fight, it can't stay by his side.
Therefore, he often had heart-to-heart talks with Aron, not wanting it to carry such mental burdens.
If it's truly enjoying itself, that would be great.
However, Baimu felt that whenever he and Aron won, the smile it showed shouldn't be feigned.
Aron's efforts have elevated it to Level 33, using three level rewards from Level 28 and improving two levels from independent battles, which is a rapid progress.
And Chansey, after so many days of healing work, had become quite skillful in all aspects, significantly improving its habit of constant tension.
It just often needed a gentle push from him, like giving encouragement, which is okay short-term, but certainly not long-term.
The difference between proactive and passive is substantial, it should be independent, should muster its own courage.
"Training Pokémon is truly a profound knowledge,"
he mused while fondling the two Pokeballs in his hand.
As the competition approached, the young boys' and girls' emotions notably tensed up and spread to the Pokémon, causing the battles to be extremely agitated with rapid shouting.
"Even I'm feeling a bit nervous."
Baimu took a deep breath to adjust his emotions; a trainer's condition affects the Pokémon, to ensure Aron and others have sufficient fighting power, staying calm is crucial.
"It's do or die, all depends on this round."