The lively and mischievous Brother Dragapult wasn't very happy.
"...Hee yah~"
It quietly flew some distance towards Aggron, hoping for protection.
The aura of the big brother was so overwhelming that after Brother Dragapult encountered Hydreigon and Aggron, it decisively viewed them as major future pillars of support.
Lively as it was, it wasn't foolish.
Hydreigon's initial impression on Brother Dragapult was powerful, aloof, and unapproachable, but after truly interacting for a while, it realized Hydreigon was just as childish as it was.
So becoming friends with Hydreigon must be a joyful thing.
Aggron was steady and gentle, just like its sister who was intimidating yet somehow made it feel close, plus it could tell Baimu trusted and relied on it.
Getting close to it must be the right choice—
"Yah!"
A shadow suddenly flew in and struck its head fiercely.
Pop!
"Hee yah!" Brother Dragapult winced in pain, covering its head, looking very aggrieved at its sister.
Without a word, the latter grabbed its paw and pulled it towards Baimu, forcing the restless Pokémon to settle down.
Brother Dragapult cried out for help towards Aggron, "Hee yah! Hee yah!"
"Guh hou..."
The Big Monster looked towards the Trainer with some headache, finding that their expressions were identical.
"This is really..."
Baimu's mind kept echoing with the dull thuds and he remembered the smack Mawile gave Hydreigon, thinking his own head hurt as well, and quickly advised, "Alright, alright, no need for that! With your cooperation, it's already enough. If you can't manage, your brother certainly can't."
He resolved to stop randomly patting people's heads and also to correct Sister Dragapult's habit.
"Hee yah?"
Sister Dragapult didn't immediately understand his meaning, fortunately aided by Porygon II.
With a simple translation, Brother Dragapult finally gained freedom, almost fleeing towards Aggron.
"Hee yah!"
Baimu quickly hugged the awkward Sister Dragapult into his arms.
"Alright, although sometimes it's naughty, don't keep hitting your brother, he looks quite pitiful."
He lightly stroked the area from its nose to the top of its head with his finger.
Dreepy's sensitive points were few, likely due to its Ghost Attribute, only the tip of its nose and tail reacted a bit, making it hard for him to fully implement many massage techniques.
"Hee yah..."
Sister Dragapult gradually relaxed.
As for whether it'll let its brother off... that's hard to say, given its behavior when they couldn't find its brother initially, this little guy is indeed obedient—of course, it's still obedient now.
But once it encounters Brother Dragapult, it's like fire of mischief flares all over, nothing looks right.
Baimu suspected Brother Dragapult might run off with Dragapult, partly because it's always "bullied" by its sister.
This little guardian was too domineering.
But not surprising.
Not to mention the group Pokémon he's met so far, back in his previous life, even the Cat Mother among his cats often unleashed Cat Punch on her kittens, smacking them around as if they weren't her own.
Young ones are always prone to getting hit.
Baimu couldn't help but wonder if Brother Dragapult evolved before its sister, would their current relationship change...
Well, it's far off for two Pokémon barely over Level 10 needing Level 50 to evolve.
The next day.
He received good news.
Porygon II successfully learned [Secret Power], much faster than he anticipated.
Baimu went to find Kili again, revisiting the correct procedure for using Secret Power to create a Secret Base, making all three types one by one.
Pulling its head from the stone hole, Kili seemed surprised.
"Just learned this morning?"
"Yes."
He nodded affirmatively, for virtual Pokémon, techniques like these are picked up quickly, it doesn't even need much time to practice accuracy, the system comes with an auto-aim function.
An absurdly powerful Artificial Pokémon.
Kili looked at the toy-like Porygon II, his face showing a complex expression; he and Flygon had researched Secret Power for years before daring to call themselves Secret Base experts.
But Porygon II mastered various techniques effortlessly in just a day or two, though still a bit crude, full proficiency is just a matter of time.
He was somewhat disheartened.
But such emotions came and went quickly, after all, if he genuinely minded others mastering his secret technique, he wouldn't teach students by selling courses.
"This is my notebook on creating Secret Bases, here for you."
Kili handed over a small notebook.
Baimu was slightly stunned, "Notebook... isn't this improper?"
"No worries, it's a copy, I give it to everyone who learns Secret Power from me." Kili insistently stuffed the notebook into his arms, "Check it surely, there's something you'll find useful."
"Hmm, thanks then."
Since Secret Power was learned and he knew how to build Secret Bases, Baimu prepared to set out for the largest city in eastern Hoenn—
Shuijing City.
There, he'll participate in the Gorgeous Competition to claim the fourth ribbon, then take a ferry to Mossdeep City to challenge the Mossdeep Gym, eventually heading to Glazed City for the Mikoli Club and Glazed Gym challenge.
Estimating simply, he should be able to secure a spot in the Ever Grande Conference before spring arrives.
——
Route 120.
Just as Naqi mentioned yesterday.
Baimu very unluckily encountered another rainy day.
Drizzle pattering on his face felt cool initially, but as the clothes started getting wet, it wasn't as pleasant, plus the mountain path was somewhat muddy...
He had to put a damp raincoat on himself and Blissey, and change into rain boots.
"Did you get fatter?"
Baimu looked at the button struggling to close, then at Blissey's innocent face. This thing was tried on when bought.
"Happy..."
The Pink Giant Egg didn't know how to respond.
After measuring with a tape, its weight gain was confirmed, its height hadn't increased much, but the waist had thickened considerably, appearing rounder.
Baimu rubbed the flesh on its waist, "This isn't the Thick Fat Trait, it's just unreasonable."
"..."
Blissey felt like the Trainer was bullying it, but lacked evidence.
Gaining weight wasn't bad for it.
Based on Baimu's current understanding of Pokémon, the power from Effort Values manifests differently from the game, affecting the Pokémon's physical changes.
This degree of obesity for Blissey equated to a boost in both defenses.
It became more resilient.
Speed... doesn't seem to have decreased, although initially not very fast, its short legs have a limit no matter how quickly they move.
Walking along.
Baimu suddenly halted.
As he noticed at the end of his line of sight a Pokémon with leopard-like white fur—Absol.
Standing silently on a rock watching him, its figure under cloud cover appeared somewhat eerie.
"Uh, can't be?"
He muttered lowly and took out his phone.
Absol is rare in the wild, they generally avoid being seen by humans, and every appearance used to be thought to herald disaster, leading many humans to think it brought disaster, calling it "Disaster Beast."
In fact, its appearance aims to warn those possibly facing danger, it's a kind-hearted Pokémon.
But communication issues led to significant misunderstandings.
Baimu deployed the stubborn Duck Translator to ask Absol in the distance if some disaster was imminent nearby.
"Pali!"
Porygon II faithfully conveyed the Trainer's question.
"Soh woo..."
Absol's ruby-like eyes flickered with an unusual hue, used to encountering misunderstandings from passerby and trainers trying to capture it.
Yet, it was the first time meeting someone like Baimu who instantly understood its purpose.
"Soh woo!"
Absol couldn't help but respond affirmatively.
As the words fell.
Before Porygon II relayed the message, a terrifying roar sounded from afar.
Rumble, rumble—
Standing from Baimu's vantage, he abruptly saw a nearby mountain experiencing a mudslide, rain mixed with stone crashed down, unknown how many trees and shrubs were destroyed.
"Hiss!"
He was quite stunned, then noticed Absol on the rock had disappeared.