The next day.
Baimu opened the curtains, finding the outside covered with dark clouds, and the beautiful azure sea looking rather menacing.
"With this weather... I guess Fujishu won't be able to surf, right?"
He supplemented his understanding of Fujishu's reputation online yesterday, discovering that an interesting fact about the Martial Arts Gym is that it generally has five-star reviews during autumn, winter, and spring, but none in summer, strongly advised against.
Because when the summer weather is nice, this guy frequently runs to the beach to surf and only returns to battle when caught on the spot.
However, in the other three seasons, Fujishu is quite diligent, only retreating into his Secret Base for special training.
"It's curious how he hasn't been taught a lesson by Miss Joy all these years."
Baimu was very curious whether the Pokémon Inspector Joy, who carried a Latias, had ever visited the Martial Arts Gym.
Arriving at the Martial Arts Gym.
The entrance was indeed open.
Fujishu was sitting at the entrance, looking at the overcast sky with a despondent expression.
After all, every day of summer is precious, and a cloudy day means one less day to surf. As a surfing enthusiast, how could he not be upset?
But seeing a challenger arriving, he still forced himself to perk up and greet them.
"Welcome to the Martial Arts Gym, your name is Baimu, right?"
"Yes."
Baimu wasn't surprised that the other knew him. After making an appointment, the Gym's computer naturally creates the relevant record, and a glance by the Gym Leader would clarify it.
"Then follow me."
Fujishu led the way into the Gym, talking while walking, "I watched your coordination with Aggron yesterday, and I think it's excellent. However, surfing with Pokémon is very dangerous, whether it's for yourself or others. Next time, it's better to use a surfboard."
He seemed to place particular emphasis on this, reminding yesterday and couldn't help but remind again today.
He especially considered his words carefully.
"Alright."
Baimu heard the seriousness in his tone and nodded to show understanding.
Passing through a door at the end of the corridor.
A semi-enclosed battle arena immediately came into view, but unlike the rock-featured Kanaz Gym, the Martial Arts Gym's arena was quite ordinary.
A girl with a blue ponytail was within, dressed in what looked like a clean practice outfit.
"Master!"
She ran over to Fujishu with several Pokeballs.
"Thank you," Fujishu thanked her, then explained to Baimu, noting his curious gaze, "This is my apprentice - Xiaoren, currently training under me, responsible for being our referee today."
"Hello."
Baimu nodded in greeting.
Xiaoren hurriedly responded, "Hello, pleased to meet you."
Initially unable to recall her identity, Baimu thought for a moment, remembering she's a character from the animation, who almost had a fake battle with Pikachu using Meditite.
Both sides took their positions.
Xiaoren, holding a flag, loudly announced the match rules.
After reading.
Fujishu took out a Pokeball, smiling, "Do you mind if I slightly raise the difficulty? Mr. Qianli and Miss Du Juan hold a high opinion of you.
If we set the difficulty based on the badge, an overly easy Gym Battle wouldn't provide much training for you, right?"
"You are the Gym Leader, you decide what you feel is best."
Baimu had no objections at all.
Upon hearing this, Fujishu immediately threw a Pokeball forward, "In that case, Machamp! I'm counting on you!"
Bang!
"Geh!"
A Pokémon with gray rock-like skin and a muscular, four-armed human shape, Machamp, landed on the battlefield.
"Slightly" raising the difficulty.
Baimu inwardly remarked, readying a Pokeball he had long prepared, throwing it out.
Bang!
Cherry blossom petals fluttered in the air as Mawile gently landed.
Xiaoren, seeing the illusory cherry blossoms, looked at Baimu with an odd expression, perhaps not expecting someone tall and brawny to have such a girlish heart.
With the Pokémon in place, Fujishu did not give instructions, almost as if deliberately giving an opportunity.
Baimu knew he probably intended to use the weakening technique previously employed against Ash Ketchum and remained cautiously alert, instructing the Mawile that had already levitated with Electromagnetic Levitation:
"Charge forward!"
"Chidor!"
Mawile responded softly, planting its right foot backwards, and suddenly dashed forward like an arrow shot from a bow!
"So fast! Machamp, use Bodybuilding!"
Fujishu seemingly hadn't received detailed intel from Miss Du Juan, and seeing Mawile transform into an afterimage, couldn't help but be surprised, swiftly resorting to the move without delay.
"Geh!"
Machamp clenched its four fists, tensing its muscles until they resembled tightly bound steel cables.
But just as it gathered momentum, Mawile arrived in front of it, tauntingly beckoning with its little finger.
In an instant, Machamp's skin visibly reddened, its forehead glowing a vivid red.
"Geh!"
It roared angrily, raising its four arms to slam down at Mawile!
The blocked Fujishu initially thought Bodybuilding had succeeded, only realizing Machamp attacked without his command when spotting Baimu smiling across the arena.
"Machamp, get a grip! Don't fall for its Taunt!"
"Iron Wall!"
The shout accompanied the action, as Machamp perceived a shift in sight, a black object with yellow dots replacing Mawile in its vision.
As the chop came down, the black object suddenly shimmered silvery.
Clang!
A cloud of smoke erupted.
Mawile then leaped out, gracefully spinning.
"Chidor!"
It sternly called out.
"Nonsense, its four arms striking once equals others hitting four times!" Baimu replied, "At least not letting it strengthen is a win! Fairy Wind!"
The smoke not yet cleared, Mawile spun forward, the pink gust forming a whirlwind, striking hard at Machamp's chest!
"Lift it into the air! Don't let it touch the ground!" Baimu shouted.
Fujishu didn't back down either, "Grab it! Use Powerful Takedown!"
"Geh!"
Taking the Fairy Wind head-on, Machamp grunted, frowning, trying to seize the spinning Mawile, but the latter proved no easy catch.
It accelerated abruptly, the Fairy Wind's force intensifying, lifting Machamp up and crashing it against the ceiling!
"What a ferocious Fairy Wind!" Fujishu couldn't help but marvel, rarely seeing a Pokémon manifest Fairy Wind's force akin to a Gale, amazed by the sight.
"Playful!" Baimu shouted.
Mid-air.
The pained Machamp still remembered to hold Mawile, only to find itself clutching air after the Fairy Wind ended.
Yet it quickly faced an awkward discovery—
Unable to land, the Powerful Takedown meant throwing it away.
However, just as it poised to act, the Mawile it held became delighted rather than alarmed, directly diving into its arms, striking its face twice!
Bang bang!
In a daze, Machamp's eyes spun, head reeling.
"Bursting Fist!"
Fujishu, seeing Machamp unable to descend, panicked slightly, as Fighting depends on starting from the ground, and without a complete upward force, its strength can't peak.
Thus when faced with Machamp's reddening fist, Mawile feared nothing, not only absorbing the hit but leveraging the resultant explosion to spin, whirling Machamp like a windmill.
In a playful manner, it kept smashing Machamp against the ceiling, again and again.
Until it deemed it sufficient, it vigorously hurled Machamp at the ground!
Thump!
Machamp crash-landed, smoke and dust rising.
Two seconds later, the smoke cleared, revealing Machamp unconscious.
"Machamp is unable to battle, Mawile wins!"