It seems that in the Verdanturf Town on the show, there was indeed a Masked Messenger who beat Xiaoshun, Xiaoyao's fierce rival, forcing him out of the Gorgeous Competition, but ultimately lost to Xiaoyao.
Who would've thought that after a few years, the Masked Messenger has become so famous that kids are now imitating him.
"I'm up for it!"
Baimu agreed without hesitation, showing no embarrassment about fighting a little brat.
The watermelon-headed little ghost, upon hearing this, couldn't help but assume a half-squat, fist-clenched pose as if he was about to poop right there, and started yelling, "Oh oh oh — I'm on fire!"
A Pokeball soared high.
"Come on out! My first grand general! Victreebel!"
Bang!
White light flickered.
A giant Pitcher Plant, tall enough to reach a person's height, appeared in the field.
"Screech—"
Victreebel emitted a piercing cry.
Wow, are country kids full of hidden talents or something?
Baimu initially thought the other would bring out a Wurmple or Shroomish kind of Pokémon, but unexpectedly, they unleashed a fully evolved Victreebel right off the bat.
Its level must not be low.
After a moment of contemplation, he still decided to send out the original Porygon.
Bang!
"Pory!"
Porygon landed and floated again, immediately understanding what it was supposed to do after seeing the Victreebel not far away. Its Trait, [Download], triggered, causing its body surface to light up with the glow of ability value changes, and a gleam of anticipation flashed in its pea-like eyes.
Finally, it's my turn to battle! With someone else!
However, the watermelon-headed little ghost was dumbfounded at the sight of Porygon, "What is this?"
"Of course, it's a Pokémon. Do you need me to give you time to search for its name?"
Baimu asked with a smile.
It was meant as kindness, but the watermelon-headed little ghost shouted as if he had been taunted:
"— No need! I can win no matter what mess you throw at me! I'm attacking first! Flying Leaf Swift Blade!"
"Screech!"
Victreebel swung its large leaf blades, and countless sharp leaves shot forward like long darts!
Whoosh whoosh whoosh!
The terrifying sound of the wind breaking rang out.
But just when Flying Leaf Swift Blade hit Porygon, its body surface suddenly shimmered with changing waves, and the blue parts quickly turned emerald green, making the former shatter like withered leaves.
Porygon: "Pory! (╬￣皿￣)!"
What a mess... I'm going to beat you up today! You jerk!
"No effect!?" Both the watermelon-headed little ghost and Victreebel were taken aback.
"Texture 2."
Baimu's smile remained unchanged; this move allowed Porygon to change its attribute to resist the opponent's move attribute.
Simply put, at the moment Victreebel used Flying Leaf Swift Blade, Porygon had already transformed into a Grass Attribute to resist Grass Attribute moves, without needing the opponent's move to hit it to change.
And although in the game, the attribute changed by Texture 2 is random, based on his own testing, the animation background allows control over the move changed by Texture 2 — as long as Dr. Akihabara had uploaded all attribute systems.
Similarly, [Texture] can also choose its known move attributes to change based on its own will.
In a sense, this is a huge enhancement for Porygon.
The moves in the game that are never chosen for their randomness and wasted turns are going to shine brightly!
"Impossible! Paralysis Powder!"
The watermelon-headed little ghost shouted through gritted teeth; Victreebel opened the leaves on its head, spewing a large amount of golden powder forward.
Baimu covered his mouth and nose, waving his hand casually.
"Illusion Beam!"
Bathed in the golden powder, Porygon suddenly lifted its tail, forming a dazzling laser that shot out!
Boom!
Illusion Beam accurately hit Victreebel's body. The latter didn't have time to dodge, and with a loud explosion sound, it was blown backward, falling into the field.
"Paralysis Powder doesn't work either?"
The watermelon-headed little ghost was dumbfounded.
Then he belatedly realized that this unfamiliar Pokémon might be a Grass Attribute.
Little did he know that Porygon had transformed into Grass Attribute, and powder-type moves don't affect Grass Attribute.
And Baimu noticed that Victreebel wasn't knocked out in one hit. He then realized this guy's level is much higher than expected, so the non-same-type Illusion Beam couldn't take it down, "Try Again with Illusion Beam!"
"Quick, dodge!"
The watermelon-headed little ghost shouted anxiously.
"Screech—"
Victreebel tried to dodge with a sharp cry, but its reaction wasn't nearly as quick after being hit by a super effective beam, and the multicolored ray struck its head like a lightning bolt!
Boom!
Dense smoke scattered.
Victreebel, hit consecutively, couldn't hold on any longer and fell down with a wail.
"Victreebel!"
The watermelon-headed little ghost rushed into the field anxiously.
Fortunately, the move's power from Porygon wasn't particularly strong, so Victreebel got back up after sunbathing and resting for a while, which made him breathe a sigh of relief.
"Pory!"
The victorious Porygon excitedly swung its blocky legs.
"Well done, using the information gap for a nice battle," Baimu smiled, patting its head.
——
By the babbling stream.
Under the watermelon-headed little ghost's eager hospitality, Baimu and the group of Pokémon enjoyed refreshing watermelon.
"Eat to your heart's content! Go ahead! There's not much of anything here, except tons of watermelon! Big and sweet, absolutely a hundred points! Hahaha!" He took off the leaf from his face, laughing heartily with hands on his hips.
Victreebel swayed its vines nearby.
"Thanks." Baimu didn't expect the other to be so warm.
Clearly, just a moment ago he was puffing with a frustrated face after losing the battle, yet in the next moment, he was loudly inviting him and his Pokémon to eat watermelon.