"Uncharted paths are indeed tough to navigate."
He avoided a tree root protruding from the ground and checked the map on his phone.
This place is quite a distance from Verdanturf Town.
The surrounding area is mostly undeveloped land, rarely visited with not even a small path created by humans. The Hoenn Alliance has specially designated it for Wild Pokémon, making it perfect for daring Trainers to venture in and search for Pokémon rare in the outside world.
Indeed.
Baimu spotted several shadowy figures flying over the treetop canopy, their ghostly violet, balloon-like appearance quite noticeable.
"Drifloon... Wild Pokémon from Sinnoh are here in the Hoenn Region now? Migrating?"
He pondered, then quickly realized he had caught the gaze of the Drifloon, which descended slowly after an exchange of glances.
"Hmm?"
Baimu was stunned.
Are today's Wild Pokémon so unafraid of humans? Instead of avoiding them, they come closer. Are they too hungry and seeking food?
--- Half guessed correctly.
The Drifloon were indeed hungry, but rather than begging for food, they were more adept at self-sufficiency.
For example, capturing human children and dragging them into the sky, feeding on the fear of human children. But obviously, they barely guessed the age of this 'big kid,' failing to guess his physique, weight...and combat power due to extreme hunger.
The Drifloon smiled broadly, extending their thin strings to entwine Baimu's arm, attempting to lift him skyward.
Then their expressions suddenly changed.
"Umph!"
Whoa, why so heavy!
"Heavy, right? Seventy-seven kilograms feels like this. If you don't exert force, I surely will."
Baimu still smiled as he faced the Drifloon, whose expressions quickly turned from hunger to terror. He grabbed their heart-shaped hands tightly, swung and slammed them left and right into the trees and ground.
Smack! Smack! Smack!
The power resembling a human-like Pokémon was so strong that even the acorns hidden in the distant tree canopy trembled.
Porygon wanted to help several times, but seeing the Trainer's fierce demeanor and fearing "collateral damage," it decided to hide and quietly watch.
Is the Trainer angry?
Absolutely! One hundred percent angry!
Porygon mourned for the poor Drifloon. The good-natured Trainer seldom gets angry, but once he does, it's not so easy to stop.
After a while.
Baimu released the four fainted Drifloon, tossing them toward the sky. "With this bit of ability, you think you're scary? Save it, get as far away as you can crawl!"
"Umph..."
The Drifloon fell helplessly to the ground, their tiny mouths opening and closing, with violet smoke-like substances escaping.
Has the spirit inside the balloons leaked?
Baimu's heart skipped a beat, wondering if he had been too hard on them, but quickly sensed these Drifloon were merely extremely hungry.
Casually, he retrieved some Poké Blocks from his bag.
Catching a whiff of food aroma, the Drifloon, who earlier seemed near death, immediately flew up, eagerly snatching the Poké Blocks from his hand and stuffing them into their gaping mouths.
"Whoa, you've tasted these before?"
Baimu was surprised to see their adeptness.
It's like wild horses never having humans trimming their hooves, Drifloon supposedly unfamiliar with artificial Poké Blocks, yet so skillfully stuffing them into their mouths.
Not like dogs, tasting everything they encounter.
Could it be self-taught due to extreme hunger? Or perhaps they've been fed before.
Thinking back to their skilled move in tying up "children," they've definitely mingled in the human world, but whether they've been struck is unknown.
"Umph!" "Umph!" "Umph!"
After finishing the few pieces Baimu had taken out, the Drifloon clung to him, hoping he'd produce more. This bit isn't enough for anyone.
Another pile!
One pile each!
"You attacked me for nothing, and now want me to do charity?" Baimu glanced at them disdainfully, yet still pulled out more Poké Blocks.
The Drifloon burrowed in like starving tigers, feasting voraciously.
"So hungry?"
Puzzled, he watched them, wondering if migrant Pokémon don't have hunting habits, waiting until reaching a new habitat to start looking for food.
The ecology of Pokémon is truly fascinating.
At this moment, as if sensing his confusion, Porygon delved into the phone searching for Drifloon's Illustrated Guide description.
The familiar broadcast startled Baimu and made the Drifloon abruptly turn their attention.
"Phew, thanks."
He tapped Porygon's head on the screen, the Drifloon, perceiving no threat, returned their focus to eating, still somewhat unsatisfied after finishing the second round.
Nonetheless, Baimu refused to give them any more.
The disappointed Drifloon were about to pester him further when suddenly in the silent forest, motorcycle engine sounds grew from faint to loud, from distant to nearby.
The booming noise was more exaggerated than explosive moves unleashed by Pokémon.
With the roar of the engine.
The entire forest seemed to come alive, countless Wild Pokémon emerged from hiding, running in panic, like headless flies, trying to evade something.
Baimu watched the Wild Pokémon flee past him, frowning. Although there are no legal rules preventing motorcycle riding in unoccupied forests, honestly causing such a commotion gives off the vibe of enemy troops invading a village, akin to ghostly riders causing havoc at midnight.