The next day.
Baimu, having looked up information about Kili online, returned again.
The chances of a protagonist character in a game turning into a villain in the animation are not high. It's more likely for a villain to become comedic, but it's always better to be cautious.
From the data gathered by Porygon II, it's not hard to see that Kili is somewhat of a minor celebrity, having been on TV interview shows and published a personal autobiography. To this day, he still updates his personal blog on the Poké Blogger site.
Last night, he even posted something—[Guess who I met].
And then there was a picture, featuring a Blissey, along with a leg and an arm of Baimu.
It had that internet era feel where everything is shared online.
"You're here?"
Kili was especially happy to see him, seemingly having considered the possibility that the former might not return after thinking it over carefully.
"Time is of the essence, let's get started quickly."
Baimu greeted him and sent out Porygon II to learn Secret Power. It had participated in the last Gym Battle, so having it appear again might not be conducive to team unity.
Thus, the burden of learning Secret Power naturally fell upon it. With Baimu's introduction, Kili also got a basic understanding of Porygon II.
"Do I need to step back?"
"Step back? No need, no need!"
Kili chuckled, shaking his hand, and led them to a large tree not far from his Secret Base. "To build a Secret Base, you need to learn the move Secret Power first.
"And Secret Power is a move that changes based on different environments. The first point is for the Pokémon to understand the environment."
"Understand the environment."
Baimu looked at Porygon II.
Porygon II cast its gaze around, like at the grass underneath and the big tree in front.
"The second point is to memorize it in their mind, and when channeling energy, recall it repeatedly. The move will naturally be executed successfully."
Kili explained.
Baimu was taken aback, "That's all?"
"That's all!" He nodded, then asked in confusion, "Isn't that enough?"
Of course not!
This teaching method is as simple as saying putting an elephant into a fridge takes three steps. You can't say it lacks detail, but you can't say it has detail either.
No wonder Kili, despite holding "Treasure Mountain" fame, is still lukewarm. Aside from not actively promoting himself, it probably also relates to his teaching ability.
It's really too bad.
Honestly, the quality of this teaching does not match the price!
"Um! Let me have Flygon demonstrate!" Kili took a Pokeball out of his pocket and opened it.
A large Flygon landed, stretching its wings.
"Please, demonstrate Secret Power for them!"
"Roar!"
Flygon nodded, raising its head slightly. An energy flowed into the ground and quickly rebounded back, enveloping its arm in a green light, causing countless energy spikes to extend out.
Spiky Arm?
Ah!
Looks like this is the effect of Secret Power on the lawn.
But despite looking like a Spiky Arm, it's still a General Attribute Energy; the changed appearance simply brings additional effects like poisoning.
So now Secret Power is a General Attribute move that can poison.
"How is it?"
Kili eagerly looked at Baimu.
The latter helplessly gave Porygon II a look, "Can you do it?"
"Pory..."
Porygon II expressed its desire to give it a try.
Unfortunately, unlike Aggron, which could learn just by watching once, it couldn't replicate that and got stuck at the first step of the learning process.
Kili rubbed his chin, completely devoid of self-awareness as an inadequate teacher, "Looks like it needs more practice!"
"I just hope the other parts are worth the value."
Baimu replied.
He's not hopeful about learning Secret Power, but building and arranging the Secret Base is Kili's strength, otherwise, he couldn't have published a book.
"Let's call it a day for now; I need to go challenge the Gym in the afternoon." He stopped Porygon II's actions, "I'll come back to you after I've finished the Gym battle."
"Ah? Oh, oh, oh!"
Kili, realizing, waved his fist, "Then I wish you victory!"
Baimu: "Thanks for your auspicious words."
——
Verdanturf Gym.
The large trapezoidal building had become much livelier compared to yesterday afternoon.
Baimu asked a passerby and found out that the TV station had come again, and they were still conducting interviews there.
This worried him a little, but he quickly felt relieved.
Given Naqi's professionalism, the Gym challenge shouldn't be delayed.
He climbed the external stairs and soon reached the entrance halfway up the stairs, where he unexpectedly found Shouta leaning against the door with a broom, dozing off.
"Why are you sleeping here?"
Baimu patted the child's shoulder.
Shouta was startled awake, looked around unconsciously, wiped the drool from the corner of his mouth, and then focused his gaze on the person in front of him, "Ah! Baimu! You finally came!"
"Were you waiting for me?"
"Yeah, yeah!"
"What's the big deal?"
"No, Miss Naqi has been waiting for you! And the TV crew!"
"TV crew?"
Baimu frowned slightly, "Is it to record the contents of the Gym challenge?"
Shouta nodded enthusiastically, "That's right, that's right! Uh, you're about to be on TV, but you don't seem very happy?"
"No, it's your imagination."
He flat-out denied it.
The two were about to walk around the gate to head to the top of the building when they looked up to see Naqi, in her usual flying outfit, standing on the higher steps with her slender violet ponytail swaying in the wind.
Seeing Baimu, she quickly walked down with a smile on her face.
"You're the challenger for this afternoon, right?"
"Yes, I am."
"Because it's going to rain in the next two days, and the weather is rare clear today, the TV crew moved the scheduled filming session to today. So the upcoming Gym challenge might be recorded and edited for TV broadcast. If you mind, please let me arrange another challenge time for you."
Naqi fully explained the situation and apologized for not notifying him earlier, "I'm really sorry..."
"It's fine, go ahead and shoot."
Baimu replied generously.
While he doesn't particularly like being in the limelight, he's lost count of how many times he's been on stage during the Gorgeous Competitions. Besides, this time the main focus of filming is Naqi—who knows how many shots he'll get? Edit it, and there might be only one or two left of him.
No problem at all.
"Thank you!"
Naqi said happily and then looked at Shouta beside her, "Shouta, you can watch, but you'll have to stay quiet. Don't yell like last time."
"Eh heh heh, I know."
Shouta, under Baimu's curious gaze, replied, somewhat embarrassed.
The three proceeded to the top battle area.
They could see that the TV crew had already set up multiple camera angles, hoping to capture Naqi's graceful responses to the challenger from all directions.
Unlike other Gyms, the trainer's seat at Verdanturf Gym is on a high platform for strategic direction.
No doubt about it.
This is because all of Naqi's Pokémon are of the Flying Attribute, and she hopes to maintain the same level with her Pokémon during their directives.
As for whether the challenger and their Pokémon can stay on the same level, that's not her concern.
Essentially, this is also a kind of mini-test.
Baimu climbed onto the lift platform, and once Naqi was in position, the device began to move, elevating both of them to a higher point.
The TV station's director, tasked with filming, looked at the former with a curious gaze.
"Why does this person seem a bit familiar..."
At this moment.
Lai He, acting as the assistant, loudly read out the rules.
"Now starting the Gym Battle between Verdanturf Gym Leader Naqi and challenger Baimu, each side can use four Pokémon, and the match ends when all Pokémon of either side lose their ability to fight. Additionally, only the challenger's side is allowed to switch Pokémon at will!"
Baimu!
So it was him!
The director realized with a start, suddenly hearing the noise of clamorous discussions around him. Looking aside, he saw other staff were also chatting amongst themselves.