is about fighting new trainers.

The smoke and dust slowly dissipated.

The Azure Flame Blade Demon lay in the cracked pit, its armor shattered and its body covered in wounds.

It struggled to stand up, its twin blades trembling as it tried to support its body, but ultimately it was exhausted and collapsed after two attempts, losing consciousness.

"call……"

Zhu Lan exhaled softly, calming her slightly rapid breathing.

She gracefully put the lipstick containing the Key Stone back into her pocket, and the light once again enveloped Mega Garchomp. Its ferocious and monstrous appearance faded, and it returned to its original form, but its intimidating aura was still chilling.

The referee's voice, filled with awe and reverence, loudly announced:

"Battle over! Azure Flame Blade Demon is unable to fight! The winner is—Champion Bamboo Orchid!"

"A fantastic fight, perfectly showcasing your champion status."

Bai Zhou watched as Zhu Lan walked from the battlefield, then noticed the furious Garchomp following behind her, and added:

"Of course, there's also the invincible Garchomp."

Cynthia smiled broadly, while Garchomp snorted a gust of dust from its nose, barely acknowledging Shiraishu's flattery.

Anming recalled the Azure Flame Blade Ghost into its Poké Ball, handed it to the apprentice beside him for emergency treatment, and strode over.

Hearing Bai Zhou's words, a feeling of displeasure welled up inside him.

This kid... how come he's so clueless about social etiquette?

Why don't you praise this old man?

Although they lost to the champion of Bamboo Orchid, they still managed to hold on for quite a while.

With a sudden change of heart, he spoke up loudly, his voice carrying a hint of elder's concern and a smile.

"Champion Bamboo Orchid, it's a rare opportunity for you to visit the Impermanence Dojo. Let your assistant take a dojo badge with him as a souvenir, so the trip won't be in vain."

Zhu Lan smiled, turned her gaze to Bai Zhou, and said meaningfully:

"Master Anming, you're too kind. Mr. Shirashu is my friend. As for the dojo badge... well, it's up to him whether he needs it or not."

Bai Zhou returned the smile with a smile reminiscent of bamboo orchids, then walked to An Ming's side and said:

"Gym Leader Anming, you flatter me too much. My name is Bai Zhou, and I am currently just a rookie trainer with only Gastly as my Pokémon. I am really not suitable to challenge the gym."

"Why--"

Anming's eyes lit up when he heard that the trainer was a newcomer with only one Pokémon.

They're targeting rookie trainers.

I can't beat the Bamboo Orchid Champion.

Can't you beat me, you brat?

Without a word, he warmly put his large, fan-like hand around Bai Zhou's shoulder and laughed heartily.

"Oh my, I think we hit it off right away, young man. What you said isn't a problem at all. It's just one Pokémon, so let's go for a 1v1. Come on, let's go."

Bai Zhou did not break free from An Ming's hand, and was half-pushed and half-forced by him to walk towards the new battlefield.

On one hand, he noticed that Cyndaquil was successfully suppressing her laughter, and on the other hand, he felt the push from Gastly behind his waist.

"Father, please be careful, he... is really strong."

"The boss will win! I've been fed up with Dad for ages, let's teach him a lesson!"

An Ming heard the voices of An Xin and An Yi, the siblings, behind him. He frowned, and a surge of anger welled up in his heart.

He's just a rookie trainer, why is Anxin so lacking in confidence in his dad?

I'm a Champion Trainer, how could I possibly lose?

As for An Yi, you brat, just you wait. When there are no outsiders around, I'll break your legs!

Both sides took their positions, and the referee read out the rules.

"1v1 battle! Four moves are allowed per player! The battle ends when one Pokémon runs out of HP and is unable to battle!"

"Go, Gastly."

As Bai Zhou finished speaking, Gastly bounced from beside him into the center of the arena with a pop, grinning with its signature large mouth and letting out a strange laugh.

"Go, Dream Demon."

Anming calmly threw out a Poké Ball, and a small, cute Misdreavus with a red beaded head floated lightly in the air above the field.

He's not so ruthless as to use a top-tier trainer against a rookie trainer.

The main problem is that it would have a bad impact if it got out.

Pokémon: Misdreavus

"Attribute: Ghost"

Category: Night-Crying Pokémon

Gender: Female

"Ability: Levitate (lifts the user from the ground, making them immune to regular Ground-type moves)"

"Mastered Techniques: Shout, Telekinesis, Startle, Surprise Attack, Meditation, Strange Light, Black Gaze"

Mood: Happy

Fun fact: Dream monsters can't scare people at all (probably)

"Dream Demon, use Surprise Attack."

Anming spoke first.

He launched a full-scale attack from the start, intending to show Bai Zhou the difference in trainer levels.

Let's see what social skills are.

The Sudden Attack allows you to strike your opponent before they launch their attack, and Dark-type moves are doubly effective against Ghost-type moves.

If it hits Gastly, that single blow could knock it unconscious and defeat it.

but……

Bai Zhou did not use any offensive moves.

"Gastly, sneak into the shadows and use Strange Light."

Misdreavus's eyes instantly turned ominously black, its entire body gathering power, just waiting for Gastly to make a move so it could launch a surprise attack.

But all it saw was that dark Gastly, which, like a diver, disappeared into its own shadow and vanished without a trace.

Just as the dream demon was stunned by the disappearance of its target...

Snapped!

A distorted, chaotic, and brightly colored light suddenly slammed onto its lovely face from some shadowy corner, smearing it with light pollution.

Read it first?

A hint of surprise flashed in An Ming's eyes.

This kid... he's got some skills.

Seeing that the surprise attack had failed, he didn't take it to heart and immediately changed tactics.

"Ignore Gastly, use Calm Mind!"

Gastly, hide in place and use Grudge.

Bai Zhou gave the instructions slowly, completely ignoring An Ming's intention to strengthen him.

In the shadows, a sinister smile seemed to flash across Gastly's hideous face.

It silently made a face at the direction of the dream demon, and an invisible energy carrying a strong sense of resentment quietly wrapped around it.

After doing all this, it silently disappeared into the darkness, as if nothing had happened.

The dream demon closed its eyes, trying to calm the discomfort from being dazzled by the flash, and a faint, veil-like, strange energy halo began to appear around its body.

The aura slowly merged into its body, increasing its special attack and special defense levels.

resentment?

Did they make a mistake by using this move?

Anming smiled.

He's just a rookie trainer after all.

Hiding aimlessly only buys time.

"Dream Demon! Use Meditation again."

"Now! Gastly! Purge Smoke!"

Bai Zhou's lips curled slightly, and he crossed his arms over his chest.

He timed it perfectly; this was the moment he had been waiting for!

Misdreavus closed its eyes again, and a familiar, strange aura began to appear, attempting to push its Special Attack and Special Defense to a higher level.

Just as the energy was about to be firmly integrated, Gastly suddenly jumped out of its shadow, took a deep breath from its gaping maw, and exhaled a cloud of grayish-white, viscous smoke, which hit the face of the Misdreavus that had just opened its eyes.

This smoke seemed to possess a magical purifying ability; as the cleansing smoke swept by, the energy flow on the Dream Demon's body was erased as if by an eraser.

The attributes boosted by the Dream Fairy's meditation were instantly reset to zero.