The Ever Grande Conference, in principle, does not discriminate by origin.
As long as one is not wanted, hasn't joined any criminal organization, or committed any major crime, the conference bureau will allow participation.
Even a young Lord Huayue of the Hoenn Four Heavenly Kings was once a delinquent.
Therefore, encountering weird provocateurs like Yamei wasn't surprising to Baimu.
Thugs.
Every territory is the same.
They love and excel at making trouble out of nothing.
Essentially, not long ago, he was the leader of a group of thugs, so he knew well that you can't deal with people like Yamei with words.
You have to use "fists"!
"Now begins the round of thirty-two advancement match between Contestant Baimu and Contestant Yamei!" The referee raised flags of two different colors, looking at both competitors.
Unable to hold back, Yamei threw out her Pokeball.
She shouted, "Show that guy what true manliness means! Go, Mightyena!"
Bang!
"Awoo!"
A piercing wolf howl rang out as the long-haired, black-backed, gray-bellied Mightyena landed, restlessly scratching the fresh grass beneath its claws, its blood-red beastly eyes filled with fighting spirit.
Whoa!
The signature Pokémon of the Evil Dog Team!
Even though Baimu already knew about Yamei's team, he couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions seeing this familiar Pokémon.
Really.
Can't you villains leave Mightyena alone?
It's turning into a stereotype!
"I wasn't planning on bullying you, but since you love taunting so much..." He tossed out his Pokeball, "Time for the protagonist to make an appearance!"
Bang!
White light flashed.
Aggron appeared, clad in silver armor like a heavy tank, exuding a calm demeanor akin to an unmovable mountain.
Upon seeing its opponent, the Mightyena's eye whites were instantly stained with a deep scarlet, and a dark purple glow flowed across its body.
It bared its sharp fangs, emitting a continuous, chilling growl from its throat.
"Roar—"
Many in the audience were startled by the Mightyena's grim expression on the screen, knowing it was using the Intimidating Trait.
They glanced at the opposing Aggron, then released uncertain exclamations:
"Eh?"
Why no response?
Clearly, Mightyena's Intimidation was terrifying to even onlookers, yet Aggron, the direct target, merely nonchalantly wagged its tail.
It even had the leisure to glance at the grass beneath it.
Not even a hint of diminished aura.
"It's because it's used to it."
Baimu noticed the puzzled expressions of the nearby reporters and softly chuckled.
Apart from those from Pyrite Town who mixed with him, no one knew how many Mightyena Aggron had seen, fought, and commanded.
The Quicksand Team swallowed the Evil Dog Team, leaving many former Evil Dog Team members under his command, with over a hundred Pokémons being Poochyena and Mightyena underlings!
Such a large group of Poochyena and Mightyena gathered, wailing like banshees daily.
How could Aggron not be accustomed to it?
Moreover, Yamei's Mightyena merely looks fierce but lacks the aura compared to the bloodlined, particularly fierce Mightyena of the Evil Dog Team.
But even those blood-touched ones could only whimper and show their bellies, wagging their tails for mercy when facing Aggron back then!
Aggron wasn't this calm before!
Upon realizing that Intimidation was ineffective, Yamei incredulously exclaimed:
"Impossible!"
Unlike in games, the Intimidating Trait isn't always successful; it only triggers when the opposing Pokémon is genuinely intimidated, frightened, or distressed by some means.
Just like when Ash Ketchum's Dusk Form Lycanroc was intimidated by Modan's Krookodile in their first battle, but unaffected in their second encounter.
As Mightyena's trainer, Yamei was naturally aware of this.
What she truly couldn't accept was that until now, only Huayue's Pokémon, her idol, had been completely immune to Mightyena's Intimidation.
But with the Celestial King's strength, that's to be expected!
Why should a guy like Baimu, who had time to dress up his Pokémon, be immune?
Fuming with rage, Yamei gritted her teeth, yet had to acknowledge Baimu's undeniable strength, since the results from previous matches were evident.
Impossible!
She absolutely refused to believe that Baimu could compare to Lord Huayue!
"The match begins!"
With the referee's cue, Yamei urgently commanded, "Evil Fluctuation!"
She wanted to defeat this hateful guy and show him that the Pokémon League isn't about dressing up Pokémon prettily to win!
"Aw!"
Mightyena barked, its strong hind legs suddenly exerting force to leap forward, slightly dipping its head with fangs ready to bite, as dark ring-shaped energy formed into a rotating mass at its mouth.
It suddenly raised its head!
Whoosh!
The dark purple beam of ring-shaped energy shot across most of the field, striking Aggron's abdomen!
Bang!
Amidst a violent explosion, dust rose in thick clouds.
The commentator shouted, "Evil Fluctuation hits first! Aggron didn't evade! It directly endured Mightyena's attack!"
The audience, eagerly awaiting Baimu's spectacular display, buzzed with excitement.
Why didn't it dodge?
Was the Pokémon too slow to evade, opting to withstand and then counterattack?
Yamei's face lit with joy; Aggron, just as it appeared, was indeed big and cumbersome, unable to dodge Mightyena's swift attacks!
It seemed that with a guerilla strategy, her victory was assured!