At this moment, Beldum was excitedly circling Lionel, its red crystal eye staring curiously at the live-streaming camera floating in the air.
It seemed very interested in this flying little cube; it carefully leaned in and lightly tapped the lens with its head, producing a crisp clicking sound.
[Hahaha, is Beldum saying hello? So cute!]
[That little tap just melted my heart!]
[It really looks great; that silver-white body is just too beautiful!]
[Steel and muscle, this is a man's romance. I want to raise a Beldum too—]
Lionel smiled and rubbed Beldum's head. "Stop playing around. We're going to challenge the Gym today."
The little fellow nuzzled his palm. Knowing they were heading out, it wanted to return to its Poké Ball.
Lionel stopped it. "Today is your Gym challenge. Don't hide in your Poké Ball; come with me!"
Although Beldum was a bit shy, it still obediently floated beside his shoulder, its red eye blinking.
This was its first Gym challenge, and it was both excited and nervous.
"Alright, time to head out."
Lionel picked up the Dive Ball and gently pressed it against Feebas.
A red light flashed, gently enveloping the little fellow who was immersed in the video and pulling it into the new Poké Ball.
Then, he spoke to the camera, "We're heading out now. We'll walk slowly to the Mauville Gym. Along the way, I'll show everyone the morning in Mauville City and introduce the Pokémon unique to this area."
As Lionel spoke, he pushed open the hotel door, took the elevator, and stepped out onto the morning streets.
Morning in Mauville City was exceptionally lively, and the air seemed to be filled with tiny electrical sparks.
A few Volbeat were flying and playing on the utility poles; the small antennae on their heads and the round tails on their rears would occasionally emit a "sizzling" sound of electricity.
On the metal railings by the roadside, a string of Magnemite were connected end-to-end, moving slowly. The sparks produced by the friction of their bodies glittered like golden stars in the sunlight.
Beside a tree stump on the street corner, a Pikachu was happily munching on a small Berry, its round cheeks bulging.
Seeing Lionel pass by, it suddenly stopped, tilted its head curiously, and stared straight at the Beldum on his shoulder with its small black eyes.
[Wow, the streets of Mauville City are so unique! There are Electric-type Pokémon everywhere!]
[That Pikachu is so cute! It looks like it's looking at the camera!]
[The railings are covered in Magnemite; my trypophobia is acting up, haha!]
[Streamer, hurry up and tell us, what are these Pokémon doing?]
The bullet chat in the stream was scrolling rapidly. Lionel slowed his pace and pointed at the Pokémon by the road, explaining patiently, "Look, everyone, those Magnemite are absorbing weak currents from the railings to replenish their energy. They have a natural affinity for metal products."
"I remember that Pikachu; it has some spots on its tail. I saw its Trainer take it out for smoothies before."
Lionel paused and added with a smile, "There are many Electric-type Pokémon in Mauville City because the power plant here provides ample electricity, making it like a natural paradise for them."
As they walked, a sweet fragrance wafted over. Lionel pointed to a snack stall by the street. "Speaking of Mauville City's specialties, I have to mention these Electric-type themed snacks."
"For example, that white Thunder-Shock Cotton Candy gives a slight numbing sensation when you bite into it. There's also Voltorb-shaped mochi filled with cheese that stretches when it's hot."
As Lionel was speaking, a Plusle and a Minun by the stall suddenly hopped over and started circling his ankles.
The Plusle touched his shoe with its little paw, sending a weak, tingly current through him.
The Minun jumped onto a nearby stand, looked at the floating Beldum, and curiously nuzzled its metal shell with its head, making a soft "snap" sound.
"I forgot to mention, the Plusle and Minun here in Mauville City have very special electrical interactions."
"If you ever come here for a visit, you must try it with them. You just need to bring them some food to experience this activity."
[Electrical interaction sounds so interesting!]
[Electrified cotton candy? I want to try it too!]
[The streamer makes me want to go to Mauville City. There's also a Game Corner, right? I heard the Pokémon-themed games there are super fun!]
[—]
The viewers in the stream became more and more lively as they chatted. Lionel responded while continuing to walk forward.
Many pedestrians on the road noticed the Beldum on his shoulder.
Its silver-white metal body glinted coldly in the sunlight, and its red crystal eye was exceptionally striking; it was clearly a shiny Pokémon.
"Is that... a Beldum? The color seems different!"
"Oh my god, it's a shiny one! That's so rare!"
Someone recognized Lionel and took out their phone to take a picture, while another person stepped forward.
"Streamer, I'm a fan of yours. Can I take a photo with you? I want to be in it with Beldum."
Lionel smiled and agreed.
Although Beldum was shy, it still obediently floated on Lionel's shoulder.
However, when the lens was pointed at it, it would quietly shrink its little head behind Lionel's neck, only peeking out with one sparkling eye. The sight made everyone laugh.
"Can I touch it?"
A little girl asked softly.
Beldum immediately backed away, shaking its body to show its refusal.
[Hahaha, Beldum has quite a personality!]
[Photos are okay, but no touching. That's so cute!]
[It's such a loss not being in Mauville City; I want to snuggle with a shiny Beldum!]
The bullet chat in the stream became even more frantic, and the number of online viewers soared, quickly surpassing a million.
After all, this was the first battle of a shiny Beldum, the same kind as Champion Steven's; that gimmick alone attracted countless eyes.
Steven hadn't battled in public for a long time, so being able to see a similar shiny Beldum in action was a rare opportunity for many of his fans.
Lionel chatted with the viewers about the local customs of Mauville City while responding to photo requests from fans he encountered on the road.
Before he knew it, the silhouette of the Mauville Gym was right before his eyes.
Ahead, a building with a very industrial design was particularly striking.
The outer walls were composed of dense metal pipes and interlocking gears, with a thick lightning rod standing at the top, where tiny electrical sparks would occasionally flash with a crackle.
A wooden sign hanging at the entrance clearly bore the four large characters for "Mauville Gym."
A large number of local fans had already gathered outside the Gym, all having come specifically to witness Beldum's Gym battle.
At the entrance, Lionel patiently fulfilled the photo requests one by one. Beldum was also very cooperative, obediently staying on his shoulder and striking cute poses.
However, no matter how much the fans cajoled it, it kept its body tense and controlled, resolutely refusing to let anyone touch it.
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