This was Alola.
In Baimu's eyes, he could count its strong trainers on one hand.
Kiawe...
Kiawe was even weaker than Gladion.
Early on, the guy had looked like he might become one of Ash's rivals, but by the middle and later stages, he had become comic relief and a regular sparring partner.
Once the Manalo Conference began, he hadn't even faced Ash. Gladion had eliminated him first.
Across all those seasons, which of Ash's rivals hadn't faced him in a League Conference?
Kiawe's role was as awkward as his strength.
"Go, Kiawe!"
"Kiawe! Show Baimu what Alola's trainers can do!"
"You've got this!"
"Pika!"
"Ma-chu-chu!"
"Gong~"
At the edge of the field, Ash and the other boys and girls cheered Kiawe on alongside their Pokémon.
Out on the open field,
Kiawe stood bare-chested with a Poké Ball in hand, his eyes seeming to burn with fire.
"Let's have a good battle!" His voice was so loud that it drew students to watch from the second and third floors of the school building.
Baimu nodded with a smile. "You too. Let's have a good battle."
The match was a standard one-on-one Single Battle.
Given the gap in strength, Baimu could probably end it in one move. But that would be too much like bullying a kid.
He was beginning to understand why Cynthia let Garchomp stand there and take hits.
What did it mean to carry yourself like a Champion?
You stood there and gave your opponent a chance. If he couldn't make it count, you took him down. That way, no one could accuse you of bullying someone weaker.
"I'm counting on you, Turtonator!"
Kiawe threw his ball forward.
Bang!
"Ka-me-shu!"
A giant snapping turtle with a spiked shell landed on the field.
Turtonator, the Blast Turtle Pokémon, was