"So strong..."
Hau sat on the ground, looking rather defeated.
He had never imagined Decidueye would go down so easily. That only happened when there was an enormous gap between the two sides!
"How many islands have you cleared? Or have you already finished the challenge?"
Hau quickly bounced back to his usual cheerful self, peppering Baimu with questions like a Pikipek.
Hydreigon sneezed, as though one sneeze hadn't been enough.
"Poni Island is the last one," Baimu replied. "The Grand Trial starts tonight."
Hau's eyes lit up. He raised his right hand. "I want to watch! Can I? Can I go?"
"Of course," Baimu said with a nod.
The boy threw up both hands.
"Oh, yeah!!"
Looking at Hau's familiar grin, Baimu suddenly felt as if he were playing the game again.
Lillie and Gladion gave him that feeling sometimes, too.
Once Decidueye had been healed,
the two set off together toward the Battle Tree.
Hydreigon, who had made a racket over having to walk, was promptly recalled. Ever since learning it hadn't saved up enough level rewards, it had stopped holding back its unruly nature.
No rewards, no obedience!
As they talked, Baimu learned
that Hau had also come because he'd heard the place was full of strong trainers. He wanted to build up his strength before continuing the Island Challenge on the next island.
He had been trying to catch a wild Pelipper earlier, but his Spirit Shackle hadn't been good enough, and it had escaped.
It was hard to imagine a trainer who had only cleared Melemele Island daring to train in an area this advanced.
Still, Baimu had to admit he would probably have done the same if he'd had the chance.
Don't ask.
He called himself "The Hoarding King" and the "Sword God of