Just then, Liu Yi and Munchlax emerged from the tent, yawning and rubbing their eyes.
Seeing Liu Yi looking so sleepy, Hu Bin flew into a temper. "Can't you get some exercise? Are you a pig? All you do is eat and sleep!"
Liu Yi opened his eyes and protested, "I'm conserving my energy! We've got a traditional camping activity coming up."
Hu Bin looked puzzled. "What traditional camping activity?"
Wu Jin stepped forward to explain to Hu Bin. "It's an unwritten rule. At night, Pokémon Trainers start battling without anyone having to organize it, just to make camping more fun. Over time, it became a must-do camping activity."
Hu Bin glanced around after hearing that. Sure enough, plenty of Pokémon Trainers and Pokémon were already warming up, ready to challenge other Pokémon Trainers.
Hu Bin instantly grew excited too. He turned to Vulpix and said, "Vulpix, let's show them what we can do!"
"Vul!" Vulpix looked just as excited. She had thought camping was all about resting and relaxing, but apparently she could farm experience points too. I'm little Vulpix, and I'll take on ten at once!
By the time Hu Bin and his friends finished their delicious curry dinner, the battles at the campsite had already begun.
"Butterfree, use Sleep Powder on Pikachu!"
"Azumarill, use Ice Beam!"
"Salamence, use Dragon Rush!"
"Caterpie, use String Shot!"
Huh? Who let that scrub in?
Well, fierce battles were breaking out all over the campsite's battlefields. Some Pokémon Trainers battled with such blazing passion that the spectators kept gasping in amazement!
Other Pokémon Trainers, however, were hopeless amateurs, trading a punch here and a kick there. It looked less like a battle and more like playful flirting!
Some even exchanged shameless compliments.
"You're impressive. You'll be one of my greatest rivals on my journey to the pinnacle of Pokémon!"
"You're not bad yourself. Your Caterpie is strong. You're making Wurmple and me get serious!"
"Heh, heh. Rivals like you are exactly what I need on my journey to the pinnacle of Pokémon!"
Those cringeworthy lines gave Hu Bin secondhand embarrassment. He could only say that he had never seen anyone so shameless!
So Hu Bin decided to teach those Pokémon Trainers a proper lesson and show them just how cruel the world could be.
But before Hu Bin could act, Wu Jin and Liu Yi volunteered to fight.
Soon, those two boastful, melodramatic boys were thoroughly thrashed by Liu Yi and Wu Jin.
Then Wu Jin and Liu Yi each pointed one hand toward the sky, copying the pose of Leon, the Galar Region's Champion, and declared arrogantly, "Who's next?!"
Hu Bin and Vulpix quickly covered their faces, pretending they didn't know those two idiots.
Sure enough, Wu Jin and Liu Yi's arrogance drew everyone's ire, and two young Pokémon Trainers taught them a lesson. Neither Machop nor Munchlax lasted even a minute against their opponents' Pokémon before being knocked out. Cheers erupted throughout the crowd.
In the end, Wu Jin and Liu Yi could only slink back to Hu Bin and start pouring out their grievances.
The bigger the ego, the harder the slap in the face.
Looking at his two friends, Hu Bin couldn't help finding them a little funny. He shook his head and said to Vulpix, "Come on, Vulpix. Let's avenge these two idiots!"
"Vul!" I'm going to avenge my two little bros!
Hu Bin marched over to the two Pokémon Trainers with Vulpix and challenged them to battle. They accepted.
Hu Bin and Bystander A took their places on the battlefield, and the battle began.
Bystander A: Bystander A? Author, just how lazy are you? You couldn't even be bothered to give me a name!
Gu Yue Wuqi: "Because I felt like it! Nyah, nyah, nyah!"
When Vulpix took the field, plenty of people cried out over how cute she was. Everyone ignored Bystander A's Staryu!
As the battle began, Bystander A's Staryu attacked first, hurtling toward Vulpix with Rapid Spin. But Vulpix was no pushover. She swiftly used Dig and disappeared underground.
After spinning, Staryu found the battlefield empty and seemed a little bewildered. Just then, Vulpix leaped out of the ground and slammed into Staryu.
Staryu couldn't react in time and was knocked to the ground.
Seeing Staryu fall, Bystander A grew anxious and immediately ordered, "Staryu, get up and use Water Gun!"
Hearing its Pokémon Trainer's command, Staryu immediately attacked Vulpix with Water Gun.
Hu Bin still looked perfectly relaxed. "Vulpix, dodge with Quick Attack, then get close and use Aurora Beam."
"Vul!" At Hu Bin's command, Vulpix shot forward as a streak of white light, gathering a ball of white energy in her mouth.
There was a bang as Vulpix darted past Staryu's Water Gun. Once she closed in, she immediately unleashed her fully charged Aurora Beam at full power, striking Staryu squarely. Staryu crashed to the ground, unable to battle.
Applause soon rang out from the sidelines. Clearly, Hu Bin's fast-paced, in-your-face fighting style was a hit with the spectators.
"This Pokémon Trainer's pretty good! He's strong."
"Yeah, exactly! Watching him rush right up into their faces is so satisfying."
Soon, Bystander B took the field. A flash of red light revealed a Houndour, a Fire-type Pokémon that looked like a hellhound.
Houndour glared fiercely at Vulpix. Refusing to back down, Vulpix stared back with her big, soft, adorable eyes, though they weren't particularly intimidating.
They did melt the spectators' hearts, however, and many of the women in the crowd cheered loudly for Vulpix.
Seeing so many people cheering for his opponent's Pokémon, Bystander B couldn't help feeling jealous. He immediately told Houndour, "Houndour, show them what you can do!"
But Houndour ignored his trainer and simply kept staring at Vulpix.
"Houndour, did you hear what I said? Huh? What are you doing?!"
Houndour hadn't heard a word Bystander B said. He only had eyes for Vulpix now. Those big eyes, trying so adorably hard to look fierce, had utterly captivated him.
Bystander B felt his face burn. I brought you here to battle, and you fell in love with your opponent instead? You lecher! Why are you so embarrassing?!
Hu Bin looked just as bewildered. What's going on? What happened? I feel like I can win this easily, even with the type disadvantage.
Just then, the system updated Vulpix's moves. Vulpix had learned Attract on her own, a move that was highly effective against Pokémon of the opposite sex.
After reading the update, Hu Bin's expression grew complicated. Who would've thought our Vulpix would get a passive skill too? Won't she be able to instantly defeat every male Pokémon from now on? No, I need to raise Vulpix's beauty and keep getting stronger. I can't let some other Pokémon steal my precious girl.
At that thought, a fierce glint entered Hu Bin's eyes. This dog wants to steal my precious girl? In your dreams! I'm going to teach you a painful lesson.
Hu Bin immediately issued his commands, and Vulpix hurled all sorts of moves at Houndour. After the completely one-sided beating, Houndour was finally knocked out, still fantasizing about living happily ever after with Vulpix.
In the end, Bystander B numbly recalled his Pokémon and left the battlefield. He might as well not have battled at all.
Before you continue