After obtaining the first Gym Badge, the Camping Youth left Violet City.
He arrived at Route 36, yet unlike Baimu's assumption that he would head to Azalea Town located in the southwest of Johto, he instead walked through the dense forest to the north.
During this time, he encountered several Trainers, but managed to win without much trouble.
Upon crossing the forest, an ancient and mysterious city appeared before Baimu, with one tall square tower and another tower's broken base being quite noticeable.
[You've arrived at Yuanzhu City, its ancient style makes you realize the weight of history, and you've decided to challenge the Gym]
Baimu: "?"
What's the connection between historical weight and challenging a Gym!
In the next scene, the Camping Youth walked into an ancient hall, where he found a man with yellow hair and a purple scarf, and engaged him in fierce battle.
Unfortunately, the first challenge ended in failure, as Yuanzhu Gym Leader Song Ye was an expert in Ghost Attribute, with most of the Pokémon having elusive presences, ever-changing, and all kinds of strange moves one after another.
The Camping Youth's Graveler and Spearow couldn't defeat his Gastly and Misdreavus.
The good news was that the second Pokémon Spearow had accumulated enough experience during the battle and successfully evolved.
[Your Spearow has evolved into Fearow]
Fearow, known as the Little Phoenix King, is considered Ho-Oh's juvenile form, with a quick temper that proves it's not a Pokémon that should be used by bad people.
Baimu adjusted his recumbent position, watching the Camping Youth head to the Pokémon Center, where he not only healed his Pokémon but also found another Trainer of similar age, using the opportunity to communicate-evolve Graveler into Golem.
Exactly! So right, bro!
What's the point in holding back with Graveler? It's not like Shroomish where high levels are needed to learn [Mushroom Spores], requiring suppression of evolution.
The only regret was the [Elite System] talent, which delayed the Camping Youth from capturing the third Pokémon, focusing solely on training Golem and Fearow.
Time passed slightly, and the scene shifted from night to day and then from day to night, as the Camping Youth challenged Yuanzhu Gym for the second time.
The opponents were still Gastly and Misdreavus, but compared to last time, Golem and Fearow were significantly more combat-ready, even in pixel graphics, Baimu could see the Camping Youth was clearly more skilled than before.
Finally.
[You've defeated Yuanzhu Gym Leader Song Ye, and obtained the Phantom Badge]
Smooth, so smooth~
Baimu contentedly watched the Camping Youth leave Yuanzhu City and head south on Route 35, knowing he planned on heading to Manjin City.
Passing through Natural Park, the Camping Youth hesitated, as if undergoing an inner examination, taking quite a while before entering to participate in the weekly Bug-catching Contest there.
Oh oh oh! The third Pokémon!
Baimu's eyes lit up, watching the screen, seeing the Camping Youth encountering a fierce Pinsir among the dense bushes, with its two long horns clashing, making a clang-clang sound.
The Camping Youth didn't hesitate much, throwing a Pokeball at it and capturing it easily.
[You've captured the third Pokémon in Natural Park: Pinsir, adding a traveling partner]
[You've won third place in the Bug-catching Contest, and the reward of a full basket of Wenyu Fruit is quite troublesome for you]
The Bug-catching Contest's Champion was a little girl who captured a Beedrill, without reasoning from the pixelated host, leaving Baimu with remorse and confusion.
The Camping Youth set off again, soon arriving in a highly modern city.
[You've arrived at Manjin City, the prosperous metropolis astonishes you, and you've decided to challenge the Gym]
... so this is what they call a fixed formula, understood.
Manjin Gym, where the Gym is led by a pink-haired twin-ponytail girl mainly using General-type Pokémon, her Clefairy and Nidorina are not strong, but her Miltank is truly formidable.
Charm, Rollout, and Milk Drink, cycling these three moves effortlessly defeated the Camping Youth's Pinsir, forcing Fearow into retreat, leaving only Golem standing firm—
Boom!
"Oh my!"
Baimu jumped in shock, drawing Aron's attention, "Goo?"
"Nothing, nothing." He responded with a smile, once more focusing on the screen where a miniature mushroom cloud was rising, thinking that the Camping Youth decisively went for mutual destruction with Miltank.
Nevertheless, thanks to Golem's [Big Explosion], Xiaoqian had no more Pokémon capable of fighting, leaving the Camping Youth with only Fearow surviving, the Gym challenge completed successfully.
[You've defeated Manjin Gym Leader Xiaoqian, and obtained the Standard Badge]
The fighting power is impressive!
Despite it being just the third Gym, Baimu is filled with confidence for the Camping Youth's future.
The subsequent events proved that the latter didn't disappoint, winning against Bug Attribute Gym Leader Api at Azalea Gym—victory, winning against Steel Attribute Gym Leader Ami at Asakusa Gym—victory, winning against Fighting Attribute Gym Leader Asi at Azure Gym—victory!
Winning three Gyms with just three Pokémon, what a glorious achievement!
With six badges in hand, the Camping Youth walked proudly and confidently on Azure City's docks, destined to encounter his fourth Pokémon.
A Psyduck that seemed somewhat dazed.
[You've captured the fourth Pokémon at Azure City's docks: Psyduck, adding a traveling partner]
Baimu was greatly pleased to watch the character depart Azure City by boat, temporarily forgetting his habit of not eating snacks in bed, opening a bag of chips-like things to share with Aron.
Passing through Asakusa City, passing through Yuanzhu City.
The Camping Youth's fifth Pokémon came even sooner than anticipated, on a mountain? slope, where he almost fell into a deep pit and encountered a Slugma.
It was evident he originally didn't plan to capture this Pokémon; the Cruel and Ruthless Camping Youth had his mind set on reaching Kaji Town.
But Slugma seemed quite fond of him, tailing him all the way, even "attacking" his tent at midnight, almost burning his sleeping bag. Helplessly, the Camping Youth had no choice but to incorporate Slugma into his team.
Then something Baimu hadn't expected occurred.
The Camping Youth got stuck.
Kaji Gym Leader Elder Liu had terrifying strength, with Fearow, Pinsir, Psyduck, and Slugma all easily defeated by his Dewgong, and Golem's ace Big Explosion was required just to defeat one of Elder Liu's Pokémon.
There's a problem!
Baimu sat up immediately, recalling the Short Pants Youth got stuck at the sixth Gym, and wondered if the Camping Youth would be stuck at the seventh?
No!
Don't let it happen!
At least let me see the Silver Conference's doors!
He stared at the screen intently, witnessing the Camping Youth lose three matches consecutively, and felt this young man's mindset was bound to crack—
But it didn't.
The talent [Cruel and Ruthless] had an effect similar to [Hot-blooded Youth], but the former notably made the Camping Youth smarter, directly bypassing the loss-stricken Kaji Gym, traversing mountain ranges to reach Yanmo City.
[You've arrived at Yanmo City, but you have no time to enjoy the scenery; you've decided to challenge the Gym immediately]
Dodged it!
Skipping the unbeatable level directly!
Baimu silently praised the Camping Youth's ingenuity, yet didn't anticipate getting stuck again.