Chapter 25: Landmines and Bombs

To seek stronger opponents, Hu Yang set his sights on the Orange Blossom Gym. Of course, his target was not the Gym Leader, Qian Li, but rather the many apprentices within the gym.

The rules here resembled those found in video games: challengers wishing to test their strength against the gym had to first overcome the trials set by several apprentices, proving their abilities before earning the right to face the Gym Leader. The reason for this might be that the Gym Leader couldn't handle so many challengers, or perhaps simply didn't have the time. Naturally, each gym was different, and the conditions for earning a badge did not always require defeating the leader; what mattered most was gaining their approval.

Such things had happened before, especially when Ash first set out on his journey.

After making his intention to challenge the gym clear, someone quickly led him to a room that closely resembled a training arena. Soon, he faced his first opponent—a youth dressed in the gym’s uniform, a red headband tied around his brow.

“I won’t let you earn the badge so easily!” the boy declared.

Hu Yang thought, “Silly child, my goal isn’t the badge—it’s you!”

The other apprentices gathered to watch, and a girl took on the role of temporary referee. “The match will be one-on-one. Each trainer may use only one Pokémon!”

As soon as the whistle blew, the boy with the red headband threw his Poké Ball. Out came a Linoone, its fur shining sleekly on the battlefield.

“Linoone, use Sand Attack!”

Hu Yang observed the changes in the arena. Sand Attack, a Ground-type move, was meant in the game to throw sand in the opponent’s face, lowering accuracy. In reality, however, it raised a blurry cloud of dust across the field, obscuring the vision of the opposing Pokémon, while Linoone could launch a surprise attack from within.

“So that’s how it is?” Hu Yang ordered, “Bud, use Stun Spore!”

“Bud!”

Pale yellow powder spread from Bud’s flower, some mingling with the dust so subtly it was impossible to discern. The boy with the red headband, who had been about to order Linoone’s surprise attack, quickly swallowed his words.

“He’s using Stun Spore as a shield? Now Linoone can’t launch a sneak attack. This new trainer is clever.”

On the sidelines, the other apprentices watched with interest.

Just then, a young man in a red jacket stepped out from the inner room. The apprentices noticed him.

“Mr. Qian Li…”

Before they could finish, Qian Li silenced them with a “shh,” and stood at the back to observe the match.

Sand Attack was not a lasting move; soon, the dust Linoone had stirred settled, exposing its presence.

“Bud, Seed Bomb!”

“Bud!”

“Linoone, cover your nose and use Headbutt!” The red headband, seeing the Stun Spore still lingering, changed tactics.

A large seed glowing green shot from Bud’s head, while Linoone, true to its name, charged straight ahead.

Seed Bomb and Headbutt met in midair. The Seed Bomb was knocked away before it could explode, breaking apart in the air.

Linoone’s Headbutt did not stop.

“Bud!” Bud cried out in pain, its small body stumbling back several steps.

“Stun Spore has been countered and Seed Bomb proved ineffective,” the apprentices whispered among themselves. “I remember Bud doesn’t know many moves before it evolves?”

“Yes, not many. This new trainer is going to lose.”

Indeed, compared to the newcomers outside, the gym apprentices possessed far stronger skills.

Yet, the scene of Seed Bomb being knocked away sparked a new idea in Hu Yang’s mind.

What if the explosion could be controlled? Timed detonation might be difficult, but could it be made to explode instantly upon impact, like a popper?

Now was not the time to ponder that further—the battle was still ongoing.

“Bud, use that move!”

“Bud!”

A seed the size of a fist formed atop Bud’s head.

“Seed Bomb?” The red headband said, “Linoone, another Headbutt! Let’s finish this!”

The familiar scene unfolded again.

Linoone knocked aside the Seed Bomb, which exploded midair after being struck.

Up to this moment, nothing had changed from before.

But the next second, a nearly invisible yellow powder, stirred by the explosion, spread rapidly in all directions.

“What is that—?”

“Stun Spore…”

“How is that possible? He fused Stun Spore into Seed Bomb—how did he do it?!”

Everyone’s faces showed astonishment.

Even Gym Leader Qian Li looked at the young man in the arena with surprise.

In an instant, the situation reversed.

Linoone was paralyzed, and two full-powered Seed Bombs awaited it.

With the sound of explosions, Linoone’s eyes rolled back—it lost the ability to battle.

“Linoone is unable to battle. Challenger wins!” The referee raised the flag. “Do you wish to continue challenging?”

Hu Yang waved his hand. His trump card had been exposed, and he no longer held any advantage.

Besides, without that move, Bud’s raw strength was still insufficient.

Hu Yang left deep in thought, while Qian Li watched his retreating figure with interest, thinking: What an intriguing youngster.

———

Hu Yang returned to school and chose to devote himself to training. He found Pokémon battles truly captivating—the interplay between trainers, the contest of moves between Pokémon.

Bud still knew too few moves.

Hu Yang began seriously considering the viability of “timed bombs” and “landmine bombs.”

He shared his idea with Bud, who tried several times in confusion, but had no success.

“If direct use doesn’t work, what about controlling the input of Grass-type energy into Seed Bomb?” Hu Yang pondered, then took Bud to the riverside to experiment.

He provided the theory and method; Bud adapted it to her abilities.

They kept at it until Christmas Eve, when Bud finally succeeded in creating a new “landmine bomb.”

By increasing the internal grass energy and thinning the seed’s shell, the bomb exploded violently the instant an enemy touched it.

This move’s power was greatly enhanced compared to an ordinary Seed Bomb.

As for the timed bomb, there was no progress at all.

Hu Yang had some guesses as to why it wasn’t feasible.

Perhaps, once the energy left the Pokémon’s body, it could no longer be controlled, and thus couldn’t explode on command.

“It’s a bit tough…” Hu Yang felt as if he’d become an obsessed researcher these days, rushing through classes each day to experiment by the river with Bud.