With Zheng Fang leading the way.
Baimu arrived at a spacious open field and met the younger generation of Meteor Village who had not yet set out on their travels.
Mawile really couldn't stand this environment filled with Dragon-type Pokémon and requested to return to the Pokeball. Unable to persuade it, Baimu had to comply.
Looking around, including Zheng Fang, there were three young people, along with a group of boys and girls seemingly no older than eleven, and a little girl about four years old at the youngest.
"I've heard so much about you! My name is Lian Zuo!"
"I! Eldegoss!"
"Da Long."
"I'm Chitose! Nice to meet you!"
"Youzi~"
A group of people surrounded Baimu, eagerly introducing themselves without Zheng Fang's introduction, even the youngest girl announced her name in a soft voice.
Baimu responded to each one.
There were only about ten people in total, fewer than expected.
However, considering the scale of Meteor Village and the number of houses, the total population is probably only a thousand or so. Excluding the younger Dragon Tamers who have left for travels, having this many children left is quite impressive.
After all, the Meteor People have had a heritage in the Hoenn Region for two thousand years, yet the population is still so small.
While Baimu was curious, he didn't dwell on it too much, as he wasn't a sociologist. He cast a few more looks at the little girl named Youzi, as she was holding a pale violet oval slug—Goomy.
Though most of the Dragon-type Pokémon in Meteor Village are native to the Hoenn Region, occasionally, there are Dragon-type Pokémon from other regions... and those once considered Dragon-types, such as Charizard, Gyarados, and Aerodactyl.
In the animated context, the attributes of each Pokémon are planned through various factors, rather than having a "Dragon-type" sign on their foreheads.
Of course, like this sixth-generation Goomy and the Tyrantrum previously displayed by Xijana, Meteor Village also has Dragon-type Pokémon from other generations.
However, their numbers are relatively small.
Perhaps one could use the species value clue here? Upon winning, it would likely be these different generation quasi-gods.
Baimu's thoughts started to wander but quickly subsided as he remembered the recently evolved Hydreigon, and the not yet evolved Shiny Feebas and Porygon.
Human energy is limited.
Not long ago, he was contemplating that the number of Pokémon in his team was gradually increasing, feeling a bit guilty for spending less time with Aggron, yet now he was eager to capture the next one.
Even if welcoming a new Pokémon is inevitable, it should only happen once the existing Pokémon have grown to a certain stage.
"Baimu! Baimu! You must have Dragon-type Pokémon, right?"
The call brought back his wandering thoughts.
At the moment, Baimu saw these young Dragon Tamers looking at him curiously, and he couldn't help but nod and say, "I do…"
But it's not a Dragon-type Pokémon, it's a Husky Pokémon.
"Can we see it?"
"Let's have a battle then! Let's see whose dragon is stronger!"
"Yeah! Brother Zheng Fang, come on! As the strongest young Dragon Tamer in the village right now, you should welcome Baimu with a fiery battle, right?"
"Brother Baimu~ Youzi wants to see Dragon-type Pokémon~"
These die-hard dragon fans eagerly shouted, even the youngest one deliberately freed a hand to hold onto Baimu's clothes, looking up at him with expectant eyes.
Zheng Fang also smiled and said, "If you don't mind, how about a Dragon Pokémon battle with me?"
"No! Battle with me first!"
Lian Zuo, tall and skinny, with bangs almost covering his eyes, reached out to intercept, his face seemingly flushed due to excitement, "Can, can I, Baimu?"
"Of course."
Baimu nodded slightly and turned to find the others naturally stepping back, leaving them ample space without needing a reminder.
Speaking of which.
Although he had already noticed it earlier, looking at the ground now, it's clearly a battle site that has been refurbished multiple times after countless battles.
They deliberately chose this place to meet...
He couldn't help but chuckle, "Were you planning to battle me all along, pretending to be enthusiastic so I can't refuse?"
Originally intending to make a small joke to liven up the atmosphere, unexpectedly, these people all sheepishly turned their heads.
Baimu: "..."
"After all, after all, you came from outside!"
One of the kids, probably only eight or nine years old, couldn't help but speak up, "The brothers and uncles who returned before were all praising you, saying you might be the best Dragon Tamer of our generation! Everyone is just incredibly curious—"
"Cough cough cough, sorry, I came up with the idea, you can blame me." Zheng Fang, having been found out, said rather embarrassedly.
Lian Zuo's face turned even redder, "I, I, I—"
So it turns out you're blushing because you're nervous.
"Ah…"
Baimu held his forehead helplessly, he didn't intend to get angry at all.
After all, it was just a harmless trick, with the sole purpose of getting him to agree to battle… Doesn't Zheng Fang know? Isn't he aware of the little rule in the outside world where "a Trainer looking you in the eye means starting a battle"?
The Dragon Elder's decision to move out of Meteor Falls to increase contact with the outside world was indeed the right choice.
"I didn't mean to blame you… Forget it, let the battle speak."
He looked at Lian Zuo across from him, "Are there any rules? Like flipping a coin to decide who attacks first?"