At this moment, Beldum was excitedly circling around Theo, its red crystal eyes fixed with curiosity on the livestream camera floating in midair.
It seemed extremely interested in this little square object that could fly. Carefully, it drifted closer and gently tapped the lens with its head, producing a crisp knocking sound upon contact.
"Hahaha, is Beldum saying hello? So cute!"
"That little knock just melted my heart!"
"It's really so beautiful—this silver-white body is absolutely stunning!"
"Steel and strength—this is a man's romance. I want to raise a Beldum too!"
Theo smiled and rubbed Beldum's head. "Stop messing around—we're heading out to challenge the Gym today."
The little fellow nuzzled his palm. Knowing they were about to head out, it instinctively wanted to return to its Poké Ball.
Theo gently stopped it. "Today is your Gym challenge. No hiding in the Poké Ball—come with me instead!"
Though Beldum was a bit shy, it obediently floated to his shoulder, its red eyes blinking softly.
This was its first Gym challenge—both exciting and nerve-wracking.
"All right, time to go."
Theo picked up the Dive Ball and gently pressed it beside Feebas.
A flash of red light enveloped the little Pokémon, which had been completely absorbed in watching videos, and gently drew it into its new Poké Ball.
Then Theo turned to the camera and said, "We're setting off now. We'll walk to the Mauville Gym at a relaxed pace. On the way, I'll show everyone what Mauville City looks like in the morning and introduce some of the Pokémon unique to the areas around here."
As he spoke, Theo pushed open the hotel room door, took the elevator down, and stepped into the morning streets.
Mauville City's mornings were especially lively, as if the air itself crackled with faint sparks of electricity.
Several Volbeat flitted about the power poles, chasing one another playfully. The small antennae on their heads and the round tails on their backs emitted occasional zzzt sounds of electric current.
Along the roadside metal railings, a string of Magnemite were connected head to tail, drifting along leisurely. Sparks flew where their bodies rubbed together, glittering like golden stardust under the sunlight.
Beside a tree stump at the street corner, a Pikachu was hugging a small berry and munching away happily, its round cheeks puffed out.
When it noticed Theo passing by, it suddenly stopped, tilted its head curiously, and stared intently at the Beldum perched on his shoulder with its pitch-black eyes.
"Wow, Mauville City's streets are so unique! Electric-type Pokémon everywhere!"
"That Pikachu is so cute! It looks like it's staring right at the camera!"
"The railings are covered in Magnemite—my trypophobia can't handle this, hahaha!"
"Streamer, hurry up and explain what these Pokémon are doing!"
The livestream chat scrolled rapidly. Theo slowed his pace and patiently explained while pointing at the Pokémon nearby.
"See those Magnemite? They're absorbing the weak electric currents from the railings to replenish their energy. They have a natural affinity for metal objects.
That Pikachu—I recognize it. It has a few spots on its tail. I saw its Trainer bringing it to eat shaved ice before."
He paused for a moment, then added with a smile, "There are especially many Electric-type Pokémon in Mauville City because the power plant here provides abundant electricity. For them, it's like a natural paradise."
As they continued walking, a sweet fragrance drifted through the air. Theo pointed at a street stall and said, "Speaking of Mauville's specialties, we have to mention these Electric-themed snacks.
For example, that white Shock Cotton Candy, it gives you a slight numbing sensation when you bite into it. And those Electrode-shaped mochi, filled with cheese. When they're hot, the filling stretches beautifully."
As he spoke, two Pokémon—Plusle and Minun, suddenly hopped over from beside the stall and began circling around his ankles.
Plusle tapped his shoe lightly with its little paw, sending a faint current through it that felt tingly and numb.
Minun jumped onto the nearby platform, stared curiously at the floating Beldum, and rubbed its head against Beldum's metallic shell, producing a soft pa sound.
"Oh right, I almost forgot—Mauville's Plusle and Minun have a special kind of electric interaction," Theo added.
"If you ever come here to visit, you should definitely try it with them. You just need to bring some food for them, and you can experience this activity."
"Electric interaction—sounds super fun!"
"Electrified cotton candy? I really want to try that!"
"Streamer, you're making me want to go to Mauville City too. There's also an arcade here, right? I heard the Pokémon-themed games there are amazing!"
The audience in the livestream grew more and more animated. Theo responded while continuing forward.
Along the way, many pedestrians noticed the Beldum on his shoulder.
Its silver-white metallic body gleamed with a cold sheen in the sunlight, and its red crystal eyes were especially eye-catching—it was clearly a shiny Pokémon.
"That's Beldum? The color looks different!"
"My goodness, it's a shiny! Those are so rare!"
Some people recognized Theo and took out their phones to snap photos. Others walked up eagerly. "Streamer, I'm your fan! Can we take a photo together? I want one with Beldum!"
Theo smiled and agreed.
Although Beldum was shy, it obediently floated on Theo's shoulder.
However, whenever a camera was aimed directly at it, it would quietly tuck its little head behind Theo's neck, leaving only one gleaming eye peeking out. The sight made everyone laugh.
"Can I touch it?" a little girl asked softly.
Beldum immediately drifted backward, shaking its body to signal refusal.
"Hahaha, Beldum has quite the attitude!"
"Photos are okay, but no touching—this is way too cute!"
"Not going to Mauville City is such a loss. I want to cuddle with a shiny Beldum!"
The livestream chat scrolled even faster, and the viewer count skyrocketed, quickly surpassing one million.
After all, this was the first Gym battle of a shiny Beldum identical to Champion Steven Stone's—just that alone was enough to draw countless eyes.
Steven hadn't battled publicly in a long time. For many of his fans, being able to see a shiny Beldum take the field was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
While chatting casually with the livestream audience about Mauville City's culture and scenery, Theo also responded to photo requests from fans he encountered along the way.
Before he realized it, the outline of the Mauville Gym had appeared right before his eyes.
Ahead stood a building with a strikingly industrial design.
Its exterior walls were composed of densely packed metal pipes and interlocking gears. At the top stood a thick lightning rod, with tiny sparks occasionally snapping at its tip.
A wooden sign hanging above the entrance bore four bold characters: "Mauville Gym."
Outside the Gym, many local fans had already gathered, having come specifically to witness Beldum's Gym battle with their own eyes.
At the entrance, Theo patiently fulfilled each request for photos. Beldum cooperated diligently as well, obediently perching on his shoulder and striking adorable poses.
No matter how much the fans pleaded, however, it remained tense and alert, firmly refusing to let anyone touch its body.
(End of Chapter)