Chapter 109: The Grudge and Romance Between Agatha and Oak

Agatha leaned on her cane, her face deeply etched with the marks of time. Her habitual sternness gave her a somewhat somber appearance.

Hu Yang and Gengar watched her.

From somewhere, Agatha produced a Poké Ball and asked, "Young man, do you dare to accept my challenge?"

Hu Yang: "..."

If she kept this up, he would have to use Cramorant. However, the thought was merely a passing flicker. Battling an Elite Four member was a dream for many trainers. As it happened, he could use this opportunity to test Gengar's true strength.

Hu Yang and Gengar exchanged a glance, and Gengar floated onto the battlefield.

Grandma Agatha offered a grim smile, though her gaze now held a trace of satisfaction. She tossed her red-and-white ball; with a flash of white light, a Haunter appeared on the field.

Nearby, a trainer watching the match pulled out their Pokédex and scanned the two Pokémon. A mechanical voice rang out:

"Haunter, the Gas Pokémon. Beyond that, everything remains a mystery."

"Gengar, the Shadow Pokémon. The evolved form of Haunter. A Pokémon that dwells in the shadows. Detailed information is unknown."

"So, the world is still ignorant about Haunter and Gengar?" Hu Yang’s attention drifted. He remembered that by the time he had arrived in this world, the Pokédex entries were already incredibly detailed, even noting Gengar’s ability to slip into other dimensions and absorb the surrounding temperature. On second thought, this era was still quite primitive, and the Pokédex had yet to be fully compiled, so such gaps were normal.

While Hu Yang examined the old-fashioned Pokédex, Agatha was quietly observing him. Ever since the boy had boarded the ship, her Pokémon had become restless, as if something about him was attracting them. That was why she had stepped up to challenge him.

"You may go first," Agatha said, fixing her eyes on Gengar.

Hu Yang didn't stand on ceremony. "Sucker Punch, followed by Dark Pulse!"

As the command was issued, Gengar’s form flickered instantly, shimmering through the air to close the distance to Haunter in a heartbeat. A dark, eerie glow manifested on its claws. Neither Haunter nor Agatha had time to react.

The moment Sucker Punch connected, terrifying Dark-type energy surged forward in a powerful wave. Sucker Punch had merely served to bridge the gap; the true attack was the hidden Dark Pulse. Haunter was struck, letting out a cry of pain as its body began to tremble uncontrollably.

The flinch effect of Dark Pulse had triggered.

Seeing this, Agatha was secretly startled. Such incredible speed! Dark-type moves were twice as effective against Ghost-types. Having taken the damage from both Sucker Punch and Dark Pulse, she feared her Haunter might be knocked out by a single further blow. Agatha had never imagined she would lose this battle, let alone to such a young trainer. Because of this, she hadn't brought out her strongest partner, but rather a Haunter with Gym Leader-level strength.

Decades of battle experience kept Agatha from panicking. Looking at that Gengar, she calmly called out, "Use Destiny Bond."

But due to the flinch, Haunter failed to execute the move.

Hu Yang twitched his lips and ordered Gengar to deliver the final blow.

"Shadow Ball."

"Gengar!"

Gengar grinned, a spherical shadow forming in its hands. Empowered by the Spooky Plate, the move immediately rendered the flinching Haunter unable to battle.

"???"

The trainers watching from the sidelines were stunned. What was going on? The Ghost-type Elite Four’s Pokémon had been defeated in an instant?

Looking at the fainted Haunter, Hu Yang was also somewhat shocked. Was his Gengar really that strong?

Agatha looked at Haunter in silence before taking out her Poké Ball to recall it. She looked at Hu Yang, her voice carrying a trace of weariness. "You are a very strong trainer."

*No, it’s not that I’m strong; it’s that Gengar is strong!* Hu Yang wanted to say. In essence, he was just a novice trainer who had only just begun his journey in this world.

Agatha said no more, turning to leave to restore Haunter’s stamina.

Hu Yang, however, was in no rush to leave. He recalled Gengar and brought out his Fraxure, Ralts, and Roserade to battle the other trainers, gaining experience for his Pokémon.

Soon, it was noon. After two hours of intense battling, all the Pokémon’s stomachs began to rumble. Hu Yang took them to the dining hall for lunch. Because the ship had departed from the Kanto region, it was stocked with many newspapers and books from that area. In them, Hu Yang saw the name of Professor Oak.

Unlike Professor Birch, whose research was focused elsewhere, Professor Oak’s primary research topic was "The Relationship Between Humans and Pokémon." Hu Yang even stumbled upon some gossip about the Professor. It was said that Professor Oak had once been an outstanding trainer and a close friend of Agatha, one of the Elite Four. But later, he retired to focus on Pokémon research, and Agatha, believing he had grown weak, had distanced herself from him.

Hu Yang found this topic quite interesting. He had known a bit about the history between Oak and Agatha in his previous life: when Oak was young, he was a formidable trainer who often helped the eccentric Agatha. Every time she tried to drive him away, she couldn't defeat him in battle, and over time, she seemed to have become infatuated with him. However, as time passed, Oak poured all his energy into research. Agatha believed this had caused his battling prowess to decline and felt betrayed by him. Her temper grew volatile, and ever since, she had neither initiated contact with him nor wanted to see anything related to him.

Hu Yang sighed with emotion. Just then, Agatha walked over. Seeing the photo of Professor Oak in the newspaper, she raised her eyelids slightly and asked, "Are you very fond of that old man?"

Hu Yang: "..."

"No, I am a trainer from the Hoenn region. My idol is Professor Birch."

Upon hearing this, Agatha offered a faint, satisfied smile. She did not dwell on the topic, but cast her gaze toward the Pokémon eating nearby and asked, "Are you traveling to the Kanto region?"

Hu Yang nodded. That could be said.

Agatha gave a hum of acknowledgment and walked away, leaning on her cane, as if she had merely stopped by to say hello. Hu Yang watched her retreating back, suddenly feeling that her temper wasn't quite as explosive as the rumors suggested.