Chapter 30: Overlord—Gengar

Those Ghost-type Pokémon that hadn't been affected by the Sword of the Precipice couldn't help but shrink back a few steps at the sight. Hu Yang glanced at the enormous fissure on the ground left by the attack, an odd feeling stirring within him. Was it only when he sacrificed himself in battle that the Ancient Moon Bird would intervene?

"Are you alright?" Gengar's anxious voice sounded beside him. Hu Yang, relieved to see it still there, asked, "Where did you go just now?" Gengar shot an angry look at the distant Ghost-types, replying, "I've been by your side the whole time, but they blocked my powers so you couldn't see me."

Hu Yang returned Roserade to its Poké Ball. "Thank you for your hard work." After putting away the Poké Ball, he looked around at the other Pokémon. Clearly, things were far from over. Even after all that had just happened, the Ghost-type Pokémon were still unwilling to leave, hovering in the air and watching from afar.

But then, a sudden change occurred—the temperature around them dropped sharply, and a chilling, dreadful aura spread through the air. The Litwicks sensed this and immediately grew restless and uneasy. They wanted to flee, but before they could move, a powerful force rooted them to the spot.

A massive figure emerged from the darkness, its gaze icy as it fixed upon the controlled Litwicks. Yet those who stood with Hu Yang remained unharmed in their places. Hu Yang was stunned at the sight. That Pokémon was...

He couldn't help but use his appraisal skill.

[Species: Gengar, Totem ♂]
Type: Ghost, Poison
Ability: Cursed Body
Base Stats: 500 (HP: 60, Attack: 65, Defense: 60, Sp. Atk: 130, Sp. Def: 75, Speed: 110)
Known Moves: Hypnosis, Curse, Grudge, Mean Look, Shadow Ball, Night Shade, Confuse Ray, Sucker Punch, Dream Eater, Dark Pulse, Hex, Nightmare, Trick Room
Special Ability: Totem Aura (within this aura, exerts a certain suppressive effect on Pokémon of the same type)
Current Mood: Angry
Physical State: Perfect
Friendliness: 0

A Totem Pokémon... Wasn't that a special phenomenon unique to the Alola region? Totem Pokémon were formidable creatures that appeared at the end of the Island Challenge trials. Compared to their regular counterparts, these were much larger in size and shrouded in a unique aura. In the games, when fighting them, they would call upon their allies for support. For example, Totem Lurantis would summon Castform to use Sunny Day, complementing its moves like Synthesis or Leaf Guard.

However, in the games, apart from their size, Totem Pokémon were otherwise identical to their normal species. They didn't gain stat boosts, have different abilities, or change typing like in Mega Evolution.

But... judging from this Gengar, it seemed the Totem Aura also had a real suppressive effect on others of its kind. The Totem Gengar didn't appear to do anything, nor did Hu Yang see it use any move. With nothing but its gaze and overwhelming pressure, the Lampents and Litwicks simply dissipated into the air.

The Totem Gengar turned, its gaze sweeping over Hu Yang and the Ancient Moon Bird, pausing when it landed on Gengar. Just as Hu Yang thought it would attack, the Totem Gengar spoke.

"I am sorry. The humans who were taken are all safe now."

Hu Yang and Gengar were both stunned.

The Ancient Moon Bird, unconcerned, was preening its feathers with its beak, reverting to its usual dopey self after unleashing the Sword of the Precipice.

"I think we deserve an explanation," Hu Yang said calmly.

The Totem Gengar sighed, shutting its eyes. When it opened them again, Hu Yang and the Ancient Moon Bird found themselves standing before a Western-style manor exuding a dangerous aura. The manor's doors stood wide open, revealing inside a host of sinister, vengeful Ghost-type Pokémon who glared out at Hu Yang with eyes full of resentment.

The Totem Gengar glanced in their direction, and the doors slammed shut, trapping the Pokémon inside.

"As you can see, I keep them sealed here," it explained. "Yesterday, they joined forces to put me to sleep with their moves and snuck out."

Raising its head to the sky, the Totem Gengar added quietly, "This place is dangerous—not somewhere humans should tread. You should leave."

Hu Yang said nothing. The Totem Gengar glanced at him and sent him away from the place. When Hu Yang opened his eyes again, he found himself back at the spot where he had vanished.

Officer Jenny, the schoolteachers, and the three missing children were all there.

"Is everyone alright?" Officer Jenny got up, holding her head, dutifully checking on everyone.

"What happened?" someone asked as they came to, looking a bit pale but otherwise unharmed.

"I think... I saw a blue flame," someone else remembered.

After taking a headcount, Officer Jenny breathed a sigh of relief, frowned, and looked toward the depths of the forest. "Let's all head back first," she said.

No one objected. But on the way, someone noticed the enormous fissure stretching for more than a dozen meters, exclaiming in shock, "What on earth caused this?!"

"It's still steaming—must have been made just recently," Officer Jenny observed as she examined it.

"So, what actually happened just now?" For a moment, everyone was at a loss.

To them, it was merely a case of getting lost, encountering a frightening pack of Ghost-type Pokémon, and then, suddenly, finding themselves back here, the ghosts vanished.

Hearing this, Hu Yang, standing among the crowd, touched his nose. He had already recalled the Ancient Moon Bird to its Poké Ball, leaving only Gengar out.

Gengar, too, had heard the question. It had seen the Ancient Moon Bird use the Sword of the Precipice and asked in alarm, "What is with that dumb bird?!"

All along, it had thought that guy was just an idiot obsessed with catching fish!

Hu Yang: "..."

He didn't know how to answer, but aside from Gengar, no one else had witnessed that scene.

"I raised it myself—impressive, isn't it?" Hu Yang boasted.

Gengar was now profoundly grateful it had lost its ability to use moves; otherwise, it would have been the one lying motionless on the ground.

Thinking of this, Gengar shivered, but, true to its nature of longing for strength, it couldn't help but look at Hu Yang.

So this was the power of a human Trainer who could make his Pokémon so strong? It was enough to make a ghost shudder in awe!

...

Thus ended the disappearance incident. Though no one knew exactly who had saved them, it was certain that the fissure was the mark left by their savior's battle.

After returning to the police station, Officer Jenny and her team immediately filed an emergency report to the League about the event.

Meanwhile, Hu Yang received thanks from both Officer Jenny and the students' parents.

Upon his return to school, Hu Yang dove into the library, researching the history of Petalburg Woods. Though the crisis had passed, many questions remained.

For example, who had built the manor? Why was the Totem Gengar keeping those Pokémon sealed there? None of this was ever mentioned in the games.

More importantly, this time, the Ghost-types had managed to break through Gengar’s defenses and nearly caused great harm to humans. What about next time?

If not for the Ancient Moon Bird, how many people would have gone missing? Hu Yang dared not imagine.

With this in mind, he glanced at the Ancient Moon Bird dozing nearby. After these two incidents, he had more or less figured out how to use it—by putting himself in danger.

Hu Yang’s feelings were complicated.

He had previously tried having Gengar use telepathy to communicate with the Ancient Moon Bird. But according to Gengar, aside from a jumble of mush, all it sensed in the bird’s mind was: “Must bring food to Hu Yang” and “Must protect Hu Yang.”

Truthfully, he had never been especially fond of this obscure Pokémon; he had only picked it for modification because its shiny form resembled Ho-Oh.

As a grown man, he had never expected to be protected by anyone.

But now, he couldn’t help but admit that he was moved.

Even after becoming a fool, forgetting everything, the Ancient Moon Bird still hadn’t forgotten to protect its Trainer.

Was this what it meant to be a Pokémon?

“You protected me well,” Hu Yang said, hugging the Ancient Moon Bird and gently scratching its chin.

“Caw?” The dozing Ancient Moon Bird woke, looking around blankly.

...

The Hoenn League took all major incidents caused by wild Pokémon very seriously. Upon receiving the Petalburg police report, they immediately dispatched investigators to look into the mysterious event.

“Ghost-types abducting humans?” On the ferry to Petalburg, Phoebe of the Elite Four narrowed her eyes as she read the report, noting the keywords: “disappearances,” “mysterious fissure,” “intense battle,” and “possible recurrence.”