Trial Island

Qing Wu understood how he had been tricked. To be honest, Qing Wu had been careless as well; he should have had Golbat scout the surroundings.

A psychic must have been lurking nearby, using a Poké Ball with a set psychic spatial coordinate to teleport Qing Wu.

Qing Wu scanned the area with his flashlight. The data on Trial Island included detailed information about Ghost Mountain, and Qing Wu had prepared extensively to deal with Ghost-type Sprites.

Ghost Mountain was divided into three levels. The first level was the Tombstone Layer, primarily located on the outer perimeter of Ghost Mountain.

This was the burial place for Team Rocket's deceased Pokémon. Many deceased Team Rocket trial-goers were also collectively buried here.

This helped in the birth of new Ghost-type Sprites. Sometimes, malevolent Ghost-type Sprites would directly manipulate recently deceased corpses to attack passing Pokémon and trainers.

After all, besides self-propagation, Ghost-type Sprites had a more ancient transformation method: souls with strong obsessions were eroded by Ghost-type energy, eventually transforming into Ghost-type Sprites.

After being born, these Sprites would lose their previous memories but possess stronger combat abilities than normally bred Ghost-type Sprites, potentially having special abilities.

Qing Wu remembered that in his past life, a Team Rocket trial-goer had discovered a shiny Gastly emitting white flames on Ghost Mountain, possessing immense Fire-type talent.

Qing Wu deduced that this must have been a Ghost-type Sprite transformed from the soul of a powerful Fire-type Sprite. Unfortunately, by the time Qing Wu heard about it, he was already undercover within Team Aqua on a mission.

Qing Wu didn't have the time to investigate how to obtain that Sprite back then.

The second level of Ghost Mountain was in the central part of the mountain. Entering through a cave at the summit, it was inhabited by a large number of Ghost-type Sprites and served as their most important incubation place.

Pokémon Eggs born from the breeding of Ghost-type Sprites hatched here. Team Rocket trial-goers who entered the second level of Ghost Mountain described it as being filled with unhatched Pokémon Eggs everywhere.

The third level of Ghost Mountain was at the bottom of the mountain, primarily the dwelling place of ancient spirits.

They had created a Pseudo Spirit World, and the Sprites living here were generally Level 5 or higher.

It was incredibly dangerous. The third level was perpetually shrouded in mist, and Qing Wu understood this was the aura of the Pseudo Spirit World.

"I hope this Sprite has already been born," Qing Wu said slowly as he walked forward. Due to the influence of the misty Pseudo Spirit World, the flashlight beam could only illuminate about a meter ahead.

This was a visual distortion caused by the diffuse reflection of the light by the fog.

Being underground, the temperature here was several degrees lower than normal.

The entire cave was silent, save for the occasional flapping of Golbat's wings and the footsteps of Kecleon on the ground.

In the quiet cave, Qing Wu could even hear his own heartbeat, thumping.

Qing Wu knew he was likely on the second level of Ghost Mountain. Based on his estimation, these trial-goers would reach the second level at most.

After all, psychic-types were a great delicacy for Ghost-type Sprites, like torches in the darkness, attracting a relentless stream of Ghost-type Sprites to hunt them.

Qing Wu hesitated for a moment before throwing a Poké Ball, releasing the long-imprisoned Magmar.

As Magmar emerged from the Poké Ball, about to let out a roar, a cold voice sounded beside its ear.

"We're on Ghost Mountain right now. If you don't want to die, shut your mouth." Magmar turned its head and saw that detestable human.

Wait, Ghost Mountain!!! Magmar remembered being warned never to enter Ghost Mountain when it was still a little Magmar, as there were terrifying Sprites that would steal your soul.

Magmar immediately began to tremble with fear.

"Work hard and listen to me, and I'll guarantee you'll get out of Ghost Mountain safely," Qing Wu said expressionlessly.

Qing Wu was never lenient with these unruly Sprites. At that moment, a rumbling sound came from Magmar's stomach.

Magmar hadn't eaten for several days while confined in the Poké Ball.

Magmar looked at Qing Wu with resentful eyes. Unexpectedly, Qing Wu threw a bag at it, hitting it directly in the face. Magmar, with its fiery temper, was about to get angry when its nose suddenly caught a strange aroma emanating from the bag that had hit it.

Magmar ripped open the bag and took out a crystal-clear, chewy Poffin. It sniffed the Poffin's fragrance repeatedly, looking entranced.

"Eat it quickly if you want to eat. Get full and get to work," Qing Wu's cold voice continued. Although Magmar was annoyed with the human in front of it, it had indeed been defeated by him fair and square. Therefore, Magmar chose to temporarily obey the human's orders.

Whether it ate or not was secondary; the main point was that this human had defeated it. Magmar unceremoniously tossed the Poffin into its mouth. It was delicious!

At that very moment, neither Qing Wu nor Magmar noticed that not far from them, a pale Sprite opened its eyes, its nose constantly sniffing the aroma wafting through the air.

The reason Qing Wu chose to use Magmar was a last resort.

Being on the second level of Ghost Mountain, facing attacks from elusive Ghost-type Sprites with various curse abilities, his life was constantly under threat.

Of Qing Wu's only three Fire-type Sprites, Torchic had not yet hatched, and Magcargo often dozed off and was slow-moving. Among the short ones, Magmar was the tallest.

Indeed, the well-fed and satisfied Magmar had regained its vitality. The flames on Magmar allowed Qing Wu to see clearly within a five-meter radius.

Suddenly, the cave lit up. Qing Wu saw many white candles emitting blue-purple flames, hanging on the rock walls.

Qing Wu knew this was an illusion. Those white candles were Litwick, capable of sending people on the road to the afterlife without them even realizing it.

"Prepare for battle," Qing Wu said warily.

Litwick were also very malevolent Ghost-type Sprites, particularly fond of absorbing souls.

Especially Litwick's final evolution, Chandelure, whose flames could even scorch souls. Chandelure would lead a group of Litwick on hunts.

Magmar looked suspiciously at the candles hanging on the rock walls. Suddenly, countless ghost fires flickered and floated in the air, accompanied by Sprites' whispers in the darkness.

Qing Wu watched as the white candles grew limbs and fell from the rock walls, emitting eerie smiles.

Litwick had purple flames on their heads.

Their bodies were mainly composed of white wax. Melted, layered wax covered its right eye, leaving only its bright yellow left eye visible.

Beneath its protruding upper lip was a small, somewhat eerie smile.