Gengar's Story

Gengar thought seriously for a moment, then said, "You're too weak right now. When you get stronger, I'll tell you."

Hu Yang: "..."

Wasn't that the same as saying nothing?

Seeing his expression, Gengar assumed he was worried about the treasure and said, "Don't worry. I'm not going to lie like you humans do."

As it said this, the smile on Gengar's face suddenly vanished for an instant, replaced by a flash of resentment and coldness.

Hu Yang did not care about the treasure. "Can I refuse?"

This Gengar clearly had an extraordinary background, but opportunities often came with risks. He had a clear understanding of his own strength and did not want to get involved.

A malicious smile appeared on Gengar's face. "If you refuse, I'll eat you. And don't even think about throwing me away. That orb became bound to you the moment you willingly accepted it from that person."

Hu Yang pointed out, "I can give the orb to someone else."

Gengar said coldly, "I'll eat you before that happens."

Hu Yang was confused. "Then why didn't you kill that person? Why only kill me?"

Gengar replied, "Because you're unlucky. I had only just regained consciousness when the jewel reached your hands."

Hu Yang: "...Fine, that's a very reasonable answer. So, let's talk about what I can do for you."

Gengar's attitude became very serious, and a powerful dark-purple aura radiated from its body as it spoke.

Hu Yang could sense the terrifying power within it. Recalling what he knew about Gengar, he said:

"But before that, I think we need to get to know each other."

Gengar narrowed its eyes but said nothing.

Hu Yang asked, "You were sealed inside that jewel. May I ask why?"

A cold gleam flashed through Gengar's eyes as it spat out several words. "Because of a group of detestable people."

It added, "You don't need to know that. You only need to do your job."

Hu Yang understood what it meant. "You don't want me to take revenge for you, do you? Or do you want me to free you from that jewel? How would I do that—by smashing it?"

At those words, Gengar's expression stiffened.

Hu Yang sharply noticed that something was wrong.

Normally, freeing a sealed creature only required breaking the seal from the outside.

This Gengar seemed extremely powerful. It could probably defeat ten thousand of the current Budew. Under such circumstances, it should have been fully capable of taking revenge itself.

Gengar did not answer and brushed off the question with an extremely unpleasant attitude.

Hu Yang did not press further, because class was about to begin.

He left home with Budew and Cramorant, leaving Gengar alone in the house.

When school ended that afternoon and he returned, he did not see Gengar in the bedroom. However, the jewel still sat securely on the desk.

Before long, Gengar returned from outside and made its first request of Hu Yang:

"As long as you can find me that cold food that smells sweet and sour, I'll tell you where the treasure is hidden."

Hu Yang froze for a moment. Watching Gengar gesture with its hands, he imagined it for a second and asked, "Ice-type cream?"

Gengar choked up. "Yes, that's what it's called!"

Hu Yang: "...Do you really want to eat it?"

Gengar looked awkward. "Not that much."

Hu Yang twitched the corner of his mouth and went out with Budew.

Although winter was approaching, there were still a few Ice-type cream stalls outside.

Looking at Gengar floating beside him, he asked, "Other people can't see you?"

Gengar looked proud. "Only the people I want to see me can see me!"

Hu Yang bought three Ice-type creams from a stall—one for Budew, one for Cramorant, and one for Gengar.

"Here!" Hu Yang handed one over.

Gengar excitedly reached out to take it. Seeing that it was about to grab it, Hu Yang let go—but the Ice-type cream passed straight through Gengar's palm and fell to the ground with a slap.

The white cream was instantly covered in dust, melting through the cracks between the stone paving and into the ground.

Gengar stared blankly at its own hands, a disappointed expression appearing on its face.

Hu Yang froze. He reached his hand toward Gengar, only for it to pass straight through its body.

The spirit state mentioned in Gengar's information surfaced in his mind, and a terrifying thought suddenly arose in his heart.

"I think we should talk," he said.

After returning home with Budew, Gengar did not say another word the entire way.

Sitting on the sofa, Hu Yang asked, "You're already dead, aren't you?"

From the looks of it, this Gengar did not seem to know the state of its own body.

Ghost-type Pokémon could indeed pass through certain objects, but if they wanted to, they could still touch things.

If this Gengar had known, it probably would not have asked for Ice-type cream.

What would Ghost-type Pokémon become after they died?

Ghosts among ghosts?

Had that sealed jewel imprisoned Gengar's soul?

If the jewel shattered, would that mean Gengar's soul would also dissipate?

Was that why Gengar had reflexively made that expression when he said "smash it"?

So its earlier threats had all been a bluff?

If all of that was true, their positions would be reversed in an instant.

A deep confusion appeared on Gengar's face. "I don't know. I only remember that they trapped me with this jewel. My subconscious tells me that if the jewel breaks, I'll disappear too."

"Who were they?"

"Humans."

"Did you hurt them?"

"No. They said I would bring disease to humans, that I was an evil spirit who brought bad luck."

Ignorant ancient humans had killed it, sealed it within the jewel, and buried it deep underground.

Its intense resentment allowed Gengar to survive through the jewel's power rather than disappearing from this world.

At the cost of losing its body, it fused with the jewel's power, causing its soul to undergo a transformation.

But this came with both benefits and drawbacks. The surviving Gengar had become one with the jewel.

In other words, it was a jewel that had gained self-awareness.

It would be trapped within it forever, unable to escape and unable even to use moves.

Gengar's resentment toward humans had also given rise to a curse that caused any human who touched the jewel to suffer nightmares all night.

After hearing Gengar's story, Hu Yang's feelings were incredibly complicated.

The Pokémon League had only been established for a little over two hundred years. Before that, this world's governments had mostly existed as tribes and kingdoms.

It had been an age where ignorance and feudalism coexisted.

Even earlier, humans had called Pokémon magical beasts, treated them as enemies, hunted them, and fought wars against them everywhere.

Hu Yang had encountered that history in the library before. Now, after considering this Gengar's experience, he did not dare imagine how many Pokémon had suffered such things in that era, or how many humans had lost their lives because of them.

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