Misdreavus, Gastly, and the Star-Absorbing Great Art

"Yes."

Qingliu nodded.

Spiritomb was a Pokémon with an exceptionally unusual design. Its Pokédex entries, abilities, and other details all emphasized how different it was.

It ranked number 108 in the Sinnoh Pokédex, weighed 108 kilograms, had base Defense and Special Defense stats of 108, and appeared on Route 108 in the games. Most importantly, it was composed of 108 souls.

Some of those 108 souls were utterly wicked, ultimately turning it into a sinister being formed from evil thoughts.

That sinister aura was a mass of negative emotions gathered together.

And those negative emotions were precisely the negative energy that Ghost-type Pokémon loved.

Cynthia thought of this too. She lowered her head and looked at Spiritomb, which was struggling desperately under Gabite's restraint, and the terrifying expressions that occasionally appeared on its gaseous face.

Spiritomb's current condition did indeed look like a rampage caused by an eruption of negative energy.

She had never expected someone who looked a year or two younger than her to spot something she had overlooked at a glance.

He clearly knew his stuff. Cynthia grew serious and turned her gaze toward Qingliu.

"Then what's the quickest and easiest way to deal with this state? If we need anything else to help, I'll find a way to get it as soon as possible."

"There's no need to make it that complicated."

Qingliu said, "Just like you said earlier, we only need to guide that energy out. I've already told you exactly how to do it."

He already told me?

Cynthia carefully recalled everything Qingliu had just said, finally settling on the words, "Have Ghost-type Pokémon use absorption abilities or something similar on Spiritomb."

Given the rest of our conversation, he probably didn't mean absorbing stamina... so, absorbing negative energy?

Cynthia understood in an instant.

Negative energy was a delicacy for Ghost-type Pokémon, but Spiritomb had eaten so much that it had given itself indigestion. If some of that energy could be shared out, Spiritomb's problem could be resolved perfectly.

But... even if most Ghost-type Pokémon love negative energy, it's difficult to see with the naked eye. Most of them might be able to consume and digest it, but manipulating it would probably require real proficiency.

So who should do it now?

Cynthia's gaze swept quickly around them, finally settling on the three Pokémon that Spiritomb had brutalized, Qingliu had subsequently knocked down, and his limited supply of Heal Spray had helped recover some of their strength.

One Golbat and two Misdreavus.

Golbat could only suck blood and drain stamina, and wasn't even a Ghost-type. It was ruled out immediately.

Then there's Misdreavus...

Her knowledge of Pokémon gradually surfaced in Cynthia's mind, and her gaze slowly shifted to the Red Prayer Beads around the necks of the two trembling Misdreavus.

These beads can absorb fear, so by the same principle, they should be able to absorb at least some similar negative emotions. With enough of them, drawing the negative energy out of Spiritomb should be possible.

And numbers were no concern at all in the Lost Tower.

At that thought, Cynthia abruptly turned to Qingliu.

Qingliu nodded silently.

After receiving his confirmation, Cynthia forcibly recalled Spiritomb, then sent Gabite to abduct all the Misdreavus and other Ghost-type Pokémon in the Lost Tower.

Just look at those reflexes and that decisiveness.

At that moment, Qingliu had to admit that she truly lived up to her future title of Champion. Her knowledge and intelligence far surpassed those of her peers.

His ability to reach a conclusion and find a matching solution so quickly came from his advance knowledge of this world before transmigrating, the concrete information in his head, and the assistance of the panel's advanced Pokédex function.

Cynthia, however, relied entirely on what she had seen and heard, and the knowledge she had accumulated as a native of the Pokémon world.

Although an insurmountable gulf still existed between them, what Cynthia had managed was already impressive.

Besides, this meant they could communicate directly as two intelligent people, sparing him the difficulties he had experienced with Candice.

Gabite soon returned.

Along with Gabite came six Misdreavus and nine Gastly.

Including the two Misdreavus on the Fourth Floor, seventeen Ghost-type Pokémon trembled under Gabite's fierce gaze, terrified of Gabite.

Cynthia took out her Poké Ball and released Spiritomb again.

"Khee-khee... keh-heh-heh-heh!!"

The moment it emerged, Spiritomb let out a low, malicious chuckle and glared viciously at every Pokémon and person before it. Had Gabite not immediately planted a Bulldoze on its face, it probably would have already roared and attacked the Misdreavus and Gastly.

Even so, Spiritomb's terrifying appearance and surging aura instantly left the seventeen Ghost-type Pokémon feeling as though they had plunged into an icy abyss. They didn't dare move a muscle.

Anyone unaware of the situation might have thought Spiritomb was stronger than Gabite.

Clearly, this was the result of Spiritomb's overwhelmingly intense negative emotions suppressing the Ghost-types.

"There's no need to be afraid. I only need you to help remove some of the energy from Spiritomb. I'll let you leave afterward, and that energy will benefit you quite a bit too."

Cynthia spoke gently to the Misdreavus and Gastly while using Heal Spray to clean their wounds and speed the recovery of the Ghost-type Pokémon that had been brought over.

"Muu-ma..."

"Gast..."

Upon hearing that they were supposed to draw out and absorb Spiritomb's energy, the Misdreavus and Gastly all shook their heads in refusal, as though afraid Cynthia might miss their meaning.

Cynthia's expression immediately stiffened.

Watching quietly, Qingliu couldn't help shaking his head.

Although she had enormous potential and was already beginning to show her brilliance, her age remained a limitation. She was still far too inexperienced at this sort of thing.

Qingliu walked past Cynthia and approached the group of Misdreavus and Gastly. He stared at them expressionlessly, only speaking slowly once the atmosphere had grown increasingly oppressive.

"I think you've misunderstood something. We're telling you that you have to do this, not asking for your opinion. Obey and you live. Refuse and you die. Gabite..."

Qingliu raised his hand and looked at Gabite.

At first, Gabite didn't quite understand Qingliu's look, but then gradually caught on. Copying his gesture, Gabite raised a claw toward the Misdreavus and Gastly, Dragon-type energy surging as though an attack would follow at the slightest disagreement.

The Misdreavus and Gastly huddled together in terror. Finally, they exchanged looks and chose to help, sensibly yielding to their fear.

And so, a very strange-looking ritual began.

Spiritomb lay on the ground, with one of Gabite's large feet planted directly on its Odd Keystone. Eight Misdreavus formed a circle around the two of them.

The nine Gastly formed a larger circle around the Misdreavus, making the gathering look like a formation made of Pokémon.

Once all the Pokémon were ready, Qingliu said, "Begin."

As his voice fell, the eight Misdreavus activated their power. The red beads around their necks instantly burst with red light, sending it toward Spiritomb, which was pinned to the ground.

Streams of dark red, dark purple, gray, black... slowly emerged from Spiritomb. Drawn out by the red light, they appeared in midair before finally flowing into the eight Misdreavus.