Chapter 4: Won a Pokémon Battle Without Using a Pokémon

Guang Tai now clearly saw the enemy hidden inside the artifact!

A sword?

No, it’s a Pokémon!

This Pokémon appearing in his basement was indeed a Ghost-type—and from its appearance, wasn’t this just the ancient sword moments ago!?

Now the patterns on it were clearly visible, the dirt had peeled away, and even its shape had changed significantly!

Guang Tai instantly recognized its true identity!

If his memory served him right, it should be:

“Swordfish, Steel/Ghost, classified as the Sword Pokémon.”

“It is said to be the soul of the dead reborn within an ancient blade, possessing humans to drain their life force.”

Thoughts surged in his mind, forming into information.

【Artifact Event: [Ancient Guest].】

【Event Description: The seemingly broken ancient sword is actually a Pokémon. Because you took its gem and treated it as a trophy, it is deeply displeased and now seeks to reclaim the gem and knock you out.】

【Event Reward: Unique knowledge and craftsmanship.】

While Guang Tai was tense, Swordfish was even more panicked!

I was the one who started this fight!

Is this human… not quite right?

Why do my Ghost-type moves feel like scratching its skin?

“Yoh! (へ╬)! ”

Confusion gave way to anger, and anger to discomfort.

The purified incense began to take effect—Swordfish felt this place was deeply unpleasant, triggering an overwhelming urge to flee immediately!

Guang Tai seized the chance to activate the recording pen pinned to his chest!

Click. Crack!

The ear-splitting Pokémon speech—delivered as insults—played aloud, likely the voice of a common Kanto region Corviknight!

Though the Corviknight’s curses caused no real damage, the piercing noise left Swordfish dizzy, and the incense’s scent continuously repelled it, making its entire body feel wrong.

Guang Tai seized the moment to pull a Poké Ball from his waist pouch and threw it forward in a pitching motion.

The Poké Ball struck Swordfish squarely; a red light enveloped it and pulled it inside!

At the same time, Guang Tai pulled out a clay ball wrapped in green leaves.

In modern times, Nianwan was nearly a lost art. Although its crafting method wasn’t complex, its main ingredient was hard to obtain, and with the rise of Poké Balls, it had gradually vanished from history.

But its disappearance didn’t mean it was useless.

And luckily, he knew how to make this strange little tool—when thrown at a Pokémon, it slowed its movements and created openings.

The ball wobbled twice—and as expected, Swordfish burst straight out of it, the Poké Ball flying off, while Swordfish was furious. But in that exact instant, the Nianwan struck its blade squarely!

This time, it hit Swordfish directly, causing another wave of dizziness!

The move Swordfish had just begun to launch failed instantly—it felt the world spinning, its whole body coated in sticky goo!

Pressing up, closing in before the opponent’s recovery from rising, and pinning them down!

This fighting style was frequently used by players in Pokémon Legends: Arceus!

The first throw wasn’t meant to capture—it was to circle around and find the angle; the real battle began the moment the Pokémon burst out of the ball!

Infinite continuous pressure!

Meanwhile, taking advantage of Swordfish’s dizziness, Guang Tai threw another Poké Ball with great force, smashing it directly into Swordfish’s single eye!

Swordfish’s vision went black!

(Sound of impact!)

It had been hit right in its only eye!

（＞ Kou ※）☆!

With a flash of red light, Swordfish was sucked into the ball—and the Poké Ball, held in Guang Tai’s hand, paused briefly, then didn’t shake at all.

Critical capture!

Swordfish’s final thought was:

If you’ve got guts, don’t aim for the eye!

The battle ended quickly—from the initial ambush to the Poké Ball hitting the floor, Guang Tai was stunned, only relaxing his tense nerves after a long while, sitting down in disbelief.

“Today I won a Pokémon battle without using a Pokémon. My luck’s good!”

He won because he prepared thoroughly!

But Pokémon truly are terrifying creatures—suddenly appearing in his basement and trying to attack him!

Thoughts in his mind began coalescing into information:

【Artifact Event Settlement: You came into contact with an ancient artifact and realized its true nature as a Ghost-type Pokémon. But this thing was careless—it was defeated and captured due to its negligence. Through this encounter, you’ve gained some understanding of Ghost-type Pokémon’s nature and state.】

【Acquired Knowledge: 1】

【Basic Spirit Communication Knowledge: You can now understand and transcribe some Ghost-language. Your soul’s resilience has increased, granting you the ability to use spiritual energy—you will no longer be easily affected by Ghost energy.】

【Acquired Craftsmanship: 1】

【Unique Talisman Crafting Craft (D+): Talismans you craft produce different special effects depending on materials used. Effects activate only once.】

【Through craftsmanship, you may obtain the items “Purifying Talisman” or “Cursed Talisman.”】

Guang Tai exhaled, his mood lifting.

Spirit communication knowledge—now he wouldn’t fear Ghost-type Pokémon harassment. Though the new craftsmanship was only D+, the description sounded impressively potent.

But these extra events were still dangerous.

After Guang Tai left the basement and closed the door again, the “E-shaped eye” on the wall reappeared.

A human defeated a wild Pokémon bare-handed?

The scent of incense still lingered—deeply unpleasant.

Strange human. Must continue observation.

The E-shaped eye peeled from the wall, floated to the door, and before it appeared a mental vortex—then it passed through the door, vanishing into the vortex.

At this moment, Guang Tai entered the living room and opened the Poké Ball.

“Come out, Swordfish.”

“Oh, saying that line actually feels great—I’ve always wanted to try it!”

Capturing a Pokémon—he’d never done this before.

Since ancient times, the method to capture Pokémon had always been the same.

With Poké Balls, defeat a Pokémon in battle, then capture it inside the ball.

Some Pokémon would voluntarily challenge to battle, promising trainers, "If I lose, I'll become your Pokémon," and trainers would enthusiastically respond, "No problem—I won't lose!"

But what if you had no starter Pokémon?

In the ancient Xicui region, people used their powerful bodies to demonstrate their capture method: hurling countless sticky balls, then using a special "Heavy Ball" to smash Pokémon unconscious and forcibly capture them!

Though this was merely the behavior of a few individuals, not representative of all.

Before Poké Balls existed, Pokémon would still recognize certain humans through battle, becoming loyal companions, accompanying them through endless cycles of life.

Or, through certain devices, forcibly binding Pokémon to serve humans.

Swordfish emerged and stood frozen for a while, seemingly still dazed from having its eye struck.

Swordfish was still thinking about its eye—it mused that at least it was a Steel/Ghost-type Pokémon, so its eye wasn’t that vital—if it were a normal Pokémon, it might have…

“Yoh?”

Swordfish slowly turned its body; its blue single eye finally regained vision, staring straight at Guang Tai, emitting a low, drawn-out “Yoh”—as if brewing words it hadn’t yet spoken.

Until Guang Tai, cautiously, pulled out another green Nianwan!

“Oh, still want to fight?”

Swordfish jolted as if waking from a dream, reflexively sliding backward!

“Yoh!”

This thing’s strength is too much—I can’t take it! I’ve sampled enough—take it away now!

(End of Chapter)