Chapter 94: Doom Song-Compatible Items

Although older people generally don’t like mingling with the young, for Kiko, who thrives on battles, she was quite eager to exchange insights on combat with them.

After all, one of her core beliefs was: “A Trainer only has value through battle!”

After Guang Tai added Kiko to the merchant group, he immediately noticed the members were discussing Ghost-type Pokémon breeding and tactics—and Kiko had already begun greeting familiar faces in the group.

“Hehe, there are quite a few interesting young people here, Wujiang—you’re here too!”

“Are you still at the Goldenrod Gym? I told you before: even though you trained your Gastly for Psychic resistance, the essence of Ghost-types is piercing offense—don’t fixate on your Poison secondary type; focus on the nature of Ghost itself.”

“Although Ghost-type has mediocre type matchups, its few resistances and immunities mean excellent penetration—it doesn’t need to counter anything, just avoid being resisted or immune…”

【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】: “T-this ID and tone… could it be… could it be Granny Kiko?!”

Wujiang’s remark instantly drew everyone else discussing Ghost-type breeding and Spirit cultivation over!

【Far Sight】: “Is this Granny Kiko of the Kanto Elite Four?”

【Fear Heart】: “I’m no longer an Elite Four member. You’re Matsuba of Far Sight, aren’t you? Among Ghost-type Trainers, I once had high hopes for you—but you didn’t invest enough effort into your Ghost Pokémon. What a pity.”

【Far Sight】: “Not at all—I’m humbled you hold me in such high regard. My skill is still far from Elite Four level.”

【Fear Heart】: “Hmph, no need to be modest. Among all I know, your Ghost Pokémon breeding is the best—far superior to that useless little girl Wujiang…”

【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】: “…That’s just too hurtful!”

Matsuba was a renowned Gym Leader in Johto! She was just an employee at the Goldenrod Gym—no comparison at all!

“I’ve been working hard lately! Goldenrod Gym is selecting a substitute Gym Leader—I’m preparing for the evaluation!”

“If I pass the Psychic Gym’s substitute evaluation using Ghost Pokémon, I’ll be recognized as a representative Ghost-type expert in Kanto!”

The Goldenrod Gym employee with the ID 【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】 was posting frequently:

“@Traveler, any item recommendations from the shop? I use Gastly and Gengar—I really want to win this round!”

Guang Tai paused slightly.

The Goldenrod Gym’s substitute leader evaluation…

You’re a Ghost-type Trainer entering a Psychic Gym evaluation??

【Ancient Explorer】: “Ghost-types still have an edge against Psychic-types. Even though Gastly’s Poison typing is weak to Psychic, it shouldn’t be too hard for the evaluation…”

【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】: “No no no—the examiner is Nastia! Our Gym Leader is terrifying—I challenged her countless times and lost every single time. Even if it’s an evaluation, she won’t hold back!”

“The evaluation allows both singles and doubles—I’m torn on which to choose! But singles are probably better—if I can’t win one-on-one, doubles will just make me lose worse!”

Guang Tai considered Wujiang’s request briefly.

The gap between a Gym employee and a Gym Leader is stark—even with favorable move matchups, one-hit KOs are common—that’s the difference in Pokémon breeding!

For items, Focus Sash, Life Orb, and Evolution Stones are all good—but the latter two are hard to obtain, and Gastly’s bulk is abysmal, so Focus Sash is clearly the best choice!

“Gastly has many uses—even a Choice Scarf with Purify and Toxic can prevent opponents from boosting while annoying them… or Fire Blast + Trick to lock their moves—but I haven’t crafted any Choice items yet. Maybe once high-quality fabric arrives?”

“As for Gengar, its strength speaks for itself—and its applications are endless!”

Guang Tai murmured to himself, then swiftly replied to Wujiang:

“No—choose doubles!”

“Try the Doom Song tactic?”

“When the power gap is too large, avoiding direct confrontation is still a way to win—even if it’s a bit cheap, as long as you win! Use Focus Sash to avoid being one-hit.”

Doom Song gradually drains the opponent’s will through eerie singing—in-game, Pokémon hearing it fall to critical HP after three turns; in reality, they lose combat capability entirely.

Most Pokémon Trainers prefer brute force; few carry Doom Song. Only Gym Leaders typically consider such a move—and clearly, Wujiang, as an employee, had never heard of this tactic.

“Ah, what’s that?”

Wujiang was baffled. Guang Tai shook his head—he knew another brute-force Trainer.

“Doom Song causes Pokémon hearing it to lose combat ability after a set time. In singles, carry Black Glasses to prevent switching—force your opponent to watch their Pokémon collapse helplessly!”

“In doubles, rely on a teammate with Shadow Tag to prevent switching!”

“This is Shadow Tag Doom Song!”

“Since Gengar’s line is weak to Psychic, the most common defensive tactic is to use Protect, Protect, Protect!”

Doom Song’s timing is based on Speed—the faster Pokémon fall first. Slow Doom Song ensures the opponent falls first.

Guang Tai couldn’t help but recall…

Slow Doom Song user?

Lapras… and… Sound Singer?

No—also Spiritomb!

But Lapras is a common core of Doom Song tactics—Elite Four member Koga seems quite skilled with it!

At this moment, Matsuba of 【Far Sight】 commented:

“Trainers who use Doom Song well are extremely rare. Doom Song isn’t ideal for singles—this tactic might need refinement for the evaluation—but once deployed, even if you lose, you’ll leave a deep impression on Miss Nastia!”

“I think it’s amazing—even if you lose, you’ve got a high chance of being selected!”

“Hmm, Shadow Tag + Doom Song… this tactic has real value! I understand!”

Deep impression?

Matsuba herself felt that was too conservative—thankfully, Miss Nastia wasn’t known for a violent temper, or else the evaluation would end in a brawl!

Wujiang was stunned.

I was asking for tactics—why are you understanding something?!

“Mr. Matsuba, you’re not seriously planning to use this tactic in the Gym evaluation, are you?”

【Far Sight】: “Training new Trainers is part of a Gym Leader’s duty!”

【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】: “What kind of torment will Johto’s new Trainers face now… it’s like prison!”

【Traveler】: “Of course, the best Shadow Tag partner is Gothitelle—she can learn Trick Room. At battle start, use Trick Room to trap the opponent’s main attacker, inducing paralysis, giving your team initiative and delaying their actions!”

“Trick Room Doom Song—Protect, switch, Protect.”

“You can also carry Heal Bell to restore HP of Pokémon worn down by switching. For items, use Sitrus Berry or Leftovers—I have these, even high-quality Sitrus Berries, at very fair prices…”

【Prayer Master Wujiang (self)】: “There it is! The shop’s sales pitch! But… it sounds surprisingly effective?”

【Soul Novelist】: “An entirely unheard-of tactic—I bet it’d be incredibly fun to use! I’ll try it in the Unova League too! By the way, if you don’t have Gothitelle, I can lend you one from a friend—Unova Pokémon are rare in Kanto.”

【Far Sight】: “Other Pokémon with Shadow Tag include Snorlax—but Snorlax can’t learn Trick Room or Heal Bell.”

【Fear Heart】: “Hmph, using Shadow Tag to trap opponents in Doom Song—like sand draining through an hourglass… Boy, you truly have a gift for battle!”

All Ghost-type experts praised Guang Tai’s advice. Meanwhile, Wujiang, standing near the Goldenrod Gym, clenched his fists, staring at his Gengar and Gastly—and a thought surged in his mind he dared not believe himself:

Could this tactic actually beat Miss Nastia?!

“Th-thank you all!”

“Alright! Go, Gengar! Gastly!”

“Genga!”

“Ssjeek!”

Gengar and Gastly were brimming with confidence—even though they didn’t know why their Trainer had suddenly become so excited, facing the upcoming evaluation with this mindset was perfect!

So, let’s all push forward!

…

In the Psychic-type group chat.

Ichi: “I saw something troubling through Future Sight.”

Nastia: “Indeed. A brilliant tactic—I didn’t expect the shopkeeper to give such tactical advice.”

Gardevoir: “Hah—before, the shopkeeper advised me too. He claimed it was just to sell items, but clearly, he has deep insight into battle.”

【The Meaning of Existence】: “…An interesting tactic. Not relying on power, but winning through evasion—unconventional indeed…”

【Awakened One】: “Hehe, Future Sight sometimes makes the future seem dull. You all say not to abuse it—but aren’t you all using it?”

Gardevoir: “That’s not true—I used Future Sight because it involved my Pokémon!”

Nastia: “This concerns me, so I saw it.”

【The Meaning of Existence】: “I merely peeked out of curiosity at the shopkeeper. His future is ever-shifting—seeing this tactic was pure chance…”

Ichi: “...Huh? Me? I didn’t abuse it!! Why do you all have excuses?!”

At that moment, in the Goldenrod Gym, Nastia paused, then sent a message to Koga.

“Miss Koga, what are the weaknesses of Doom Song?”

(End of Chapter)