Chapter 7: I Have a Modest Grasp of the Three Attributes of Evil, Poison, and Ghost

"Apologies for the unsightly display, Young Lady. Please don't take what just happened to heart. Shall we begin now?"

Mammon stomped Gengar back into the shadow with one foot, and Gengar popped out from another shadow, clutching its head and wailing exaggeratedly.

The sharp-eyed Caitlin even saw a bright red bump swell up on top of Gengar's head.

(Black-guy-question-mark. jpg)

Caitlin tilted her head. Were all Ghost-type Pokémon this… "lively"?

And this Gengar was actually gray-black. If she remembered correctly, ordinary Gengar were supposed to be purple.

A shiny, color-variant Gengar! Now this was getting interesting.

"Please."

Caitlin's thoughts raced. A proper, faint smile surfaced on her delicate features as she extended her right hand toward Mammon in invitation.

Elegant, utterly elegant — the noble bearing of a young lady from a prestigious house radiated from her at once.

The two took their positions as Trainers on opposite ends of the training field, facing each other from afar.

"Although it's only sparring, allow me to ask anyway — it looks like you specialize in Psychic-types, Young Lady?"

"That's right. Does Mr. have any insight?"

Caitlin admitted it openly. She did indeed favor Psychic-type Pokémon — perhaps because she herself possessed psychic abilities.

She had a particularly special affinity for Psychic-type Pokémon.

"Insight is too strong a word, but this special training is indeed the right call."

Mammon grinned and casually tossed the Poké Ball in his hand.

"The Pokémon I'll be using is this one!"

Accompanied by a faint, low wail, a deep-purple Pokémon floated before Mammon.

It seemed to wear a wizard's hat atop its head, golden eyes half-hidden beneath the brim. Its lower half resembled a teru teru bozu, and the inside appeared hollow, giving off an indescribably eerie air.

"Mismagius."

Caitlin recognized the Pokémon at once — it was the Ghost-type Mismagius, the evolved form of Misdreavus.

No wonder this person said "the special training is right." Ghost-type has the type advantage over Psychic-type, and this Mismagius looked far from ordinary in strength.

That feeling of dread from merely its quiet gaze — the kind that made Caitlin's skin crawl — was absolutely no illusion.

As a powerful psychic, Caitlin had great confidence in her own senses.

"It seems Mr. is a very powerful Ghost-type Trainer?" Caitlin's beautiful eyes flickered. She had nearly been "fooled" by the little episode just now.

She had almost taken this boy for a comedian.

"I have a modest grasp of the Ghost, Dark, and Poison types," Mammon replied with a smile.

"Since you specialize in Psychic, Ghost-type is an obstacle you simply must face. Today I'll let you see for yourself how a Ghost-type battle is fought, Young Lady."

Mammon's smile slowly turned sinister, and Caitlin's delicate brows knit of their own accord.

"Also, a friendly reminder — even though it's sparring, you'd best not use that Kirlia of yours, Young Lady."

Because in Mammon's eyes, Kirlia was simply too weak to be of any use.

Why were all these types so sinister?

Caitlin was taken aback. Ghost, Dark, and Poison — these three types did not enjoy the best reputation among all the types.

There was also the prejudice that most Trainers who favored these three types were people of evil hearts.

For example, the villainous organizations in every region — their members loved using these three types.

"Metagross!"

Caitlin pushed those thoughts aside and decisively sent out her strongest Pokémon, Metagross.

"Mitaa~!"

A metallic, low-pitched cry rang out as Metagross floated to Caitlin's front, poised for battle.

"Ladies first — you may attack, Young Lady," Mammon said to Caitlin with an easy smile.

"Then we won't hold back! Metagross!"

Caitlin swept her right arm forward.

"Use Bullet Punch and close in!"

Metagross's two front claws gleamed with a metallic sheen as it shot toward Mismagius at high speed.

The Steel-type priority move Bullet Punch!

"A very rash, reckless fighting style. Charging in against an opponent whose capabilities you don't yet know — that's not what a qualified Trainer should do."

Mammon commented coolly, without ordering Mismagius to dodge.

"?" Caitlin pressed her lips together, her brow furrowing even deeper.

Being critiqued so bluntly put her in a foul mood, but she couldn't argue back.

Accelerated by the priority move, Metagross quickly closed in on Mismagius, its two massive claws swinging at Mismagius at high speed.

"Will-o'-the-Wisp."

Mammon gave the order without a care.

Wisps of ghostly blue flame materialized around Mismagius.

"Wait! Metagross!" Caitlin's pretty face shifted.

But it was too late. Metagross's Bullet Punch had already been thrown — there was no time to pull back and dodge.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

Bullet Punch pummeled Mismagius wildly, but those ghostly blue flames also struck Metagross.

Mismagius took the Bullet Punch strikes, yet it seemed to feel no pain at all — the sinister grin at its lips was utterly chilling.

The Will-o'-the-Wisp fully seeped into Metagross's body. The next second, fierce flames erupted across Metagross, and it let out a pained, low cry.

A Fire-type Will-O-Wisp — once it lands, the opponent is guaranteed to take a burn!

Caitlin bit down on her own lip, her expression not looking very good.

The most terrifying part of a burn is its negative effect — after being burned, a Pokémon's physical Attack drops drastically!

For a physically offensive powerhouse like Metagross, this is the worst possible news.

"It's fine — Metagross's Special Attack is also strong. Next, then…"

Caitlin took a deep breath to steady her emotions. Her Metagross's ability is Clear Body, which can block stat reductions from things like Intimidate.

But stat drops caused by negative status conditions like burns cannot be blocked.

Still, it's fine — Metagross is a near-hexagonal quasi-legendary Pokémon! Apart from its slow Speed, it's almost perfect.

Its Special Attack is also stronger than most Pokémon!

But…

"Curse (Hex)." Mamon ordered again.

Caitlin's pupils contracted sharply.

Taking advantage of the moment while Metagross was being tormented by the burn's flames, Mismagius curled its lips and let out an evil, shrill, piercing laugh.

A nail radiating a gray, rotting aura appeared, aimed straight at Mismagius's chest.

Ting—ting—ting!

The hair-raising ting-ting sound reached her ears as that Curse Nail was being driven, bit by bit, into Mismagius's body.

Mismagius kept its eyes shut, its expression a mix of agony and a wild, ecstatic pleasure — so eerie that even Caitlin felt a creeping, spine-chilling dread.

How can there be a Pokémon like this?!

Caitlin pressed her lips tightly together. The Ghost-type move Curse — it's a move that curses the opponent through self-harm.

But using Curse is an extremely painful thing for a Ghost-type Pokémon — it shouldn't be like this, right?

And besides…

Burns on top of Curse — how is her Metagross supposed to fight from here?

Caitlin's chest rose and fell rapidly.

Her emotions were fluctuating fast. Her skirt and golden hair began to stir without any wind, and a flickering, supernormal blue light began to glow in her eyes.

"Hmm? About to lose control?"

Mamon noticed the change in Caitlin and studied the supernormal girl with great interest.

As if remembering something, Mamon quickly pulled out his phone, opened the camera, and prepared to film the scene.

A classic case of the Pokémon losing the fight, and the Trainer starting to go berserk.

As for worrying about being caught in Caitlin's crossfire? Don't be ridiculous.

Compared to that, he was actually curious — between Caitlin and Sabrina, whose psychic powers were stronger.

(End of this chapter)