“Beginner Trainer Certification Examination!
The battle will end when one side’s Pokémon loses all combat capability!
Battle…
begin!” With the referee’s command, the battle officially started.
Gray and Sarah issued their commands almost simultaneously.
“Gastly, Taunt.” “Charmander, Smokescreen!” On the battlefield, Charmander’s tail flame flared violently.
Staring at Gastly’s mischievous grin, it took a deep breath as thick smoke rapidly gathered in its throat.
However, in the very next second, dark purple energy wrapped around its body like a venomous serpent.
An inexplicable surge of anger rushed straight to its head.
The Smokescreen became stuck in its throat, interrupted by the overwhelming rage.
Taunt.
Status moves sealed.
“What?!” Sarah’s pupils shrank sharply.
Her fist clenched slightly as alarm flashed through her heart.
Opening with Taunt?
Isn’t he afraid I’ll just launch a direct attack?
The strategy she had used countless times against rookie trainers had actually failed today.
Did he predict my command?
No…
it has to be luck!
“Cough!
Cough!
Cough!” Its move interrupted, Charmander began coughing uncontrollably.
“Holy crap, that’s a hard read!
This is supposed to be a beginner trainer certification battle, right?” “Forget your holy crap, let me say it instead.
This rookie actually knows what he’s doing.” “Not just a little.
A lot.” “I told you he might not lose!” Gasps of shock erupted around the battlefield.
Gray remained as calm as still water.
His eyes narrowed slightly as he continued giving orders.
“Gastly, Confuse Ray.” “Charmander, dodge it!” Sarah shouted anxiously, but Charmander was powerless to comply.
It was still coughing.
How was it supposed to dodge?
From Gastly’s abyss-like mouth burst a twisted, rainbow-colored beam of light.
It shot forward and splattered directly across Charmander’s face.
“Char?” A kaleidoscope of colors flashed before Charmander’s eyes.
The world spun around it.
Suddenly, it slashed itself with its own claw, trying to regain clarity.
Thanks to the effects of Confuse Ray…
Charmander became confused.
Sarah forcibly suppressed the growing unease in her chest and shouted sternly: “Pull yourself together!
Use Dragon Breath straight ahead and create some dista…” “Gastly, press forward.
Shadow Ball to the face.” Gray smiled and calmly interrupted.
The confused Charmander relied purely on instinct, barely managing to gather Dragon-type energy at the tip of its snout.
But Gastly had already drifted above its head like a phantom.
A sphere of energy wrapped in ominous black aura rapidly condensed.
With a vicious grin, Gastly slammed it directly into Charmander’s face and ground it in with all its might.
“Gaaaastly!
(This…
is Heaven’s Mandate!)” BOOM!
Shadow Ball and the half-formed Dragon Breath collided violently.
The resulting explosion sent a shockwave across the battlefield, lightly pushing Gastly away.
When the dust settled, only a spiraling crater remained.
And at the center of that crater stood a wobbling Charmander, stars spinning in its eyes.
A critical hit!
Cold sweat seeped down Sarah’s back.
She stared in disbelief at the man standing opposite her with his hands casually in his pockets and a completely relaxed expression.
Move prediction.
Battlefield control.
Tempo management.
Everything was so perfect it looked like something straight out of a textbook.
And you’re telling me this is a rookie trainer?
The confusion couldn’t be reversed anymore.
There was only one option left.
A gamble.
“Charmander!
Outrage!” She shouted at the top of her lungs.
This was her last chance to turn the battle around.
“It’s over.” Gray’s voice remained calm and steady, forming a striking contrast with Sarah’s growing panic.
“Gastly, Hex.” Hex.
If the target is suffering from a status condition, the move’s power doubles.
Amid eerie ghostly laughter, Gastly’s body melted into darkness like ink dissolving into water.
It silently sank into its own shadow.
The next moment, Charmander’s shadow suddenly boiled.
Countless pitch-black, sticky tendrils erupted from it.
They wrapped around Charmander and dragged it downward with overwhelming force.
“Chaar!” The crimson glow of Outrage flickered desperately within the restraints.
Then it vanished completely.
Charmander’s eyes rolled back.
Its body went limp among the writhing tendrils as it completely lost consciousness.
“The battle is over!
Charmander is unable to battle!
Gastly wins!” The referee’s announcement rang out clearly throughout the arena.
“Holy crap, he actually won!
Sarah couldn’t fight back at all!” “Gastly didn’t even take any damage!
Did this guy come here specifically to reverse-farm the farmers?
What a hero!” “Move aside, move aside!
Let me see what’s happening.
What?
I came late?
It’s already over?” “See?!
I!
TOLD!
YOU!
SO!
He won, just like I said!” Human joys and sorrows were not connected.
Sarah silently recalled her Charmander.
Ignoring the noisy crowd, she walked expressionlessly toward Gray.
Damn it.
Look at all your ugly faces.
You people weren’t like this before.
Why did I never realize this crowd was so annoying until today?
“Congratulations.
You have passed the Beginner Trainer Certification Examination.
Please present your League identification so I can update your records…” She paused.
Her gaze grew complicated.
“Are you really a rookie trainer?” Walk by the river long enough, and eventually you’ll encounter a piranha.
She had spent years farming rookies.
Today, she got slapped unconscious by a fish’s tail instead.
And the worst part was…
The fish was ridiculously handsome.
[Assistant Arceus Reminder: Battle mission completed.
Reward acquired: Move Combinations and Tactical Analysis: Pokémon Language Edition (The Perfect Bedtime Reading Material).
Please retrieve it from storage space.] Gray glanced at the system notification.
He handed over his identification.
By the time Gastly slowly floated back onto his shoulder, he finally met Sarah’s probing gaze and curled his lips into a smile.
“You guess.” …
The evening sun had already coated the streets in warm golden light.
Gray carefully adjusted his arms so the sleeping Gastly could rest more comfortably against him.
The little guy had only recently been born and had been active nonstop ever since.
It was genuinely exhausted.
Tonight’s dinner would be upgraded.
The hero deserved a reward.
After purchasing ingredients and returning to his room at the research institute, Gray gently laid Gastly on the bed and tucked it under a blanket before tying on an apron and heading into the kitchen.
“Chili peppers, cooking wine, salt…
Hmm?
Gastly, why are you awake?” “Gaaastly~ (Smells so good~)” Gastly floated into the kitchen.
Drool hung from the corner of its mouth.
Its eyes were filled with longing.
“Hungry, huh?
It’ll be ready soon.” Gray turned off the stove and plated the dishes.
After wiping his hands on his apron, he pulled the beautifully bound bedtime reading book from his system storage and handed it over.
“Read a storybook for a while.
Dinner will be ready in a minute.” “Gastly?
(Storybook?)” Holding the book with its tongue, Gastly curiously flipped through two pages.
Then its eyes widened.
It was completely stunned.
“Ga…
Gaaastly!
(A military manual!)” It abruptly raised its head.
Its eyes shimmered with emotion as it stared at Gray.
Imperial Father had actually entrusted it with such a supreme and unparalleled military text!
What incredible trust!
What incredible favor!
Rest assured!
This Emperor shall conquer a vast empire for you!
During dinner…
Gray stared silently at Gastly.
The ghost was crying tears of gratitude.
At the same time, it was flipping through the military manual with its tongue.
At the same time, it was devouring food at hurricane speed.
“…” Something seemed a little wrong with his Gastly.
Not sure.
Better observe a little longer.
“Gastly.” Gray set down his chopsticks and casually asked: “Can you tell me…
how you woke up?” The other guardians within the Mausoleum of the First Emperor were still asleep.
Only the young Gastly had awakened early.
As family, he needed to understand any hidden risks so he could protect it in advance.
“If you don’t want to talk about it, that’s fine.
Just consider it casual conversation.” “Gastly?
(Woke up?)” Gastly tilted its head.
It stopped flipping through the book and tried hard to remember.
“Gaaastly~ (I think…
I was awakened by noise inside a box~)” A box?
Gray frowned slightly.
Instantly, a scene surfaced in his mind.
Inside the pocket dimension of the First Emperor’s Mausoleum stood that jade coffin radiating a soft, luminous glow.
If Gastly had been born from there…
Then a question naturally followed.
Who…
Opened the jade coffin?
(End of Chapter)