章節 38: ### Chapter 38: The Web of Spirits

Kane knew Komatsu's strength all too well. Having observed him closely from the very beginning, Kane had a clear understanding of just how capable Komatsu was. This wasn't someone he could afford to underestimate, and as such, he had made sure to be on his guard against him. The initial curse he had cast at the start of the battle had been aimed squarely at Komatsu, a deliberate strategy to counter his known abilities.

Meanwhile, Fantina's **Drifloon** was in a complete state of confusion. The Pokémon was overwhelmed, its mental state thrown into utter chaos. Fantina herself had no way to snap it out of the disorientation, leaving her in a precarious situation. The confusion had taken such a deep hold over her **Drifloon** that it could do little more than flail about in desperation, incapable of executing any effective commands.

At this moment, Kane had already gained control over the battlefield. Every move he had made so far had led to this point, and now it was only a matter of time before he sealed the victory.

"**Gastly use Night Shade**," Kane commanded, his voice calm but authoritative as he called for the finishing move.

Without hesitation, the spectral shadows of the **Night Shade** surged forward, advancing with an unstoppable force towards the helpless **Drifloon**. The eerie darkness coiled and writhed as it approached, its energy growing more menacing by the second.

Melissa, realizing the gravity of the situation, screamed in a panicked, desperate voice. Her cries were hoarse, filled with a mix of fear and urgency. She called out to her **Drifloon**, but no matter how much she yelled or how hard she tried, the Pokémon remained lost in its confusion. There was no pulling it back from the brink. It was trapped in a haze, utterly oblivious to her commands.

All Melissa could do was watch helplessly as her beloved Pokémon was slowly consumed by the advancing shadows. Little by little, the terrifying phantoms of Kane's **Night Shade** swallowed her **Drifloon**, devouring it piece by piece. The sheer helplessness of the situation washed over Melissa like a tidal wave.

Despair filled her eyes, an emotion so raw it was almost tangible. Her heart ached, weighed down by the realization that there was nothing she could do to change the outcome.

Meanwhile, Thunderstorm, ever eager to seize the moment, called out a command of his own. "Duskull Use **Infestation** on **Spiritbomb**!" he ordered, his voice brimming with enthusiasm.

At this point, Thunderstorm was riding the wave of excitement. The battle seemed to be swinging in their favor, and with Komatsu's **Spiritbomb** weakened by curse and clearly nearing the end of its energy, Thunderstorm could already envision the scene of his victory. He believed the win was within his grasp, just waiting to be claimed.

However, Kane, ever observant and sharp, cast a quick glance at Komatsu. His eyes flickered as he took in Komatsu's expression, and it was in that moment that Kane realized what was about to happen. His strategic mind was already one step ahead of Thunderstorm, and from Komatsu's subtle reaction alone, Kane knew that Thunderstorm was in for a rude awakening.

Thunderstorm's **Duskull** lunged at Komatsu's **Spiritbomb**, rushing in with reckless abandon. It was an all-out charge, but one that was full of glaring flaws. **Duskull** was so focused on its target that it had left itself wide open, its defenses scattered and vulnerable.

Komatsu, ever the tactical master, saw the opening instantly. Just as **Duskull** closed in for the attack, Komatsu's **Spiritbomb** sprang into action. With a sudden burst of speed and precision, **Duskull** delivered a devastating **Sucker Punch** right at the unsuspecting **Duskull**, striking it with perfect timing.

Thunderstorm stood froze, his mind struggling to comprehend what just happened. His wide-eyed expression betrayed his shock and disbelief as the realization of his mistake sank in.

Kane, meanwhile, allowed himself a small, knowing smile. The outcome had been obvious to him from the start. Komatsu, too, exhaled a sigh of relief, having narrowly avoided a disastrous blow.

**Duskull** took the full force of the move **Sucker Punch**, and the impact was nothing short of catastrophic. It was a fatal hit, and **Duskull** crumpled to the ground, becoming the first Pokémon to be knocked out in the battle.

However, **Spiritbomb** wasn't far behind. The ongoing curse had drained the last of its energy, and it too collapsed to the ground, utterly spent. The toll on its body had been too much for it to bear.

Now, as the dust began to settle, the battlefield was left with an ominous stillness. Only a lingering shadow remained, cast over the scene by the fallen Pokémon.

Thunderstorm, having witnessed Kane's strategy in action, knew the result before it was officially declared. He had seen enough to know that the battle was already over.

**Drifloon** had fallen, its life energy drained completely by Kane's **Gastly**. The spectral shadow of **Night Shade** had overwhelmed it, leaving it to drift lifelessly from the night's eerie glow. And in the end, only Kane's **Gastly** stood victorious, its haunting presence the final testament to the outcome.

With that, the combined efforts of Kane and Thunderstorm had secured their victory. The battle was won. Fantina stood silently, her shoulders slumped in defeat, her head lowered as she came to terms with the loss. She was clearly disheartened, her once-confident demeanor now shattered.

Komatsu, ever calm and composed, stepped forward to break the silence. "Well, I didn't lie to you. Kane here is no joke. He's one of the best—my father handpicked him out of more than a hundred people who took the gym's exam."

His tone carried a subtle sense of pride as he spoke, acknowledging Kane's abilities with genuine respect.

Fantina, still processing the defeat, nodded awkwardly. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and she struggled to meet Komatsu's eyes. The sting of her loss was still fresh, and it was clear that she wasn't quite ready to shake off the disappointment she felt.

At that moment, **Chiyama** stepped in, his authoritative presence bringing an air of finality to the battle's conclusion. "Now that the battle is over, it's clear that you all understand each other's strengths. This is a good thing. From now on, you'll need to cooperate sincerely, working together as a team. For today, however, you've earned your rest. Starting tomorrow, the four of you will begin an intense training regimen starting in the—morning into noon, and night—until you're fully prepared to take on the **Bell Tower**. As for all the trivial matters around the gym, they will be handled by Ryuki."

At this, **Ryuki** groaned audibly, his face a mask of misery. He looked like he had just been sentenced to a life of hard labor. "Ah…" he muttered, his voice dripping with defeat. He knew what this meant—all the menial chores of the gym would fall squarely on his shoulders again. Every ounce of cleaning, maintenance, and grunt work would be his responsibility once more.

Inwardly, he cursed his past self for being so carefree and lazy, for neglecting his training when he should have been serious. Now, his lack of discipline had come back to haunt him. Retribution had arrived in full force, and he was left to shoulder the consequences of his own actions. He was nothing more than a glorified janitor now, paying the price for his carelessness.

Kane, standing off to the side, couldn't help but chuckle quietly to himself. He knew that the only reason he was getting such special treatment was because of his association with Komatsu and Fantina. He was merely fortunate enough to be training alongside them, serving as their sparring partner.

Still, Kane appreciated the opportunity. Thanks to Komatsu and Fantina, his mornings wouldn't be wasted on mundane chores. Instead, he could focus entirely on special training, doubling the amount of time he has to hone his skills. With this much extra time, his strength was bound to increase rapidly.

But Kane was well aware that this situation wouldn't last forever. Once Fantina left, things would return to normal, and Kane knew he wouldn't be able to avoid the grunt work anymore. These next two months were precious, and he was determined to make the most of them. He would devote himself fully to his training during this time, pushing himself to his limits.

---

The following morning, **Chiyama** unlocked the second floor of **Bell Tower** for the group of four

This level of the tower was even more eerie and foreboding than the first. The atmosphere was thick, the air heavy with an oppressive energy. At the center of this ghostly domain stood a formidable **Mismagius**, a spectral Pokémon Feared for its wrath and the curses it spreads.

Surrounding it was a garrison of twenty **Misdreavus**, their ghostly forms flickering in and out of sight as they awaited orders from their leader.

Fantina glanced around at her companions before making a suggestion. "Should we choose a team leader or captain to lead us? That way we can all be on the same page," she proposed, her voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Before anyone else could respond, Thunderstorm jumped in, eager to assert his opinion. "I think Kane should be the captain," he said, his intention clear. He wanted to elevate Kane's status and suppress Fantina's influence within the group.

However, Kane, who had already anticipated Thunderstorm's intentions, spoke up before things could escalate. "Komatsu should be the captain," Kane said simply, his tone neutral yet decisive.

Thunderstorm blinked in surprise, feeling inexplicably thrown off balance by Kane's unexpected words. He had fully expected Kane to back him up, and now he found himself at a loss.

The role of captain was, in truth, a thankless one. Whoever took on that mantle would be responsible for the group's success and failure, leaving them vulnerable to criticism and pressure. Fantina had only suggested it to further her own agenda, knowing full well that Komatsu was the best fit.

Kane, however, saw no reason to involve himself in the power struggle. There was no point in making himself a target. By allowing Komatsu to take the lead, he could focus on what really mattered—defeating the Pokémon and completing their mission.

Komatsu, though modest, accepted the position of captain without protest. He knew it was the logical choice, and though he would have preferred to avoid the spotlight, he was willing to shoulder the responsibility.

Komatsu's first order of business as captain was to assess the situation. "This mission is more about exploring the unknown than winning in one go," he said, his voice steady and commanding. "It's impossible to pass the test in a single attempt. Everyone needs to act according to the situation and seize opportunities when they arise. The most important thing is to avoid letting the Misdreavus organize a coordinated attack."

It was clear that Komatsu had a solid grasp of strategy, and his leadership abilities were already shining through.

The four Pokémon—Gastly, Duskull, Spiritbomb, and Drifloon—prepared themselves for battle. Their opponents were the Mismagius and its twenty Misdreavus, all ready to attack.

As soon as the group stepped into the battle arena on the second floor, the Mismagius wasted no time in commanding the Misdreavus to surround the four Pokémon. The Misdreavus moved with eerie grace, positioning themselves to cut off any escape routes.

Komatsu and Fantina acted quickly, ordering their Spiritbomb and Drifloon to use Ominous Wind together. The dark, swirling winds blew through the arena, howling as they aimed for the Mismagius and its minions.

Meanwhile, Kane's Gastly unleashed Embargo on one of the Misdreavus, freezing it in place and creating an opening for the group. Without missing a beat, Gastly followed up with Night Shade, enveloping three more Misdreavus in its spectral shadows, disrupting their attempt to encircle the group.

Thunderstorm's Duskull had also learned the skill Pursuit, and it used the attack decisively to further hinder the encirclement.

However, the Mismagius, recognizing the shift in momentum, unleashed a dazzling, crystal-clear light from its body. The brilliance of the light was reminiscent of a gemstone, sparkling as it tore through the air.

"it's Power Gem!" Kane called out, recognizing the move instantly.

The move Power Gem shattered through the Ominous Wind, cutting through the dark energy with ease. The Mismagius advanced, stretching out its ghostly hands to unleash a barrage of Magical Leaf. The glowing leaves sliced through the air, forcing both Gastly and Duskull to retreat.

The situation had taken a sharp turn. Under the command of the Mismagius, the remaining Misdreavus had finally completed their encirclement, trapping the four Pokémon in a tightening ring of Pokémon.

"Psychic!" Kane realized with growing concern. The Mismagius and its minions had activated their Psychic abilities, their combined telekinetic energy weaving together to form a massive spiritual web.

The Psychic waves intertwined, creating a giant net of psychic energy that ensnared all four Pokémon. The Spiritbomb, Drifloon, Duskull, and even Kane's Gastly were caught in the web, their movements restricted by the powerful mental force.

The psychic web was suffocating. Each Pokémon strained against the invisible bonds, but the Mismagius and its Misdreavus army maintained their hold, tightening the net with every passing moment.

Even Gastly's Night Shade was being chipped away at by the unrelenting spiritual force. The dark energy was slowly but surely being overpowered.

Above them all, the Mismagius hovered triumphantly, watching the battlefield with an eerie calm. Its eyes gleamed with malice as it observed the Pokémon struggling below.

"Physic moves don't affect your Spiritbomb, Komatsu!" Kane called out, his mind racing for a solution. "You need to take advantage of that and go for a sneak attack!"

Komatsu nodded sharply, already formulating his plan. "Use Sucker Punch Spiritbomb!" he commanded, directing Spiritbomb to strike while the Mismagius was focused on maintaining the web.

Sure enough, the Spiritbomb broke free from the psychic net, its immunity to Psychic-type moves allowing it to escape unscathed. It rushed forward with a burst of speed, its body brimming with a powerful, dark energy as it prepared to land a devastating blow on the Mismagius.

However, the Mismagius was not caught off guard. Its eyes glowed a deep blue as it opened its mouth, releasing a torrent of bright, ethereal flames.

"Mystical Fire!" Kane recognized the attack immediately.

The Mystical Fire engulfed Spiritbomb, forcing it to retreat. It struggled against the intense heat, using Ominous Wind to try and fend off the flames, but the battle was clearly turning in the Mismagius' favor.

Kane's gaze swept over the battlefield, taking in the dire situation. Duskull and Drifloon had been completely immobilized by the psychic net, their pained cries echoing through the arena. The spiritual web had them trapped in a living nightmare, their every movement restricted by the psychic energy.

Gastly was barely holding on, using the last remnants of its Night Shade to defend itself from the relentless assault. The Psychic-type move was dealing massive damage to the ghost type Pokémon, and Kane knew that once the Night Shade was broken, there would be no escape.

The sheer power of the psychic web was overwhelming. It was the concentrated psychic energy of sixteen Misdreavus, and breaking through it seemed impossible.

"Is there really no way out?" Kane muttered under his breath, feeling a growing sense of frustration. The situation was growing more and more desperate by the second. They were backed into a corner, with no clear path to victory.

But giving up wasn't in Kane's nature. Even if the odds were stacked against him, even if there was only the slimmest chance of success, he would fight until the very end. He wasn't the type to sit back and let things happen—he would take action, no matter the cost.

Summoning his resolve, Kane turned to Komatsu. "I have an idea," he said, his voice steady despite the tension.

Komatsu looked at Kane, his expression conflicted. He could tell that Kane's plan was a risky one, and it was clear that things could easily go wrong. But at this point, there were no better options.