章節 39: ## Chapter 39 = Bell Tower
The four trainers found themselves completely backed into a corner. The situation had escalated to such a degree that, if things continued on their current trajectory, it wouldn't be long before their entire team crumbled under the pressure. It was obvious to everyone present that, within less than half an hour, they would all be completely defeated. Time was ticking away, and their options were dwindling. The weight of their imminent failure was hanging in the air, suffocating them.
Kane, as always, was thinking quickly, formulating a desperate plan that might just offer them a sliver of hope. He explained the details of his risky strategy to Komatsu, the one person whose Pokémon had managed to escape being bound by the invisible yet suffocating spiritual web that had entrapped the rest of their team.
Komatsu's **Spiritbomb** was their only hope, as it was the sole Pokémon left that wasn't ensnared by the psychic net. But what Kane was proposing... it was dangerous, almost reckless.
"Are you really planning to do that?" Komatsu asked, his voice tinged with both fear and disbelief. His eyes widened as the gravity of Kane's plan started to sink in. It wasn't just risky—it was a move that could endanger them all.
Kane, unwavering and resolute, met Komatsu's gaze head-on. His response was firm and laced with a cold pragmatism, "Do you have a better idea?" The rhetorical question hung in the air, piercing through the tension like a blade. Komatsu knew the answer—he didn't have a better plan. There was no alternative. This was the only path forward, and they both knew it.
The entire spiritual web that surrounded them had become a seemingly indestructible prison, binding their Pokémon and cutting off any means of escape. There was only one weak point left, a small opening, a crack in the otherwise impenetrable defense. The only spot where the psychic net hadn't completely closed in was where Kane's **Gastly** was still struggling, desperately trying to hold its ground by maintaining its **Night Shade**. The dark energy provided just enough resistance to stop the web from fully closing, but it was clear that the psychic net was slowly eroding it. It wouldn't hold much longer.
That small breach in the net, that tiny opening—this was the weak spot Kane had identified. This was the breakthrough they needed to exploit. It was their only shot at survival.
Komatsu, now fully aware of the situation and left without a better plan, could do nothing but reluctantly agree to follow Kane's lead. It was a plan that came with tremendous risk, a gamble that might hurt them all, but what other choice did they have? Komatsu knew Kane's fighting style—cold, calculated, and ruthless. Kane wasn't afraid to take extreme measures if it meant achieving victory. Once again, Komatsu found himself shocked at just how far Kane was willing to go. His decisiveness and the ability to make hard choices in the heat of battle left Komatsu momentarily stunned, but there wasn't time to dwell on it.
"**Spiritbomb**, get above **Gastly** and use **Ominous Wind** on the **Mismagius**!" Komatsu commanded, his voice firm now as he steeled himself for what was to come.
The **Ominous Wind** and **Mismagius's Mystical Fire** clashed mid-air, the eerie, swirling wind colliding with the blazing blue flames. The contrast between the two forces was dramatic. The flames, ghostly and fierce, tore through the ominous wind with relentless power. It was clear that the **Mismagius** had grown stronger, its **Mystical Fire** gradually overpowering **Spiritbomb's** attack. The flames were devouring the wind, and **Spiritbomb** was quickly falling into a disadvantage. The struggle was intense, and defeat seemed inevitable.
Kane and Komatsu watched the duel intently, their eyes locked on the shifting balance of power. They knew they had to time their next move perfectly. One wrong step, one miscalculation, and their team would be finished.
"Wait for it..." Kane murmured under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the situation.
The **Mismagius** continued to unleash its flames with greater intensity, and it seemed like it was about to consume the last remnants of **Ominous Wind** entirely.
"Now!" Kane shouted suddenly, his voice sharp and urgent.
"**Spiritbomb**, fall back! Withdraw immediately!" Komatsu yelled, echoing Kane's timing, and the **Spiritbomb**, in a swift, almost instinctual reaction, darted out of the attack range of the **Mystical Fire**.
As soon as *Spiritbomb** retreated, its **Ominous Wind** dissipated, leaving nothing to counter the full power of the **Mystical Fire**. The flames, now unchecked, poured down like a raging inferno, crashing straight into **Gastly**'s position.
The flames spread rapidly, igniting the psychic web in the process. The spiritual net, once thought indestructible, was torn apart by the raw energy of the fire. The **Mismagius** and its ghostly minions were engulfed in the flames, their eerie wails echoing through the tower. **Duskull** and **Difloon** were also caught in the inferno, their forms writhing in pain as the flames licked at their bodies. Both fell into a burning state.
Thunderstorm watched in disbelief, shaking his head slightly. "That's... too ruthless," he muttered, a mixture of admiration and Fear in his voice.
"Snap out of it! Attack now!" Kane's harsh command jolted everyone back to reality. They didn't have time to marvel at the destruction. Now was the moment to strike while the **Mismagius** was weakened, and the spiritual web was collapsing around them.
The battlefield was a scene of chaos, but Kane's mind was singularly focused. His eyes were locked on **Gastly**, who had been completely engulfed in flames. The **Night Shade** was gone, and now his Pokémon was nothing more than a burning shadow, surrounded by blue fire.
"**Gastly**, get out of there! Break through the flames!" Kane called out, his voice carrying a note of desperation. He knew if **Gastly** stayed in the fire any longer, it wouldn't survive. It was now or never.
Suddenly, a small opening appeared in the ball of flames, and **Gastly** shot out from within. Kane's heart skipped a beat as he saw his Pokémon escape, and to his surprise, it was unharmed. **Gastly** had used **Shadow Ball** to shield itself from the worst of the flames.
A wave of relief washed over Kane. His **Gastly** had just learned a new move—**Shadow Ball**—a powerful special attack that could turn the tide of battle. Kane couldn't help but feel a rush of excitement. The potential of his **Gastly**, a Pokémon known for its special attacks, was finally starting to emerge.
"**Gastly**, support **Spiritbomb**! Use **Shadow Ball** to send those flames back to the **Mismagius**!" Kane commanded; his voice filled with newfound energy.
**Gastly** launched the **Shadow Ball** with precision, and the dark energy combined with the remnants of the **Night Shade** and the **Mystical Fire**, creating a devastating attack. The combined force crashed into the **Mismagius**, sending it reeling in agony. Its haunting cries echoed through the tower, piercing the very air around them.
"**Continue using Shadow Ball**!" Kane shouted again, while Komatsu added, "**Use feint attack Spiritbomb**!"
The final blows struck the **Mismagius**, and it collapsed, defeated at last.
But their victory wasn't complete yet. Seven **Misdreavus** still lingered on the battlefield, weakened but still standing. Fantina's **Drifloon** had already fallen, its strength completely drained by the flames. However, Thunderstorm's **Duskull**, having learned **Will-O-Wisp** in the heat of its burn status, took advantage of the moment and launched the fiery attack, setting all seven **Misdreavus** ablaze.
The **Misdreavus** were in no condition to continue fighting. They had lost their leader, and their spirits were broken. One by one, they fell, consumed by the **Will-O-Wisp** and **Shadow Ball** attacks.
It was over. The battle was won.
All four trainers stood in stunned silence, barely able to comprehend what had just happened. They had done it. They had successfully cleared the second floor of the Bell Tower in a single day, something that had never been accomplished in the entire history of the Ecruteak Gym.
Kane, who had been so focused on the fight, could hardly believe it himself. The first floor had taken him and Thunderstorm eighteen attempts, yet they had cleared the much more difficult second floor on their first try.
"The victory... it's all thanks to Kane's tactics. Without him and his **Gastly**, we wouldn't have stood a chance," Komatsu admitted, clearly in awe of Kane's strategic thinking.
Thunderstorm nodded in agreement, and Fantina silently admired Kane's cold and calculated approach to battle. Kane, however, remained stoic.
"We didn't win with our strength alone. We won using the enemy's strength against them," Kane said, his voice cold as ever. He wasn't one to celebrate prematurely. He knew that if the **Mismagius** hadn't accidentally broken the psychic web, they wouldn't have stood a chance.
Komatsu, ever the rational one, nodded. "No matter the method, we won. Now let's get out of here. Our Pokémon need treatment
The four trainers made their way out of the Bell Tower. They headed directly to Chiyama's study to report their success. When Komatsu told Chiyama of their victory, the old Gym Leader could hardly believe it.
"What? You four managed to break through?" Chiyama exclaimed in absolute disbelief, his voice rising in shock as he absorbed the news. Komatsu had just finished giving the report, and Chiyama's reaction was exactly as expected—complete astonishment. The idea that they had succeeded seemed almost impossible to him.
Even after hearing the detailed account, Chiyama couldn't wrap his mind around it. He looked over at his own Mismagius, waiting for some kind of confirmation. It was only after receiving a silent nod from the Mismagius that the truth finally began to sink in. This wasn't some kind of exaggeration or mistake—it was real.
Chiyama let out a deep, weary sigh, shaking his head slightly. "It seems I'm truly getting old," he muttered softly to himself, his voice filled with a mix of resignation and admiration. He could feel the passing of time now more than ever. There were always new and talented trainers emerging, ready to push the boundaries of what was thought possible.
"There are indeed talented people in every generation," he continued, his tone shifting to something more reflective. "Come to my study. Each of you can choose a TM as a reward."
With those words, he turned and gestured for them to follow him. His admiration for their achievement was evident, but so was the understanding that his time of leading the gym be nearing its end.
The four trainers, still somewhat dazed from their victory, obediently followed Chiyama, their Pokémon in tow. They passed their tired and injured Pokémon to the errand runner, Ryuki, who promptly took them to the Pokémon Center for treatment. The battle had taken a toll on their Pokémon, and they needed proper care.
Once in Chiyama's study, the trainers began to select their rewards - TMs that would enhance their Pokémon's abilities moving forward.
Kane, ever calculating and strategic, immediately zeroed in on a particular skill. He chose the Sludge Bomb TM without hesitation. This was his Gastly's signature skill, one that would be crucial for future battles. The poisonous attack could cripple opponents over time, and Kane knew it was the perfect fit for his battling style—slow, methodical, and merciless.
Thunderstorm, meanwhile, had his own strategy in mind. After watching his Duskull struggle during the fight, he knew it needed something more versatile to counter ghost-type Pokémon. He decided on Dark Pulse, a powerful Dark type move. This would give his Duskull the edge it needed when facing other Ghost-types, ensuring it could hold its own against tough opponents in future battles.
Komatsu, the most pragmatic of the group, took a moment to think carefully about his choice. He finally decided on Snarl, a move that would lower the special attack of his opponents. It wasn't flashy, but it was practical, especially when facing strong special attackers. His Spiritbomb had already proven itself to be the strongest member of his team, and this move would help it maintain control in tough situations, particularly when faced with powerful adversaries in Bell Tower.
As for Fantina, she seemed far less interested in TMs than the others. To her, they were just tools, not something to get excited about. Without putting much thought into it, she casually picked a TM at random—Double Team, a self-protection skill. She wasn't invested in the process, but it was still a useful skill to have in her repertoire.
創作者的想法 
Sfisodeck
Sfisodeck Starting from next chapter onwards the name fantina will be changed into melissa mostly because the original is written as melissa and also because i spend a lot of time re reading chapters only to change her name and fantina's japanese name is melisa.
每周推薦票狀態
-- 推薦票
榜單 
-- 推薦票