Jiuyuan Town.
Known as the famous "Ghost Town."
Because a stable entrance to the Spirit Realm exists here, Ghost-type Pokémon from all over the region are often drawn to the area, sensing the unique spiritual radio waves. Naturally, it's no longer a place where ordinary people can live.
Today, Jiuyuan Town serves as a "Safari Zone" for Professional Trainers looking to capture high-quality Ghost-type Pokémon. After all, it is one of the few gathering spots for such species in the province, and those living near the Spirit Realm are known for their exceptional talent and strength.
8:00 AM.
Jiang Li, Jean, and Owen arrived at Jiuyuan Town. The entrance to the Spirit Realm was located at the very peak of the mountain flanking the town. Under Jiang Li's lead, they made the ascent with ease.
"Being the Elite Four Champion really carries weight..." Owen muttered as they climbed.
The Professional Trainer stationed to guard the mountain had actually asked Jiang Li for an autograph.
Apparently, the guard's child was a die-hard fan, and the poor father admitted that his own status as a Professional Trainer meant nothing compared to Jiang Li's "cool factor." Owen didn't miss the guard's slightly resentful look as he handed over the pen.
"Are we there yet?" Jean asked.
The closer they got to the summit, the heavier the atmosphere became. As a hub for Ghost-types, Mt. Jiuyuan was shrouded in a chilling, gloomy aura. Eerie white mist drifted across the slopes, marking a feeling of "dread" in the hearts of both Owen and Jean.
"Vee!" Eevee frowned, looking visibly restless. It hopped off Owen's shoulder and decided to walk on its own, seemingly feeling more secure with its paws on the ground.
"You brat..." Owen's face darkened. Is my shoulder really that untrustworthy? You're insulting my dignity as a man!
"You'll get used to it," Jiang Li said, the only one appearing completely unfazed.
It made sense—he was a Ghost-type specialist and a Champion. Why would a little mountain chill bother him?
"Actually," Jiang Li added, "the first time I came to a place like this, I didn't handle it much better than you two."
Jean's mouth opened slightly as if to ask a question, but she hesitated and remained silent. Owen, however, took the bait.
"Was it here?"
"No, a similar entrance, but the environment was the same. I was ten years old back then." Jiang Li sighed, lost in a grim memory. "Being thrown into a place like this at ten to 'make friends' with ghosts... it was a harsh way to be raised."
If he had been given a choice, Jiang Li might not have chosen to specialize in Ghost-types. Despite his fame and glory, few knew the price he had paid.
His entire childhood was spent being the target of ghosts' pranks and tricks.
Owen and Jean looked at the Champion with newfound perspective.
The Summit.
The top of the mountain was desolate and flat, resembling a massive graveyard. Aside from a single stone hut, the area was overgrown with weeds. Reaching the center, Jiang Li reached into his pocket and pulled out two crumpled pieces of white paper.
They were rectangular talismans with strange symbols drawn in red ink. Both the paper and the ink emitted a peculiar energy. Owen's sharp eyes immediately recognized the item.
"Cleanse Tags, customized for warding off spirits," Jiang Li smiled. He walked behind Owen and Jean and slapped the tags onto their backs.
"With these on, we didn't run into any wild ghosts on the way up. Once we're inside, these will ensure your consciousness isn't warped by the spiritual waves."
He then walked toward the stone hut. "The entrance is inside."
"This..." "Vee..."
As Owen and Eevee approached, they saw that the inner walls of the hut were plastered with the same Cleanse Tags. They were stuck everywhere like cheap wallpaper. Clearly, the Association was mass-producing these things.
More importantly, there was a pitch-black hole in the center of the wall, flickering with ominous purple, red, and blue light. Owen had entered Secret Realms before; he knew what a "normal" spatial tunnel looked like. While they were usually colorful, they were never this... repulsive.
"Haunter," Jean called out, summoning her partner. As a girl, she was naturally more apprehensive about this environment.
Owen glanced at her. Seriously, what is the deal with these two? They've acted like strangers the whole way.
"Magnemite, you come out too."
Owen released his second Pokémon. With Magnemite's Psychic powers and Lock-On ability, he felt a bit more grounded. Neither Jiang Li nor Jean seemed surprised by the second Pokémon.
"Ready? Dusknoir, open the way for me."
A massive Pokémon appeared, its body mostly black with almond-shaped eye markings on its torso.
"Eerrrrgh~" Dusknoir raised its arms, the yellow bands on its wrists fluttering despite the lack of wind. Its red eye glowed, and the yellow antenna on its head twitched. Instantly, the dark hole swirled into a vortex.
Without warning, Dusknoir reached out and grabbed Owen and Jean by the collars.
"WHOA!!" Both rookies screamed as they were yanked forward. Seriously, Dusknoir? No warning? One-star review!
Eevee and Magnemite fared no better, tossed in with even less ceremony. The only one enjoying it was Haunter, who looked like it was returning to a cozy home.
The Spirit Realm.
Endless darkness. In this realm, the fear of the unknown intertwined with the deep, suffocating night. Only Will-O-Wisps acted as floating lanterns to light the way.
Standing on the ground of the Spirit Realm, Owen felt a bizarre sensation, as if his soul and body were trying to drift apart—much like the feeling of "sleep paralysis" or an out-of-body experience.
"Mag... Mag-neee..."
Suddenly, a pained cry from Magnemite drew everyone's attention. Eevee and Haunter turned to look as well.
Magnemite was vibrating violently, looking miserable. This place is definitely hell!
"Magnemite? What's wrong?" Owen asked, his voice thick with worry.
"Don't panic," Jiang Li's voice drifted from behind him. "It's just sensing the unique spiritual radio waves of the Spirit Realm. It isn't adapted yet. Once it settles in, this environment will actually be a massive benefit to its growth."
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