Chapter 52: Chapter 52:
That same doubt had also plagued Cain: why was it taking Slowpoke so long to master telepathy when his psychic talent was so strong? And then, as fate would have it, he encountered an ancient Gastly who was capable of teaching Slowpoke the art of telepathy.
"Very well," Old Gastly replied, for teaching telepathy to a willing Pokémon was a simple task for one of his experience.
It was also pleased that Cain didn't press for any further requests, for the truth was, Old Gastly and his kin feared a full-on battle with Cain and his Pokémon, as they knew the damage it would inflict upon their clan would be catastrophic.
Additionally, what they needed from Cain was something they could not achieve on their own.
"In my many years dwelling on this land, I have seen few humans, but not long ago, one came to visit. This human was powerful, more powerful than you," Old Gastly remembered, his voice trembling at the recollection. "I only dared to observe him from a distance, but I had the distinct feeling that he was aware of my presence."
Cain listened on, his expression unchanging.
"He placed an object at the center of our cave and disappeared," Old Gastly continued. "At first, we thought nothing of it, but soon the object began to absorb all the ghost energy that filled our home, leaving us with no choice but to flee to the edge of the cave."
Cain, his face impassive, asked, "Why didn't you destroy it or remove it?"
"That, my friend, is what we ask of you. We cannot get near it, but you can," Old Gastly answered.
Cain was taken aback, "You expect me to retrieve it when so many of you have failed?"
"Follow me, you shall comprehend when you lay eyes upon it," Old Gastly declared with a sigh, leading the way into the cavern's maze. The surrounding Gastlys reluctantly stepped aside for Cain's passage, their frightening expressions never leaving their faces.
Cain, with Slowpoke and Murkrow close at his heels, cautiously followed Old Gastly. The labyrinthine cave was a perplexing network of twists and turns, but finally, they reached a relatively empty chamber. A ghostly light illuminated the room, and Cain could see a dim greenish glow coming from the walls and floor.
Old Gastly stopped at the entrance to the cavern, his voice quivering. "Once, this place was full of ghost energy, ample enough for our entire clan to thrive. Some of our kin even evolved to become Haunters. But since the cursed object was placed upon the altar, our powers have diminished and even the Haunters have regressed."
Cain knew it was dangerous when a Pokémon evolves and then de-evolves since that can weaken its foundation and talent.
He peered into the cavern, the fluorescent light casting eerie shadows, and saw a Pokeball on a dilapidated stone altar at the center of the room. "Could that be the mission item?" he thought.
With a determined expression, Cain took the lead, with Slowpoke and Murkrow close behind. Old Gastly was unable to step foot any further, but Cain trusted in his words. After all, Pokemon were more straightforward and honest than humans.
Although Old Gastly had picked up the ability to converse like a human and had gained some understanding of their ways, he was still primarily a Pokémon and therefore couldn't shake off his inherent habits that remained ingrained in his very being.
Another reason was his confidence in his own strength and the assurance that he could use Slowpoke's Teleport to make a quick escape if required.
Stepping forward with a composed demeanor, Cain approached the stone altar. The moment he was within range, his system scanned the Pokéball emblazoned with Team Rocket's unmistakable "R" emblem.
Pokemon: Gengar (Light Blue)
Gender: Male
Level: 48
Type: Ghost + Poison
Ability: Cursed Body
Held items: None
Egg moves: Scary Face, Fire Punch, Astonish, Taunt
Basic moves: Hypnosis, Lick, Spite, Mean Look, Curse, Night Shade, Confuse Ray, Sucker Punch, Payback, Shadow Ball, Dream Eater, Dark Pulse
Taught moves: Snatch, Foul Play, Giga Drain
Technical Machines (TMs): Rest, Protect, Sleep Talk, Toxic, Hidden Power (Water), Thunderbolt
With a sharp inhale, Cain's breath caught at the sight of the Pokémon's data. "Is that Umbra's Gengar?" he muttered. No wonder it could effortlessly overpower the clan in absorbing ghost energy. His thoughts then moved onto the impressive array of moves the ghost Pokémon possessed, each move representing a significant investment of resources.
Besides Viper, Umbra was the only one on the island capable of having such a formidable Pokemon, and as the mission he had assigned Cain implied, it was almost certain to be his own Gengar. However, Cain couldn't help but ponder that Gengar's level indicated it was not a part of Umbra's main team, but rather one of his secondary Pokemon.
As Cain picked up the Pokeball containing Gengar, a dense cloud of black mist drifted out from the altar. "Goodness, such concentrated energy," Cain marvelled. The mist was absorbed into the pokeball, and through its semi-transparent surface, Cain watched as Gengar consumed the energy, its stats showing subtle improvement.
"What is Umbra's purpose in keeping Gengar here?" Cain wondered. "Is it to increase its level or heal an injury?" No other reason came to mind.
Cain wasn't so foolish as to believe that Umbra had placed Gengar here specifically to test him. On top of that, his curious mind couldn't help but ponder the source of the powerful ghost energy that seemed to emanate from the stone altar before him. He toyed with the idea of smashing it to see what lay within, but ultimately decided against it.
For one, Old Gastly was watching him intently, fearful that Cain would do something to affect their home. The stone altar was their lifeline, the source of their sustenance, the generator of the ghost energy that allowed them to survive. If Cain were to destroy it, the Gastlys would be doomed, with half their clan perishing and the rest facing a life of hunger and decline. No, Cain wouldn't risk a battle to the death with the Gastlys just to satisfy his curiosity.
Furthermore, even Umbra, who needed all that energy, had not dared to touch the altar. If a powerful individual such as Umbra was wary, it was better for Cain, a fresh new trainer, to exercise caution. So he let the ghost energy swirl around him, and resigned himself to wait for another opportunity to discover its secrets.
With a quiet sigh, Cain shrunk the Pokéball containing Gengar and secured it in a compartment on his belt. Old Gastly floated closer, seeing Cain put away the Pokéball, and basked in the ghost energy that surrounded them both.
"Thank you, young human," Old Gastly exclaimed, grateful for Cain's assistance. Meanwhile, Slowpoke had become uneasy, and Cain, noticing his discomfort, invited Old Gastly to step outside the cavern for a chat. Old Gastly twirled about and followed Cain, and as soon as they stepped out, Slowpoke's tense body relaxed.
No sooner did Old Gaslty's voice resound in Cain's mind, "So, young human, now that you've fulfilled your end of the bargain, what is it that you seek?" Old Gastly's tone was filled with anticipation. He was eager to see Cain depart, as he himself was struggling against the temptation to reenter the cavern and absorb the ghost energy that he had been starved of for so long.
Cain raised an eyebrow at Old Gastly's inquiry. He had not expected the ghost to be so interested in his own search, but now that he had gotten what he wanted, Old Gastly was asking about his motives.
After giving it some thought, Cain decided to be bold and simply ask. "Have you ever come across a palm-sized stone that holds an immense amount of energy, regardless of its type, be it fire, water, electric, or any other?"
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone