Pokemon: Psychic Master

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar curiously observed the Trick Room spreading outward from Alakazam's center.

It wasn't the first time it had experienced Trick Room, but for some reason, it found it... fun.

Unlike the first time, when it passively endured the move's effects, this time Gengar seemed to gain a bit of insight.

The round, purple creature scratched its behind and raised one hand. In its palm, a strange energy began to gather.

Hmm?

Johan narrowed his eyes in surprise.

Could it be... Trick Room?

In his view, the move list under Gengar's profile solidified as the name Trick Room appeared.

Unbelievable!

Johan couldn't help but feel impressed.

His Gengar's talent for learning unconventional and tricky moves was so absurdly high that even Johan occasionally felt a twinge of fear.

"Are you able to communicate with your Pokémon telepathically, too, Johan?"

Anabel, whose Alakazam had just been defeated, showed no sign of frustration.

Rather, she was intrigued by how Johan seemed to be silently directing his Gengar — much like how she commanded her Pokémon through telepathy.

She felt like she had found a kindred spirit.

Without hesitation, she threw out her second Poké Ball.

"Metagross!"

The four-legged Steel/Psychic-type Pokémon appeared, its massive body made of solid metal and an unmistakable red-eyed "X" emblem on its face.

"Ka-kaah?"

Gengar tilted its head in confusion.

Why does this Metagross look normal?

Johan chuckled.

Unlike Steven's famous shiny Metagross, this was the standard coloring for the species.

So that's why Alakazam had set up Trick Room — to prepare the stage for Metagross.

Initially, Johan planned for Gengar to brute-force the Trick Room out of existence, a strategy he'd seen in high-level battles from trainers like Cynthia or Lance.

But seeing Gengar start to conjure Trick Room on its own? That simplified things.

"Metagross, Zen Headbutt!"

Under the Trick Room effect, Metagross's speed was swapped with Gengar's. The giant Pokémon lunged forward with surprising speed, its body glowing blue as it prepared to smash into Gengar.

"Gengar, use Trick Room!"

The only way to cancel out Trick Room was to cast it again.

Whoosh!

Gengar spread the Trick Room energy it had gathered, and the two opposing forces canceled each other out.

Metagross slowed down, while Gengar regained its usual nimbleness.

"Ka-kaah~~ (U-)"

Seeing the surprise on both Anabel and Metagross's faces, Gengar smirked.

Three blue flames materialized around Gengar and flew toward Metagross.

Will-O-Wisp!

Fwoosh!

The ghostly blue flames engulfed Metagross, burning it.

However, Metagross barreled through the flames, landing a powerful punch squarely on Gengar's body.

Bam!

Gengar flew backward, skidding across the floor.

Due to the burn, Metagross's attack power had been halved, so the Zen Headbutt wasn't enough to knock Gengar out.

Gengar staggered to its feet, wiping its mouth.

"Ka-kaah! (Tough!)"

It pretended not to be hurt, even though tears welled up in its eyes.

Johan, using his aura abilities, could feel what Gengar was really thinking:

It hurts so much...!!

Johan sighed, his lips twitching into a smile.

"Gengar, Hex!"

Gengar's eyes glowed purple as it unleashed a powerful curse on the burned Metagross.

However, before the attack could land, Anabel recalled Metagross.

A sleek Espeon appeared in its place.

The Hex hit Espeon, but without any status ailment to double the damage, it wasn't particularly effective.

Johan frowned.

Battling someone who could silently communicate with their Pokémon was troublesome.

Espeon activated Psychic Terrain, spreading a shimmering psychic aura across the battlefield.

Seeing the field effect take hold, Johan sighed.

"Why do Psychic, Fairy, and Electric types get special terrain moves, but Ghost and Poison types don't?"

It didn't seem fair.

Gengar, however, wasn't concerned with fairness. It launched a Shadow Ball at Espeon.

Boom!

Espeon was hit directly but managed to hold on.

It had consumed a Psychic Seed upon entering the battlefield, boosting its Special Defense.

Anabel smiled.

"Baton Pass."

Espeon's body shimmered as it prepared to pass its boosted stats to Metagross.

Johan's eyes narrowed.

"No way."

The moment he saw Espeon eat the Psychic Seed, he knew what Anabel was planning.

"Gengar, Encore!"

Before Espeon could finish the Baton Pass, it was locked into repeating its last move — Baton Pass — over and over.

Espeon was forced to switch out without ever transferring its stat boosts.

Boom!

A second Shadow Ball knocked out Espeon.

——

Viewers in the livestream exploded with comments:

"He read her! Johan predicted it!"

"Wait, isn't that Encore? Gengar knows Encore?"

"Seriously, why isn't Johan in the Masters Tournament?"

——

Metagross returned to the battlefield, still burned but now with its Special Defense boosted.

"Metagross, use Spread Force!"

In the Psychic Terrain, Metagross's Spread Force gained an immense boost, sending waves of psychic energy crashing toward Gengar.

Gengar split into shadows, avoiding the blast.

However, Johan's face grew serious.

With Metagross's boosted Special Defense, even Gengar's most powerful attacks wouldn't be enough to take it down in one hit.

It was time for a risky move.

"Gengar," Johan said softly.

Gengar turned to look at him, its expression resolute.

Johan gave a small nod.

"Destiny Bond."

Gengar grinned wickedly.

Boom!

The next Spread Force hit Gengar, knocking it out.

But as Gengar's shadow connected to Metagross's, the burn damage from Destiny Bond pulled Metagross down with it.

Both Pokémon collapsed simultaneously.

The room fell silent.

——

The livestream chat froze.

Then, it exploded:

"WTF?! HE DID IT!!"

"Forty-five wins!! Gengar soloed the Battle Tower!"

"Destiny Bond clutch!!"

"Gengar is the coolest Pokémon ever!!"

——

Johan rushed over to his exhausted Gengar, cradling it in his arms.

"Ka-kaah..."

He fed it a Revive and patted its head, his expression a mix of pride and worry.

"Why do you always have to act tough?"

Gengar stuck out its tongue, licking Johan's cheek.

Sometimes you have to act tough... even if it hurts.

"Ka-kaah?"

Wasn't I cool? Did you capture that, Rotom?

Johan sighed, unable to hide his grin.

"You were brave. And yes, you were cool."

He looked down at his partner.

"How can a Gengar be this cool?"

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Powerstones?

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