Rumble—
Accompanied by a slight tremor on the ground, several trees slowly moved, parting to form a pathway.
Then, some Pokémon resembling big trees slowly walked out from the passage.
Trevenant!
Their crimson eyes turned, finally resting on the "Life Crystal" in Abra's hand.
Due to Palossand, Abra could no longer suppress the loss of life energy from the "Life Crystal".
And this life energy attracted Pokémon greatly.
Even more so for Ghost-type Pokémon.
There were few creatures in the Spirit Realm apart from ghosts, the "Life Crystal" for them was like a guiding light in the night.
As the four Trevenants slowly approached, Natsuhiko said in a deep voice, "Is there any way to seal this 'Life Crystal' up?"
Ann Ci clasped her hands and shook her head, "Too much has leaked already, it's impossible to seal it again?"
"Then discard it?"
They could escape now, but that wasn't the main point. Even if they escaped the attention of these four Trevenants, the "Life Crystal" would still attract other Ghost-type Pokémon.
As long as the problem of leakage from the life crystal couldn't be solved, it would be the same wherever they ran.
Moreover, if they didn't resolve it quickly, there might be more than just these four Trevenants soon.
If there's no other way, they could only discard it.
Although from Ann Ci's expression, it seemed a bit wasteful.
But if life safety was at risk, Natsuhiko thought it might be better to discard it.
Ann Ci pondered slightly.
"Sealing is definitely not feasible, but if it was absorbed, it's not impossible..."
"Absorb?" Natsuhiko was stunned.
"Let Abra try using psychic powers to guide the volatilized crystals and integrate them into its psychic abilities."
Natsuhiko hesitated.
"Don't worry, there won't be any side effects, and if there are, they would only be positive. Moreover, only psychic power can speed up absorption." Ann Ci was confident in this regard.
Discarding it seemed wasteful, yet not stopping the volatilization would be dangerous...
"By the way, do you still have the string of Buddha Beads I gave you last time? Give it to Abra, it will help."
Hearing this, Natsuhiko was slightly taken aback, then immediately retrieved the Buddha Beads that Ann Ci had given him in exchange last time from his bag.
Thinking it over, he tossed them to Abra.
"Kadabra—"
Abra sat cross-legged, floating in mid-air, catching the Buddha Beads tossed by Natsuhiko. As it held them in its small hand, it indeed looked quite the part.
Sitting cross-legged, floating, holding Buddha Beads; it would be even more interesting if there were a halo behind its head.
"Abra, try to see if you can absorb it," Natsuhiko said, paused for a moment, then added, "if not, discard it."
"Kadabra!"
Abra nodded, closed its eyes, and began to try.
With its psychic power actively guiding, the Buddha Beads in its hand emitted a faint red glow, intermingling with Abra's azure psychic energy.
The sparkling particles volatilizing from the Life Crystal also began to circle around it under the guidance of its psychic power.
They were slowly being dissolved and absorbed.
It really could work!
Natsuhiko felt assured.
"Watch out!"
On the other side, feeling the rapid loss of life energy, the Trevenants sped up their pace.
Suddenly, the roots at Trevenant's feet thrust into the ground, and then wooden spikes shot out from the soil, aimed at Natsuhiko, Ann Ci, and Abra.
Wood Horn!
But in the next second.
Beedrill's Double Needle pierced out, snapping two branches in response.
At the same time, Ann Ci's Farfetch'd, wielding its leek in its wing, swept over and broke another two branches.
"Farfetch'd, Sword Dance."
Farfetch'd let out a low cry, surrounded by a faint red aura, and its stance holding the leek sharpened remarkably.
Beedrill observed Farfetch'd masterfully performing Sword Dance.
Earlier, it had followed Farfetch'd to learn this technique.
Although it hadn't completely mastered it back then, it spent time each day practicing after returning.
Natsuhiko also assisted Beedrill daily, providing constructive feedback and insights, and helping it understand the fundamentals of the Sword Dance technique.
Yet there was always that final bit missing.
But just moments ago, witnessing Farfetch'd perform Sword Dance again.
It seemed that the last bit of limitation in Beedrill's understanding of the Sword Dance technique was broken.
"Sizzle!"
Natsuhiko noticed the change in Beedrill, his eyes brightening.
"Can you do it, Beedrill?"
Beedrill nodded, flicking its Long Needle.
With the long period of groundwork already laid, it finally crossed that finishing hurdle!
"Then let us also... Sword Dance!"
"Sizzle!"
Beedrill let out a low cry.
Its red compound eyes flickered, and rising currents swirled around, with power surging from within.
Its wings trembled, its figure like lightning.
The first use of Sword Dance brought effects similar to those of Deadly Needle Stab upon reaping, nearly doubling attack power.
The only difference was that Deadly Needle Stab required a reap to complete, but Sword Dance did not.
This undoubtedly significantly enhanced Beedrill's versatility.
Boom!
Executing a Cross Cut, one Trevenant's roots were severed, its body toppling over.
Turning to another charging Trevenant, with a light acrobatics move, attribute suppression activated alongside the Sniper trait and the fearsome attack increase from Sword Dance, this Trevenant fell directly to the ground, losing its combat capability.
On the other side, Farfetch'd was similar.
While General Type techniques hardly deal substantive damage to Ghost-type Pokémon, Ann Ci's Farfetch'd had mastered Foresight, and being a Flying-type Pokémon, Flying-type techniques had attribute suppression over Trevenant.
Each handling two Trevenants, Beedrill and Farfetch'd swiftly dealt with their opponents.
Togepi watching from the side watched with starry eyes, its excitement unconcealable.
"Cha, Ko, Pee..."
Indeed, those green onions...
Though the battle concluded swiftly, Natsuhiko and Ann Ci didn't lower their vigilance.
The four Trevenants were just the beginning; as long as Abra hadn't completely absorbed the Life Crystal, Pokémon would continue congregating towards them.
Abra, with its eyes closed, was in a strange state.
As it continually absorbed the life energy volatilizing from the three Life Crystals, it felt as though its psychic power had "come alive."
It expanded, grew, developed autonomously...
Together with its strength, it visibly increased.
These "Life Crystals" were pure life energy, beneficial to any Pokémon, hence attracting so much attention.
And while Natsuhiko and Ann Ci stayed vigilant, guarding against sudden attacks from other Pokémon.
In the shadows of a distant corner.
A jet-black figure slowly emerged.
Humanoid yet seemingly a product of masses of black mist.
Their orange eyes flickered dimly, their gaze landing on Natsuhiko and his team.
Sweeping over the imposing Beedrill and Farfetch'd, the life energy-absorbing, eyes-closed Abra, and the Togepi sneaking up on Farfetch'd with intense curiosity in its eyes.
But despite the curiosity, it dared not approach, a hint of wariness and trepidation remaining.
"Ooh—"
Tilting its head, black air slowly emanated from beneath its feet.
No one or Pokémon noticed its presence, not even the slow-approaching, shadow-like black mist was aware.
Gradually.
The black mist touched Natsuhiko's shadow, which was the closest.
Just as Natsuhiko inexplicably felt a chill and looked around.
The small shadow hiding not far away secretly covered its mouth, eyes arched into crescents.
These creatures... seem really interesting—