After leaving the arena, Lin Yu couldn't shake the feeling that he was being watched.
His mind raced as he tried to figure out who could be targeting him.
Had he drawn too much attention with his performance?
But it was way too soon for that, right?
The sky grew darker.
Even his Inspection Eye could only detect faint traces of Ghost-type energy nearby.
Not knowing if the stalker was good or evil, or how strong they were, Lin Yu kept moving toward crowded areas.
But by dusk, the feeling still lingered. Even the busiest streets were starting to empty.
Helpless, he decided to head for the Flame Gym.
A cold wind suddenly swept across the street.
"Smart kid… but still too young."
An old, short man with a sinister face appeared out of nowhere on the empty road.
That wasn't the worst part.
Beside him stood a Sneasel.
It was a humanoid, cat-like Pokémon with vicious, razor-sharp claws and a cunning glare.
When its eyes fell on Lin Yu, they burned with murderous intent.
[Pokémon: Sneasel]
[Ability: Pressure]
[Gender: Male]
[Talent: Gym-tier]
[Level: 34]
[Moves: Scratch, Revenge, Leer, Quick Attack, Feint Attack, Fury Swipes, Guillotine…]
Level 34 Sneasel.
Lin Yu's heart sank.
"Hand over that Charmeleon, and I'll spare you," the old man hissed.
"Come and take him, then!"
Red light flashed.
Charmeleon and Ralts appeared at his side.
"Roar!"
"Ral!"
The two Pokémon tensed up, ready for battle.
[Ralts, if you get a chance, use Teleport and escape with Charmeleon!]
"Ral?"
[His target is Charmeleon. He probably won't bother with me.]
"Sneasel, kill the human. Knock Charmeleon out. Use Guillotine!"
Sneasel licked its claws, and glowing blades nearly a meter long materialized in its hands.
"Dammit!" Lin Yu cursed under his breath. "Charmeleon, Fire Punch! Ralts, try to hold it with Confusion—"
He didn't even finish speaking.
Sneasel moved.
In an instant, Lin Yu's eyes widened in terror.
That speed!
He could barely see it with his own eyes.
In the fading night, only its glowing red eyes flickered.
Lin Yu activated every Entry he could. He even ordered Charmeleon to swallow an Energy Cube he'd been carrying.
[Food Supply Station]: Slowdown — enemy speed appears 25% slower!
Thank goodness!
Lin Yu's heart tightened.
The Food Supply Station Entry never failed him!
Charmeleon, who had been unable to see Sneasel moments ago, could now make out its shadow.
Raging flames blazed around its claws. It believed it could clash with this attack.
"Ral!" (Too fast! I can't hold it with Confusion!)
Sneasel's eyes narrowed in confusion.
Charmeleon, who had been frozen still, had somehow spotted it.
It was forced to use Agility!
Slash!
The sound of claws tearing into flesh.
A streak of bright red blood appeared on Charmeleon's arm.
It was the first time Charmeleon had been injured since evolving. A gash more than ten centimeters long split its arm open.
Monster!
The old man's gaze sharpened.
A newly evolved Charmeleon could already keep up with Sneasel's speed?
If it was allowed to grow stronger…
No wonder Qing Fei had insisted he take it.
"Sneasel, hurry! Guillotine!"
He then glanced at Lin Yu, standing far away.
This wasn't an official Pokémon battle.
Trainers were also valid targets.
Sneasel blurred into another streak of shadow, even faster than before.
The dark sky and overwhelming pressure left Charmeleon anxious and disoriented.
"Charmeleon, use Fire Spin! Shield yourself!"
Lin Yu reacted instantly.
If he couldn't track the enemy, he would force it to come to him.
Charmeleon's eyes lit up. It spat upward, and a raging ring of fire surrounded its body.
But in the next moment, Sneasel vanished into the darkness and reappeared in a new position.
Wielding two massive scissor-like blades, it charged straight for Lin Yu.
Lin Yu realized in an instant.
This wasn't a regulated match.
The enemy could attack the Trainer directly.
But Sneasel was so fast that even Charmeleon could barely react. How could he?
Understanding crashed over him.
Bitterness welled up in Lin Yu's chest.
He hadn't even led Charmander to become a champion… was he going to die here?
"Charr?!"
"Ral!"
The two Pokémon noticed at the same time.
In a panic, Ralts even learned Protect.
But the thin light screen couldn't hold Sneasel back for even a second.
…
When Lin Yu opened his eyes again, he touched his neck in shock.
His head was still attached.
He looked up.
A Gengar, taller than he was, stood before him.
No way.
He was alive?
One glance at the Gengar and Lin Yu knew — this was the one that lurked in Ye Qingxue's shadow.
"Geh heh heh!"
"You fought okay… but you can't treat this like a normal Pokémon battle!
Fights like this are life-or-death!"
Gengar's cold, eerie voice echoed.
The warm September air seemed to drop by ten degrees.
"Lord… no! He's a Master!"
The old man's pupils shrank!
He felt like he'd been dragged straight into hell.
A Shadow Ball blasted toward him.
Sneasel, arrogant moments earlier, disintegrated into powder under the dark, pulsing energy.
The old man quickly summoned a Skarmory, trying to fly away.
It too was struck by a precise Shadow Ball.
It crashed to the ground, barely breathing.
Lin Yu and Charmeleon watched it all unfold.
"Kid… you know who I am?"
Gengar was curious about the boy his young mistress cared for so deeply.
It had been alive… or rather, dead… for so long that few things or people caught its interest anymore.
"You're the Gengar that protects Xiaoxue."
"Hah?" Gengar froze. "How do you know that?"
It hadn't shown itself in front of him before, had it?
"Lucky guess."
Lin Yu rejoiced at surviving, and at the same time, he faced his first glimpse of Ye Qingxue's powerful family.
Gengar stared for a moment, then gave Lin Yu a meaningful look.
"Nice kid. Keep it up. I like you!"