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The three trainers had been walking for what felt like hours, gradually approaching their mysterious destination. They had passed through several areas where Elite-level Ghost-type Pokemon were known to dwell, yet surprisingly, they hadn't encountered a single Ghost-type Pokemon along their entire journey.
"This is really strange," Alexis remarked, his voice filled with confusion as he glanced around the eerily quiet forest. "Usually, even when we take the longer routes to avoid trouble, we'd run into plenty of Ghost-type Pokemon by now. Why haven't we seen any today?"
Roy walked alongside them, his expression calm and knowing. "Chris's Gengar is quite special," he explained in a casual tone. "Even without trying, it naturally deters most Ghost-type Pokemon in the area."
Alexis's eyes widened with surprise as he looked toward the powerful Gengar floating near Chris. "Really? That's incredible! We definitely should have brought Chris along on our previous expeditions. Think of all the trouble we could have avoided."
Chris had already guessed what Roy was thinking. While the "King Appearance" attribute provided by his system didn't grant the traditional Intimidate ability that some Pokemon possessed, his Gengar's royal presence naturally suppressed other Ghost-type Pokemon through sheer authority. This was especially true for Pokemon of the same species - his Gengar could practically command other Gengar to obey.
However, Chris knew this ability had its limitations. It worked best against significantly weaker Ghost-types, while Pokemon of similar strength levels remained largely unaffected. The fact that they hadn't encountered any Ghost-types so far simply meant the local ones were relatively weak compared to his Gengar's overwhelming presence. When he had battled Roy's Gengar previously, he hadn't noticed his opponent being particularly affected by this intimidating aura.
"We've arrived," Roy announced suddenly, coming to a complete stop.
The trio found themselves standing in a dense grove of ancient trees. Just ahead lay a circular clearing roughly the size of a basketball court. In the very center of this open space sat a massive stone, as large as an old millstone, weathered by countless years.
Embedded within the center of this imposing stone was a golden rune that radiated a holy, purifying aura. The sacred symbol seemed to be actively suppressing something powerful beneath it, its light pulsing with an otherworldly energy.
As soon as the three trainers approached the clearing, an enormous phantom materialized above the stone, towering over them with its intimidating presence.
It was a Totem Dusknoir - a Pokemon of legendary proportions!
Chris's mind raced as he recognized the creature. If his memory served him correctly, this particular Dusknoir was the undisputed ruler of Halloween Island, possessing Champion-level strength that few could match.
"Gengar, prepare for battle!" Chris called out, raising his hand to reveal the Key Stone embedded in his glove, ready to trigger a Mega Evolution at a moment's notice.
But before he could begin the evolution process, Roy quickly placed a restraining hand on his arm. "There's no need for that," Roy said calmly. "This Dusknoir has already been caught by me."
True to his words, the massive Totem Dusknoir made no aggressive moves. Instead, it acknowledged Roy with a respectful nod, recognizing him as its trainer.
Chris lowered his hand, confusion clear on his face. "Then what exactly is the purpose of our trip here?"
Alexis pointed toward the mysterious stone with obvious excitement. "The answer lies beneath that stone."
"What's underneath it?" Chris asked, his curiosity growing stronger.
"An ancient secret realm," Roy answered, his voice carrying a hint of reverence for what they were about to discover.
Chris's eyes lit up with genuine interest. "An ancient secret realm? You mean there's a secret realm hidden within another secret realm?"
The concept fascinated him. Nested secret realms were incredibly rare phenomena, and an ancient one would be even more extraordinary. The possibilities of what they might find inside were endless.
Roy had already moved forward, reaching out to place his hand on the glowing golden rune. The moment his palm made contact, the ancient symbol began to crumble and dissolve. The massive stone immediately lifted into the air, suspended by some invisible force that defied explanation.
Beneath where the stone had rested, a light blue circular portal appeared, its surface rippling like the still waters of a tranquil pond.
"Listen carefully," Roy warned, turning to face both of his companions. "Once we enter this portal, we'll appear thousands of meters up in the sky. Make sure you release your Flying-type Pokemon the instant we arrive, or you'll find yourself in serious trouble."
With that crucial warning delivered, Roy leaped fearlessly into the shimmering portal. Alexis followed immediately behind him, showing no hesitation despite the danger ahead.
It was clear to Chris that this wasn't their first expedition into this mysterious realm. Their confidence and familiarity with the process spoke of previous adventures.
Chris steeled himself and jumped into the portal without further delay, trusting in his companions' experience.
After all three trainers had passed through the mystical gateway, the ancient stone slowly descended back to its original position. The golden rune reappeared as if it had never been disturbed, and the Totem Dusknoir faded away like morning mist. To any outside observer, it would appear as though nothing unusual had ever taken place in this quiet clearing.
Inside the secret realm, Chris was immediately struck by a bone-chilling cold that seemed to pierce through his clothes. He found himself soaring through a crystal-clear blue sky that stretched endlessly in all directions.
The sky itself was remarkable - so perfectly clear and pristine that it resembled a vast pond or mirror, reflecting the entire world below with stunning clarity. Chris could hardly believe that such a breathtaking paradise existed within the confines of Halloween Island.
Roy and Alexis had already released their Flying-type Pokemon and were gliding gracefully through the air. Chris quickly followed suit, summoning his powerful Salamence to carry him safely to the ground.
The three trainers landed on the snow-covered peak of a towering mountain, their breath visible in the frigid air.
"One of our main objectives here," Roy explained while tossing a handheld Pokedex device to Chris, "is to explore the secrets of this realm that others haven't yet discovered."
Chris caught the device and examined it carefully. He had seen similar equipment at the Pokemon Breeders Association - many Pokemon researchers carried these versatile tools. The device offered regional communication, photography, scanning capabilities, and various other functions that made it invaluable for field research.
"While you're exploring," Roy continued with a serious tone, "remember to scan the surrounding terrain thoroughly. If you encounter any Pokemon species you've never seen before, try to capture them if possible. And if you find yourself in danger or facing a Pokemon you can't defeat, use the Pokedex to send an emergency distress signal immediately."
"However," Roy's expression grew more focused, "before we begin our free exploration, I have a specific favor to ask of you, Chris."
"Of course, what do you need?" Chris replied respectfully.
"During our last expedition here, Alexis and I discovered an unknown Ghost-type Pokemon living in the rivers of this secret realm. We tried to approach it, but it proved incredibly elusive and managed to escape every time we got close."
Roy gestured toward the landscape spread out below them. "The unique properties of this realm suppress the abilities of Psychic-type Pokemon, making it nearly impossible to scan for the creature's energy signature. Neither Alexis nor I have powerful Water-type Pokemon in our teams, so we're hoping you might be able to help us track it down."
Chris looked down from their mountain vantage point, surveying the entire territory of the secret realm spread out below. The waterways throughout the area were relatively narrow - mostly seven to eight meters wide, with the largest streams reaching perhaps fifteen meters across. If Psychic-type scanning was ineffective and they were searching for a Pokemon with Peak Elite level combat abilities, the task would indeed be extremely challenging.
But what truly intrigued Chris was the mystery itself. What kind of Ghost-type Pokemon could it be? If even Roy, with all his experience, had never encountered this species before, and it was living in aquatic environments, it had to be something truly extraordinary.
"Once we successfully complete this task," Roy offered, "I'm willing to teach you the cultivation method for the Demon God Shadow technique as compensation."
Chris's head snapped around to stare at Roy in shock and amazement.
Demon God Shadow?! His mind immediately conjured images of the legendary technique - a warrior with six powerful arms wielding six deadly blades in perfect synchronization!
"No, no, Roy!" Chris protested quickly, waving his hands frantically despite his intense desire to learn the technique. "You're being too formal by offering payment. You've already helped me so much - I couldn't possibly accept such a valuable secret technique with a clear conscience."
"Just accept it," Alexis interjected with his characteristic bluntness. "Since we're all allies working together, it's actually more important to keep these arrangements clear and professional. Otherwise, we might not have opportunities to collaborate in the future."
Alexis crossed his arms and continued with a slight grin. "Besides, I've already accepted my payment for this mission. If you refuse yours, how am I supposed to feel about the situation?"
Chris hesitated, then slowly nodded his agreement. "Well... if you put it that way, I suppose I should accept your generous offer."
Alexis turned to Roy with curiosity evident in his voice. "What about your other objective here? Do you need our assistance with that as well?"
Roy shook his head with quiet confidence. "No, I've already worked out a strategy for handling that particular goal. I'll take care of it myself."
He looked toward the winding rivers below them and added, "The underwater Ghost-type is all yours to handle, Chris."