Usually, after Tyranitar's mega evolution, its strength wouldn't reach SS level but would hover somewhere between S+ and SS-. However, Larry wasn't disappointed by this; instead, he was even more excited.
The harder it was to reach SS level, the stronger Marshadow truly was. Judging by this, only a handful of people in the Dark Continent could achieve such strength.
After all, Marshadow was the top fighter under the God Ho-Oh. Although it was a Mythical class, it was comparable to a god. Even as a god of the Pokemon world, it was still a god. At the same time, Larry began to notice a problem emerging from all this.
Although Larry hadn't set any restrictions or oaths on Marshadow yet, all the information about this Pokemon suddenly became clear to him. It was the first time something like this had happened.
After thinking it over, Larry realized it might be because restrictions and oaths don't work on this kind of pokemon Pokemon. Still, just to be safe, he went ahead and applied Constraint and Oath on Marshadow.
As he expected, Marshadow's strength didn't increase, it remained at SS level. Clearly, as a Mythical Pokemon, Marshadow was immune to those limitations. But Larry was more than satisfied. His strongest fighter had instantly jumped from S+ to SS rank, making Marshadow his most powerful Pokemon.
The difference between S+ and SS wasn't just about adding one more letter, it was huge and hard to put into words. Beyond its sheer power, Marshadow had incredibly unique and exclusive abilities. It could slip into an opponent's shadow, mimic their movements and strength, and even sense their emotions.
While copying them, Marshadow would actually become stronger than its original form. Because it never revealed its true appearance, no one had noticed this ability for a long time. This is Marshadow's signature skill: Spectral Thief.
Spectral Thief lets Marshadow sneak into an enemy's shadow to attack and steal their power-ups. First, it takes away the opponent's enhancement effects, then uses those boosts to strengthen its own attacks by transferring the improvements to itself.
This skill is absurdly powerful, Marshadow can snatch whatever buffs the enemy has worked hard to build up, especially against fighters who rely on enhancing their abilities over time.
For example, there was a nen user Larry once met in the Karym Ruins. This fighter got stronger the more he was beaten, somewhat like the strange monk Urouge from One Piece. After enduring a long beating, Marshadow could steal all those accumulated boosts with just one Spectral Thief attack.
Among all the exclusive skills Marshadow possessed, Spectral Thief was definitely one of the most impressive and game-changing.
Marshadow's ability to blend seamlessly into the shadows is truly impressive. In terms of strength and stealth, it far surpasses Gengar, making Marshadow an excellent choice for a personal bodyguard.
Among all Pokemon, Marshadow stands out as one of the best suited for this role. However, Gengar has a unique capability that Marshadow lacks, its space storage ability, which is incredibly important to Larry. Thanks to Gengar, Larry can travel without lugging around large bags; most of his belongings, including some Menchi condiments and ingredients, are stored safely in Gengar's belly.
Because of this, Marshadow can't completely replace Gengar's role. Larry planned to have Marshadow stay hidden in his shadow, and he wondered if Gengar would be startled upon suddenly noticing a new companion there.
Glancing at Netero still sighing beside him, Larry's figure flickered, and in the next moment, he vanished into a hidden corner of the screen. He was eager to see a mythical pokemon with his own eyes, after all, these creatures mostly appear in the movie versions of Pokemon.
As a kid, Larry's favorite anime was Pokémon, and he never missed a single movie. He loved Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea, where he first saw Manaphy, and Pokémon 4Ever, which introduced him to Celebi.
But his all-time favorite was Lucario and the Mystery of Mew. That film sparked his deep love for Lucario, a Pokémon he never got to see on his home planet. Yet now, in the world of Hunter x Hunter, that childhood dream had come true. Not only did he have Lucario, but even mythical Pokémon had become real.
Suddenly, a flash of white light streaked by, and a small black shadow appeared right in front of Larry. Despite its tiny size and adorable appearance, no one would guess this was a myhtical god level Pokemon.
Marshadow tilted its head curiously, letting out a soft, unusual cry that changed tone depending on its mood, sometimes high-pitched and almost like a scream when excited. "So cute," Larry murmured, leaning down to gently stroke Marshadow's head.
***
Species: Marshadow
Type: Fighting / Ghost
Ability: Technician
Strength Rank: SS
Known Moves: Spectral Thief, Close Combat, Shadow Sneak, Bulk Up...
Description: Shrouded in shadow and silence, Marshadow is a phantom warrior that strikes from the darkness. Its signature move, Spectral Thief, allows it to steal and use the opponent's stat boosts in a single, devastating blow.
The Technician ability amplifies its swift, subtle attacks, while its Ghost typing lets it slip past defenses unseen. With speed, stealth, and brutal precision, Marshadow dominates one-on-one combat as Ho-Oh's hidden enforcer.
***
Although Marshadow was small, underestimating it because of its size would be a big mistake. Its head felt incredibly soft to the touch, almost like a ball of cotton candy, likely due to its unique body structure. Larry gently ran his hand over Marshadow's head, and the little creature squinted its eyes in obvious enjoyment.
On the other side, Netero finally snapped out of his nostalgic mood and scanned the room. He spotted Larry sitting in the corner, with Marshadow right beside him.
"Another nen beast?" Netero whispered to himself, intrigued by this tiny creature. Among all the nen beasts he'd encountered through Larry, this one was by far the smallest. But despite its size, Netero didn't think Marshadow was weak, none of Larry's nen beasts were simple or ordinary, and he believed that firmly.
As Netero observed more closely, he noticed something odd. Although the nen beast was clearly nearby and visible, it felt like there was nothing there, just empty air, aside from Larry.
'How was that possible?' Suddenly, a thought struck him: this reminded him of an old friend, Maha Zoldyck.
Maha had the ability to conceal his presence by hiding his aura, making it seem like he wasn't there even when standing right in front of someone. But Larry's nen beast took this ability even further. When facing Maha, Netero could still sense a faint aura, but with this nen beast, it was completely undetectable.
This meant that if the nen beast chose to attack secretly, Netero might not be able to defend himself. Could this be a nen beast specialized in assassination?
Despite his distrust of evil, Netero decided to use his "En" to sense the creature's presence more clearly and see if he could detect it. But this decision would soon become a source of regret.