Mismagius's curse was complete, and a gray breath of death drifted toward Metagross, striking its body like lightning before it could even react.
"Mita!!"
Metagross let out a painful growl as a gray-black ominous aura lit up its body—the curse had taken effect.
"Metagross! Psychic Strong Mind!"
Caitlin's condition was strange at this moment; her powerful psychic ability surged within her, but she was struggling to control it.
She kept trying to calm her emotions, trying to regain composure.
Metagross endured the first wave of the curse, its eyes glowing with a deep blue light. A multicolored psychic wave surged toward Mismagius.
A Psychic-type Psychic Strong Mind!
"Useless." Mamen looked down and smiled faintly.
"Guard."
A green Protect barrier appeared in front of Mismagius.
The psychic attack slammed against the barrier but was ineffective; Protect held firm against Metagross's assault.
Caitlin's chest heaved rapidly, the blue glow in her eyes flickering even more.
"Bullet Punch!"
Since pure long-range attacks were ineffective, she decided to close in with Bullet Punch first.
Her plan was sound under normal circumstances, but Metagross's current state was far from normal.
Its claws glinted silver—an initial Bullet Punch attack!
But Metagross had barely moved forward when the gray ominous curse struck again.
Metagross groaned in pain; the curse's erosion was intense.
Mismagius, seeing Metagross suffer a second time, let out a sharp, piercing laugh.
Wasn't this blatant mockery?!
Seeing this, Caitlin finally lost control, her immense psychic energy surging uncontrollably.
She would teach this despicable Mismagius a lesson!
Caitlin extended her fair right hand in a loose grip; her manifested blue psychic power immediately restrained Mismagius's movements.
Mismagius didn't struggle, only tilting its head in confusion, staring blankly at Caitlin.
Could it be that human psychic power was this strong?
"Mita?"
Metagross turned toward its trainer, now out of control, lowly whining as it flew toward Caitlin, trying to stop her.
"Mita!"
"Get away!"
But Caitlin shouted angrily, swinging her left arm as psychic energy surged again, pushing the unprepared Metagross aside.
"Ungrateful, huh? No wonder you were banned from the League."
Mamen watched Caitlin lose control with amusement. Her flowing golden hair rose with the psychic surge, giving off a strong presence.
He now understood why the League forbade Caitlin's Pokémon battles; a human-like Pokémon with this level of ability would overwhelm any opponent trainer.
"Gengar, act."
"Heh heh heh~"
A low, eerie laugh came from the shadows beneath Caitlin, and two points of crimson light glowed.
"?"
Caitlin sensed something was wrong. She focused her psychic power on the shadow, only to meet those evil blood-red eyes.
Her mind suddenly felt heavy; the blue glow of her psychic power dimmed, and her pupils blurred.
Hypnosis—Gengar had used Hypnosis.
Caitlin slowly collapsed. Gengar immediately used its psychic power to control her body, guiding her to the training field's bench.
"Mita?"
"Don't worry, just letting her sleep a bit; it won't have any effect."
Mamen walked to Caitlin, comforting Metagross, who had flown over, worried.
Metagross relaxed, but in the next moment, a sharp pain surged through its body—the curse was still active!
Metagross groaned in pain; this was the third curse, and its condition was deteriorating.
"Almost forgot, I'll get your Poké Ball."
Mamen said this, reaching toward Caitlin's waist without hesitation.
"?" Metagross's eyes widened.
"Don't misunderstand, I'm just getting your Poké Ball."
Mamen searched Caitlin's waist, finding several Poké Balls, and signaled to Metagross.
Yes, confirmed—Caitlin's waist was soft.
"…" Metagross felt something was off.
"So, which one is yours?"
"Mita." Metagross raised its right paw, pointing to the far-right ball.
"Okay, back you go." Mamen opened Metagross's Poké Ball, recalling it.
The curse cleared once Metagross returned to its Poké Ball—one of the Poké Ball's many wonders.
Immediately after, the Poké Ball opened on its own, and Metagross reappeared.
"Don't stare at me like that. If I really wanted to take advantage of your trainer, I could, and you couldn't stop me."
"Though I like beautiful women, I'm not a rogue."
Mamen shrugged, thinking Metagross was overly cautious.
"Mita!"
"You're right, your trainer is very beautiful. It's natural to like her, isn't it?" Mamen agreed with Metagross.
Caitlin was delicate and elegant—not overly voluptuous but graceful, noble, and refined.
"Mita??"
Metagross froze.
"I can understand what you're saying. Strange? Don't make a fuss." Mamen glanced at Metagross.
Metagross was a little confused. Isn't that strange?
About ten minutes later.
"Ugh…"
Caitlin slowly opened her eyes, frowning. Strange, what happened?
Her thoughts still clouded, she turned her head to see Metagross's large face.
"Metagross? What just happened?" Caitlin held her head, slowly standing.
"You're finally awake. Any discomfort?" A male voice made Caitlin startle.
She quickly turned and saw the boy from the battle calmly watching her.
Her memory cleared instantly—oh right, she lost control of her emotions earlier?!
Caitlin pursed her lips, darkened, still unable to control that power…
"That was a surprise! Suddenly, such strong psychic power… didn't expect such a beautiful lady to be a psychic user."
The teasing voice reached her ears.
"Aren't you afraid of me?" Caitlin looked sharply at Mamen.
"Why would I be?" Mamen tilted his head in confusion.
"My psychic power…"
Caitlin's tone softened; though she didn't feel inferior, sometimes she sighed from the heart.
'Better no psychic power than uncontrollable psychic power.'
Born to a noble family, she was a privileged young lady with beauty and talent.
But because of her psychic power, people feared her, secretly called her a "monster," and the Pokémon League banned her from battles.
For a trainer who loved Pokémon battles, it was a huge blow and denial.
"You're strange—having special abilities, why fear being feared?"
Mamen asked, smiling, raising his right hand. Green light floated toward Caitlin.
Instantly, Caitlin felt her mind clear, her sore body relaxing from lying on the bench—an indescribable feeling.
"You're a power user too?" Caitlin's eyes lit with delight—she found a kindred spirit.
"Of course. You shouldn't doubt yourself for the abilities the heavens gave you. This is a gift from the world."
Mamen gazed into Caitlin's eyes, smiling gently.
"We are special! We are the world's favored! We can hold our heads high! We can tell ourselves, tell others, that we are the exceptional ones!"
"Only the weak blame injustice and fear the strong. Because we are strong, they fear us."
The boy's clear voice resonated, but Caitlin's pupils trembled—she was trembling, not from fear but from excitement.
"But I… can't control it…"
Yet soon, her worry resurfaced, rooted in past experiences.
"I've tried so hard, really! I want to control it more than anyone, but they don't understand, they won't even let me battle."
In this moment, the glamorous noble girl poured out her accumulated grievances; her eyes shimmered with unshed tears.
Who would understand? She truly loved Pokémon battles.
Her close friend, Dawn, became the Sinnoh Champion, the strongest, ruling over Sinnoh.
But she couldn't even participate normally—it was humiliating for someone proud.
"Then try even harder."
Mamen smiled.
"Believe in yourself. Don't resist your power; embrace it. They don't understand, so they don't need to. Remember this, beautiful lady."
Mamen's tone was gentle.
"The strong don't complain about the world—they define it. You are beautiful, strong, and yourself; ignore others' opinions."
"You should evolve, then strike them hard!"
Hearing Mamen, Caitlin's heart trembled, her eyes filled with the boy's image.
I am beautiful and strong?
"One more thing…"
Mamen picked up a pink lady's hat from the bench, stepping close to Caitlin, gazing at the stunning girl.
Caitlin's eyes rippled slightly as he approached.
He placed the hat on her head and adjusted it; her breath seemed to pause.
It was the first time a boy had been this close!
Her heart raced, though only for a few seconds.
Stepping back, Mamen nodded in satisfaction—Caitlin looked beautiful wearing the hat.
"Graceful—always maintain grace, elegance, and refinement. This is your true self."
Mamen smiled.
"This is natural, from family etiquette lessons—I've always been perfect at it."
Caitlin silently took a deep breath, hands clasped in front of her abdomen, composed and noble.
As Mamen said, she was an elegant noble lady—she should remain graceful.
Earlier… was truly embarrassing.
"Excuse me, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Caitlin from Sinnoh."
Caitlin extended her hand politely.
"Mamen, my name is Mamen."
Mamen shook her hand.
"I only intended to help Caitlin train, didn't expect it to turn out like this."
"Yes, thank you very much today, Mamen. You taught me a lot."
Caitlin smiled lightly, beautiful and graceful.
"Caitlin, a Sinnoh resident, why come to Alola? Traveling?"
Mamen asked curiously.
"No, just unhappy things happened, so I came here to relax."
Caitlin shook her head, hesitating.
"Mamen, may I ask you something?"
"Of course."
"Honestly, I have a close friend I can't defeat no matter what I do. Should I keep trying to surpass her?"
Caitlin bit her lip, asking softly.
Mamen raised an eyebrow, realizing immediately she meant Dawn, Sinnoh Champion!
Since Caitlin's only real friend was Dawn; others like Zoey were just hired companions.
"Chasing everything is the start of misfortune. Some things you can't do, some you can—understand that."
This was what Caitlin had told the player in her villa in the game.
Caitlin had been chasing Dawn, but no matter how hard she tried, she couldn't win.
Gradually, Caitlin accepted this reality, from angry outbursts to calm acceptance.
"Why ask this? Caitlin, I cannot decide for you."
Mamen looked directly into Caitlin's eyes.
"You should ask yourself—after repeated failures, are you satisfied?"
Mamen pointed to her heart. Caitlin tightened her lips.
"I…"
Thinking of her battles with Dawn and repeated failures, Caitlin's breathing quickened, her chest heaving, blue light flickering in her eyes.
"Be graceful."
Mamen's voice returned. Green light floated toward Caitlin, clearing her stormy thoughts; the blue glow faded.
Be graceful!
Yet she tilted her head adorably, looking at Mamen.
Huh? What just happened?
Her eyes were dazed—how did she suddenly regain composure?
Was it Mamen's power?
"If the result isn't as desired, trying again isn't wrong. Caitlin, you can hear your heart…"
"…Yes, I… am not satisfied."
Caitlin faced her heart honestly.
"Then work hard, improve yourself, and challenge your friend again when stronger."
"Mamen, how did you get strong?"
Caitlin realized this boy was very strong—he looked younger than her but clearly wasn't weak.
"Me?" Mamen chuckled.
"Face the darkness and reality of the world—you naturally grow stronger."
"The darkness and reality of the world?" Caitlin looked confused.
"Yes, Caitlin, let me ask you something."
Mamen's lips curved; a hint of mischief appeared.
"Do you desire power?"