With the theory lesson complete, Brock took off his academic lab coat and handed the stage back to Ash.
Next up was naturally the practical teaching session.
Though… for some reason, it felt like Ash was the real student here.
After being "educated," Goh had become genuinely curious about catching Pokémon and asked:
"So… are you guys going to catch that prankster Pokémon now?"
According to Professor Cerise, the Pokémon rarely revealed itself, so even now, no one knew what type it was.
"Actually, figuring out the type is pretty easy."
At some point, Brock had put the lab coat back on again.
His eyes narrowed into sharp slits, gleaming with intellectual brilliance.
Ash immediately clapped.
"Please continue your performance, Professor Brock."
"Ahem. Based on Professor Cerise's description, we can basically lock it in as a Ghost-type Pokémon. And in the Kanto region, there's really only one common Ghost-type family."
He calmly listed three names.
"Gastly. Haunter. Gengar."
Ash nodded along, even though it was his first time hearing those names.
Rubbing his chin, he said thoughtfully:
"So our target is a Ghost-type Pokémon.
That means step one is… luring it out."
The other three immediately lit up and looked at him in surprise.
"You already know how to lure it out?!"
In situations like this, Ash's strange brain usually did work.
Food?
But even academia hadn't reached a conclusion on what Ghost Pokémon liked to eat.
Beauty?
There was a dark-skinned pervert here—but that was a human pervert, not a Pokémon one.
"Don't talk. Watch my operation."
Ash looked confident.
He took two steps forward, opened the door wide, then waved his arm and dragged the other three into the farthest corner of the room.
Under their baffled gazes, Ash suddenly shouted toward the empty doorway:
"Hey—if there's a ghost there, could you help close the door?"
The three of them: "???"
Several seconds passed.
Nothing happened.
Brock sighed helplessly.
"…Is this your strategy? I'm deeply disappointed."
Misty added coldly:
"Maybe I should take back my Cascade Badge."
Ash frowned, genuinely puzzled.
Because this method had always worked for him before.
When he was little and stayed home alone, scared there might be ghosts, he'd deliberately open the door and shout:
"Is there a ghost? Please close the door."
Ten years passed. No ghost ever closed the door.
Which proved—
His house had good feng shui and no ghosts.
Logically speaking, this method should work.
And besides, a prankster Pokémon was clearly just trying to get human attention.
So why wouldn't it show up?
Ignoring the three black-lined faces, Ash tried several more rooms.
Still nothing.
"Ugh, Ash, let's think of another way already. This is pure nonsense," Misty complained.
"In my opinion, only a ghost can defeat a ghost. Let's go to another haunted house, catch a Ghost Pokémon, then come back and use it to beat this one."
Ash raised an eyebrow.
Misty… you're a real ghost talent.
Ignoring everyone's objections, he forcibly dragged them into the last room.
This time—
Something changed.
The moment they stepped inside, Ash suddenly froze.
Lowering his voice, he said:
"I have a bad feeling.
There's an impostor in this room."
Even Pikachu's ears twitched.
That alone made the others tense up instantly.
The four of them retreated to the corner again, and Ash made a stay calm gesture.
Taking a deep breath, he shouted once more toward the door:
"Hey—any ghost here? Close the door for us."
Bang!
The door slammed shut immediately!
There really was an impostor!
Then the door opened again.
Closed again.
Opened.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The door repeatedly opened and closed, as if an invisible force was playing tricks on it.
The four exchanged looks.
Sure enough, a transparent Ghost Pokémon was manipulating the door.
Staring carefully, they could even vaguely make out a pixelated, transparent silhouette.
Brock's eyes, in particular, focused extremely well.
He could barely make out the Pokémon's shape.
…It looked even fatter than Pikachu.
Misty immediately asked:
"Ash, what do we do next?!"
"You ask me—who am I supposed to ask?!" Ash shot back.
He had always been the type to take things one step at a time, never planning ahead.
Misty shoved him forward angrily.
"Farfetch'd-head, weren't you just trying to be someone's dad?
Hurry up and catch that Ghost Pokémon!"
She was terrified of Bug-types—
And Ghost-types weren't any better.
Ash muttered anxiously—
Then suddenly, inspiration struck.
Wait.
He could ask someone!
He slapped his chest dramatically and typed a message in his mind.
"Hey, Red bro—stop researching how to possess my body already.
Help me figure out how to deal with this Ghost Pokémon!"
Red: "?"
He'd hidden himself pretty well.
How was this exposed?
Still, a senior had to act like a senior.
Red glanced at the situation once and instantly understood everything.
Without hesitation, he said:
"That's a Gengar, a Ghost Pokémon.
It's only visually invisible—it doesn't mean it can ignore attacks. Just attack it directly."
"As expected of someone with understanding!" Ash rejoiced.
Before cutting the connection, Red added:
"But that Gengar isn't weak.
And visual invisibility is something you can't handle right now."
"Without battle instinct, you're just a living target."
Battle instinct was a mysterious sense.
Without long-term combat experience, it was impossible to grasp—
Especially for a newbie Trainer who'd only started traveling three weeks ago.
Ash: "So… solution?"
Red thought for a moment, then gave a hint.
"Your Squirtle has an item.
It might be useful."
Black Sunglasses—
an item that boosts Dark-type moves.
Dark-type moves are super effective against Ghost-types.
Maybe it could help reveal Gengar's true form.
In games, this kind of trick didn't exist—
But this was the real world.
As long as you dared to imagine it, anything was possible.
Back in reality, Ash's face lit up with renewed confidence.
He was stable again.
With a flourish, he threw a Poké Ball.
"Come out, Squirtle!"
A small blue turtle Pokémon appeared in front of everyone.
"Squirtle!"
Squirtle looked honest and eager. Seeing a possible fight, its eyes lit up immediately.
Since being captured, it hadn't battled even once—
It was itching for action.
"Squirtle squirtle?
(Let Squirtle see who today's opponent is!)"
Squirtle squinted, spinning around with its little paws—
But saw nothing.
Very confusing for Squirtle.
"Squirtle, take out your sunglasses!"
Ash ordered quickly.
"Squirtle!"
Without hesitation, Squirtle pulled out its sunglasses from its shell and held them high—
Like Doraemon presenting a gadget.
Ash immediately asked:
"Squirtle, can I borrow your sunglasses for a moment? Is that okay?"
"Squirtle…?"
"Borrow, borrow? That means you agree—thanks! I'll take them for now!"
Ash smoothly took the sunglasses—
Then pressed the button on the Poké Ball.
"Come back, Squirtle."
Squirtle: "?"
In the next instant, Squirtle turned into a red beam of light and returned to its Poké Ball.
(End of Chapter)
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