Chasing Shadows

Alice and I made our way through the extensive temporary vault building compound, heading closer to the section where the captured Pokémon were held. As we approached, we were met by a group of family members who had gathered in the area.

"Well, well, if it isn't our once-in-a-millennia genius, Alice Blackthorn herself, gracing us with her esteemed presence," one of the family members sneered, their tone laced with mockery and a palpable undercurrent of hostility. I could sense the animosity and the strong dislike this particular elder held towards my grandmother.

Alice didn't appear fazed by the taunts. She responded with a measured tone, "Ah, hello, Jonathan. I didn't see you there. I assumed you were busy seeking favors from your father to secure additional resources for your Pokémon. All in your relentless pursuit of breaking through to Champion Class Trainer status, weren't you supposed to have achieved that a generation ahead of me? What a pity. Maybe I'll ascend to Epic Class Trainer status before you even reach Champion."

Alice's words were a bold retort, and her lack of respect towards the elder was striking. I couldn't help but flinch inwardly, for I had rarely seen my grandmother engage in such confrontations. It was clear that Jonathan's presence triggered a certain disdain within her.

Jonathan attempted to shift the focus of the conversation towards the recent expedition's failure, taking an accusatory tone. "Enough! Is this how you repent for your mistakes? Do you know how much loss your recent fiasco cost our family?"

His words were an attempt to direct everyone's attention to the expedition's supposed failure. It irritated me that someone was trying to place blame on my grandmother for the accident that had occurred. What many didn't know was that I had orchestrated the recent expedition from behind the scenes. Now that the expedition team had been saved, it couldn't be deemed a failure. The massive resources allocated by the family for the expedition were, in reality, under Alice's authority, following my instructions. Only the core elders were privy to this arrangement.

Alice's response was a calculated taunt, designed to put Jonathan in his place. "And what mistake are you referring to, Jonathan? From what I know, the expedition was a success, even though it was cut short slightly and there were a few casualties. As hard as it is to lose people, from a purely mission standpoint, the losses were within an acceptable range, given the dangerous nature of the mission. Everyone who signed up for it understood the risks involved."

She wasn't about to let Jonathan's attempts to undermine her authority go unanswered. Her words conveyed both authority and a certain satisfaction in proving him wrong, and she held her ground against those who sought to challenge her leadership.

Jonathan's expression contorted in response to Alice's retort. The tension in the air was palpable, and it seemed that the confrontation was far from over. It was clear that there were underlying power struggles within the family, and I couldn't help but wonder how this would affect the Blackthorn family's future.

The elder continued his accusations, directing his ire at Alice, who remained outwardly calm despite his words. I could sense her patience wearing thin as he criticized her for the apparent loss of a powerful expeditionary team. But she had a plan, and she wasn't about to let him have the upper hand.

"Is this your attitude towards human life? They were not just your subordinates but also part of the Blackthorn family's forces," the elder chastised. "That was a team of peak combat power you lost on your ill-conceived expedition that you supported. It consisted of a Master Class Trainer, half a dozen Champion Class Trainers, and close to fifty Peak Elite Class Trainers. Do you even realize how much effort, resources, and time it takes to nurture such a team of experts?"

He wore a smirk, believing he had Alice cornered and unable to respond to his accusations. Little did he know that Alice's nonchalance was part of a clever strategy to expose the truth.

Alice maintained her calm exterior as the elder continued to vent. She allowed him to believe he was victorious, with an expression of victory on his face. "Hmph, I will ensure the family head makes a fair decision this time, devoid of personal preferences and based on a just judgment. I won't waste my time attempting to educate someone who shows such blatant disrespect for human life," he concluded with a huff before storming away in the direction of the central area of the main building.

Once the elder had left, Alice looked at me and beckoned for me to follow. Her focus was now on the Pokémon that had piqued my interest. "Aron, come, let's go and see the Pokémon you were interested in. Perhaps you can also find something among the items the team brought back."

I decided to wake up Lance, pinching his cheek gently to rouse him from his slumber. I wanted him to be present for what was to come, to witness firsthand what a truly powerful wild Pokémon looked like. Most of the strong Pokémon he had interacted with were already tamed or bonded to trainers. Facing a formidable wild Pokémon would be a unique experience for him, and I knew he was eager to see it up close.

As we reached the designated area, I could feel Lance's enthusiasm radiating from him. He was practically bouncing with excitement. His eyes were wide with anticipation, and he couldn't wait to see the Pokémon that had captured my interest.

Within the enclosed barrier, we heard loud crashing noises, which only added to the sense of anticipation. As I approached, I activated my observation skills to analyze the Pokémon more deeply. It was clear that the Pokémon was in a severe state of injury, which likely contributed to its ferocious and frantic attacks.

Through my gifts, I could sense a whirlwind of emotions from the Pokémon. There was fear, pain, and desperation. But amidst the chaos of its emotions, there was a slight shift as I approached the barrier. The Pokémon's demeanor became somewhat calmer, and its aggressive tendencies waned, though it still remained cautious and wary. It was as if the Pokémon recognized a connection or affinity with me, and that allowed for a temporary lessening of its hostility.

[GENGAR] 

Species: Shadow Pokémon 

Gender: Female 

Status: Heavily Injured 

Level: 2549 

Stage: Pseudo-Epic 

Height: 1.7 m 

Weight: 50.4 kg 

Type: Ghost/Poison 

Potential: Dark Indigo 

Ability: Levitate 

Hidden Ability: Cursed Body

 Stats:

HP: 1296

Attack: 1004

Defense: 960

Special Attack: 1576

Special Defense: 1092

Speed: 1400

Moves: Shadow Ball, Sludge Bomb, Thunderbolt, Psychic, Dark Pulse, Destiny Bond, Hypnosis, Dream Eater, Focus Blast, Thunder, Ice Punch, Giga Drain, Dazzling Gleam, Shadow Punch, Hex, Taunt, Will-O-Wisp, Perish Song, Confuse Ray, Night Shade, Sucker Punch, Foul Play, Energy Ball, Psychic, Shadow Claw, Hypnosis, Thunder Wave, Substitute, Pain Split, Dark Pulse, Curse, Hex, Mean Look

I was taken aback as I observed the Pokémon before us. The majestic creature was far beyond what I had initially expected. It wasn't a mere peak Aurora-stage Pokémon, as everyone had presumed. Instead, it was a genuine pseudo-Epic class Pokémon, hovering at the very cusp of transformation into a full-fledged Epic stage Pokémon, and it possessed dark indigo potential.

Indigo potential Pokémon were incredibly rare, so much so that I had encountered fewer than a hundred of them in the entire history of the Blackthorn family. To put this into perspective, our family's history spans several millennia. Finding a Pokémon with dark indigo potential in the wild was nothing short of astounding.

I couldn't help but wonder if the forced mutation, whether through sinister means or some other unknown process, had triggered a drastic alteration in the Pokémon's potential. Whoever had utilized this wild Pokémon in their nefarious scheme would undoubtedly rue the day they underestimated the true value of the Pokémon they had missed out on.

As I completed my observation of the Gengar, I had made up my mind. This Pokémon was not going to fall into the hands of incompetence or, even worse, the wrong people. A Pokémon as majestic as this, with its dark indigo potential, needed to be paired with the right trainer. The first person who came to mind was my grandmother, Alice.

However, when I turned around to share my thoughts with her, I noticed that she wasn't particularly interested in the Pokémon. She appeared nonchalant, and it seemed that the significance of this discovery was lost on her. In the current world of Pokémon training, determining a Pokémon's potential is a cumbersome and expensive process. When it came to mature Pokémon, deciphering their potential was even more challenging, so most trainers didn't bother unless absolutely necessary.

Alice, a specialist in dark-type Pokémon, didn't seem to grasp just how precious the Pokémon before us truly were. It left me with the weighty responsibility of ensuring that this exceptional Pokémon found the right trainer who could unlock its full potential.

"Alice, how confident are you in subduing this fully mature Gengar in front of us so that she can be a part of your team?" I asked, my tone serious. I knew that Alice didn't have high-level ghost Pokémon to counter ghost attacks, as she typically relied on her aura or psychic energy to deal with such threats. This Gengar would be a valuable addition to her team.

She thought for a moment and then responded, "Aron, even though it's a (peak) Aurora stage Pokémon and a ghost type, I'm not particularly interested. But to answer your question, if I truly put my mind into it, I should be able to subdue her and make her a part of my team. It would just require a bit more effort on my part."

I leaned in, my voice earnest. "Alice, what if I told you that the potential of this Pokémon, which you're currently neglecting, is so high that it would still rank in the top ten in terms of potential among all the Pokémon from the Blackthorn family, excluding my own, of course. And if she becomes a part of your team, I can guarantee that you'll become a True Epic class trainer within the year."

I was determined to make Alice see the immense potential of the Gengar before us, and I knew that her competitive spirit would drive her to consider this extraordinary opportunity.

As I made my case, I watched the gears turning in Alice's mind. Her competitive spirit was one of her defining qualities, and the prospect of becoming a True Epic class trainer was something she couldn't easily dismiss.

She studied the Gengar, her eyes narrowing in thought. "Aron, this is a bold claim, and a high Pokémon is undoubtedly enticing. But we both know that nurturing such a powerful Pokémon is no small task. It's not just about taming it; it's about building a genuine bond and understanding with the Pokémon, especially one at this level. You're sure this Gengar has the potential to be one of the best in our family?"

I nodded emphatically. "Absolutely, Alice. I've observed her closely, and there's no doubt about her incredible potential. With your guidance, she can reach heights that very few trainers in the family have achieved."

Alice took a deep breath, her eyes never leaving the Gengar. "All right, Aron. If you believe in this Pokémon to that extent, then I'll accept the challenge. But understand, I won't be doing this for the title of True Epic Class Trainer. I'm doing it because I see your conviction, and I don't back down from a challenge. I will tame her, and I hope she'll be a valuable addition to my team."

Lance, who had been observing the conversation closely, couldn't contain his excitement. "This is going to be amazing! I can't wait to see how powerful this Gengar becomes under your guidance, Grandma."

Alice gave a small smile, appreciating Lance's enthusiasm. "We'll all work together to make this Gengar the best she can be. But remember, it won't be easy, and it will require patience and perseverance."

I explained further, "That's right, Alice. To break through to the Epic rank, a Pokémon must manifest its own domain. A domain is like a unique realm of existence that a Pokémon creates for itself. It reflects their inner power, characteristics, and potential. When a Pokémon forms a bond with a trainer, it often accelerates this process."

"For this Gengar, her growth is already at the cusp of transformation. But to truly become an Epic rank Pokémon, she must fully manifest her domain, which represents her individuality and immense strength. This domain allows her to access higher levels of power, unique abilities, and even greater control over her elemental or specialty moves. With the right guidance and care, she can break through this threshold and reach her full potential."