Chapter 120: Gengar's Tactical Advantage Battle

The morning sun sliced through the towering trees, casting long shadows over the clearing. I leaned against a rough, moss-covered oak, the bark pressing into my back. Gengar floated next to me, its black form blending into the surrounding undergrowth like it belonged there. It hovered just above the ground, silent and unblinking, like a dark omen.

Across from me, a trainer stood, his face tense, his hand gripping the Pokéball so tightly his knuckles went white. He tossed it with a sharp flick, and the flash of light revealed an Electabuzz. The air around it snapped with electricity, its yellow fur bristling with raw energy, twitching like a live wire. 

"Electabuzz?" I muttered under my breath, an amused grin tugging at the corner of my mouth. "Well, that's a rare sight. This should be fun."

The other trainer's voice rang out sharply. "Electabuzz, Quick Attack!"

Electabuzz blurred, a streak of yellow and black, launching itself forward in a burst of speed. My heart didn't even skip a beat. I wasn't worried.

Gengar. The thought was all I needed.

Gengar vanished into the shadows before Electabuzz could land a hit, melting into the darkness cast by the trees. Electabuzz skidded to a halt, its punch hitting nothing but air. The opposing trainer's face twisted with frustration, his lips pressing into a thin line.

"Screech!" he ordered, and Electabuzz unleashed a deafening cry. The sound reverberated through the forest, causing birds to scatter from the canopy, leaves to tremble, and the air itself to vibrate. It was meant to disorient us, to throw Gengar off its game, but Gengar was already one step ahead. 

From the black depths of the forest floor, Gengar's claws erupted, dark and sharp, slashing across Electabuzz's exposed back in a perfect Shadow Claw. Electabuzz howled, stumbling forward, sparks flying from the wound.

"Thunder Punch, now!" The other trainer wasn't giving up. His desperation bled through his voice.

Electabuzz spun, its fist crackling with electricity, and swung. Gengar shifted like smoke, vanishing into the shadows before the blow could connect. But the air hummed with electricity, static snapping between the trees, filling the space where Gengar had been a second before.

The trainer smirked, thinking he had the upper hand. "Hit him where he can't hide! Thunderbolt, light the whole place up!"

Electabuzz raised its arms, and bolts of lightning exploded upward, crashing into the canopy. Light mixed with shadow, and the world became a confusing mess of flickering brightness and dark forms. It was harder to tell where Gengar had slipped to now, but I wasn't worried.

Now, Gengar. My thoughts were calm, focused.

Gengar appeared directly in front of Electabuzz, its eerie grin wide, its eyes glowing an ominous violet. Without hesitation, it fired a swirling, chaotic Confuse Ray straight at the electric-type. 

Electabuzz reeled, sparks crackling off its body as its movements turned sluggish, its eyes unfocused. The other trainer clenched his fists, panic edging into his voice. "Snap out of it! Thunder Punch!"

Electabuzz stumbled, throwing a wild punch, but it missed by a mile, hitting a tree instead. The wood exploded into splinters, but the attack hadn't even grazed Gengar. It was over.

"Finish it," I whispered, my tone almost bored.

Gengar's hands came together, shadows gathering like a storm between its palms, condensing into a thick, pulsating Shadow Ball. The air around it warped from the sheer power contained within.

"Electabuzz, Light Screen!" the trainer called, his voice cracking. A desperate move.

Electabuzz managed to form a shimmering barrier just in time, its body barely keeping up with the confusion wracking its mind. But I'd already seen this before. Light Screen? It wouldn't hold. 

"Break it."

Gengar hurled the Shadow Ball forward. It hurtled through the air, its dark energy distorting everything in its path. It collided with the Light Screen, and for a split second, the barrier seemed to hold. Then, with a loud crack, it shattered, fragments of light dissolving into the ether. The Shadow Ball smashed into Electabuzz, engulfing it in an explosion of black energy.

The electric-type groaned, electricity sputtering out as it dropped to one knee, the fight beaten out of it. The opposing trainer's face drained of color, his mouth hanging open in disbelief.

"Gengar," I called softly. Gengar's eyes glowed brighter as the darkness around it seemed to swell. "Night Shade."

A wave of pure, suffocating darkness surged from Gengar, washing over the battlefield like a black tide. Electabuzz barely had time to react before it was swallowed by the shadows. The oppressive energy hung in the air for a moment before dissipating, leaving Electabuzz collapsed on the forest floor, unmoving.

I pushed off the oak tree, the rustle of my jacket the only sound breaking the sudden silence. The other trainer just stood there, frozen, staring at his fallen Pokémon. I didn't care for his disbelief. Victory had been certain from the start.

"Told you it'd be fun," I said, my tone casual. Gengar floated back to my side as I started walking, Shadow jumping from the shadows and settling onto my shoulder. Gengar followed behind me without a word.

Erin would've loved to see that. Maybe next time, I'd let her tag along. But for now, there was more to do.

"We need to catch more Pokémon," I muttered, hands slipping into my pockets. "Four more wins, and Gengar hits max level."

Gengar gave a slow, eerie nod, its smile stretching wider. Shadow yawned, curling up on my shoulder, his body flickering like a dying ember.