Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 488: An Unexpected Discovery

Splash——

The Sea Temple wasn't small, and the space it occupied wasn't insignificant either. So now, with the barrier lifted, even Johan and the others were in some danger from the surging floodwaters.

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Let alone Saturn and Jupiter.

Of course, Hunter J was temporarily aided by Shadow Lugia, which helped a bit, but it didn't mean she was completely safe.

Thus—

Everyone very tactfully decided to retreat for now and deal with the flood first!

"Time to go!"

Caitlin shouted.

She could clearly feel the terror of the surging seawater.

Buzz—

Caitlin and her two Psychic-type Pokémon raised a barrier once more, enclosing Johan and Cynthia inside.

The current grew increasingly turbulent, even forming a massive whirlpool—one misstep and they could be sucked in, and without oxygen, that meant death.

"Lugia!"

Hunter J grabbed the Dark Ball and leapt from her Salamence onto Shadow Lugia's back.

"Gaaahss!!"

But Shadow Lugia was clearly not as obedient as Salamence. Feeling the presence on its back, it roared and flapped its wings violently.

"Hmph!"

Saturn and Jupiter narrowed their eyes. Saturn scoffed disdainfully, suddenly holding what looked like a dark red stone in his hand—apparently linked to the dark red chains wrapped around Shadow Lugia.

Zzzzzz—

Suddenly, red arcs of electricity crackled through the air, making Shadow Lugia cry out in pain.

Saturn and Jupiter each grabbed one of Lugia's claws and ascended toward the surface.

The raging backflow of seawater seemed pitifully weak in front of Shadow Lugia.

"You go up first!"

Watching Lugia diving into the water with Hunter J and the others, Johan suddenly spoke.

"What about you?"

Cynthia seemed to have guessed what he was planning.

"The Sea Temple shouldn't just be destroyed like this," Johan said solemnly. "Although those Pokémon hunters are guilty of heinous crimes, letting them drown is letting them off too easy!"

Hunter J and the others may have escaped, but their underlings, as well as Ghost's crew, were still passed out on the ground.

These people should be thrown into the mines to pay off their debts!

Drowning?

Too merciful!

But that wasn't even the most important part.

The floodwaters could cause some of the wild Pokémon inside the Sea Temple to lose their chance at survival.

Yes, wild Pokémon lived inside the Sea Temple!

This contradicted Johan's expectations.

And not all of them were even Water-types.

If he hadn't known, it wouldn't matter. If he didn't know how to restore the temple, that would be fine too.

But Johan knew everything.

So this was something he had to do!

Before Cynthia could speak, Johan added:

"Don't worry. I've got this. I'm not going to risk my life for nothing."

With that, he recalled his other Pokémon, kept Gengar and Dragonite, and flew out of Caitlin's psychic barrier.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar grinned and spread its arms, forming a barrier similar to Caitlin's, albeit smaller and dimmer.

Clearly, it had picked up this trick from Caitlin.

Though a Ghost-type, Gengar wasn't weak in psychic abilities either.

"Draaa~~"

Dragonite carried Johan and Gengar swiftly into the temple.

Cynthia bit her lip and tossed out a Poké Ball.

"Milotic, go help him."

"Nass~"

Milotic nodded. It was very familiar with Johan—back when it was evolving, he'd done much to support its mental health.

With a graceful arc, it dove into the water right after him.

Only then did Caitlin begin bringing Cynthia to the surface.

"Once we reach the surface, the game changes."

Johan thought as he navigated through the temple.

After all—

He wasn't foolish enough to believe that he, Cynthia, and Caitlin could take on both Hunter J and the Ghost Pirate Crew alone.

If there were pawns to use, why not use them?

Especially when one of them had tricked him before.

A surprise awaited Hunter J on the surface.

Glub-glub-glub~~

As Dragonite dove deeper, the Sea Temple came fully into view, and Gengar pressed against its barrier, its eyes gleaming at the many gems inside.

"Nass~~"

Milotic moved nimbly ahead, clearing a path for Dragonite and lightening the burden.

Although Dragonite had loved water during its Dratini and Dragonair stages, it had become more of a flying creature after evolving. It wasn't as nimble in water anymore.

Fortunately, there wasn't much debris in the temple—just the steadily rising seawater.

Thanks to the temple's unique drainage system and structural barriers, the backflowing sea outside was violent, but inside, the water merely rose steadily.

"Found it!"

Johan suddenly opened his eyes. His Aura ability, functioning like a scan, was incredibly effective in such complex environments.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar understood instantly, donned goggles, and dove into the dimensional space.

It reappeared moments later.

"What the—?!" Ghost, who was panting heavily with a massive backpack, froze.

"What the—?!"

His parrot, Chatot, mimicked him.

Then Ghost realized a chilling aura creeping over his shoulder.

He turned.

A Gengar was floating beside him, grinning and waving.

"Ka-kaah~ (≦☆)"

"G-G-GHOST!!"

Before Ghost could react, Chatot rolled its eyes and fainted from fright.

"Hmph!" Ghost snorted. He was called Ghost—how could he fear ghosts?

"You think you can take my 'Crown of the Sea'? Dream on!"

Clack clack clack—

Mechanical grinding and steam sounds echoed from Ghost's body.

A pure-white, coral-like Pokémon floated out from behind him, exuding a powerful ghostly aura that even made Gengar pause.

"Ka-kaah?"

Looking at the white coral, Gengar's eyes filled with confusion.

What the heck?

An evolved Corsola?

Even Gengar, who was fairly experienced, had never seen this pale, spectral coral.

But Johan had.

When he sensed the coral with Aura, Johan was surprised.

Cursola?

This was the Galarian evolution of Corsola—now a Ghost-type.

According to legend, Galar's Corsola went extinct due to environmental disasters caused by a meteor. But instead of dying, they persisted in a ghostly, white form.

Cursola was their evolution, having broken free from their coral bodies in search of life energy—featured in Galar's horror tales.

Johan transmitted everything he knew to Gengar via Aura.

Gengar looked enlightened.

No wonder it had hesitated to ambush the bearded man—it had sensed danger.

It was Cursola.

And its Ability was likely Perish Body.

[Perish Body: When hit by a contact move, both Pokémon are afflicted by Perish Song.]

If Gengar had attacked directly, both would've entered a countdown to doom.

Now that they knew Ghost's trump card, they could adapt.

No contact moves—just ranged attacks.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Buzz—

Gengar charged up a Shadow Ball.

But at that moment, Cursola's eyes gleamed red, and a divine-looking barrier shimmered in front of it.

Mirror Coat!

Waiting for the attack.

Johan and Gengar instantly recognized it. Still, Gengar didn't hesitate.

Attack anyway!

Mirror Coat reflects special attacks like Counter does physical ones, but—only if you survive the hit.

For Gengar, just OHKO it.

The massive Shadow Ball formed, and both Cursola and Ghost stared in disbelief at Gengar and its creation.

Bro, that Shadow Ball isn't normal!

"Ka-kaah~~" Gengar waved cheekily.

Sayonara~~

BOOM!!

The terrifying Shadow Ball struck Cursola head-on.

As Gengar would say—

"Letting me hit you for free? That's the most ridiculous request I've ever heard."

Thanks to Gengar's delay tactics, Milotic and Dragonite also arrived.

Ghost, burdened by his giant pack and shocked by Cursola's sudden defeat, couldn't put up much of a fight. His strength fell short compared to Hunter J.

But Gengar's attention was locked on Ghost's beard.

"Ka-kaah?"

"What's up?"

Following Gengar's gaze, Johan looked too.

His beard?

Johan's expression turned odd. "Seriously? Now's not the time—"

Hmm?

Before he finished speaking, his eyes flickered with surprise.

In that thick beard—

A thought flashed through his mind.

Black mane of Spectrier?

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Powerstones?

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