Pokémon : Forced to Be a Ghost Champion

c10: Become a Vengeful Ghost! Little Wood Spirit!

Before Alex, Duraludon, and Dreepy, this was the scene that unfolded:

A tiny figure lay on the ground, whimpering in pain, surrounded by a circle of Taillow.

These aggressive Taillow, upon seeing this unknown Pokémon that had trespassed into their territory, began to gang up on it.

Under the assault, this tiny Pokémon was on the verge of death!

This Pokémon, being ganged up on and treated as an intruder, had a head like a wooden stump, with several branches on the stump broken and battered.

On the stump were two large pink eyes, and its shadowy black figure was becoming increasingly transparent.

This was a Phantump, a Ghost/Grass-type Pokémon, rarely seen in the Hoenn region, as it primarily inhabits the forests of Kalos. According to data in Professor Sycamore's journals, Phantump are born from the spirit of a lost child and a tree stump in the forest.

But it was now so battered that it was almost dead!

The wilderness operates on the law of the jungle; for Pokémon that accidentally wander into another Pokémon's territory, Pokémon groups generally issue a warning and then drive them away…

But this act, which was close to killing the Pokémon, was simply too cruel!

Alex himself admitted that he was no great saint, not harboring the thought of saving all Pokémon in the world, but he found it difficult to stand by idly in such a situation.

Moreover, over the past five years, whether due to the system or his own psychological suggestion, Alex had begun to accept and even love the Ghost-type, an attribute that once complicated his feelings.

Alex decided he couldn't just watch!

The Peck attacks of these Flying-type Taillow were especially effective against Phantump's Grass typing. Even though Phantump had partial resistance as a Ghost-type, its defensive stats weren't high to begin with. The group assault was devastating!

"What are you doing! Stop! Stop it, quickly!"

"Duraludon!"

"Hehehe!"

Dreepy, a Dragon/Ghost-type Pokémon Alex had recently obtained, charged forward, using Quick Attack to ram into the Taillow, while Gastly (recalled from his earlier team) unleashed a wide-range, high-power Sludge Bomb, knocking several of the Flying-types to the ground!

"Phantump! Are you okay?" Alex quickly went forward to check on Phantump's condition.

"Pha… Phantump…" Phantump's cry was incredibly weak, its wooden stump body was tattered, and its black smoky form was almost dissipated, appearing semi-transparent.

"Damn it! These Taillow are really bullying others! Even if it trespassed, there's no need to be so vicious!" Alex immediately recalled his two Pokémon, picked up Phantump, and ran wildly, treating it with a Potion for basic first aid.

He did this partly because Phantump's condition could lead to death at any moment, and partly because the stubborn nature of these Taillow was deeply troublesome; he remembered how the Taillow in the Pokémon Adventures manga, like the one Norman used, showed fierce tenacity and took repeated hits from powerful attacks without backing down.

"Hang in there, Phantump!"

"Swab!" Sure enough, the Taillow behind them immediately took flight again, and even more critically, a giant bird figure appeared behind them—it was a Swellow, the fully evolved form of Taillow!

Just like in the manga, Swellow were known for their loyalty to their flock and their boldness in battle, often leading Taillow groups to drive out threats with overwhelming aerial coordination.

"How infuriating!" Alex felt even more annoyed.

According to the system, this Swellow was already Level 39, a powerhouse capable of dominating the entirety of Petalburg Woods—a level where its Guts ability, paired with high Speed and decent Attack, made it an apex predator in the forest. Yet even with that strength, it showed no mercy toward a wounded and wild Phantump, whose very presence was barely clinging to this world.

Alex immediately sent out Gastly, giving it specific instructions: stay above his head and maintain distance, launching Sludge Bomb from long range. Thanks to a PP-restoring item he'd used earlier, Gastly could keep firing without pause.

Sludge Bomb exploded in puffs of toxic sludge, knocking the Taillow out of the air one by one, but rather than scaring them off, this only enraged them further.

The Taillow flock became visibly more aggressive, eyes burning with fury, crying out in unison—"Swab! Swab!" as they regrouped in a vengeful charge.

Just as Alex was about to panic—clutching Phantump in one arm, Dreepy recalled, sprinting through the dense trees, and just a second away from calling out Victreebel to clear a path amidst the whirling chaos, he suddenly felt a surge of foreign emotions not his own.

Despair. Rage. Grief.

They were coming from Phantump.

However, before he could dwell on it, a familiar chime from the system rang in his ears:

> Gastly's level has increased! Now Lv. 25!

And then… everything around him seemed to flash.

Above Alex's head, Gastly began to glow with an intense white light, its round, gaseous body rapidly shifting form. The eerie spherical shape transformed as claws grew out, its grin widened, and the glow shattered into sparkling shards.

Floating above him now was no longer Gastly, but Haunter, a sinister, ghostly figure with jagged claws and a menacing smile. Haunter's evolution wasn't just visual its base Special Attack of 115 and Speed of 95 made it an outright monster at this stage of the journey, especially in a mid-forest skirmish like this.

"Hehehehehehe!" Haunter chuckled eerily, as energy formed again in its oversized mouth. This time, the Sludge Bomb it fired was massive—its power visibly tearing through the air. The venomous glob exploded midair, blasting Taillow out of the sky like heat-seeking missiles.

The flock that once acted so confidently now visibly faltered, feathers scattered and cries weakened.

"Swab!!" But Swellow wasn't backing down. It dashed forward with incredible acceleration, wings glowing white Wing Attack incoming.

Even though Haunter was a Level 25 Pokémon and at a major level disadvantage against the Level 39 Swellow, its presence had done what it needed to do, it had bought Alex just enough time.

Dodging through the trees, heart pounding, Alex sprinted for all he was worth. His lungs burned, but his legs didn't stop. Clutching Phantump tighter, he felt as if the world blurred around him.

Once past the edge of Petalburg Woods, the Swellow and Taillow abruptly stopped their pursuit, seemingly unwilling to cross the territorial line. It was over for now.

Alex didn't look back.

He finally burst into Petalburg City's Pokémon Center, nearly collapsing at the reception. Without hesitation, he handed Phantump, Dreepy, and Haunter now fully evolved to Nurse Joy, voice hoarse and breath short.

"Please… save them…"

Nurse Joy and her assistants rushed to begin emergency treatment. Alex staggered to the registration terminal and booked a room.

When he finally entered the dormitory hall, other Trainers gave him alarmed, wide-eyed glances, seeing the dirt, sweat, and exhaustion carved into his face and posture. But Alex ignored it all and stepped into his room, locking the door behind him.

Only then did he feel his adrenaline finally fade. A heavy wave of soreness and fatigue gripped every inch of his body. It felt like every muscle had been punched, every bone stretched, every step delayed by gravity itself.

"My body… it… hurts… so… much…"

Alex collapsed onto the bed, unable to hold on any longer.

And in that moment, everything went black.

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