For a few seconds, no one moved. Then, Eva let out a shaky breath, her voice barely above a whisper.
"It's been ten minutes… feels like a lifetime."
A warm hand squeezed hers—David. His touch was firm, grounding, filled with silent understanding. No words were spoken, but the weight of their shared experiences was clear in that one simple gesture.
Frank exhaled sharply, looking around at their assembled forces. Then he turned to Simon.
"Let's go."
The group stood in the dimly lit cave, their breaths shallow, their bodies tense. The air was thick with dust, and the remnants of the battle against Malamar still clung to the minds of Simon, Eva and Frank. What now? Nobody spoke at first, but glances were exchanged—nervous, uncertain, waiting for someone to take the lead.
Frank exhaled sharply, pushing aside the lingering discomfort from the illusions. No time to waste. He squared his shoulders and stepped forward.
"Alright, listen up," he said, his voice firm but hushed. "We don't know exactly where the poachers are, but we're underground, and they could be anywhere. So, first thing—stay sharp. Keep your eyes open, and for the love of Arceus, pay attention. Second thing—call out your Pokémon, but only those that can move quietly. No loud noises, no big stomping. We don't want to alert them before we're ready."
The group exchanged looks, then slowly reached for their Pokéballs.
Eva flicked hers open first. A soft shimmer of light materialized into Speedy, her Dustox, its green wings fanning out soundlessly, compound eyes glowing faintly in the dark.
David followed, summoning Swoobat, the heart-shaped nosed bat flapping its wings in near silence, floating near his shoulder, its large ears twitching as it listened for the smallest noise.
Angie, the poison-type expert, smirked slightly and released Koffing, who drifted a few inches above the ground, its toxic gases muted as if it knew to hold back.
Petr, Frank's and Eva's father, released Laika, his Boltund, whose sleek yellow fur crackled faintly with electricity. The hound's ears flicked as she sniffed the air, tail low, eyes alert.
Frank nodded, satisfied. Good. Now to get to the hard part.
He took a step forward and faced the group. "Here's how we do this," he began, voice steady. "I'll go first."
A ripple of tension passed through the group.
"I'll be the bait," he continued. "Helmut—the bastard running this operation—already hates my guts. I'm the one who ruined his plans before and I escaped him today. He'll come for me if I give him the chance."
A sharp intake of breath came from his side.
"The hell you will."
Frank barely had time to turn before Eva was in his face, eyes burning with frustration. "That is the dumbest plan you've ever come up with, and I've heard some really stupid ones." His sister jabbed a finger at his chest. "Putting yourself on the front lines for no reason—what is wrong with you?"
Frank held up a hand. "Eva, I—"
"No! Don't 'Eva' me! You're being reckless, again!" Her voice wavered slightly. "We only just got out of this nightmare few minutes ago, and you're already throwing yourself into another. You think I'm just gonna stand here and let my brother get killed?!"
"She's right," Petr's voice came next, calm but heavy with disapproval. Their father stepped closer, arms crossed. "You have a wife and a daughter, Frank." His words were quiet but sharp. "You think Monika needs a hero right now, or does she need a father that comes home alive?"
That one hit him hard. His jaw tightened, but he didn't speak.
"Not just Monika," David added. His brother-in-law took a slow step forward, hands clenched into fists. "You really think we're gonna go home and tell Rachel that her husband got himself killed because he wanted to be a damn decoy?" His Swoobat flapped behind him, as if echoing his emotions.
Frank ran a hand through his hair. "Calm down, guys. I'm not getting myself killed," he insisted, voice controlled but tight. "I'm just—"
"You're throwing yourself into the line of fire, bro," Eva snapped. "Again."
Frank sighed, rubbing his temples. He'd known they'd argue, but he needed them to see the bigger picture.
"Look," he said, trying to keep his voice even, "I get it. I do. But you're acting like I'm gonna run in alone. That's not the plan. I go first, I draw Helmut out. You are all gonna be right behind me." He gestured to the group. "You'll be in position before he even knows what's happening. And I have my Pokémon with me. I'm not taking any unnecessary risk."
Petr shook his head. "This isn't smart."
Frank clenched his jaw. "Neither is letting these poachers get away because we hesitated."
For a moment, no one spoke. The cave was silent except for the occasional distant dripping of water.
Eva turned away, arms crossed, fuming. David muttered something under his breath and exhaled sharply. Petr rolled his eyes, his expression unreadable.
Finally, Eva threw up her hands. "Fine, you dick. But if you die, I'm kicking your ass in the afterlife."
David grumbled. "If he dies, Rachel's gonna make sure we follow him."
Petr just sighed. "Arceus help us."
Frank cracked a grin despite himself. "Nobody's going to die, you morons. Now, let's get moving."
The rest of the group was quietly watching the family argue and nobody interrupted them. Only Simon whispered to Frank.
"I could draw him out instead of you. But I got it. You just fought with your family about it, so it's too late to chicken out."
"It's nothing. Working as a Ranger, I do lot of dangerous shit," Frank whispered back, shaking his head lightly.
"Kadabra," Simon raised his voice, "lead us back to that large room where we fought."
The bipedal fox closed its eyes for a few seconds, before it headed out towards one tunnel.
The group moved in tense silence, following Kadabra as it floated ahead, its spoon raised like a guiding torch. The dim glow from the Psychic-type's aura cast long, flickering shadows on the tunnel walls, making the jagged rock formations look like grasping claws. The air was damp and stale, thick with the scent of earth and something faintly metallic—like old blood.
Nobody spoke at first. Every footstep was careful, every breath controlled. The only sounds were the occasional rustle of fabric, the soft padding of Boltund's paws, and the rhythmic hum of Kadabra's psychic energy pulsing through the air.
Then, breaking the silence, David whispered, "Eva, babe… how the hell did you end up down here?"
She glanced at him, her beautiful face pale in the dim light. "I saw what happened on the security cameras," she murmured. "Simon and I… we watched as Frank and Jake were teleported away. Then we found out they were underground."
As Eva described how they fought against Helmut's Feraligatr and Malamar, David's jaw tightened, his teeth grinding audibly. His fingers curled into fists at his sides. "Those fuckers pulled them down and hunted them. Like a pair of Bunnelby for sport." His voice was low and venomous.
Eva hesitated. "Yeah. But now, we're gonna hunt them!"
David exhaled through his nose, nostrils flaring. He didn't say anything else, but his rage was palpable. The way his shoulders stiffened, the way his Swoobat twitched anxiously, sensing his emotions. If they had been alone, he probably would have shouted. Instead, he kept moving forward, his silence heavier than words.
The tunnel twisted ahead, narrowing slightly, then opening back up. Kadabra's pace slowed, and the group followed suit, instincts telling them they were close.
And then, they arrived at the large chamber.
Frank and Simon were the first to look inside.
The moment their eyes landed on the scene before them, their breath caught in their throats.
The chamber was massive—a cathedral of darkness. The ceiling was so high it vanished into shadow, and the walls glistened unnaturally, as if the very rock had been tainted. In the center of the chamber, cages now stood in a formation, each one occupied by a Pokémon, their bodies trembling, their eyes wide with terror. Some scratched at the bars, their cries weak and pitiful. Others simply lay there, too exhausted to fight anymore.
Around each cage, hooded figures stood in perfect, unholy circles. They swayed in eerie unison, hands raised, fingers twitching in unnatural, almost insect-like motions. Beneath their feet, symbols and glyphs had been scrawled into the dirt—jagged, writhing things that seemed to twist and shift when looked at for too long.
And then came the chanting.
A sound that crawled under the skin like a disease.
A deep, guttural chorus of voices, speaking in a language that shouldn't exist. The syllables slithered together, words forming and unforming in the air, as if reality itself rejected their meaning. It was inhuman—a sound that didn't belong in this world.
Frank felt his stomach churn.
Simon shivered violently beside him.
Then the others moved forward to look.
One by one, they saw what was inside that chamber.
And one by one, they recoiled.
David's breath hitched, his expression twisted with horror. His fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white. He saw something similar before. In Sinnoh, during his last mission for the league.
Eva clamped a hand over her mouth.
Even Angie, the normally unshakable and easy-going poison-type expert, took a step back, her face ashen. And her Koffing looked like it was going to throw up.
Two of the gym trainers—the younger ones—made choking noises, one even turning away as though he might be sick.
The sound of the chanting filled their ears, wrapped around their brains like smog. It was cloying, a presence that wormed its way into their heads, making their thoughts feel sluggish and tainted.
And the Pokémon— trapped, afraid, surrounded by those unnatural symbols—they knew something was coming.
A Shinx whimpered weakly in its cage.
A wounded Stantler pushed at the bars, its eyes rolling wildly.
An Ampharos trembled, its tail-light flickering erratically, as if struggling to hold onto itself.
Frank couldn't move.
It was like some unholy ritual. Like something out of a nightmare.
Then, at the far end of the chamber, a familiar figure stepped into view.
Helmut.
"I'm going in. Try to free the Pokémon while I fight their boss." Frank whispered towards David. Then he gulped and with staggering steps, he entered the large cave.
The boss saw him immdiately. His voice cut through the air like a blade.
"Procházka!"
Frank clenched his fist as he beheld the poacher boss glaring at him with undisguised hatred.
"You killed my Malamar, asshole."
A Pokéball whirred in his hand.
"Now I'm gonna kill you."
Helmut's Pokéball opened and small stone with scribings all over it appeared on the ground. Then in an instance, from that stone emerge a large violet cloud with many green orbs inside it. A Spiritomb. Frank could feel its powerful aura just by looking at it. He didn't have time to do the scanning, but he estimated that the forbidden Pokémon was somewhere around 80th level.
"How the fuck does this guy has so many powerful mons'?"
"Kill him!"
And Spiritomb immediately fired a beam of pure energy straight towards Frank.
But the ranger was ready. Pokéball burst open in Frank's hand, and in an instant, a massive Ferrothorn crashed onto the rocky ground, its thorn-covered body gleaming in the dim light. The Pokémon's metal spikes jutted out aggressively, its three vine-like appendages curling as if preparing to strike.
===
Ferrothorn
Level: 68
Name: Spikey
Gender: Male
Type: Grass / Steel
Affinity: Grass (Full), Steel (Full), Bug (Expert)
Moves: Power Whip (63), Harden (56), Iron Defense (66), Metal Claw (65), Pin Missile (60), Ingrain (57), Flash Cannon (64), Iron Head (67), Self-Destruct (32), Hyper Beam (58), Thunder Wave (39), Shadow Claw (41), Brutal Swing (40), Swords Dance (59), Silver Wind (52), Heavy Slam (42), Fury Cutter (50)
Abilities:
Iron Barbs – Ferrothorn damages the attacker if they make a direct contact
Anticipation – Ferrothorn can sense opposing Pokémon's dangerous moves
Weak to: Fighting, Fire
Immune to: Poison
Resistant to: Normal, Rock, Steel, Water, Grass (double), Electric, Psychic, Dragon, Fairy
Weakness Removed: Fire (once)
===
Just in time.
The beam of dark energy from Spiritomb slammed into Ferrothorn's armored body, sending out a spray of sparks upon impact. The cavern shook with the force of the collision, but Ferrothorn barely budged.
Helmut's eyes narrowed.
"Keep firing!" he snarled.
Spiritomb let out a low, guttural howl, its fragmented, swirling mass of shadows pulsating like a storm cloud ready to explode. Then—another blast. A dark, twisting surge of Shadow Ball came screeching forward, hitting Ferrothorn with another vicious impact.
Frank stood firm.
"Iron Defense! Keep tanking it!"
Ferrothorn glowed with a metallic sheen, its body hardening like a living fortress of steel.
Spiritomb struck again. A barrage of Dark Pulses rained down like a storm of shadowy crescents, hammering against Ferrothorn's metallic shell, the impact sending echoes through the cavern walls.
Boom! Boom! BOOM!
Each attack hit with brutal force, but Ferrothorn refused to move.
Helmut's frown deepened. "Tch. Stubborn fucker."
Frank could feel the uncomfortable truth creeping in—Ferrothorn was strong, but Spiritomb was overwhelmingly powerful. The energy behind each attack was relentless, brutal, precise.
Ferrothorn was holding, but for how much longer?
Another attack blasted forward—a spiraling Ominous Wind, thick with dark energy. Ferrothorn gritted its teeth as it absorbed the hit, skidding back slightly across the uneven ground.
Frank made a split-second decision. If he stayed here, he'd be overrun.
He glanced toward the tunnel behind him.
He didn't watch the rest of the group so he was not sure if they manage to send some sneaking Pokémon to stop the hooded figures from their chant. And he didn't want to unveil their full power just yet.
Spiritomb was aggressive, pushing forward with every attack. If Frank and Ferrothorn kept backing up, they could lure it out—right into the corridor, where the others could ambush it.
Helmut, however, wasn't stupid.
"Don't let up!" he barked. "Push them back!"
Spiritomb charged up another Dark Pulse, the air vibrating with its power.
"Steady, just a little longer..." Frank encouraged Spikey.
Ferrothorn stood its ground, its steel body glowing again with another Iron Defense, bracing for another brutal onslaught before the plan could take shape.
As soon as Frank entered the large cave to face Helmut, the rest of the group instinctively reacted.
Petr was the first to move. He pulled a Pokéball from his belt, pressing the button as he threw it forward. A flash of light revealed Silver, his Unfezant, her sharp golden eyes flickering in the dim cave light. The large bird spread her powerful wings, feathers sleek and gleaming with silver hues, and released a sharp cry.
"Tailwind, Silver. Keep it going!" Petr commanded in a hushed yet urgent tone. "And be ready to rush in if Frank needs help!"
Silver's wings beat rapidly, sending powerful gusts of wind through the narrow tunnel. The air shifted, growing lighter as the wind currents surged forward, already preparing to give her allies an extra support in battle.
Eva immediately followed her father's lead. Her Dustox, Speedy, was already outside its Pokéball, its vibrant purple wings glimmering in the faint torchlight from the cave. The large, round red eyes on its face twitched slightly, sensing the oppressive energy within the chamber.
"Speedy, same as Silver! Quiver Dance first, then Tailwind! And be ready to dive in if Frank has troubles!" Eva whispered urgently.
Speedy fluttered up slightly, its delicate yet moth-like wings beating in a rhythmic pattern. A soft glow surrounded its form as it absorbed energy from the air, boosting its power, speed, and resilience. The wings then shifted to a quicker tempo, generating a second Tailwind, making the corridor feel charged with energy, like the moments before a raging storm.
Father and daughter exchanged glances. Their Pokémon were ready. Their bodies tense, prepared to spring forward to protect Frank the second things went south.
David was about to told his Swoobat to be ready to support Frank as well, but he hesitated when he noticed two of the gym trainers nearby looked sickly pale. One, a younger man with a dark ponytail, was visibly shaking, staring at the cave with wide, horrified eyes. His breath came in short, panicked gasps. The other, a girl with cropped hair, swallowed hard—her face already twisted in discomfort as she clenched her stomach.
For a split second, David felt his blood boil. How were these supposedly trained battlers reacting like this while Frank was out there risking his life? But then, his own memories surfaced.
The chanting. The caged Pokémon. The twisted, unholy energy in the air.
He understood.
David stepped closer to the trembling man and clapped a firm hand on his shoulder.
"Look at me." His voice was low, calm, steady. "I know it looks bad in there. But we don't have time to freeze up. You're stronger than this. Breathe."
The man blinked rapidly, as if snapping out of a daze, and shakily exhaled.
"Y-yeah. I just... it's like something out of a nightmare."
"It is," David admitted. "But that means we fight harder."
The man gave a small nod, exhaling deeply, and David squeezed his shoulder once before stepping back. The trainers weren't completely steady, but at least they weren't frozen in fear anymore.
Simon, meanwhile, had pulled aside one of his gym trainers—a man with a deep red bandana tied around his head.
"You have that Shiinotic of yours on hand?" Simon whispered.
The man nodded immediately.
"Good. We've used ambush tactics with Pollen Puff before," Simon explained quickly. "Let's do it again. This time with Sleep Powder. We need to take out as many of those chanting freaks as possible before they realize what's happening."
The trainer nodded sharply, stepping forward and tossing a Pokéball.
A soft, pale glow lit up the dim tunnel as the Pokéball burst open. From it emerged a Shiinotic, a strange, bioluminescent mushroom-like Pokémon. Its glassy pink eyes blinked, reflecting the torchlight eerily, and its massive mushroom cap pulsed softly, shedding a dim, otherworldly glow.
Its thin arms, resembling vines, shifted slightly as it took in its surroundings. Despite its oddly whimsical appearance, there was something unsettling about it, as if it had walked straight out of a dream too deep to be safe.
Simon gestured to the chamber. "We need Sleep Powder. Keep it quiet."
The Shiinotic's glowing cap flickered, and in the next moment, it released a fine, shimmering mist.
The Sleep Powder drifted silently through the air, spreading like a ghostly fog. It moved unnaturally slowly, weaving between the cavern's stone pillars, creeping toward the first ritual circle of hooded figures.
The moment the powder made contact, the effect was immediate.
One of the figures staggered mid-chant, their voice slurring into a garbled mess. Their hands twitched, then drooped at their sides. Another swayed, their hood tilting back slightly as their entire body slumped forward.
One by one, the hooded figures collapsed—some falling sideways like puppets with their strings cut, others crumpling in on themselves as their minds gave way to a forced slumber.
The glyphs beneath them flickered, the once-bright symbols wavering before fading into darkness.
"Okay, everyone. Get ready, they're gonna discover us any minute." David whispered loudly.
"And for those of you, who are not sure what to do, use just one or two Pokémon, so it's not too difficult for you to control them. Also I strongly suggest to create a small groups of two or three people and cover each other backs. And make sure your Pokémon are shielding you from any attacks. We don't want any casualties."
"Hey, who gave you the authority to tell us what to do?" a smug looking lady from the gym snorted.
"Shut up, Meg!"
Simon cut her off, "this guy was working for the league. He knows his stuff."
"Well... Victor told me..." the lady tried to reply. Viktor was another trainer from the gym, he was actually a chief trainer for one of the gym's team. And he was a trainer who defeated David in front of the whole class of first graders on their first day of school. Then he told everyone that the Iglaustadt Gym was much better facility then Battle Frontier Ranch. Hence David hated that guy.
"Viktor's not here, is he? So you shut up and do as we tell you!" Simon hissed.
But then, their quarrel was interrupted. A low, eerie wail echoed through the chamber. It wasn't coming from the fallen figures. It sounded deeper, as if something far away had just realized what had happened.
A chill ran down Simon's spine.
For a moment, no one in the chamber reacted.
Then, from another group across the cave, one of the hooded figures turned their head sharply. Their eyes locked onto the fallen cultists, onto the now-empty circle where the chanting had ceased.
Their entire body stiffened.
Then, a voice broke through the unnatural silence—a hoarse, stunned shriek:
"What the fuck?!"
The words cut through the cave like a knife, snapping all remaining hooded figures to attention. The chanting stumbled, voices faltering as heads turned toward the fallen group.
Frank, still engaged in battle, heard it too. His heart hammered.
The fight was no longer just his.
The whole cave was about to explode.
The moment the first group of cultists crumpled to the ground, Helmut's face twisted in rage.
His teeth bared, his entire body tensed like a predator ready to kill. His bloodshot eyes darted to the fallen figures, then to the group of intruders standing in the tunnel behind Frank.
His Spiritomb hovered beside him, its wispy, spectral form flickering wildly, sensing its master's fury.
Then, Helmut roared.
"Verdammte Scheiße! Was soll das heißen?!"
His voice boomed through the cavern, echoing off the walls, filled with pure, unrestrained hatred.
He thrust a shaking, gloved hand forward. "Spiritomb, reiß ihn in Stücke!" (Tear him to pieces!)
Spiritomb's single, malevolent eye burned brighter, and then—
BOOM!
A powerful, howling Ominous Wind erupted from its swirling vortex, far stronger than any before. The attack surged forward with terrifying force, the very air distorting around it as a black shockwave ripped through the battlefield.
Frank barely had time to react.
"Spikey, brace—!"
But it was too late.
The attack slammed into Ferrothorn like a wrecking ball, its metallic body lifted clean off the ground. It was sent hurtling backward, smashing against the cavern floor and skidding several feet before coming to a grinding stop.
Frank's heart jumped into his throat.
Before he could even move, a blur of feathers streaked past him, diving into the cave like a bullet.
Silver struck first.
The Unfezant came in like a blade of wind, her wings slicing through the air with incredible speed. She let out a sharp, piercing cry before sending a storm of crescent-shaped blades flying forward—Air Cutter after Air Cutter, ripping through the air and slashing towards Spiritomb.
Spiritomb hissed as the attacks landed, its ghostly form rippling like disturbed water, but it held its ground.
Before it could counterattack, another figure burst into the cave.
Speedy the Dustox.
A pink, pale glow emanated from its body as it cast Moonlight, washing the battlefield in an eerie, soft silver radiance.
Spiritomb twisted violently in the air, its spectral body recoiling from the light, its deep violet energy flickering like a dying flame.
Helmut's eyes narrowed as he realized what was happening.
"Du verdammtes Miststück!" (You damn bastard!)
His glare snapped back to Frank, eyes filled with fury.
"You have backup, huh?" His voice was low, seething with hatred.
"Fine."
He turned sharply, pointing at one of the groups of chanting cultists.
"You! Take care of the Unfezant and the Dustox! Kill them."
The figures did not hesitate.
Their chanting shifted, becoming darker, guttural, more primal. The dark mist they had been channeling into an unconscious Stantler suddenly writhed, breaking away from the Pokémon's body and twisting upward into the air.
Then, it formed a thick, swirling black cloud above the cultists.
From that cloud, shapes began to emerge.
Floating, glowing red eyes. Crescent-shaped, rocky bodies.
Lunatones.
One after another, the levitating Psychic-type Pokémon drifted free from the void, their sinister red gazes locking onto their targets.
And then—
They attacked.
David's blood ran cold the moment he saw the Lunatones.
Not just because of their numbers. Not just because of their eerie, lifeless movements.
It was because he recognized the way they were summoned.
This wasn't just some poacher operation.
This was something far worse. He was hoping that his brother-in-law was exaggerating when he had spoken of Sleepers. But Frank was right.
David's fingers clenched into fists as a terrible realization crashed over him like a tidal wave.
"Those fuckers again!"
His jaw tightened, rage bubbling up.
The Sleepers weren't just another criminal group. They were a terrorist organization with roots in the Distortion World itself. They worshipped madness, chaos, nightmares.
And now they were here, right in front of him.
David gritted his teeth.
"We need to go in. This is getting serious!"
Without waiting for an answer, he stood up sharply, grabbing two more Pokéballs from his belt and flinging them into the air.
In flashes of light, two Pokémon materialized beside him.
A spherical, grinning Electrode. Sparks crackled wildly across its body, electricity snapping at the air like living fangs.
An Ambipom, its two tails curling and flicking impatiently, sharp purple eyes locked onto the Lunatones like a predator sizing up prey.
David exhaled sharply. "Let's move."
Inside the cavern, the Lunatones were already drifting forward, preparing to attack the airborne Unfezant, Dustox, and the grounded Ferrothorn.
But before the battle could turn ugly—
A bright glow filled the tunnel behind Frank.
The light of multiple Pokéballs bursting open at once.
A wave of Pokémon materialized, their forms illuminating the darkness, their trainers stepping up behind them.
Frank didn't waste the moment.
He pointed straight at Helmut and the cultists, his voice echoing powerfully through the cave:
"You are under arrest! Surrender! There is no way for you to escape now!"
Helmut turned to face him fully, his expression darkening even further as he saw the sheer number of trainers stepping into the battlefield.
For a brief second, his lips curled into a sneer.
Then, his face contorted with pure fury.
"You!" he bellowed, spinning toward another group of hooded figures. These ones were still chanting, standing in a tight circle around a caged, struggling Scyther.
Helmut's eyes burned with desperation.
"CALL IN THE TROOPS!"
The chanting suddenly grew frantic, manic.
One of the hooded figures stepped forward, pulling a massive, curved knife from beneath his cloak.
The blade gleamed in the dim torchlight.
And then—
He raised it high—
And in one swift, brutal motion, he slashed his own arm clean off.
A sickening, wet sound filled the air.
Blood spilled onto the ritual circle, splattering across the ground in crimson streaks.
The rest of the hooded figures let out crazed, howling chants, their voices rising to an unnatural, horrifying pitch.
Several of Simon's trainers from the gym couldn't take it.
One collapsed to his knees, vomiting violently. Another stumbled backward, turning pale, eyes wide with sheer horror.
Then—
A low, monstrous hum filled the chamber.
All around them, the air split open.
Dozens—hundreds—of grey, spiraling portals tore through the cavern walls, the very fabric of space warping as they formed.
And then—
The Lunatones came.
A massive, swarming tide of them, pouring from the rifts like locusts, their soulless red eyes gleaming with unnatural hunger.
The cavern was no longer just a battlefield.
It had become a warzone.
The sheer number of Pokémon in the cavern was overwhelming. It should have been reassuring—their side had the numbers now—but the endless tide of Lunatones emerging from the swirling grey portals drowned out any sense of advantage.
Frank barely registered the shouts around him, but his brother-in-law's voice cut through the chaos:
"Don't use your strongest attacks, they'll just tire your Pokémon out! Just knock out as many Lunatones as possible!"
Frank had no doubt that David was about to charge headfirst into the enemy ranks. He could only hope he'd be okay.
But right now, Frank had his own fight to focus on.
His eyes locked onto the ghastly, sneering face of Spiritomb. The twisted mass of spirits flickered with unnatural energy, a green and purple swirl of malice anchored to the cracked, ancient keystone below it. Behind it, Helmut stood smirking, his cold eyes burning with sadistic amusement.
Frank clenched his fists. Enough of this.
"Spikey, let's not waste any time. Defense is over. Now we're on offense!"
Just as he was about to step forward, a firm grip latched onto his wrist.
He whipped his head to the side, only to meet his sister's determined gaze.
"I've got you, bro," Eva said, though she swallowed hard, as if steadying herself.
Her Dustox, Speedy, hovered protectively, its large eyes darting around, ready to intercept any stray attack. But Eva had made a decision—this wasn't a fight Speedy was ready for. Instead, with a flick of her wrist, she tossed another Pokéball into the air.
A burst of light, and a sleek, elegant white bird landed in front of her.
===
Swanna
Level: 54 to 57
Name: Mimi
Gender: Female
Type: Water / Flying
Affinity: Water (Full), Flying (Full), Ice (Beginning)
Moves: Wing Attack (53 to 54), Water Gun (52), Water Pulse (51 to 55), Aerial Ace (41 to 48), Feather Dance (40 to 42), Aqua Ring (37 to 38), Rain Dance (39 to 40), Roost (32), Tailwind (34 to 36), Aqua Jet (52 to 56), Hurricane (44 to 47), Disarming Voice (33 to 37), Ice Beam (31), Air Cutter (37), Weather Ball (34), Double-edge (31), Alluring Voice (20 to 25), Whirlpool (17 to 27), Steel Wing (12 to 19)
Abilities:
Keen Eye – Swanna's accuracy cannot be lowered
Hydration – Cures Swanna's status conditions in rain
Weak to: Rock, Electric (double)
Immune to: Ground
Resistant to: Fighting, Ground, Steel, Fire, Water
===
Mimi flapped her powerful wings, sending out a ripple of water vapor that shimmered in the dim cavern light. Unlike Speedy who was around 20 levels behind Mimi—and she was more than ready for battle.
Helmut's grin widened. "Kill those bastards!"
At his command, a dozen Lunatones suddenly broke formation and hurled themselves toward Frank, Eva, and their Pokémon.
Before they could react, a deep voice barked from behind them.
"I've got you, guys!"
Their father, Petr, stepped forward, a second Pokéball already in hand. With a light throw, his second Pokémon hit the battlefield.
The cavern shook as a massive Mudsdale materialized beside him. It was Petr's ace Pokémon and even the Lunatones could feel it. Its hooves slammed into the rock with a deafening impact, and golden sparks erupted in all directions. Swift. The tiny but razor-sharp blades of energy zipped through the air, slicing into the oncoming Lunatones, turning them into dust.
Overhead, Silver the Unfezant flapped furiously, knocking back any Lunatones that got too close with super-effective Night Slash.
Frank and Eva didn't hesitate.
Their target was still in front of them.
Spiritomb.
"Spikey, Power Whip!" Frank roared.
The massive Ferrothorn reared back, its thick vines glowing with a bright green aura before snapping forward with brutal force.
Spiritomb slithered sideways, its body twisting in an unnatural way—but it was too slow. The vines crashed into its keystone, sending cracks spiraling across the surface.
Eva wasted no time.
"Mimi, Hurricane!"
The Swanna launched into the air, wings flapping so violently that the cavern itself seemed to tremble. A swirling, violent vortex of wind exploded forward, slamming into Spiritomb.
For a moment, it looked like they had the upper hand.
But then… Helmut laughed.
A cruel, vile sound.
"Your sister's as dumb as she looks," he sneered. "I bet she'd be more useful as a sex slave than a trainer."
Eva froze for half a second. Her entire body tensed with disgust.
And then, Mimi shrieked.
The Swanna's eyes flared with rage, and before Eva could even give another command, the bird hurled itself at Spiritomb.
A silver glow coated Mimi's wings.
"Mimi! Stop that Spiritomb!" Eva shouted, her voice thick with rage.
Mimi struck Spiritomb head-on using Aerial Ace, sending the ghost-type spinning.
But Helmut was still smirking.
"Now."
Spiritomb recovered mid-air, its eerie eyes flashing.
Dark tendrils shot out.
One slammed into Spikey, another lashed across Mimi's wing, paralyzing both.
Then one Shadow Ball. Then another. And another.
Frank gritted his teeth as Spikey dug its vines into the ground, barely holding on. Eva gasped as Mimi struggled to stay airborne.
The battle was shifting. Spiritomb wasn't just strong—it was relentless and unstoppable.
Lunatones kept trying to swarm the siblings, but every time, Dustox and their father's Pokémon intercepted.
Speedy zipped through the air, weaving between beams of Psychic energy, shooting out globs of venomous sludge of Toxic. And when that was not enough, he added Venoshock, which was working everytime.
Mudsdale stomped the ground, causing waves of dust and debris to scatter through the cave.
But even as the battle raged, Spiritomb was gaining the upper hand.
Mimi's breathing was growing heavier. Spikey's movements were slower.
"I have an idea. Give me a few seconds," Eva hissed to her brother.
"Spikey. Used Metal Claw. Repeatedly!"
Ferrothorn reached out its limbs, which started to shine with steel-type energy and started bashing into Spiritomb's keystone.
Meanwhile, Eva nodded at her Swanna.
"Make it rain, Mimi."
Swanna landed in front of her, spreaded out her wings and reached out with her long neck. Then even though they were in a cave, it started to rain.
"Was ist das?" Helmut muttered as he got completely wet in an instance.
"Aqua Ring and Water Pulse!"
Several healing rings appeared around Swanna and even one appeared around Ferrothorn. Then three balls of water-type energy started to spin around Swanna. They were spinning quicker and quicker.
Meanwhile Ferrothorn still tried to break Spiritomb with its repeated Metal Claw, but the Grass/Steel monster was more and more tired.
"Now, Mimi!"
And the three spinning Water Pulses fired towards Spiritomb, all hitting the keystone.
Ferrothorn jumped back and immediately used Ingrain. From its massive body, roots appeared and grew into the ground, which started healing the Pokémon.
Spiritomb staggered and looked really angry.
"Let's keep it up, while we have the rain!" Eva urged her swan-like partner.
More water bodies appeared around Swanna and then her whole figure was enveloped in a layer of water, before she started to flap her wings and with ever-increasing flew towards the Ghost/Dark Pokémon.
Frank squeezed her hand, "Careful, sis. This is one strong motherfucker..."
But Swanna was already on the Spiritomb and hit her with full power of her Aqua Jet. Unfortunately, Spiritomb was able to use Substitute, when Swanna was charging her move. Nobody noticed that and now, when Mimi destroyed the decoy, the real Spiritomb appeared.
"Get out of there!" Eva yelled and Swanna started to flap her wings frantically. But she was too slow and Spiritomb was able to hit her with another powerful Shadow Ball, knocking her to the ground.
Just when Spiritomb fired another Shadow Ball towards the Swanna lying on the ground, Eva's Dustox flew in front of the approaching attack and used Light Screen.
"Speedy!" Eva yelled in fear as Shadow Ball hit the Light Screen protected moth and small explosion shook the cave and covered the impact spot with cloud of smoke. Tired Swanna quickly flapped her wings, disposing of the dust to reveal fainted Dustox lying on the ground.
"Return, Speedy," Eva quickly recalled the knocked out Pokémon. Then Swanna looked angry at the Spiritomb, which was levitating its cloudy face in teasing manner.
"Back off for a minute, Spikey has healed a little," Frank muttered towards his sister, who gave a signal to Swanna. The bird flew up in the air and reactivated Aqua Ring. In the same moment, Ferrothorn cancelled Ingrain and fired Flash Cannon towards Spiritomb. The bright beam of energy blinded its enemy and Ferrothorn was able to score a direct hit. Mimi the Swanna began supporting Ferrothorn and with flap of her wings, she sent one Air Cutter after another at Spiritomb.
"Yeah, we're pushing him back!" Eva exhaled and squeezed Frank's hand.
But they forgot about the Lunatones. As the Air Cutters and another Flash Cannon hit Spiritomb, an explosion of smoke and dust covered their enemy. And then from the dust, around ten Lunatones flew out and directly attack the siblings.
Since Dustox was out, their father stepped in to stop this attack with his Mudscale and Unfezant. But as he focused on the wave of Lunatones, another group flew out of the cloud of dust and headed towards Frank and Eva.
The incoming wave of enemies forced both Ferrothorn and Swanna to interrupt their attack formation. Swanna landed on the ground and started to release Water Pulses at incoming Lunatones. At the same Ferrothorn cancelled Flash Cannon and start swatting Lunatones like flies with its powerful Metal Claws.
And then, third wave of Lunatones appeared and flew towards them.
Frank clenched his fists.
They were running out of time.
And then he made a decision.
"Eva, recall Mimi to her Pokéball!" he told his sister urgently. She looked confused for a few seconds.
"Now!" Frank added.
She quickly raised hand with Swanna's Pokéball and the large bird turned into red light which got sucked into the monster ball.
The Lunatones surrounded Ferrothorn and were firing various attack at it.
"Spikey," Frank whispered. His Pokémon turned toward him while batting the Lunatones away.
"Self-Destruct."
Eva gasped and grasped her brother by elbow. "Frank, no—!"
But it was too late.
Spikey's body started to glow.
BOOM
BOOM
BOOOOOOOM