🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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"Kekeke!"
But just as Shellder had finished condensing the Water Whirlpool, it discovered that the shadow behind the man in black suddenly shifted: a Gengar shot out from it and shattered the attack with Shadow Punch.
Then, Gengar's figure lunged in front of Shellder, unleashing Thunderbolt at full force, wrapping it completely.
Just like Alakazam before, Shellder fell defeated under the electricity, its body crashing hard against the ground, losing the ability to battle.
"That Gengar... it's the same one from before!"
"Even if that man in black wasn't teleported here, his Gengar was!"
Ethan Black's face darkened immediately. Already at six versus six he was at a clear disadvantage, and now he discovered the enemy was still hiding a terrifyingly powerful Gengar!
At that moment, the sandstorm on the field began to fade little by little, letting the massive cavern return to calm.
"Sha!"
Seeing Gengar appear, Sandslash's eyes reflected caution as it quickly retreated to Ethan Black's side.
Likewise, the five Pokémon of the man in black also returned to his side, leaving both sides once again facing each other.
"You managed to bring down my Alakazam, you did pretty well," the man in black said.
"But this ends here. Shellder is mine!"
The man in black looked at the fallen Shellder at his feet, and a crooked smile formed at the corner of his lips. Suddenly, a black Poké Ball appeared in his hand.
"This is the power of darkness... such an addictive force!"
He closed his eyes in ecstasy, spread his arms, and his body was wrapped in a faint haze, as if embracing the shadows.
Then, before Ethan Black's stunned gaze, he hurled the black Poké Ball.
Immediately, a dark radiance burst from the sphere, quickly engulfing Shellder.
"How is this possible!?"
"Why could my Shellder be captured inside a Poké Ball!?"
"Wait... could that be... the Dark Ball that was mentioned in the anime?"
Ethan Black's face filled with astonishment as he watched Shellder swallowed by the sphere.
In the next instant he recalled something, and his expression grew even darker.
That black Poké Ball was the same one that had appeared in the movie Pokémon 4Ever, used by the Team Rocket elite officer, the Pokémon hunter Vicious: the Dark Ball!
According to what Vicious had said, the Dark Ball could turn any Pokémon cruel and raise its power to the maximum.
Pokémon caught in a Dark Ball lost their freedom and obeyed blindly every command of their new master.
Even if they already had a trainer, the Dark Ball could steal them.
In fact, Vicious had stolen a Tyranitar in that way, one that already belonged to another trainer.
Later, he also captured Celebi with a Dark Ball, managing to control it for a time.
It could be said that this object was an extremely terrifying and evil artifact, capable of dragging Pokémon into darkness.
And now, that man in black had used it on Shellder!
"That kind of Poké Ball is an evil artifact. Aren't you afraid the League will come for you?"
Though inwardly shaken, Ethan Black forced calm into his voice.
"The League?"
"Hehehe... I am a member of the greatest evil organization in this world, one of the heirs of darkness. Do you think I'd fear the League?"
The man in black looked at him as if Ethan Black were naïve.
If they dared act openly in the real world, it was because they didn't fear the League.
Someday, they would shroud the entire world in darkness and replace the League as the new rulers of this planet.
And the source of their confidence was precisely the Dark Ball in his hand: an object that could capture and subdue any Pokémon.
"An evil organization...!"
Ethan Black's heart sank as he remembered Team Rocket from the anime: a monster capable of rivaling the League itself.
"What should I do now?"
Panic was flooding him.
"Right, I remember in the anime they mentioned: if a Pokémon had a strong enough will, it could resist the influence of the Dark Ball and even destroy it, freeing itself."
"Celebi managed it after being captured by Vicious, though it nearly cost its life. Also, if the Dark Ball is destroyed directly, the Pokémon returns to normal."
Ethan Black's eyes shone with resolve as he looked at the black spheres in the man in black's hand. Now there were only two paths to save Shellder.
The first, destroy the Dark Ball that held it. But with five Psychic-types and that powerful Gengar guarding the enemy, it was practically impossible.
The second option: for Shellder to free itself. But although Shellder possessed great psychic power, escaping the Dark Ball's enslavement was almost impossible.
"Wait... maybe I can rely on Slowking's power."
"Neither Shellder nor Slowpoke can free themselves alone, but if they combine their forces... and add Slowking's power..."
Ethan Black's eyes flickered intensely. Though risky, it seemed to be the only option.
"Well then? What will you do now?"
The man in black smiled arrogantly at Ethan Black's grim expression.
Then, he gripped the Dark Ball and pressed the central button.
Immediately, a dense darkness spilled from the sphere, covering his entire body.
With a low growl, he threw the sphere forward, and Shellder reappeared on the field.
But now, its purple shell was dull, its body radiated a dark aura, and its once-bright eyes had become empty and lifeless. The sight made Ethan Black's heart ache with pain.
"Gengar, keep watch on this one."
The man in black gave the order to his Gengar, while his gaze burned with ambition as it landed on Slowpoke and Shellder.
If the records on the mural were true, he was about to obtain a Pokémon worthy of being called "King."
With a Slowking in his possession, his power would grow immensely, and he could compete with others for a high-ranking position within the organization.
(End of Chapter)