It was extremely noisy inside the Celadon Game Corner.
It was completely different from the quiet and peaceful atmosphere of the Celadon Gym.
Sound effects, light effects, and the cheers and sighs of players interwove into a chaotic wave of sound. There were many young people here. This was also a kind of atmosphere that made people hyper-excited.
Why do some people like going to internet cafes? Even though playing on a computer at home is the same. The difference is this atmosphere. The atmosphere in an internet cafe is simply better than at home. And the Game Corner is the same. Playing games in the Game Corner just feels better than buying a console and playing at home.
In front of a dazzling fighting game cabinet.
Ash held Misdreavus, who was staring tightly at the screen, while Erika was fully absorbed in manipulating the joystick and buttons. At this moment, the reserved smile of a gentle young lady on Erika's face was replaced by an expression of focus, perhaps even carrying a hint of "killing intent".
Win, win, win! She must win!
Her fingers flew, and the character on the screen unleashed a gorgeous combo, beating the character controlled by Misdreavus into a steady retreat.
"Mai mai~!" Misdreavus cried out unwillingly, shrinking her small head into Ash's embrace.
Ash felt Misdreavus's somewhat tense body in his arms, then looked at Erika's profile, which was obviously different from during the day. He couldn't help but whisper to Misdreavus, "If you practice more, you can always win it back, Mengmeng."
Misdreavus blinked her large eyes and suddenly asked quietly using telepathy that only Ash could hear: [ Ash, Ash, Miss Erika always seems very sleepy and a bit lazy at the Gym during the day. Is it because she sneaks out every night like this to stay up late playing games? ]
Misdreavus felt this was very likely. After all, Erika's performance clearly showed she was a gaming expert. She obviously had no time to play games during the day, so she must be sneaking out every night. Although this theory wasn't impossible... no matter how one thought about it, it was still quite ridiculous.
Ash hadn't answered yet when Erika seemed to sense something... High-end trainers were often not ordinary people.
Without turning her head, she lowered her voice and said, "Little one, don't talk nonsense, or be careful I'll beat you."
There was a trace of feigned threat in her tone, but even more so, there was the embarrassment of having her secret guessed, as well as a rare relaxation in this informal setting. Obviously, having left the Gym and set aside the responsibilities of a Gym Leader and a scion of a noble house, she was indeed letting herself go.
Looking at Erika like this, Ash couldn't help but think of Brock. That man usually projected the image of a steady, reliable big brother who took care of everyone, but once he met a beautiful young lady, he would instantly turn into a different person.
Emm... perhaps these people who shoulder heavy responsibilities all need such an unknown outlet to release pressure. Thinking of this, Ash felt a bit more understanding toward Erika. Holding the rights of a Gym Leader, she also bore the obligations of a Gym Leader.
"K.O.!"
A huge victory symbol popped up on the screen; Erika's character had achieved victory with a sliver of health remaining. This was already very strong. Compared to Erika, who had to use her fingers to press the game machine buttons, Misdreavus was playing the game directly using psychic power.
Erika breathed a sigh of relief, the corners of her mouth hooking up into a satisfied smile. Only then did she turn her head, raising her eyebrows triumphantly: "How was that? My skills aren't bad, right?"
She was just showing off to Misdreavus. Seeing the little one look angry was also quite interesting. Usually, she was with a group of quiet and cute Grass-type Pokémon; occasionally being with such a cute Ghost-type Pokémon wasn't bad either.
"Mai mai——" Misdreavus floated from Ash's arms into the air, puffing up her cheeks to show her dissatisfaction.
"Alright, alright, a loss is a loss." Ash smiled and comforted Misdreavus, then prepared to continue. "I'll take the next round! Miss Erika!"
"Mai!" Misdreavus flew unhappily to the top of the adjacent game machine, watching as Ash threw himself into a new round of battle with Erika.
Just as Ash and Erika were immersed in the pixelated world's slaughter...
Misdreavus, floating near the ceiling, suddenly blinked her bright, large eyes. A strange sensation came from below. It wasn't sound, nor was it vibration, but rather a kind of... faint abnormality in energy. It was as if beneath the hustle and bustle of the Game Corner's surface, something deeper and more secretive was lurking.
This kind of induction was particularly clear to her as a Ghost-type. Thus, Misdreavus's curiosity was piqued. And in Misdreavus's view, this was Erika's territory, so surely there wouldn't be any danger, right? Misdreavus still had social common sense and knew the status of a Gym Leader.
As a Ghost-type Pokémon naturally capable of penetrating matter, curiosity instantly overpowered the displeasure of losing the game. She looked at Ash, who was fully focused on playing the game, and decided to go explore first on her own.
Her small figure quietly faded, like a drop of ink melting into water, and she silently passed through the metal partition and concrete floor slab beneath her feet, sinking downward.
Passing through layer after layer of building structures, the surrounding noise gradually faded away, replaced by the silence and coolness unique to underground spaces.
When Misdreavus penetrated the final layer of the floor and landed in a spacious room with soft lighting but a heavy atmosphere, she was stunned.
This looked like a surveillance center. The walls were covered with screens displaying footage from every corner of the Game Corner. This included the figure of Ash battling Erika in front of the game machine she had just left, which was clearly visible.
But what attracted all her attention was the figure sitting in a large chair, with their back to her.
That person did not turn around, yet a pressure that was formless and intangible, but massive enough to be suffocating, instantly filled the entire space, like tangible mercury.
Misdreavus felt like she was frozen in the air. Even the simplest act of floating became difficult for her; a fear stemming from biological instinct seized her, rendering her immobile.
"Being this mischievous won't do, little one," a deep, steady, and dignified male voice rang out.
"Mai...!" Misdreavus was so scared she fell to the ground. She felt that in front of this pressure, she was as insignificant as dust.
The chair slowly rotated, revealing the face of a middle-aged man. His features were resolute, and his eyes were profound, as if they could see through everything. He wore a well-fitted suit, looking ordinary, yet he naturally possessed the oppressive air of someone who had occupied a high position for a long time.
He was precisely the Leader of Team Rocket, Giovanni.
He was one of the most top-tier Trainers. One of the powerhouses truly standing at the apex of the world.
Giovanni's gaze did not linger on Misdreavus for too long; instead, he looked toward the largest screen on the wall, which showed Ash and Erika.
"Rest assured," his tone was flat, revealing neither joy nor anger. "I bear you no ill will."
Misdreavus followed his gaze and saw Ash, feeling slightly more at ease, but her fear did not subside. Her perception told her that the source of the terror was not just this man himself, but also that silent figure in the shadows behind him.
Misdreavus looked over carefully. It was an ordinary-looking Beedrill. But unlike ordinary Beedrill, this Beedrill merely stood there, yet it emitted a sharp aura like an unsheathed sword. Those compound eyes swept coldly over Misdreavus, making the latter feel as if she had fallen into an ice cave.
"Mai mai..." Misdreavus subconsciously evaluated in her heart: This feeling... is much more terrifying than the Boss... and more terrifying than Granny Agatha.
The Thousand-Year Gastly gave her a feeling of depth, mystery, and an unfathomable nature accumulated over a thousand years, along with powerful psychic force. Elite Four Agatha gave her a feeling of ruthlessness, irritability, and cunning calculation.
But the one before her eyes brought a pure, overwhelming pressure that concerned life and death.
"Mai mai?" Just as Misdreavus was scared almost into curling into a ball, that terrifying Beedrill moved. It appeared instantly in front of Misdreavus, the huge poison stinger on its arm gleaming with cold light as it slowly extended toward her.
"Mai!" Misdreavus shut her eyes tight in fright, thinking she was going to die. However, the anticipated pain did not arrive.
She carefully opened one eye, only to discover that on the tip of that terrible poison needle, there was actually a Pokéblock skewered on it. It looked to be of extremely high quality, emitting a tempting aroma.
Misdreavus: "Mai??"
Beedrill's consciousness transmitted directly into her mind, brief and cold, without any emotional coloring: "Eat."
Neither Giovanni nor his Beedrill were benevolent types. However, the personalities of Giovanni and his Beedrill could not be considered cruel or vile either. If necessary, they didn't mind doing bad things; if not necessary, doing good things was also fine.
Giovanni would not stop Team Rocket from doing bad things, because that was essentially the plan he had formulated. Everything was for the sake of ruling the world.
But if a normal Pokémon fell in front of him, he wouldn't deliberately kill it; he might even take good care of it. In a sense, it might be somewhat contradictory, but that was just how he was. The Team Rocket Leader Giovanni and the Trainer Giovanni, although the same person, would make different choices.
Misdreavus was completely bewildered. On one side was a terrifying pressure that made her soul tremble; on the other was a very delicious-looking Pokéblock delivered to her mouth.
Her inner self was fighting a war between heaven and man:
Eat? What if it's poisonous?
Don't eat? Will I be immediately stabbed through by that big needle?
Finally, the judgment that "not eating might be more dangerous" gained the upper hand. She carefully leaned in and took a small bite of the Pokéblock. The sweet taste melted in her mouth; it was undoubtedly made from top-tier Berries.
This should be Beedrill's own rations, so the quality definitely wouldn't be poor. After all, this could already be considered Team Rocket's highest combat power, bar none.
Misdreavus couldn't resist taking another bite, then while trembling slightly from fear, she began to eat the Pokéblock in small bites, her speed getting faster and faster. When she finished eating, Beedrill handed over another one.
Misdreavus: Still eating?
Beedrill: Is this little guy that hungry?
The scene was quite bizarre: a little Misdreavus, scared out of her wits, trembling while eating snacks under the "feeding" of a Beedrill emitting a terrifying aura.
Giovanni took all of this into his eyes, and the corners of his mouth seemed to hook up into a barely perceptible smile. This scene looked quite interesting. During non-working hours, he didn't mind watching some amusement.
Giovanni's gaze returned to the monitoring screen once again. He watched that young trainer who was battling fiercely with Erika, completely unaware of what was happening underground... his eyes profound, pondering something unknown.
Inside the room, only the rustling sound of Misdreavus eating and the faint echo of the game sound effects from the screen remained.
____
New Story: Junji Ito: I Shall Smash Hellstar Remina
✅ Unlock a 40-chapter backlog for ALL my series.
✅ Receive exclusive content and regular updates!
Help us reach these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 universal bonus chapter
🚀 140 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters for ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan