"Everyone, please look—this is my master's estate."
Within the dense fog—
A grand mansion appeared before them.
"Whoa! There's actually a mansion in the middle of a forest?!"
Ash stared in shock.
Even Gary was stunned, thinking to himself:
Did I misunderstand Miss Xiao Hu?
Is she really just a maid who lives here and happened to meet us?
But—
What looked like a luxurious mansion to Ash and Gary—
In Red 's eyes—
Was nothing more than a ruined, decaying castle, abandoned for centuries.
Red took a deep breath.
"Why does this feel like I just walked into a horror movie…"
What puzzled him even more—
Was that this eerie place had no Ghost-type Pokémon at all.
The pendant gifted by Agatha—
Had no effect.
At that moment—
Red had already scanned the entire estate using Viridian Power.
He couldn't see exact forms—
But he could clearly sense:
There were only 1.5 lifeforms in this massive estate.
As for the "half"—
He couldn't quite define it.
It had life energy—
But not enough to be considered a complete lifeform.
As for the other presence—
Red closed his eyes and sensed again.
A burning life force—
But like a flickering candle in the wind.
A Fire-type Pokémon…
And one that's nearing the end of its lifespan.
From its aura—
Red judged:
It was weaker than Tyranitar.
He exhaled slowly.
If it's weaker than Tyranitar… then there's nothing to worry about.
"Dear guests, please come in. Wait here for a moment—I'll prepare dinner."
"Okay! Thank you, Sister Xiao Hu!"
Ash replied happily.
Gary also relaxed a bit and nodded.
Looking at his two unreliable disciples—
Red sighed.
Then looked directly at "Xiao Hu."
"That's enough acting, isn't it?"
"What exactly did you bring us here for?"
Xiao Hu's expression stiffened.
"I… I don't understand what you mean…"
Red 's voice turned cold.
"Unfortunately, someone is waiting for me."
"I don't have time to play house with you."
He snorted.
A surge of green energy burst from his body!
Under the power of Viridian Force—
The alluring Xiao Hu instantly revealed her true form—
A pile of bones.
"AHHHHH!!!"
Ash let out a blood-curdling scream.
"M-Master… did you just kill her?!"
Red 's mouth twitched.
"If you used even one-tenth of your battle IQ elsewhere…"
"You wouldn't have been fooled by a fox spirit this long."
"Fox spirit?"
Gary finally pieced things together.
Ash, however, was still confused.
Red sighed—
Then threw out two Poké Balls.
"Tyranitar. Larvitar."
"Double Sandstorm—tear this place back to reality."
Sand roared .
A terrifying storm engulfed the entire estate.
Under the attack—
The illusion collapsed.
The grand mansion—
Instantly turned into a crumbling ruin, riddled with decay.
Ash's eyes widened in shock.
Gary, more knowledgeable, muttered :
"My god… to maintain an illusion of this level and fool everyone…"
"That Pokémon's psychic power… is terrifying!"
But while they were still shocked—
Red had already rushed into the estate—
Heading straight for its core.
Inside the central hall—
Sat a Ninetales.
Elegant.
Graceful.
With pure white fur flowing like silk—
And crimson eyes that seemed almost unreal.
It was beauty beyond perfection.
But—
Time had taken its toll.
Its fur had dimmed—
Though its noble aura remained.
At that moment—
The long-sealed doors were kicked open.
Red stepped in, brushing dust aside.
"Finally… found you."
He looked at the Ninetales.
"As expected."
"Among pure Fire-types, only Ninetales has psychic power this strong."
The Ninetales remained calm.
Expression unchanged.
Red spoke again:
"Nothing to say?"
"You've lived this long—and with psychic abilities like yours, speaking shouldn't be difficult."
Finally—
Ninetales spoke.
But the voice—
Was that of Xiao Hu.
Soft. Enchanting.
"I'm going to die."
Red nodded slightly.
"I figured ."
"So what is it?"
"Looking to drag someone down with you?"
"Or… find someone to take care of your child?"
At the word "child"—
Ninetales' expression changed drastically.
"How do you know?!"
Red tapped his chest.
"I have Viridian Power."
"I guessed that half-life I sensed… is your child."
Ninetales hesitated.
Then transformed back into Xiao Hu's form—
Still beautiful—
But now expressionless.
She slowly told her story.
"I've lived in this estate since I was young."
"My master treated me well."
"But one day… he disappeared ."
"Leaving me here alone."
"You stayed here all this time?!"
Ash was shocked.
Ninetales nodded.
"Yes."
"The Poké Ball bound me."
"I couldn't leave."
"I don't even know how long I've been here…"
"But decades ago—everything changed."
Her eyes lit up.
"I met him."
"A snow-white Ninetales."
"The power of ice he carried… was extraordinary."
"But he disappeared too."
"…And then, I had this."
A Pokémon egg appeared before them.
Half Red -brown.
Half snow-white.
Clearly—
A hybrid between Kantonian Ninetales and Alolan Ninetales.
"So weak…"
Red muttered .
With Viridian Power—
He could see it clearly.
The life force inside the egg—
Was barely hanging on.
Ninetales looked at it with deep tenderness.
A mother's love filled her eyes.
"After I had this child… nothing else mattered ."
"Not my master. Not freedom."
"I don't have long left."
"So I want to find a trainer…"
"To take her away."
"To let her grow up safely."
Ash was already crying.
Even Gary quietly wiped his tears.
Red looked at the egg.
"I can take her."
"But saving her… will be difficult."
Ninetales' eyes dimmed—
But remained firm.
"Take her."
"No matter what."
"Better than living a life like mine."
Red sighed.
Then opened Ninetales' status panel.
[Pokémon: Ninetales ♀]
[Level: 65 ( Reduced to 50 due to aging)]
[Talent: Top-tier]
[Description: A Ninetales with severely depleted life force. If resto Red , it may return to its peak.]
Red 's pupils shrank.
A Champion-level Ninetales…
Looking at the Ninetales—
And the fragile egg—
He made a bold decision.
"Ninetales."
"Will you come with me?"
Ninetales was about to refuse—
But Red cut her off, eyes firm:
"Don't you want to see your child grow up?"
"And if you're willing to follow me…"
"I might be able to help you…"
"Extend your life."
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