Chapter 82: The Complete Form of the Resentful Gengar

The shifting of the mountain caused the entire island to tremble. In that moment, everyone on the island looked toward the temple in terror.

"Uncle Yingshu..." The man guarding the temple entrance glanced over anxiously.

But soon, the tremors subsided.

Yingshu’s expression was grim, yet he reassured, "Don't worry, it's nothing."

Within the ruins.

The clay golem using the seismic attack was instantly dispatched by the Ancient Moonbird. The one wielding the Shadow of Night struck Roserade.

Roserade cried out in pain, but did not lose its fighting ability.

Hu Yang frowned.

Clearly, for some reason, these clay golems could be resurrected endlessly. And each time they returned, their strength and speed surpassed their previous selves.

If this continued, Hu Yang dared not imagine what monsters they might become.

"We can't keep attacking..."

After thinking for a moment, Hu Yang quickly ordered, "Ancient Moonbird, stop attacking!"

"Ka."

Ancient Moonbird gave a dazed cry, but did not halt its movements. Instead, it raised its beak and unleashed another Subspace Slash, once more severing the clay golem that used Shadow of Night.

Hu Yang: "..."

Purple energy surged as the bodies of the two clay golems reformed for a third time.

Hu Yang glanced at the hall behind him and said to Gengar, "I remember you can control the movement of the orb, right?"

He was certain—when he had lost the orb before, it was Gengar who brought it back.

Gengar hesitated and nodded.

Hu Yang took off his backpack, unzipped it, and said, "If that's so, go reclaim your body. Leave this to us."

Gengar stood there, stunned. It whispered, "I didn't do those things."

Hu Yang paused, took the orb from the bag, and smiled, "I believe you."

Gengar asked again, "Will you wait for me?"

"Of course." Hu Yang was puzzled, unsure why Gengar suddenly asked this.

"Really?"

"Really."

After a moment, Hu Yang said, "Go ahead. You always said I couldn't touch you. When you come back, I'll finally be able to."

He noticed the scarf Gengar had asked him to bring, took it out, and said, "You'll be able to wear this soon."

As he spoke, the clay golems revived again.

Hu Yang turned, and the sealed orb flew from his hand.

Gengar also turned, back towards Hu Yang, and walked to the final stone chamber.

The sounds of battle and explosions echoed behind.

But Gengar no longer heard them.

In its mind echoed shrill voices:

"He's deceiving you!"

"He doubts you!"

"Let us out! We'll help you devour those detestable humans!"

Gengar did not respond.

Now, it had reached the last sealed chamber.

At the center stood a stone statue of Gengar, with a circular slot in the floor before it.

Gengar stood before the statue, and suddenly, illusory figures appeared around it.

Banette, Cofagrigus, Chandelure, Yamask, Litwick...

The voices continued.

"Little Gengar, you did nothing wrong, yet they sealed you here. Don’t you want revenge?"

"Heeheeheeheehee, poor little Gengar. Is that really why you refused to harm humans? How laughable! In the end, you’re no different from us—all trapped here."

"How pitiful! Hate them! Despise them! Let’s take the lives of those wretched ones together, and share the treasure beneath!"

Gengar wavered.

When it was sealed, it had indeed been furious, lost all reason, and wanted to avenge itself upon those humans.

It had done nothing, yet had been imprisoned here for a millennium...

Thinking of this, purple flames flickered around Gengar.

But then, memories flashed through its mind, and the flames disappeared.

"Why?!" Chandelure asked, bewildered.

Gengar gently placed the orb down. It stepped before the statue, as if to embrace it.

Brilliant purple light blossomed.

The stones covering the statue began to fall.

"You betrayed us!" Yamask cried.

"How dare you! Traitors deserve punishment!" Banette raged.

Dark purple light erupted from the surrounding ghosts, enveloping Gengar.

"Gar! Rage! Hate!" shrill voices echoed.

The agony from its sealing a thousand years ago resurfaced from Gengar’s memory. The deepest resentment in its heart was awakened, and an even more terrifying purple flame surged forth.

Deep within the ruins, a dark purple slab encased in rock seemed drawn by some force, breaking through layers of stone and earth and merging into Gengar’s body.

Outside the chamber.

Because of the clay golems’ trait of growing stronger with each death, Hu Yang abandoned the order for Ancient Moonbird to attack, recalling it into its Poké Ball.

He let Roserade stall for time instead.

Suddenly, both clay golems, as if deprived of support, collapsed onto the ground, their purple markings dimming.

"Roserade?"

Already severely injured, Roserade was bewildered by the sudden fall of its foes.

Hu Yang was taken aback as well.

Then, a familiar figure flashed above the clay golems.

"Gengar!" Hu Yang called in delight, but instantly noticed something was off—Gengar’s expression was no longer gentle, but full of resentment and hatred.

Even its form had grown larger.

Purple mist swirled around it; now, it gazed coldly back.

Even Hu Yang, slow as he was, sensed something amiss. The smile faded from his lips, and Gengar’s information appeared in his mind:

[Species: Gengar ♂]

Type: Ghost, Poison

Ability: Cursed Body

Base Stats: 520

Known Moves: omitted

Current Emotion: Resentment (your lack of trust has convinced it that everything between you was a lie)

Physical State: Perfect

Special Ability: Resentment Form (a special form born from hatred of humans, fused with the power of the Ghost Plate; in this state, it can fully unleash its ghostly abilities, but loses some of its reason)

Friendship: -100

But in the next moment, -100 became 100, and flickered back and forth between the two.

"Gengar..." Hu Yang murmured.