Pokemon: Psychic Master

"Twenty-four consecutive wins… with just one Gengar!"

"No way! A single Gengar took down four trainers and twenty-four Pokémon?"

"This is crazy! Either I'm losing it, or the world is!"

In the live broadcast from the Battle Tower, viewers flooded the chat with messages as Johan's Gengar continued its rampage.

Winning streaks weren't rare in the Battle Tower, but achieving such a streak with just one Pokémon? That was unheard of.

Watching the skyrocketing viewer count, Scott couldn't stop grinning.

"Worth every Pokédollar!" Scott muttered to himself. "This is beyond my expectations!"

Scott originally thought Johan's fame would help promote the Battle Frontier. He didn't expect Johan's Gengar to become the main attraction on its own.

——

On the way up to the fifth floor, Johan glanced at his Gengar.

"Gengar, want a break?"

"Ka-kaah?"

Strutting confidently ahead, Gengar turned and shook its head.

I'm just getting started!

Upon reaching the fifth floor, Gengar glared at the waiting trainer, who was already sweating nervously.

"Ka-kaah! ヾ(▼▼;)"

I'll take on a hundred of you today!

Johan gave Gengar a strange look.

This little guy has way too much energy.

If Gengar didn't burn off all this energy during the day, there was no way it would sit still at night.

——

The Battle Tower's trainers weren't pushovers, but their strength was a bit below what Johan had faced during the Indigo League.

For a Pokémon with Gengar's endurance and tactics, this wasn't much of a challenge.

"Is this the true power of Johan and his Gengar?" Flannery whispered as she followed behind.

She recalled the academy's festival when Johan's Haunter achieved a ten-win streak. Back then, Johan had chosen to stop despite Haunter still being able to battle.

Now, with Gengar fully evolved and equipped with sustained combat abilities, it was on a whole new level.

"Not even close," Roxanne said.

Johan had once mentioned that Gengar still hadn't mastered two crucial moves — Trick Room and Mirror Coat — both of which could serve as core battle strategies.

Right now, Gengar mainly relied on tactics like Toxic stalling, forced sleep, and stat debuffs.

For this Battle Tower challenge, Johan and Gengar were using a control-and-setup strategy. Gengar would lock down the opponent's first Pokémon, stack Nasty Plot boosts, and then sweep the team.

With its diverse move pool, Gengar was well-equipped to handle various types.

"Gengar is amazing!"

Jirachi floated happily beside Johan, cheering for Gengar.

Battles were new to Jirachi, but it could tell that Gengar was having fun and earning praise.

"Gengar, Energy Ball!"

The green orb of energy struck Sandslash, knocking it out.

"Whoa! He really did it — forty-two straight wins?!"

"Wasn't that last trainer a Top 16 finalist in a recent tournament?"

"Johan is incredible!"

"This makes me want to challenge the Battle Frontier too!"

——

Johan stood before the stairs leading to the final floor.

"Gengar, you holding up?"

"Ka-kaah! d(○)"

Gengar gave a thumbs-up, clearly exhausted but still ready to fight.

Johan chuckled.

In a video game, this would be the part where Gengar's experience bar skyrockets.

Jirachi twirled in the air.

"Gengar is the best!"

Buoyed by Jirachi's cheers, Gengar marched toward the top floor.

"Ka-kaah!"

Next!

——

At the summit of the Battle Tower, the final challenge awaited — the Battle Tower Tycoon, Anabel.

The lights flickered on, illuminating a tall figure with long purple hair and a sleek black suit.

Anabel was renowned for her ability to command Pokémon without verbal instructions, relying solely on telepathic bonds.

"Johan, I've been waiting for you," Anabel greeted him with a calm smile.

Johan nodded.

Anabel was a fascinating figure. Originally from the Alola region, she had fallen through an Ultra Wormhole and lost all memories of her past. Taken in by Looker, she joined the International Police and eventually became the head of their Ultra Beast task force.

Her rise was meteoric — from a lost traveler to a high-ranking official in the International Police and a Battle Tower Tycoon.

"It's an honor to face you, Anabel."

Anabel's smile widened.

"Thank you for your contributions, Johan. Those Team Aqua operatives we captured… I'll be handling their interrogation personally."

Johan nodded, understanding her message.

"We're just doing our duty as League trainers."

"Duty or not, I won't go easy on you." Anabel pulled out a Poké Ball.

"Wouldn't have it any other way."

——

Unlike the six-on-six format used in earlier rounds, the Battle Tower's final match was a three-on-three battle.

Anabel's first Pokémon was Alakazam.

Johan's choice?

Gengar, of course.

The two glass-cannon speedsters stared each other down.

In battles like these, the one who struck first would likely win.

"Alakazam versus Gengar? A classic showdown!"

"Whoever attacks first will probably sweep the match!"

"Is this the moment Johan finally struggles?"

——

The referee raised the flags, signaling the start of the battle.

Without a word, Anabel gave her command telepathically.

Alakazam's eyes glowed blue as it crossed its spoons. Psychic energy surged around it, forming a powerful Psychic Terrain.

But just as Alakazam was about to unleash its power, a dark Shadow Ball appeared out of nowhere, hurtling toward it at breakneck speed.

Anabel's eyes widened in surprise.

She hadn't heard Johan give any instructions.

And the speed of that Shadow Ball… how was it so fast?

"Block it!"

Alakazam's telepathic command kicked in, and a psychic barrier flickered to life just in time.

Boom!

The Shadow Ball exploded against the barrier, sending shockwaves across the field.

But before Anabel and Alakazam could catch their breath, they noticed Gengar's shadow shifting.

It wasn't a trick of the light.

It was Shadow Sneak!

Realizing the danger, Alakazam teleported across the field using Teleport.

Anabel sighed in relief — until she saw where Alakazam had reappeared.

Right in front of Gengar.

Gengar grinned wickedly, its hand glowing with dark energy as it launched another Shadow Ball.

Boom!

Alakazam hit the ground, knocked out cold.

——

"Alakazam is unable to battle!"

In just a few seconds, the first round was over.

The chat exploded with questions.

"???"

"What just happened?!"

"Did Johan even say anything?!"

"Is this the pinnacle of training — no commands needed?"

"Or maybe… Johan is a telepath too?"

——

As Alakazam fainted, a strange, distorted barrier spread across the battlefield.

It was Trick Room!

Even though Alakazam had fallen, it had managed to set up Trick Room before fainting.

Johan frowned.

A priority -7 move like Trick Room? How did it activate so fast?

"These trainers and their battle tricks…" Johan muttered.

None of them follow the basic battle rules!

He glanced at Gengar and grinned.

"Gengar, break that Trick Room for me!"

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Powerstones?

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