White Poplar Town, Library.
In the attic filled with scattered papers and piles of books.
Researcher Tony flipped through a dusty book, the lenses of his glasses reflecting a faint gleam.
Tony looked at a yellowed photo tucked inside the book and murmured:
“Alice’s grandmother, Alicia, encountered the Nightmare God, Darkrai, in the courtyard.”
“Darkrai, who never trusted humans and was hated by everyone, uniquely opened its heart to Alicia.”
“Under the architecture designed by Gaudí, Darkrai has since taken residence in the Pokémon courtyard…”
Tony closed the book, deeply moved.
“So, for nearly a hundred years, Darkrai has been silently guarding White Poplar Town…”
“So!” Tony impatiently scratched his head, “The time-space rift above White Poplar Town has nothing to do with Darkrai at all!”
He reopened his notebook, focusing intently on the computer screen, the photo of the rift scanned by rays.
He continuously zoomed in, deduced, and constructed models.
As the Tower of Time and Space chimed, time passed second by second.
Suddenly, Tony’s pupils contracted, cold sweat spreading across his forehead.
“This figure appearing in the rift is…”
“Ho-how is this possible!”
He scrambled to leave his chair but tripped on the corner of the desk and crashed heavily onto the floor.
“That hurts… I must notify Professor Mustardseed and Champion Bamboo Lan immediately.”
“This is a crisis that must be tackled together!!”
White Poplar Town, Battle Plaza.
Behind Lu Ye, a long line mysteriously formed.
Passerby 1: “Are they lining up to buy local specialties?”
Passerby 2: “I guess it’s some kind of game like ‘Eagle Catching Chicks’?”
The two passersby paused to look for a while, then silently walked away.
Elsewhere, people hid behind Teacher Lu, casting glances at the dark figure.
“Looks kind of cool.”
“Nonsense, that’s the cause of all disasters!”
Before them appeared Darkrai, swirling with white gas waves, a black body, and blue eyes.
It coldly scanned everyone present, black mist swirling around its body.
Using telepathy, Darkrai’s hoarse and deep warning echoed:
In an instant, people saw through that thick black mist the things they feared most in their hearts.
This was Darkrai’s nightmare, capable of awakening the darkest fears deep inside.
Lu Ye, however, was unaffected, arms crossed, chin raised:
“Why don’t you try turning into a Dementor for me to see?”
Darkrai was stunned—what was this Dementor thing? Was it something native to this world?
Nevertheless, it didn’t stop Darkrai from temporarily putting the troublemakers to sleep.
Fearless Ash clenched his fists and shouted:
“You’re the one who should leave! Pikachu, Thunderbolt!”
“Pika—” Pikachu leapt high, electricity crackling, “Pika!!”
Darkrai’s deep blue eyes flickered dimly as it stretched out its claw.
Thunderbolt was immediately deflected; Darkrai remained unharmed!
Lu Ye & Haunter: Σ(っ°Д°; )っ
That was way too easy!
No wonder Darkrai can duel the Temporal-Spatial Twin Dragons alone!
Holding tight to those long legs, this battle might be cleared without a scratch!
“Damn…” Ash gritted his teeth, still wanting to fight Darkrai.
Darkrai crossed its arms, concentrating black ink-like spherical energy.
In the next moment, Darkrai suddenly spread both arms wide!
The pitch-black Dark Void ascended into the sky, forming a black hole that emitted countless small spheres.
When touching humans or Pokémon, it swallowed them inside.
Yet, no one was injured; they merely collapsed unconscious.
For a moment, behind Teacher Lu were sprawled beautiful long-legged girls in awkward sleeping postures.
Including the Team Rocket Trio and Ash, all struck by the Dark Void, they thudded to the ground!
“To think it’s effective even on Super Freshmen.”
Lu Ye thought to himself:
“No wonder Darkrai is on par with a god!”
Darkrai glanced at this unmoving trainer in front of it.
None of the hundreds of spheres flying out from Dark Void hit him.
Not sure if it was good luck or bad luck...
Darkrai waved its hand, and the dark energy swept straight toward them!
The Rotom Pokédex floating nearby instinctively wanted to use Ally Switch; it was almost a bodily reflex.
Surprisingly, its master didn’t shout “Rotom, save me.”
Lu Ye said: “I can dodge it, but it’s unnecessary.”
First, this Darkrai had a kind nature and wouldn’t harm humans.
Second, he had the Lunar Wing, which could prevent nightmare invasions.
Most importantly, he could directly communicate with Darkrai in dreams.
Compared to the current tense atmosphere, the dream was undoubtedly a better place for negotiation!
Lu Ye: “Darkrai, stop! Don’t run!”
Darkrai looked horrified.
This black-haired youth not only didn’t dodge but dove straight into the Dark Void!
Although Dark Void only induces sleep, its Dark-type energy is no ordinary force to resist.
Could he be holding some trump card?
The black-haired youth suddenly collapsed to the ground, fast asleep.
No trump card at all.
Seems like he just has poor sleep quality and wanted to take a good nap...
Darkrai silently turned the sleeping Teacher Lu over to avoid breathing obstruction.
After checking the surroundings to confirm no one was hurt, it breathed out slightly.
Darkrai was startled, a sense of alert rising in its heart.
There was another Pokémon hiding in the shadows that it hadn’t noticed?!
A grinning Haunter appeared, holding a jar full of energy cubes.
Haunter took out a translucent energy cube from the glass jar.
Right in front of Darkrai, Haunter stuck out its tongue and twisted it nimbly:
“…” Darkrai swallowed, white mist on its head rolling continuously.
Haunter poked the glass jar, then pointed to the dark, cold, swirling ‘black hole’ in Darkrai’s palm.
Darkrai: “…You want to learn Dark Void?”
Haunter jumped on the spot, forming a peace sign with its eyes and nodded vigorously.
Darkrai hesitated, glanced at the glass jar in Haunter’s hand, and said dryly:
“It’s not impossible to teach... but it depends on whether you have the talent.”
One must know, Dark Void is Darkrai’s exclusive move.
Under its control, it can cause only sleepiness, or sleepiness combined with damage.
Although there have been cases of ordinary Pokémon learning exclusive moves,
If you don’t understand Hypnosis at all, there’s no chance of mastering this!
Secondly, Dark Void essentially uses wave motion.
If you haven’t learned Dark Pulse or lack wave motion support, learning it is impossible!
“Gengarrr~!ヾ(≧∇≦*)ヾ” Haunter patted its own ‘shoulder.’
Don’t worry about teaching me; there’s no way I won’t learn it~!
Darkrai silently nodded, took back the glass jar Haunter offered, and gently touched Haunter’s body with its fingertips.
Ripples spread from the touch point.
Even Haunter at Teacher Lu’s home felt dizzy and sleepy.
Haunter found a comfortable sleeping position.
It fell fast asleep, head against Teacher Lu’s head.
In the plaza full of ‘corpses,’ Darkrai’s body descended, gradually sinking into the shadows.
It was entering the dreams of Lu Ye and Haunter.
To see how the bond between this strange trainer and Pokémon was formed.
And to give Haunter a lesson... if it could learn it.
Finally, Darkrai’s gaze fell on the Poké Ball at Lu Ye’s waist, able to see inside.
Sylveon, Arcanine, Togepi...
Even in nightmares, those Pokémon showed peaceful, even happy expressions.
“Such strange humans.”
Darkrai murmured softly, its body fully immersed in shadow.