Chapter Twenty-Five: The First Battle of Dolomesia

Next, Zhao Fang planned to pay a visit to Mr. Qianli. After all, the last time he wanted to visit, the receptionist told him it might take a week. Unexpectedly, after waiting in line and finally entering, the curator was still absent.

"Little brother, if you want to visit, you'll have to wait until the week after next. Today, the curator went to the League Conference. They need to discuss the matter of Mount Sendoff," the receptionist said apologetically. In fact, if Zhao Fang had arrived a little earlier, he would have caught the curator before departure.

But fate had it otherwise. Just moments before Zhao Fang arrived, the curator set off atop a Pidgeot.

"Ah, alright. I guess I'll just continue my journey then," Zhao Fang replied, not particularly concerned. In fact, not needing to converse with Mr. Qianli felt like a relief—he wasn't very adept at chatting with strangers.

Yet the matter of Mount Sendoff, as mentioned by the receptionist, lingered in Zhao Fang's mind.

What was on Mount Sendoff?

Aside from Ghost-type Pokémon, the most crucial secret lay in the Red and Blue Orbs, which could control the ancient legendary beasts Kyogre and Groudon. Of course, the so-called "control" was merely the League's claim. Zhao Fang believed their real effect was to awaken Groudon and Kyogre from their slumber and grant them the power of Primal Reversion. It was also said that the leaders of Team Magma and Team Aqua were too wicked-hearted to truly control them.

Such was the lore of the games; reality, Zhao Fang knew not. The only certainty was that, even after Yuushu's crackdown, those evil organizations still managed to achieve their goals. Had Rayquaza not descended from the ozone layer to resolve the crisis, the Hoenn region would have suffered a calamity.

"The awe of divine beasts," Zhao Fang murmured, only to feel his chin gently nudged by Dreepy.

He smiled. Indeed, he now had both Dreepy and Magikarp. With the aid of his golden finger, they could one day become remarkable Pokémon.

Having resolved all matters in Petalburg City, Zhao Fang prepared to depart, heading along the route toward Petalburg Woods, intending to cross the forest and reach Rustboro City. He was also intrigued by the uniquely styled mansion along the way and planned to see if there were any Pokémon inside suitable for Dreepy's training.

Once he left Petalburg City, Zhao Fang stepped onto Route 104. To one side, he could see the vast sea stretching into the distance. He gazed out over the ocean, lost in thought.

He had grown up inland and had never seen the sea before. Now, confronted with the boundless ocean, a feeling he couldn't quite describe welled up within him.

Though he was fascinated by the sea, Zhao Fang didn't rush to the shore. Instead, he entered the forest beside the route, planning to find a wild Pokémon to test Dreepy's moves. Otherwise, he wouldn't know how to battle when the time came.

Unlike the games, in reality, catching a Pokémon did not instantly reveal its moves. Quickly discerning the skills his Pokémon possessed was one of the basic lessons for trainers—a fact Zhao Fang knew from reading the beginner's guide.

Soon, he found his target: a Taillow, Normal and Flying type.

This Pokémon fit Zhao Fang's requirements perfectly. Its Normal-type moves couldn't harm Ghost-types, and before evolution, Taillow didn't know many Flying moves, making it an ideal opponent for Dreepy’s training.

Zhao Fang crouched, watching the Taillow pecking at the grass ahead. He quietly patted Dreepy, hanging around his neck.

"Dreepy, use your strongest attack to strike Taillow!" Zhao Fang whispered.

In battles between trainers and wild Pokémon, sneak attacks like Zhao Fang’s were allowed unless the aim was to catch the Pokémon. Of course, one could attack and then attempt to catch, but sneak attacks tended to make wild Pokémon less obedient, leading to disobedience.

Dreepy, upon hearing Zhao Fang’s command, slid off his neck. Zhao Fang saw a flash as Dreepy darted forward, hands glowing with black light, and raked Taillow, leaving a scar across its body.

"Sucker Punch?" Zhao Fang rubbed his chin. The move was incredibly fast and appeared to be Dark-type. Judging by its execution, Zhao Fang recognized it as Sucker Punch.

Taillow cried out from Dreepy’s attack, then flapped its wings, trying to take flight.

"Dreepy! Don’t let it get airborne!" Zhao Fang quickly commanded. Though Dreepy could fly, it had a ways to go compared to true Flying-type Pokémon.

"Dreepy!" Dreepy called. The Taillow, just about to take off, shuddered all over—not hurt, but its movement interrupted.

"Astonish?" Zhao Fang was delighted. Dreepy truly lived up to its status as a powerful pseudo-legendary Pokémon; its moves were impressive. He wondered what else Dreepy could do.

After suffering Astonish, Taillow realized this unfamiliar Pokémon intended to fight to the end. It turned and stared at Dreepy, then charged at him.

"Dodge its Quick Attack!" Zhao Fang recognized the move.

Though Dreepy was a Ghost-type, Zhao Fang didn't want it to develop the foolish habit of ignoring incoming moves.

Unexpectedly, Dreepy dodged rather slowly, as if toying with Taillow. Zhao Fang was speechless—this little fellow was quite proud.

But to Zhao Fang’s surprise, Taillow’s Quick Attack struck Dreepy, sending him tumbling backward.

"Guts ability?" Zhao Fang was astonished. How unlucky was Dreepy to encounter a Taillow with the Guts ability?

The Guts ability wasn’t particularly special; its only effect was to allow Normal and Fighting-type moves to hit Ghost-type Pokémon.