c89: Marshadow Is Confused
After a full day of rest in the Pocket Space, during which Chen Xiaoxiao gave her Pokémon some high-grade recovery supplements and Source Training nutrients, she began preparations for the night operation.
10:00 p.m.
Chen Xiaoxiao exited the Pocket Space at the exact coordinates she had entered from the previous night, thanks to the spatial anchor she'd set using Gardevoir's Teleport matrix.
"Come out, Espeon, Metagross, Meowstic (Male), Togekiss!"
With a toss of four Ultra Balls, four trusted partners appeared in a coordinated flash of light.
"Espeon, Metagross, Meowstic, Togekiss fan out in four directions and use your psychic senses to drive out any Ghost-type Pokémon within a one-kilometer radius of Fang Yuan's resting spot. Make sure nothing approaches the area."
The Pokémon gave coordinated cries of acknowledgment before dispersing like a well-trained unit Espeon to the east, Metagross clanking toward the north, Meowstic zipping westward, and Togekiss soaring southward under the moonlight.
After confirming their departure, Chen Xiaoxiao retrieved an Apex-grade Ghost-type Energy Cube from her dimensional storage and gently placed it at a marked location on the ground.
With a flash of Latias' Teleport, Chen Xiaoxiao's figure blurred and vanished, re-entering the Pocket Space. From within, she, Solgaleo, Gardevoir, and Latias observed the exterior through the transparent spatial viewing screen generated by Gardevoir's Future Sight-linked projection.
Though they could observe the real world clearly, the Pocket Space remained invisible and undetectable to outside perception — not even Psychic-types could scan its presence unless specially attuned.
Chen Xiaoxiao wasn't worried about wild Pokémon interfering — her sentry team was more than capable of handling such threats. Even if a straggler slipped in unnoticed, she could easily retrieve the cube via Telekinesis, linked to her PokéNet interface.
Everything was in place. She was setting the bait now came the waiting game.
Excitement stirred in her chest.
About ten minutes later, a dark, amorphous shadow slithered near the bait. The cube trembled slightly then sank into the earth.
Chen Xiaoxiao leaned forward in her viewing platform, her eyes glinting with anticipation.
"What kind of Pokémon is that?"
She tried to analyze its movements, but the shadowy hand alone wasn't enough to identify the intruder. And based on her experience from the previous night, she didn't dare let Gardevoir or Solgaleo project any mental probing — the Pokémon might sense it and flee again.
Relying solely on sight, she watched intently.
Ten minutes passed.
Then, she exited the space again and placed a one-meter-high metal table on the same spot, aligning it precisely with Latias' 3D map from the viewing screen. On the table, she arranged a cluster of enticing Ghost-type energy cubes, calibrated to radiate trace spiritual frequency fluctuations to attract high-level Ghost Pokémon.
With a giggle, she returned to the space.
"Let's see you try to sneak that now. No way your arms are long enough!" Chen Xiaoxiao thought, a smirk on her face.
Moments later, a thin veil of black mist began to creep across the ground beneath the table.
A gluttonous one! Chen Xiaoxiao noted, amused.
From the center of the mist, a black shadow materialized — slowly revealing a small figure. With glowing yellow irises surrounded by orange sclera, the being appeared to wear a shadowy helmet and emitted a low, crackling aura.
Marshadow.
Chen Xiaoxiao's breath caught.
"A Mythical Pokémon!?"
She had never considered the possibility.
---
Marshadow
Species: Gloomdweller Pokémon
Type: Fighting/Ghost
Gender: Genderless
Level: 87 (Champion Rank - Intermediate Tier)
Nature: Jolly (+Speed, -Sp. Atk)
Ability: Technician (Boosts moves with base power ≤ 60 by 50%)
Rarity: Mythical
---
Marshadow cautiously emerged from the ground, only half-exposed, scanning the environment with sharp eyes.
After confirming no immediate threats, it fully emerged and stood beneath the table. Despite being a rare Mythical Pokémon, its size barely reached the tabletop's edge.
Marshadow reached up instinctively — only to find that its small arms couldn't quite reach the cubes!
Not only could it not reach the table, its ghostly phasing didn't work — the table had been reinforced with Iron Defense-treated alloy, which made phasing through objects impossible for Pokémon under Lv. 90.
"Pfft!"
Chen Xiaoxiao snorted, trying not to burst into laughter.
"Are you messing with me? Are you supposed to be the terrifying Gloomdweller? This is too funny!"
Inside the space, Latias and Gardevoir chuckled along — the scene was simply too absurd.
With a playful gleam, Chen Xiaoxiao used her spatial manipulator glove to slowly retract the energy cube into the Pocket Space.
Marshadow blinked in confusion as the cube vanished before its eyes. It leapt onto the table, puzzled.
?????
"Pfft-hahaha!"
Chen Xiaoxiao burst out laughing.
From the space window, she saw Marshadow standing atop the table, head tilted, eyes narrowed in suspicion. It looked baffled.
Latias floated beside her, smiling gently.
"Latiaa~" (You're such a kid, Xiaoxiao.)
But Chen Xiaoxiao wasn't done.
She pinched another cube — this time a Fighting-type energy cube, flavored with Chesto Berry essence and known to be one of Marshadow's favorites — and partially extended it behind the Mythical Pokémon's back.
Just as quickly, she snapped it back.
Marshadow twitched.
Turned.
?????
Nothing!
Why does it smell like food, but nothing's here?!
She did it again. And again.
Marshadow spun around in confusion every time.
After a few loops, Chen Xiaoxiao was laughing so hard she had to hold her stomach. Even Gardevoir, usually composed, had to hide her amused smile behind her hand.
Then Chen Xiaoxiao got serious.
She tossed a full Fighting-type cube directly out of the space window.
Marshadow instantly blurred forward with Shadow Sneak and caught the cube — but instead of eating it, it stared curiously at the spot where the cube had appeared.
It pawed at the air.
Nothing? Can't feel it. No presence. No Aura. How?
For a being like Marshadow, who specialized in sensing fighting spirit and aura fluctuations — this was completely outside its comprehension.
"There's nothing here! But the food came from here! What kind of power is this!?"
Chen Xiaoxiao smiled smugly.
Now Marshadow was the confused one — just like she had been yesterday when it had stolen the cube right from under her nose.
"Heehee! Who's the clever one now? Gotcha back for last night's prank, Marshadow!"
She extended another cube… then drew it back again!
Marshadow twisted fast — but again, nothing.
Its yellow-orange eyes blinked, and its face drooped in visible puzzlement.
"Sha…?" (What is happening?)
It had never felt so thoroughly outplayed.
"Shanai~" (That's enough, Xiaoxiao. Don't keep the others waiting.)
Gardevoir, always the responsible one, finally stepped in.
Chen Xiaoxiao nodded, sobering up.
She had left Espeon, Metagross, Meowstic, and Togekiss patrolling outside for quite a while — and although they were highly trained, they were still high-value targets that might attract unwanted attention.
Time to wrap this up.
She took out a final offering — a combined pack containing high-quality Ghost-type and Fighting-type cubes — and prepared to make the next move…
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