Looking at Leonardo across from him, David analyzed the situation based on the information he had already gathered. First, his opponent's ability could comprehensively strengthen Ghost-type Pokémon, but it seemed to have side effects like reduced intelligence or inducing a berserk state.
Second, using this ability placed an enormous physical burden on the Trainer, but it was highly likely that this burden could be offset or lessened somehow.
David had caught a glimpse of the intense life Aura that had flashed by earlier. It was common knowledge that Ghost-type Pokémon needed to absorb life force; otherwise, they would easily fall into a weakened state.
Even David, when formulating the little fox's diet, had added special Pokéblocks that provided life energy.
This was also why Ghost-type Pokémon were considered relatively dangerous.
Wild Ghost-type Pokémon, lacking life force, would actively attack humans and absorb their life energy. The existence of Pokémon like Chandelure and Dusknoir, who were known to feed on human souls, further deepened humanity's fear of Ghost-type Pokémon.
From his opponent's shout to Gastly just now, David could infer that the cost of using the ability could be resolved by having Gastly accumulate a large amount of life energy within its body beforehand, or at least the side effects could be alleviated this way.
As for how so much life energy was stored within Gastly, David wasn't entirely clear.
However, he could guess it was most likely some kind of ancestral secret technique. Those long-standing Trainer families in the Cloudspire Alliance basically all had similar methods, and his Moore family was no exception.
That was probably all for now; other details would need to be probed during the battle.
Leonardo, who had just caught his breath on the opposite side, was still unaware that in just this short amount of time, David had almost completely analyzed his ability.
"Ha! Witness the true power of Gastly and me!"
Leonardo, who was nearly depleted after using his special ability, forced himself to say to David.
"Gastly, Dark Pulse!"
"Kou jiejie!"
Dark-type energy rapidly gathered in front of Gastly, and soon, a Dark Pulse at least one and a half times larger than normal appeared before it.
Then, amidst Gastly's terrifying laughter of "Jiejiejie!", the Dark Pulse swiftly attacked the little fox.
"Shadow Ball to block it!"
David wanted to test his opponent's current power level and had Zorua use Shadow Ball to intercept the Dark Pulse.
"Bang!"
Instantly, when the two attacks collided, the dense smoke produced by the fierce explosion enveloped the entire battle arena.
"Zorua! Zorua!"
"So that's how it is!"
Just as everyone temporarily lost sight of the situation on the battlefield due to the smoke, the little fox had already informed David of the opponent's specific condition through their telepathic bond.
Gastly's attack intensity was at least two levels stronger than before; that Dark Pulse had even pierced through the little fox's Shadow Ball and was only blocked by a second, quickly released Shadow Ball.
David immediately judged that, given Gastly's current strength, it would be difficult for the little fox to quickly defeat the opponent. Although if the battle dragged on, Zorua would most likely still win, since the opponent's ability clearly had significant limitations.
But how much time it would take depended on how long Gastly's enhanced state could be maintained.
"How about it? Do you feel it? This is the true power of Ghost-type Pokémon!"
Changing from his previous look of near defeat, Leonardo showed a hint of a smile on his stiff face, speaking to David with some pride.
"Not really."
"You don't think you're the only special one, do you?"
"In that case, let me show you the true power between Zorua and me!"
Looking at Leonardo's puzzled expression on the opposite side, David had now figured out his opponent's actual strength and obtained the data he wanted. He was too lazy to continue this exchange with this guy.
He had now made up his mind to quickly defeat his opponent and end this match.
For the first time in a public setting, David's eyes shone with a sapphire blue light. Aura Resonance, activate!
Instantly, a powerful azure blue Aura rose from behind David, and the continuously swirling wind made his shirt billow loudly.
"Respond to my heart! Zorua!"
"Zorua!"
An invisible link connected David and Zorua's minds. This was the first time he had fully displayed his ability since his Aura was fully awakened, and the powerful Aura flowed unreservedly through their connection to Zorua.
At this moment, they entered a state far beyond their previous telepathic conversations; mind, will, thought—everything was completely synchronized in this instant.
David's spirit seemed to merge with Zorua on the battlefield; they were indistinguishable from each other, no longer needing any communication.
At the same time, stimulated by this powerful Aura, the power slumbering deep within the little fox's bloodline was finally awakened at this moment.
"Bitter Malice!"
Transcending the distances of time and space, after endless years, the light of this exclusive move of the Hisuian Zorua family finally shone again upon this world!
Dense dark purple flames surged from Zorua's body. The flames contained chilling resentment, and the little fox turned its gaze toward the opponent. At this moment, under the effect of the Aura, Gastly was completely locked on.
"Zorua!!!"
The vast, tide-like dark purple flames surged with full force toward Gastly. Under this powerful flame of resentment, not only was the air distorted, but even the battle arena was affected, with signs of the ground beginning to melt.
Seeing David and Zorua seemingly about to unleash a full-power final attack, Leonardo's previously proud expression changed again, and he said solemnly.
"Damn it! Don't underestimate us!"
"Gastly, full power Dark Pulse!"
Facing Zorua's fierce attack, Gastly closed its eyes. When it opened them again, they were once more immersed in a blood-red hue. "Kou jiejie!" An evil will, as if to drag the entire world into darkness, awakened within its body.
Dark energy furiously gathered in front of it, and a Dark Pulse at least twice the scale of the previous one gradually took shape.
"Boom!"
Amidst the audience's bated breath, the decisive attacks of both contestants collided. The tide of resentful flames and the wave of darkness neatly divided the arena into two worlds of dark purple and pitch black.
"Zorua!!!"
After a brief stalemate, the little fox, whose mind, spirit, and will were integrated with David's, clearly gained the upper hand.
The Dark Pulse, like a wave of death itself, continued to retreat under the little fox's Bitter Malice. Until finally, Leonardo's body could no longer withstand the burden of his ability, and the connection between him and Gastly was forcibly broken.
"Bang!"
Gastly, having lost the enhancement from Leonardo's ability, now had no strength left to resist. The Dark Pulse, which had barely held its ground before, completely collapsed, and the tide of resentful flames directly engulfed Gastly.
Severely injured, Gastly could barely maintain its Levitate and fell to the ground.
"Kou jiejie!"
The endless negative emotions contained within the resentful flames assaulted Gastly's mind. The intense mental stimulation caused it to let out a mournful cry. Seeing this, David also severed the Aura link with Zorua.
"Alright, stop now! Zorua!"
The little fox, hearing the command, quickly stopped its attack, and the resentful flames, losing their source, slowly dissipated.
As for Gastly, it had completely fallen unconscious, but the intense mental stimulation caused its body to still tremble occasionally even in its unconscious state.
"Match over! The winner is contestant David!"