Chapter 268: The Grimoire of Dark Spirits

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Sato admired the Fire Stone of unknown quality for a moment before putting it away, much to the disappointment of his Growlithe. Turning on the light, he retrieved a book from his belongings.

"Don't worry, this stone is meant for you. You're still young. Once you grow a bit more, I'll use it to evolve you into a majestic Arcanine," he teased, patting Growlithe's head as it gazed at him pitifully.

"Woof! Woof!" Growlithe barked happily at his words, enthusiastically licking him in gratitude.

After playing with Growlithe for a bit, Sato redirected his attention to the book on the desk. 

The cover was pitch black with six crimson characters boldly spelling out The Grimoire of Dark Spirits – Volume 1. 

This was the second reward the old village chief had given him. Despite its ominous title, the book wasn't about malicious ghosts but referred instead to Dark-type and Ghost-type Pokémon.

Sato had skimmed the book earlier and realized its value far exceeded the Lilycove Compendium given to him by Elsa. However, the contents were somewhat limited. 

It provided detailed information about some Dark-type and Ghost-type Pokémon, but specific training methods were only included for the Poochyena line and the Shuppet line.

According to the old village chief, the descendants of the Volcano Guardians were a family with special abilities. These abilities made them exceptionally skilled at raising Dark-type and Ghost-type Pokémon. 

Additionally, due to their connection with the orbs of Groudon and Kyogre, the clan was also adept at training Ground, Fire, and Water-type Pokémon. This book was merely a small piece of the family's extensive heritage.

The old village chief had also been candid: the book in Sato's hands was only a reproduced and heavily abridged version. The original Grimoire of Dark Spirits had vanished into history with the death of the last direct heir of the clan. 

The current version was compiled by a branch of the family that had merged its own training insights and knowledge.

"The proverbial camel still stands taller than a horse, even in death. No matter how much the Volcano Guardians declined, their most valuable knowledge remained intact. Just a fraction of it would make any ordinary Trainer envious," Sato thought as he carefully read the book.

Even though the book was abridged—and possibly further edited by the village chief—Sato couldn't help but marvel at the depth of knowledge it contained about Dark-type and Ghost-type Pokémon. 

It was a testament to the clan's former glory. With such a profound heritage, any competent descendant could have ensured the family's stability for thousands of years.

Unfortunately, the heavy burden of guarding the legendary orbs had sapped the clan's strength, forcing them to fade into history. To Sato, their fall was inevitable. 

"Guardianship" seemed like a grand excuse. With the immense value of those orbs, the clan must have exploited them to enrich themselves.

"The old man really understands the struggles of ordinary Trainers like me. He knows someone with humble beginnings and big ambitions can't resist this temptation. Owning this book could save years of effort for most people—or even lay the foundation for a new family specializing in Dark or Ghost Pokémon," Sato mused after finishing a significant portion of the book in about an hour.

The Mutated Fire Stone of unknown quality and this Grimoire of Dark Spirits – Volume 1 were just the upfront rewards the old chief had provided. 

If Sato wanted to obtain Volume 2 and other rewards, he'd have to rescue the old chief's beloved son.

Sato had no choice but to accept the temptation. 

With only ten years to complete his system-mandated challenge of defeating all regional Champions and Elite Four, every second mattered. Among all Pokémon types, Dark and Ghost types stood out as some of the most formidable. 

Pokémon of these types were notoriously tricky and often terrifying in battle, with their versatile and unpredictable moves giving them a significant advantage.

Several Elite Four members specialized in these types, including Agatha of the Kanto Elite Four, who was as powerful as many Champions. (In her youth, she was a peer of Professor Oak. Unlike humans, Ghost-type Pokémon didn't age in the traditional sense.)

If he could glean insights from this book, Sato could gain an edge against such opponents. Additionally, mastering the power of Dark and Ghost Pokémon could turn them into valuable allies on his journey.

Sato's excellent memory and dynamic vision allowed him to absorb most of the 200-page book, with its tiny tadpole-sized text, in a little over an hour. 

However, cramming such a vast amount of information into his brain left him slightly dizzy. He put the book away, popped a few gem-grade PokeBlocks into his mouth, and felt the fatigue begin to dissipate.

Thanks to his system's analysis, Sato knew the PokeBlocks he crafted accelerated energy absorption, rapidly restoring stamina and focus. The downside was an increased appetite soon after.

After eating some beef jerky, Sato set an alarm on his digital clock for 6 a.m. the next morning. He lay down on the bed and quickly drifted off to sleep, ready for the challenges ahead.