Telepathy

The wet and slippery ground was covered with moss, and every step made a "squelch" sound. Careful attention had to be paid to footing to avoid slipping.

"Slow!" Suddenly, Slowpoke called out, its eyes glowing blue, signaling it was ready to attack.

Hearing Slowpoke's warning, Aoki felt uneasy. The cave was too quiet.

This wasn't a dry and barren cave like the one in Bangla, where no Pokémon would willingly stay. This cave was cold and wet, an environment certain Pokémon would thrive in. Yet, apart from the initial encounter with a swarm of Zubat, there were no signs of other Pokémon.

Slowpoke's psychic sense proved useful as a spherical figure emerged from the shadows. Purple gas swirled around a black orb with two glaring eyes and a mischievous grin—Gastly.

It became clear that Slowpoke had sensed Gastly's presence before it appeared. Psychic Pokémon were naturally attuned to ghostly and gaseous energies, making Slowpoke particularly aware of such threats.

"Caw!" Murkrow flapped its wings, dispersing the purple haze slightly, revealing Gastly's full form. Murkrow's Dark-type energy gave it confidence against Gastly, showing no hesitation or fear.

"Gastly!" the ghostly Pokémon taunted, floating closer with a wide grin.

"Catch it, Slowpoke," Aoki ordered. Gastly, at level 16, posed little threat.

Slowpoke's psychic energy formed an invisible hand, seizing Gastly mid-air and rendering it immobile. The ghostly Pokémon writhed but was unable to escape the psychic grip.

Suddenly, Gastly let out a loud cry, and similar cries echoed throughout the cave. More Gastly began to emerge from the shadows, surrounding Aoki and his team. The air grew heavier with an eerie, chilling mist.

As more Gastly gathered, Aoki's confidence grew. "So, this is a Gastly nest," he muttered to himself, eyeing the growing crowd.

Even as the numbers swelled, Aoki wasn't worried. Slowpoke's psychic abilities and Murkrow's Dark-type strength were more than enough to handle the situation.

The Gastly closed in, but their movements halted abruptly as a path opened among them. A slightly larger Gastly floated forward, its body radiating an unusual dark aura. The other Gastly seemed to respect this leader, stepping aside to let it through.

"Hello, young human," a raspy, commanding voice resonated in Aoki's mind.

Surprised, Aoki looked at the larger Gastly, noticing its eyes glowing faintly. It was using Telepathy to communicate.

"Was that you?" Aoki asked, his expression sharp.

The large Gastly nodded, and its voice echoed in Aoki's mind again. "Your companions are strong. A battle here would not end well for us."

Aoki nodded slightly, letting the system scan the Gastly's stats:

Pokemon: Gastly (Yellow)

Gender: Male

Level: 28

Type: Ghost + Poison

Ability: Levitate

Genetic Skills: Mean Look, Disable

Basic Skills: Lick, Hypnosis, Curse, Night Shade, Confuse Ray

Learned Skills: Shadow Ball, Dark Pulse, Smog, Haze

TM Moves: None

The data showed this Gastly wasn't an ordinary one. Its level and move set marked it as a seasoned leader of its kind.

"Step aside. There's something deeper in this cave that I need to find," Aoki said firmly.

The leader Gastly hesitated but finally spoke. "We can let you pass, but only if you do something for us. It's a simple task."

Aoki considered the offer. The cave was vast and difficult to navigate, and the Gastly could guide him. However, his tone remained resolute. "I'm going in, whether you stop me or not."

The Gastly leader's expression shifted. It clearly understood that Aoki wasn't bluffing. After a moment of silence, the telepathic voice spoke again. "We can offer you a reward for your help."

Aoki smirked but said nothing.

The leader Gastly paused before continuing. "Teach your Slowpoke how to use Telepathy, and I'll let you pass without resistance. I'll even guide you to what you seek."

This caught Aoki's interest. Psychic communication would give Slowpoke a considerable advantage in future battles. For Gastly, teaching Telepathy to a Psychic-type Pokémon wasn't as challenging as it would be for others, especially given its long experience with its own abilities.

After a brief pause, Aoki nodded. "Deal."

The leader Gastly turned to the others and gave a low growl. The other Gastly began dispersing, clearing a path through the cave.