Chapter 368: Yamask

Togepi had evolved, but there was still no sign of evolution from Pichu. Ultimately, the reason lay in Sato not caring for Pichu enough.

For Mark, Togepi was his destined third partner, and even shared a strong affinity with his own unique ability.

But for Sato, Pichu was just something he raised for cuteness. If it wanted to fight, Sato was willing to train it.

But if Pichu just wanted to live happily and carefree, with Sato's current capabilities, raising a single Pichu wasn't a burden at all.

Not every Pokémon is suited for battle, and not every Pokémon enjoys fighting.

Yet more often than not, once a Pokémon is captured by a human, it loses the right to choose.

It's as if a Trainer's Pokémon must undergo training, fight in battle after battle, and grow stronger through that process.

And a Breeder's Pokémon, while they might enjoy battling, could only help their owner cook, mix medicine, and occasionally be brought out for public admiration.

This one has a nice coat, that one has a strong physique, this one has spirited eyes, that one has a more elegant posture…

Did they live the way they wanted to? Maybe yes, maybe no.

But at the very least, they didn't want to disappoint their Trainers.

And Pichu, to Sato, was more like a piece of purity in his heart, meant to reflect Sato's most honest feelings.

'So, if you're happy, that's enough.'

Finally, after showing off to his heart's content, Mark returned Togetic, who had attracted so much attention, to its Poké Ball, then darted around and slipped away from the crowd.

Moments later, the group regrouped again. With Pokémon around, it wasn't easy to get separated.

With their bellies full and their cravings satisfied, they leisurely returned to the hotel to rest. What followed next was Phoebe's moment to shine.

That map carefully kept by Wilma… what kind of existence did Misty Forest hold?

With questions and curiosity in their hearts, Sato and the others gradually fell asleep.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, the group set out from Nimbasa City and headed northeast toward Misty Forest.

Following the map's guidance, Sato and the others crossed hills and rivers, slowly closing in on Misty Forest.

By the time they reached the afternoon, they climbed to the top of a mountain, and the forest finally came into view.

Using this nameless mountaintop as the boundary, the direction they had come from was a lush, verdant forest. But turning toward their destination, thick fog blanketed everything, mist swirling all around.

Occasional birdsong only added to the desolate and chilly atmosphere.

"Are… are we really going in there?" Mark tugged on Sato's sleeve and asked in a small voice.

"Yeah," Sato replied coolly.

"Hurry, hurry! My Ghost babies are already thirsting for action~" Phoebe was the complete opposite, extremely excited, practically itching to rush in.

A place like this was definitely home to many Ghost-type Pokémon, and besides Frillish, she hadn't really seen any other Ghost-types in Unova.

"It's already afternoon. They say Misty Forest is even scarier at night. Maybe we should find a suitable spot to set up camp and go in tomorrow morning instead."

Joseph offered a very rational suggestion, which instantly earned vigorous nods from Mark and Ryoko. They were genuinely scared.

Phoebe really wanted to say she could just go explore on her own. After all, her strength was no joke.

Even without Mega Evolution or Energy Amplification, Sato still couldn't beat her.

But then Phoebe suddenly remembered how Sato had acted on his own earlier. If she went off alone now, wouldn't that make her exactly like him?

"Alright then, let's eat quickly, get to bed early, and head out first thing tomorrow!" Phoebe could only push the group like that.

Setting up camp, the five of them moved with practiced ease. Seeing Joseph take the initiative to start cooking, Ryoko quickly ran over to help.

Sato, taking advantage of the fact that there were no strangers around, brought out Zweilous to battle wild Pokémon and strengthen their bond.

Maybe it was because it had two independent minds, but Zweilous was clearly smarter than the average Pokémon, reacting very quickly when carrying out Sato's commands.

Moreover, the coordination between Lefty and Righty was incredibly smooth. When using moves of the same type, they could even pull off different finishers.

For example, Dragon Breath + Dragon Pulse, or Bite + Crunch?

It might seem a bit redundant, but being able to use two moves at once -if coordinated well- could indeed lead to unexpected victories.

As for using moves of different types together, that was extremely likely to trigger Zweilous's rampage, something Sato had learned the hard way in his previous life.

Back then, Sato had suffered quite a bit from this. The first time he trained it, he was nearly crippled by Zweilous's indiscriminate attacks after it went on a rampage.

So some things just weren't worth trying right now… not even once.

And as for Mark, of course he was off having fun with Togetic, continuing to spread that pure happiness everywhere.

By now, the once-eternal Arbok was no longer eternal; its status was gradually being replaced -and surpassed- by the adorable Togetic.

Strangely enough, Arbok actually felt relieved… it no longer had to deal with that simpleton day and night.

Was it the sun that was too hot? Or was Joseph's food not tasty enough? Why did it have to hang around that spiky-haired fool?

Having reached enlightenment, Arbok munched on the Pokémon food Joseph made while basking in the sun, occasionally glancing at Togetic.

'So young!'

"Um… I'd like to go walk around nearby. Anyone wanna come? You know, to digest a little~?"

Phoebe couldn't hold back anymore, she still wanted to go explore a bit.

Ryoko hesitated but ultimately kept helping Joseph cook. It wasn't that she didn't want to go, she was just naturally timid.

Sato and Mark pretended not to hear her, each focused on their own thing. They had no real interest in Misty Forest.

Phoebe looked at the group, a little disheartened. Her strong desire from before had been doused completely.

'Fine then. Tomorrow it is!'

However, just as Phoebe had given up on the idea and was about to follow the group's plan to rest for the night, she suddenly sensed a unique Ghost-type fluctuation.

A Ghost-type Pokémon!

It had delivered itself to her door. Phoebe wanted to shout with excitement, but was afraid of startling it, so she acted like she hadn't noticed and waited quietly.

However, she wasn't the only one who had sensed the Ghost-type. Sato had seen it too, his Dark Energy and emotional feedback had simultaneously detected the lurking presence.

Just as Sato was about to act, Phoebe suddenly stood up. At some point, a Sableye and a Gengar had appeared beside her.

Sableye stepped forward, and from its gem-like eyes, a beam of red light shot out, striking a patch of seemingly empty air.

"Yaa!"

Under the effects of Foresight, the hidden presence was finally revealed.

Yamask!