Rex, who had been so dismissive just moments before, now had the scar on his face twitching. Beads of cold sweat formed on his forehead.
He stared at the Gengar floating behind Kairos, its terrifying aura rolling off it in waves. His throat bobbed as he swallowed hard, the impatience in his eyes replaced entirely by shock and disbelief.
This Gengar... this crushing pressure... was way beyond ordinary quasi-Elite Four level!
Rex had clawed his way up to his current position step by step alongside his Machoke, reaching mid-level quasi-Elite Four strength.
Standing before this Gengar, he felt like a rookie trainer fresh out of Pallet Town.
Kairos stood there calmly, as if the terrifying ghost-type behind him was nothing out of the ordinary.
He looked at Rex and asked in an even tone, "So, can I join your team now?"
Rex opened his mouth, but no sound came out.
He looked at the Gengar radiating that horrifying aura, then at Kairos's young face. The muscles in his jaw twitched several times.
Finally, he forced out a smile that looked more like a grimace.
"Y-yes! Of course you can! Hahaha... Listen, I... you really had me fooled there! That was all just a misunderstanding! Everything I said before, total misunderstanding!"
Rex laughed awkwardly, a note of helplessness in his voice. He quickly hopped down from the table, his attitude pulling a complete one-eighty.
"Welcome to the Thunder Hammer Squad! With someone like you on board, this mission's as good as done! I'm Rex, team captain! What should I call you?"
He stuck out his hand enthusiastically, acting like the impatient guy from a minute ago had never existed.
Clearly, he hadn't become a bounty guild squad captain without learning how to read a room.
Since Rex's attitude had changed, Kairos saw no reason to give him a hard time. He shook hands briefly, then recalled Gengar into his shadow.
"Just call me Kairos."
"Ahem... Kairos, great name! Really strong!"
Rex coughed, withdrew his hand and rubbed it, trying to reclaim some of his authority as captain.
"Now that you're in, we're all on the same team! Come on, let me introduce you to everyone else."
He led Kairos to a corner of the hall, gesturing to a red-haired woman nearby wearing tight leather gear. She had a striking figure but sharp, hawk-like eyes.
"This is Lena. Poison-type specialist, handles reconnaissance and traps."
Lena had her arms crossed, her gaze moving between Kairos and Gengar with a mixture of scrutiny and curiosity. She gave a small nod.
At her feet, an Arbok flicked its tongue, also eyeing Kairos with interest.
"And this is Barton," Rex said, pointing to a bald giant of a man nearly two meters tall, built like a brick wall.
The man was silently polishing his glasses.
"He's our tank. Ground-types are his specialty."
Barton barely glanced up at Kairos before going back to cleaning his glasses. Beside him stood a massive Golem like a small mountain, radiating a steady, crushing presence.
Like the Arbok, it appeared to be early quasi-Elite Four level.
"Including me and my buddy Machoke here," Rex said, patting the still-tense Fighting-type beside him, "we Thunder Hammer Squad have built quite a reputation in this part of Saffron City.
This Ghost World mission is all about harvesting Shadow Crystal Clusters from the canyon zone. Silph Company's paying good money, but it's not without risk."
"Kairos, your strength is... ahem... exceptional. You'll fill in our long-range and special attack gaps perfectly."
Even as he said this, his body still trembled slightly, clearly haunted by what Gengar had shown him.
"What are the mission details?" Kairos kept it brief.
"Oh, right, right," Rex said quickly, pulling out a scroll-style map and a data pad from inside his jacket.
"This is a partial map of the Ghost World's third ring zone, provided by the guild. The canyon's right here."
His thick finger jabbed at an area marked in deep purple on the map.
"This type of ore usually forms near mineral veins deep in the canyon, at energy hotspots. Problem is, that area's also a nesting ground for Dusclops and Banette. Whole swarms of them. Real pain in the ass."
"On top of that, there's this weird wind that flows through the canyon naturally, causes continuous mental erosion to non-Ghost-type Pokémon and trainers. You'll need protection."
As he spoke, the other two team members seemed to snap out of their daze, their eyes landing on Kairos once more.
Lena spoke first.
"Wait, he's not the client?"
Rex waved her off.
"Don't worry about it. Trust me, he's stronger than all of us combined. I saw it myself just now."
With that, he handed the data pad to Kairos. A string of mission information was displayed on the screen.
[Mission Requirements: Collect at least ten kilograms of Shadow Crystal Clusters meeting purity standards (>75%). The temporary pass issued by the guild is valid for 72 hours, beginning from entry into the Ghost World portal. Failure to exit before expiration will result in pass invalidation. You proceed at your own risk.]
Kairos scanned the information quickly, focusing on the description of the wind and the recommended protective measures. It required wearing a guild-made item called a "Focus Amulet" or relying on the psychic power of Psychic or Ghost-type Pokémon to shield the trainer.
"Equipment and supplies can be purchased from the guild, but they cost extra. Or you can bring your own."
Rex added.
"The Focus Amulet's essential. Ten thousand League dollars each. Uh, if you don't have one, I could lend you one?"
"I'm fine. I've got my own methods."
Kairos cut him off.
His backpack was stuffed with all kinds of gear. He should be able to find something with a similar function.
Besides, with Gengar and Chandelure around, if Ghost-types could handle the problem, then some wind shouldn't be an issue.
"All right!"
Rex looked relieved.
Ten thousand wasn't pocket change for him either.
"In that case, let's all head to the Ghost World entrance now. It's in the teleportation hall on the guild's third basement level."
The group left the noisy guild hall, descending the heavy stone staircase.
The atmosphere grew quiet. Lena and Barton kept their distance from Kairos, the two of them seeming to discuss something.
Clearly they still had doubts about Kairos's strength. That was normal, and Kairos didn't mind.
Rex walked at the front, Machoke close behind, muscles still coiled tight, obviously not yet recovered from the shock Gengar had delivered.
Kairos took in his surroundings. The third basement level was cavernous, with huge crystals emitting soft white light embedded in the domed ceiling.
At the center sat a massive circular platform constructed from intricate symbols and countless steel pipes. This had to be the teleportation array to the Ghost World.
Standing at the platform's edge were two stern-faced inspectors in League uniforms.
Beside them stood sharp-eyed Alakazam, their powerful psychic fields blanketing the entire area, maintaining the teleportation array's stability and monitoring all comings and goings.
"Thunder Hammer Squad. We've accepted the 'Phantom Canyon Crystal Cluster Collection' mission, number G-734."
Rex stepped forward, presenting his hunter badge and mission credentials.
An inspector took the items, scanning and verifying them with a handheld device, while an Alakazam's psychic power swept over the squad members.
"Release your partner Pokémon."
When scanning Kairos, the inspector's gaze lingered on his young face for a moment before shifting to the Gengar behind him with its staggering aura.
He raised an eyebrow.
What's this kid's story?
So young, but with a Gengar that powerful?
"Identity confirmed. Mission valid."
The inspector returned the badge and credentials.
"Temporary pass activated, bound to squad member identity data. Pass is valid for 72 hours. If you don't make it back in time, the entrance will be sealed one-way. You proceed at your own risk. Let me emphasize again: Attacking Ghost World Pokémon without provocation is strictly forbidden.
Large-scale destruction of the Ghost World environment is strictly forbidden. Carrying undeclared contraband in or out is strictly forbidden. Violators will have their hunter qualifications permanently revoked and face legal action from the League."
"Understood, understood, we know the drill!" Rex nodded repeatedly.
"Prepare for teleportation. Stand on the platform and stay still," the other inspector instructed.
Kairos stepped onto the cold metal platform with Gengar.
Rex, Lena, Barton, and their Pokémon quickly took their positions as well.
Lena slipped on a small amulet. Barton activated a device on Golem that emitted an earthy yellow energy field enveloping both of them.
Rex and Machoke also weren't about to tough it out with just their bodies, honestly putting on their amulets.
Hum!
The next moment, the runes on the teleportation array lit up one by one, blue-white energy currents surging and weaving through the patterns.
Space began to warp slightly, light stretching and bending.
A powerful sense of weightlessness and spatial tearing washed over them.
The runes on the teleportation array blazed with blue light. Kairos instinctively took a deep breath, feeling like he was standing on a rapidly spinning vortex.
Honestly, this sensation was somewhat similar to using the dimensional communicator to cross worlds.
"Kekeke?"
Beside him, Gengar let out a questioning cry, clearly sensing the same déjà vu.
The surging shadow energy around it immediately expanded, wrapping Kairos in a thin black mist barrier that blocked out some of the spatial turbulence.
On the other side, Rex, Lena, and Barton were clearly struggling under the immense pressure.
Rex gritted his teeth, veins bulging on his forehead. Machoke gripped his shoulder tightly, barely keeping him stable.
Lena's face was pale, Arbok coiled around her, its serpent eyes narrowed to slits.
Barton was the most composed, his massive Golem looking rooted to the platform, the earthy yellow energy field wrapped tightly around both him and Barton, resisting the spatial chaos.
The dizzying, disorienting sensation didn't last long.
The humming cut off abruptly, the blinding blue light vanishing like a receding tide.
A completely different, bone-deep cold replaced the warmth of the guild's underground hall, like countless tiny ice needles piercing through clothing and stabbing straight into the body.
The scene before them had changed entirely.
No dome, no crystal lights, no thick stone walls.
The sky was a frozen gray, like a massive curtain hanging low, oppressively close.
No sun, no moon, only dim, sourceless pale white light barely illuminating this desolate landscape.
Kairos noticed the ground beneath his feet was dark brown, dry and cracked, with only jagged black rocks scattered across it.
The air carried an indescribable smell.
Desolate, silent, ruined.
That was Kairos's first impression of the Ghost World.
If he didn't know he was in the Ghost World, he'd swear he'd ended up back in the lower districts of the Second World.
However, on this barren wasteland, not far from the teleportation array, there stood a complex of buildings completely at odds with the surroundings.
It was a deep gray fortress-style structure, rugged in design, radiating an air of weathered age.
The complex was substantial in size, with towering walls around the perimeter covered in intricate, faintly purple-glowing runes.
Through gaps in the walls, Kairos could see towers and buildings in the same style. Figures in dark gray or black standard uniforms moved about busily, most accompanied by Ghost-type Pokémon of various forms.
Haunter, Mismagius, Drifblim... there was even a massive Dusknoir radiating heavy, oppressive power patrolling slowly.
An invisible, powerful psychic field surrounded the entire complex, walling off the cold, desolate death of the wasteland outside.
"Phew... finally made it."
Rex exhaled heavily, working his neck which had stiffened from the spatial tearing, his voice sounding abrupt in the silence.
He explained:
"Hey, this your first time here? Let me fill you in. See that? That's the Ghost World Lineage's territory. They call it the 'Night Watcher Fortress.' We need to stop there first to register before we can head deeper to carry out our mission."
He pointed at the complex, a trace of unmistakable reverence in his tone.
"Ghost World Lineage?"
Kairos's gaze swept over the fortress before returning to Rex.
The mission briefing had specifically mentioned they were his target group, but there wasn't much about them available online.
Gengar floated slowly behind him, crimson eyes surveying this world that felt both intimately familiar and oddly foreign now.
"Yeah, a bunch of weirdos who specialize in Ghost-type Pokémon. Or maybe... guardians is a better word?"
As Rex led the squad toward the heavy, rivet-covered metal gate of the fortress, he explained:
"This Ghost World hellhole, as you can see, is barren as all get-out, but the Ghost-type Pokémon living here are terrifyingly numerous. In the past, nobody managed them, and these things would constantly swarm into the real world in groups, causing all kinds of havoc. Scaring people to death was the least of the problems."
"Then, about a hundred years ago, this group calling themselves the 'Ghost World Lineage' showed up and put down roots here. They're incredibly powerful, and their methods are... well, pretty unique.
Anyway, they managed to get the situation under control, establishing order. They specifically guard the various entrances between the Ghost World and reality, preventing large-scale Ghost-type Pokémon invasions."
"But in exchange, the Ghost World became their territory. Now anyone wanting to enter the Ghost World needs their permission, or has to go through official channels."
He paused, lowering his voice slightly.
"That Ghost-type specialist from Kanto known for her temper, Elite Four Agatha, spent a long time training here when she was young. Supposedly her strength skyrocketed during that period, and she later became an Elite Four member in one shot."
Hearing this, Kairos paused for a moment.
Agatha, one of Kanto's Elite Four, came from here?
It seemed this Ghost World Lineage had quite the pedigree.
۞۞۞۞
~ Push the story forward with your Power Stones