"?"
Gengar and Combusken instantly shifted into battle stances.
[What's Dusknoir saying? The mood just got heavy.]
[Did it just tell Feng-ge he's doomed?]
[STOP—who'll host the Poké Ball giveaways then?!]
[...Priorities, man. Priorities.]
Dusknoir waved dismissively.
Hmm. (Save your energy. You two can't touch me.)
"GENGAR! (Feng won't die! Look at him—perfectly fine!)"
Hmm. (Heh. I've ferried millions of souls. Never been wrong. His death's set in stone.)
Hmm. (Also, without ambushing me, did you really think you could land a hit?)
Arrogant? Perhaps. But Su Feng believed it. Dusknoir had casually swatted away Haunter's Shadow Ball earlier—this was no ordinary Ghost-type.
Still, how did it know he'd die?
"Can you tell me how?" Su Feng asked, curiosity outweighing fear.
[Wait, WHAT?!]
[Since when can Feng-ge understand Pokémon?!]
[Newbies smh. On this channel, nothing's surprising.]
[Backpack? Superhuman stats? Poké Ball tech? This is mild.]
[FENG-GE DON'T DIE—WE NEED THOSE GIVEAWAYS!]
Dusknoir shrugged. Cause of death? Irrelevant. Heart attack? Wild Pokémon mauling? Its job was just soul delivery.
Gengar's eyes hardened. Suddenly—
BOOM!
A point-blank Shadow Ball blasted Dusknoir, engulfing it in smoke.
"GENGAR! (RUN, FENG!)"
Su Feng blinked. Misunderstanding? He held Combusken back.
As the smoke cleared, Dusknoir examined its smoldering belly.
Hmm? (Bold move, kid.)
Internally, it approved. Attacking a stronger foe for her trainer? Rare courage.
"Gengar, wa—"
BOOM!
Another Shadow Ball—this time aimed behind Su Feng—sent him tumbling. Harmless, but dizzying.
Gengar, thinking Su Feng was struck, snapped.
Shadow Punches rained down, demolishing the cabin. Dusknoir dodged effortlessly, tossing weakened Shadow Balls to test her.
Gengar matched each one midair with pinpoint accuracy.
Hmm. (Not bad.)
Dusknoir grinned. Time to escalate.
Hmm~ (Yep, I killed him~ Wanna avenge him~?)
"GENGAR!!"
Fists cloaked in ghostly energy, Gengar lunged.
THUD! THUD! THUD!
The ship's interior became swiss cheese.
By the time Su Feng shook off the dizziness, the battlefield was ruins.
"STOP!"
Both Pokémon froze.
Dusknoir arched a brow. Hmm. (He should be unconscious…)
Gengar shielded Su Feng, snarling.
"Relax. Dusknoir provoked you to test your limits. It won't harm civilians without cause." Su Feng glared at Dusknoir. "Explain. How do you know I'll die?"
Hmm. (Simple.)
It floated closer.
Hmm. (You understand me.)