Purrloin's reaction immediately put Cole on alert. With his awakened Psychic Powers, he had become more sensitive to Attribute Energies, and now he detected traces of Ghost-type Pokémon in the air.
"Hee hee hee~"
Suddenly, eerie laughter echoed through the darkness. Cole watched as the surrounding houses, walls, flowers, and trees began to warp and twist. When his vision cleared, he found himself in the wilderness.
Before him stretched a desolate wasteland, overgrown with deep, dark weeds. In the middle of this ominous landscape stood a dilapidated cottage.
The cottage was decrepit, radiating an eerie and terrifying atmosphere, as if abandoned for decades. Yet strangely, a gentle candlelight flickered inside — an unsettling sight.
"Hee hee hee..."
"Keh keh keh..."
"Gah gah gah..."
The creepy laughter echoed again, seemingly from the cottage ahead.
"Meow meow meow..." — Wow, how scary!
Purrloin wailed in fright, trembling as it crouched on Cole's shoulder, its tiny paws clutching his hair so tightly his scalp tingled.
Helioptile was equally terrified, clinging to his leg and shivering, its small head pressed against his thigh, too frightened to look ahead.
In contrast, Brionne — that hot-tempered little spitfire — wasn't afraid at all. It stood guard in front of Cole, squawking defiantly at the cottage, trying to draw out the hidden troublemaker.
Daisy maintained a vigilant battle stance, while Larvitar remained the most composed of all. It stood expressionlessly, one hand behind its back, the other clutching her skirt, as it peered curiously into the darkness, intrigued by the hidden attacker.
But the surroundings were too dark for Larvitar to make anything out.
Cole observed the situation with a serious expression. He knew this scene couldn't be real — if their opponent truly had the power to transport him to the wilderness unnoticed, why would they need to hide? They could have attacked directly.
The most likely explanation was that this was an illusion created by Ghost-type Pokémon, especially given their strengthening energy signature in the air.
"Hee hee hee..."
"Keh keh keh..."
"Gah gah gah..."
The strange laughter persisted, trying to intimidate his group. While Purrloin and Helioptile trembled in fear, Cole, Daisy, and Brionne remained steady.
"Brionne, use Captivate!"
"Brio~!" — Okay!
It had been ready and waiting for his command.
✲ Captivate ✲
"La la la... la la... la..."
As the song rang out, the air and water vapor began vibrating in unison. The environment warped once more, the wild grass, wilderness, and cottage fading away one by one.
The illusion was broken!
"Hiss?"
"Woo?"
"Moh?"
As reality returned, Cole heard several startled cries near his ear.
'Ghost-type Pokémon, just as I thought!' he mused.
Once the environment had fully normalized, three attacks — Will-O-Wisp, Shadow Ball, and Psybeam — launched simultaneously toward him.
Brionne, unwilling to let Cole come to harm, fired three swift water jets with a "poof poof poof", instantly neutralizing the incoming attacks.
A sudden gasp from somewhere nearby startled Cole. Someone else was here! He'd assumed wild Ghost-type Pokémon were attacking, but clearly someone was controlling them.
As he pondered how to draw out the hidden enemy, a booming laugh echoed from above.
"Haha... The Blaziken Mask appears!"
Cole looked up to see a figure and a Pokémon standing on the roof before him. In the bright moonlight, the figure's cape billowed dramatically in the wind.
More importantly, he and his Pokémon struck an embarrassing pose together.
It's him! The Blaziken Mask!
Cole hadn't expected to meet the chuunibyou man again.
"Heeyah!" Blaziken Mask performed a backflip, landing alongside Blaziken from the roof, "I am the nameless one who acts in darkness — wherever there is injustice, there I shall be!"
He struck another embarrassing pose and delivered his embarrassing catchphrase. His Blaziken mimicked his exact movements — truly, like trainer like Pokémon.
"Oh? Little boy, it's you!" After finishing his pose, Blaziken Mask finally noticed the kid's presence.
"Blaziken Mask?!"
The hidden enemy exclaimed in surprise, clearly familiar with this "hero" who prowled the nights of Lumiose City. Their voice carried an unmistakable hint of fear.
✲ Will-O-Wisp ✲
✲ Shadow Ball ✲
✲ Psybeam ✲
Whoosh whoosh whoosh~
The same three moves appeared again, this time targeting him.
"Sah~"
Blaziken moved with swift precision: a Fire Punch dispersed the Will-O-Wisp; a Blaze Kick destroyed the Shadow Ball; finally, it unleashed a Flamethrower, overwhelming the Psybeam in flames.
The hidden enemy had clearly underestimated the Blaziken Mask's strength. Shocked by the Pokémon's display, they gasped involuntarily, readying themselves to flee.
"Blaziken, grab that little thief hiding in the darkness!"
"Sah~"
At Blaziken Mask's command, Blaziken vanished in an instant. When it reappeared, it held a black-clad figure wearing a ghost mask.
"Ouch~"
Blaziken threw the masked person to the ground, causing them to land hard and cry out in pain.
Cole could only watch — the enemy had been subdued with incredible ease. The Blaziken Mask was truly formidable.
After a quick search of the masked person, Blaziken discovered three Poké Balls.
"Sah~"
At Blaziken's angry roar, three trembling Ghost-type Pokémon emerged from the darkness. Cole finally saw his attackers.
A Gastly, a Misdreavus, and a Litwick.
The three Pokémon's eyes glistened with tears as they cowered before Blaziken's powerful presence.
Cole was taken aback — Ghost-type Pokémon were supposed to be rare, yet this unremarkable masked person had three of them.
"Tell me, why did you attack this young boy?" Blaziken Mask demanded.
The masked person curled up, whimpering without response.
Blaziken Mask let out a sinister laugh, "Won't talk? Blaziken, let him have it!"
"Sah~"
Blaziken nodded and deftly set the masked person's bottom aflame. Their screams filled the air, along with the distinct smell of roasted meat.
Cole stood dumbfounded — what an unusual character! Who would actually set someone's bottom on fire?
The masked person quickly surrendered, wailing as they confessed their reason for attacking.
✲✲✲
T/N: If you want more chapters like this, check out my Patreon! Take a look at my other translations too, you might like them!
For just $1.50 you can access all the extra content, and descriptive images, costs only $2!
That's it and happy reading! (-‿◦)
https://www.patreon.com/collection/1305384