Aside from Golurk and Slowbro, all of Tetsuya's Pokémon had entered their training routine. After feeding them, he recalled Golurk into its Poké Ball to keep it from moving around out of sheer itch for battle.
As for Slowbro… well, it did not matter where he left it. Even if the world were ending, it would still wear the same expression.
Tetsuya was already quite familiar with Morty's Gengar and Spiritomb. Gengar was still built around Speed, though compared to his own Gengar, it naturally was not as well-rounded. Spiritomb had tremendous resistances, and when paired with Nasty Plot, it could both attack and defend effectively.
Mismagius was quite famous among Pokémon for its illusion attacks. As for the use of Mismagius, it was Xx, who would become renowned many years later, that truly brought it to prominence, making Morty's usage seem far inferior by comparison.
Dusknoir excelled at Defenses and physical Attack, and under Trick Room, it could display tremendous power. Such tactics were all recorded in the [Ghost-type Pokémon Raising] guide left behind by Matsuba IV, so Morty had certainly learned them as well.
As for Banette, its physical Attack was also unmatched among Ghost-type Pokémon.
"We haven't seen each other in over four years… Let's have a Pokémon battle, Tetsuya." After training, Morty issued a challenge. In this world, it truly was the unique way Pokémon Trainers greeted one another.
"…My Pokémon have all fought through life and death. You can't beat them," Tetsuya refused. He was not putting on airs in front of Morty. Although Morty's level already placed him among the best of his peers, and he trained diligently every day, the environment in which Tetsuya had grown made his Pokémon fundamentally different.
Tetsuya knew his own strength very well. As long as every one of his Pokémon was at full condition, reaching the top four in a League tournament would absolutely not be a problem.
Morty was clearly unconvinced. "For more than four years, I've trained hard almost every single day! Even otousan thinks I'm ready to compete in the Pokémon League tournament now. So we have to battle! These are my five main Pokémon. How about a five-on-five battle?"
"Sigh… then let's begin. Five-on-five it is." Tetsuya could hardly continue refusing. Besides Miltank, the five Pokémon he had been training were also exactly five in number.
Ditto, Mamoswine, Beedrill, Houndoom, Koffing.
VS
Gengar, Spiritomb, Mismagius, Dusknoir, Banette.
"Yatta! Then Gengar, you're up first!" As soon as Morty finished speaking, Gengar's figure flashed, and it was already standing on the battlefield.
"Ditto, I'll leave it to you." After Tetsuya spoke, Ditto bounced its way onto the battlefield. Compared to Gengar's swift entrance, it inevitably looked rather clumsy.
However, the outcome of this match was already obvious. Ditto's physical training had never stopped from beginning to end. Combined with several years of exercising in the water, its physical condition was among the best of all Tetsuya's Pokémon, let alone compared to Morty's Gengar…
Furthermore, after fusing with Quick Powder, Ditto was in no way inferior in Speed. Gengar had absolutely no chance of winning!
Without needing any instructions from Tetsuya, Ditto had already used Transform to become Gengar.
"Nonstop Shadow Ball!" Morty commanded the first attack.
Gengar's attack speed and energy gathering were both excellent, but Ditto effortlessly weaved through the incoming Shadow Balls.
Gengar's Shadow Balls could not touch Ditto even once!
"Shadow Ball," Tetsuya commanded.
Ditto casually flung out a Shadow Ball. Accompanied by the sharp sound of it tearing through the air, the Shadow Ball instantly arrived right in front of Gengar.
"Quic-!"
Morty did not even manage to shout the word "dodge" before the Shadow Ball had already slammed into Gengar.
"Gengar, counterattack! Use Hex!" Morty shouted.
◓---
"Come on! Come oon! Come oooon!" Ryuto also shouted from the side. He was simply getting carried away. As for who he was actually cheering for… even he probably could not have said.
Tetsuya glanced at Catherine. She was still training her Pokémon on her own as though she could not even see the match between Tetsuya and Morty.
Ryuto grew a little curious, walked over, and asked, "Hey! Isn't such an exciting battle worth watching?"
Catherine glanced at Ryuto and said, "Exciting…? What's there to watch in a battle with no suspense?"
"U-Ugh?"
---◓
As Ryuto pondered Catherine's words, Morty's Gengar was struck by Ditto's Shadow Ball once again. Before it could even use Hex, it was knocked down by the Shadow Ball.
Gengar was unable to battle. Morty found it somewhat difficult to accept. Although he had known he would lose, he had never expected to lose so quickly. He had not inflicted any meaningful damage on Ditto at all!
Ditto gave him the feeling of being completely impossible to defeat.
Only then did Ryuto realize what Catherine had meant. He knew Morty's growth over the past few years better than anyone. Morty had practically become Ecruteak Gym's acting Leader, with almost every Challenger being handled by him.
Over the years, Morty had battled all kinds of opponents. Very few Challengers could defeat him anymore. Even Matsuba was proud of Morty and had already planned for him to compete in this year's Johto League Silver Conference after the New Year.
Yet in front of Tetsuya, Morty had been defeated so effortlessly…
"Koffing, the second battle is yours."
After Tetsuya spoke, Ditto was recalled and Koffing took its place.
Looking at Koffing's bizarre appearance, it truly was rather disgusting to look at.
"Mismagius, you're up!"
Morty sent out Mismagius. The moment it appeared, it began chanting under its breath.
"Poison Gas."
Against Mismagius, Tetsuya did not dare lower his guard. Although Koffing's capacities were formidable, its "unique" experiences had left it with an extremely fragile mind. It was very susceptible to illusions, so he first had it use Poison Gas to protect itself.
"Phantom Force!"
Morty gave the command, and Mismagius instantly vanished into another dimension. Koffing was surrounded by Poison Gas. As soon as Mismagius emerged, it would inevitably be poisoned.
Mismagius suddenly reappeared. Even Protect could not block Phantom Force, much less Koffing. Koffing was knocked out of the cloud of Poison Gas by Mismagius.
Mismagius immediately choked after inhaling two mouthfuls of Poison Gas.
"Sludge Bomb."
Upon hearing Tetsuya's command, despite being unsteady, both of Koffing's heads simultaneously fired Sludge Bombs at the Mismagius that was still struggling inside the poisonous gas.
"P-Phantom Force!"
Morty panicked. If Mismagius were struck by Koffing's Sludge Bomb again, he would lose this battle as well.
Mismagius slipped into another dimension just in time, narrowly avoiding Koffing's Sludge Bomb.
"Use… use illusion!"
As soon as Morty finished speaking, waves of hellish wails echoed out. Even in broad daylight, they sounded incomparably terrifying.
Suddenly, black phantoms shrouded Koffing.
Koffing immediately began swaying from side to side, completely at a loss.
"Koffing, calm down. Use Sludge!" Tetsuya tried to have Koffing use a move to distract its attention.
However, Koffing could no longer hear Tetsuya's words. Trembling sobs could already be heard coming from within the phantoms.