Chapter 7: I Have Some Experience with Dark, Poison, and Ghost Types
"Sorry about that, miss — please forget what you just saw. Shall we get started?"
Mammon stomped Gengar back into his shadow. The ghost popped out from a different patch of shade, clutching its head and howling dramatically.
Sharp-eyed Caitlin could even see a big red lump forming on top of Gengar's head.
(Confused blinking.)
Caitlin tilted her head. Were all Ghost-type Gengar this… lively?
And this one was gray-black, not the standard purple. If she wasn't mistaken, a normal Gengar should be purple.
This was a Shiny Gengar. Now that was interesting.
"Please."
Caitlin's mind raced behind her composed exterior. A refined smile graced her elegant features as she extended her right hand toward Mammon in invitation.
Graceful. Effortlessly graceful — the unmistakable poise of a girl born into old money.
The two took their positions on opposite ends of the training field, facing each other from across the arena.
"This is just a sparring match, but I have to ask — you specialize in Psychic types, I take it?"
"That's correct. Does that concern you, sir?"
Caitlin confirmed it without hesitation. She adored Psychic-type Pokémon — perhaps because she herself was a psychic. She felt a unique, instinctive connection with them.
"Not at all. In fact, it makes this the perfect training exercise."
Mammon grinned and flicked a Poké Ball out in a backhanded toss.
"I'll be using this one."
A deep, ghostly moan drifted through the air as a dark purple Pokémon materialized in front of Mammon.
It appeared to wear a pointed witch's hat, golden eyes glimmering beneath the brim. Its lower body dangled like a teru-teru bozu charm — seemingly hollow inside, radiating an inexplicable eeriness.
"Mismagius."
Caitlin identified it immediately. A Ghost-type — the evolved form of Misdreavus.
No wonder he'd said this would be good training. Ghost was super effective against Psychic, and this Mismagius radiated an aura that was anything but ordinary.
That quiet, unblinking stare alone was enough to send goosebumps crawling across her skin. The unsettling chill she felt was not her imagination.
As a powerful psychic, Caitlin trusted her senses implicitly.
"So you're a formidable Ghost-type specialist?" Caitlin's eyes sharpened. She'd nearly been fooled by that earlier comedy routine into thinking this boy was some kind of clown.
"I have some experience with Ghost, Dark, and Poison types." Mammon smiled.
"Since you specialize in Psychic, Ghost types are a problem you'll inevitably have to face. Today, I'll give you a proper look at how Ghost-type battling works."
Mammon's grin turned slowly wicked, and Caitlin's brow furrowed.
"One friendly suggestion — even though this is sparring, you might not want to use that Kirlia."
Because in Mammon's estimation, Kirlia was simply too weak. It wouldn't accomplish anything.
Why are all his types so sinister?
Caitlin blinked. Ghost, Dark, Poison — these three types didn't exactly have the best reputation. There was even a common prejudice that they were the favorites of people with malicious intentions.
Case in point: every region's evil teams were packed with Trainers who loved those three types.
"Metagross!"
Caitlin pushed those thoughts aside and decisively sent out her strongest Pokémon.
"MITA~!"
A deep, metallic hum resonated through the air as Metagross hovered into position in front of Caitlin, battle-ready.
"Ladies first. You have the opening move." Mammon smiled at Caitlin with an air of total composure.
"Then we won't hold back! Metagross!"
Caitlin thrust her arm forward.
"Close the distance with Bullet Punch!"
Metagross's two front claws gleamed with metallic light as it rocketed toward Mismagius.
Bullet Punch — a Steel-type priority move!
"A very reckless approach to battle. Charging in headlong against an opponent you know nothing about is not what a competent Trainer should do."
Mammon offered the critique casually, making no move to have Mismagius dodge.
"?" Caitlin pressed her lips together, her frown deepening.
Being called out that bluntly stung. But she couldn't argue with it.
Boosted by its priority, Metagross closed the gap in an instant, massive claws hammering down on Mismagius.
"Will-O-Wisp."
Mammon gave the command without a hint of urgency.
Pale blue ghost-flames blossomed around Mismagius's body.
"Wait — Metagross!" Caitlin's expression shifted.
Too late. Bullet Punch was already mid-swing — Metagross couldn't pull back to dodge.
WHAM WHAM WHAM!
Bullet Punch battered Mismagius relentlessly — but those flickering blue flames had already found their mark on Metagross.
Mismagius absorbed the barrage of punches, seemingly oblivious to the pain. The twisted smile on its face only grew more unsettling.
The ghostly fire sank into Metagross's body. A heartbeat later, searing flames erupted across its steel frame. Metagross let out a pained metallic groan.
Will-O-Wisp — a Fire-type status move. On contact, the target was guaranteed to be burned.
Caitlin bit her lip, her expression darkening.
The worst part of a burn wasn't the damage over time — it was the crippling side effect. A burned Pokémon's physical Attack power dropped drastically.
For a physical powerhouse like Metagross, that was devastating.
"It's fine — Metagross has strong Special Attack too. We can work with that…"
Caitlin steadied herself with deep breaths. Her Metagross had the Clear Body ability, which blocked stat-lowering effects like Intimidate.
But a burn's Attack drop came from a status condition, not a stat-lowering ability — Clear Body couldn't block it.
Still, Metagross was a pseudo-legendary with near-perfect stats across the board. Aside from lackluster Speed, it was practically flawless.
Its Special Attack was stronger than most Pokémon could dream of!
But then—
"Curse."
Mammon issued his next command.
Caitlin's pupils contracted sharply.
While Metagross writhed under the burn's searing flames, Mismagius split into a wide, manic grin — its laughter shrill and piercing.
A rusted nail materialized in the air, wreathed in a gray aura of decay, and aimed itself at Mismagius's own chest.
Clink… clink… clink…
The stomach-turning sound of metal on flesh filled the arena as the Curse nail slowly drove itself into Mismagius's body, inch by agonizing inch.
Mismagius's eyes were shut, its expression twisted in pain — yet threaded through that agony was a look of deranged pleasure. It made Caitlin's skin crawl.
What kind of Pokémon acts like this?!
Caitlin clenched her jaw. Ghost-type Curse — a move where the user mutilated itself to place a devastating hex on its opponent.
But using Curse was supposed to be excruciating for a Ghost-type Pokémon. This… this wasn't how it was supposed to look.
And beyond that—
Burned and Cursed. How was her Metagross supposed to fight now?
Caitlin's chest rose and fell rapidly.
Her emotions were spiraling. Her dress and golden hair began to billow in a nonexistent wind. Behind her eyes, an unstable blue light pulsed on and off — her psychic energy flaring.
"Oh? Losing control already?"
Mammon noticed the shift and studied the psychic girl with open fascination.
Then, as if something occurred to him, he quickly pulled out his phone, switched to video mode, and started recording.
Classic. Her Pokémon's losing, so the Trainer starts going haywire.
Was he worried about getting caught in the psychic crossfire? Please.
If anything, he was curious — between Caitlin and Sabrina, which one had the stronger psychic powers?