After the "Fang Yuan Conference," Monferno finally rose in rank and could hold its head high in front of other Pokémon.
After the conference, Eevee, Self-detonating Magnetic Monster, and Monferno were happy.
But Glutton and Milotic were not as pleased.
Milotic was proud, and it was hard for it to accept that it had been defeated by Monferno.
When it first joined the team, Monferno was merely a lowly brother serving water and food to the other Pokémon.
Milotic kept hypnotizing itself, telling itself that it would soon become strong.
In secret, Milotic trained even harder, especially with Water-based Spells, putting great effort into research…
As for Glutton, it ate and drank as it pleased.
Although it was the oldest on Fang Yuan's Team, it still acted childishly, believing that if Fang Yuan didn't restrict its Black flame, it definitely wouldn't have ranked fourth.
Glutton's response after the competition was to eat even more, turning its sorrow and anger into appetite.
Considering its powerful digestive ability, this also counted as a means of enhancing its strength.
However… it was Fang Yuan's wallet that suffered.
With Glutton's way of eating, it wouldn't take long before the resources it consumed would surpass those of Eevee and Self-detonating Magnemite…
This couldn't go on; it was necessary to enrich Glutton's training content. Only then would it be fair to the sacrifice of those Energy Blocks.
As Fang Yuan anticipated, school started again. During this period, some interesting little events happened. Eevee used the prize money from the conference to buy Fang Yuan a gift, making Fang Yuan feel his care for the little guy wasn't in vain.
The start of school meant that Fang Yuan could finally visit Teacher Zhou Youyou at the Magic University Haunted House.
The Ghost-type Champion Jiang Li gave Fang Yuan a letter of recommendation, so Fang Yuan could learn the "Shadow Contract" skill from Teacher Zhou Youyou.
Perhaps "Shadow Contract" could become Glutton's new training content.
…
September, a season of clear skies and crisp air.
It was also the start of what Fang Yuan felt would be a very exciting school year.
After school started, he would be a second-year student.
This year, Fang Yuan expected to do a lot of things.
Such as becoming a senior researcher, obtaining a series of rare items with undiscovered uses, taking advantage of the opportunity given by School sister Xie Qingyi to subdue a Dragon Type Fairy in the Dragon Cave, and aiming to become a Professional Trainer by taking the Professional Trainer assessments in his sophomore year.
As for junior year, Fang Yuan figured there wouldn't be one. Why continue undergraduate studies when one could aim directly for a doctoral title after becoming a senior researcher and Professional Trainer?
Doctor Fang Yuan, think about that.
An Elves Researcher holds a much higher status than researchers in other disciplines.
Senior Researchers, for instance, if their research direction is of significant importance to the development of the Trainer field, have a status no lower than well-known Master Level Trainers.
Top-level Researchers are important national protection objects, able to sit on par with the core executives of the Trainer Association Headquarters, such as the Twelve Earthly Branches.
Magic University Haunted House was quiet at the beginning of school, with not many students around…
After returning to Demon Capital University, Fang Yuan went straight to the Haunted House.
After doing a round and inquiring with other staff, Fang Yuan found Teacher Zhou Youyou, the person in charge of the Haunted House, in the prop room.
At that time, Teacher Zhou Youyou was holding a Gengar mask that was gruesome in detail and a zombie-themed Mimikyu mask, comparing the two.
"Teacher Zhou…" Fang Yuan called out to the absorbed individual.
Wuu wuu wuu~~
Accompanied by a special BGM, the individual turned around, and Fang Yuan had no idea where the voiceover came from.
Teacher Zhou's aura was still chillingly somber and cold. As one of the few Professional Trainers at Magic City University, specializing in Ghost-type Pokemon, her face was nearly completely obscured by her wavy hair, making her resemble a female ghost straight out of a horror movie.
"Cough..." Fang Yuan cleared his throat, "You asked me to come see you after the start of the term."
Fang Yuan had visited before the holidays, but Teacher Zhou had been busy with other matters and told him to come back after the term began... which ended up delaying their meeting by more than two months.
"Shadow Contract?" Teacher Zhou Youyou remembered the purpose of Fang Yuan's visit and nodded, "Very well, starting today I'll teach you how to establish a Shadow Contract. I hope you can master it halfway within a month..."
A month? For just halfway...
Fang Yuan pinched his nose, wondering if it really took that long.
...
In a room within the Ghost House facility, Teacher Zhou brewed some hot tea and served it to Fang Yuan in a cup styled like a Litwick.
Teacher Zhou was familiar with Fang Yuan; she had known him before he became a significant figure at Mo Da.
However, she was surprised that Fang Yuan was also connected to Jiang Li.
"My Shadow Contract also stems from a Spirit Realm Inheritance. Since you have received Jiang Li's approval, I might as well teach you everything."
As Teacher Zhou Youyou spoke, her shadow twisted into a figure identical to her, then transformed into a Gengar with a sinister and frightening smile.
"Keke~~~" The Gengar smiled at Fang Yuan and pointed at one of his Poke Balls.
"Call it out..." Fang Yuan hesitated, then summoned the Gluttonous Ghost.
After emerging from the Poke Ball, the Glutton eyed the Gengar, and the Gengar looked back at it.
"Heterochromatic..." Teacher Zhou Youyou muttered softly. As a Ghost Type Trainer at Magic City University, she was aware of the Sun and Moon Forest Secret Territory, and she was still moved that the Multicolored Gengar ended up with Fang Yuan.
It was a pity that Fang Yuan didn't specialize in Ghost Types, given that he had the Multicolored Gengar.
"Sigh... I'll start by telling you about the three stages of the Shadow Contract. What you two will need to practice are phase-based training sessions," said Teacher Zhou Youyou, shaking her head.
"Alright." Fang Yuan nodded.
"Listen well, the first stage is Complete Shadow Integration. As you know, Gengar's body acts like a heat sink, its presence capable of lowering the surrounding temperature by about 5°C, because it absorbs the heat. The aim of the first stage is to merge Gengar completely with its shadow, reaching the state where 'Gengar is the shadow, and the shadow is Gengar.' This includes having the same temperature as the ground the shadow is on, to pass this stage."
"Not merely hiding within the shadow, but becoming one with it. The former will reveal your temperature, while the latter won't. This is the threshold for the Shadow Contract."
"Oh..." Fang Yuan said, affirming his suspicion that the Shadow Contract truly was the solution for the Gengar Clan's problem of reducing surrounding temperatures.
"The second stage is Dark Shadow Control. Simply put, this requires that Gengar be able to use certain moves while shadowed, and these moves refer to Shadow Punch, Shadow Claw, and Shadow Ball."
"These moves have a core that is categorized under the lower rank of Ghost Energy, known as Shadow Energy. Shadow Energy can merge perfectly with shadows. With proper training, a Pokemon can maintain its shadow form and also use these three moves. This second stage can be utilized even in regular battles and is a very advanced technique."
Fang Yuan nodded seriously, lower rank Ghost Energy... Shadow Energy... This was already a matter of energy studies.
The ability to control shadows, huh?
Having this ability would indeed allow a Pokemon-turned-shadow to protect its Trainer and counterattack more swiftly...
"The third stage is the Shadow Contract itself. During this stage, Pokemon must stay in shadow form together with their Trainer for a long, long time, sharing meals and slumber. Periodically, the Pokemon must consume the Trainer's dreams to establish a mystical psychic connection. Ultimately, a shadow-state Pokemon can become a Trainer's Sixth Sense, helping to pre-emptively sense danger. It is worth mentioning that this stage already falls within Superpower abilities. Gengar and I labored for three years to complete it," said Teacher Zhou Youyou with a cryptic smile.
Damn...
Hearing about the last stage of the Shadow Contract, Fang Yuan felt his hair stand on end. To live and eat with a Gengar for a long time, and to let it eat your dreams? That's a hard pass...
The ability to sense danger in advance? Fang Yuan believed Eevee would handle it well. Why bother establishing a Shadow Contract when one could be inseparable from Eevee and enjoy its sweet companionship?
"Also, what I've shared with you are just the basic abilities. But I have only learned the basics myself. I've heard that some Trainers from the Spirit World can develop new abilities based on these three stages."
"For example, a Gengar's body can act like a Dark Hole, carrying a large amount of items. Some Trainers have combined this aspect with a Shadow Contract so that when Gengar becomes a shadow, it can also open a portal in the shadow to carry the Trainer inside, allowing them to flee together... This seems to be an extension of the second stage."
"Further, Psychic Trainers have extended the third stage, taking inspiration from moves like 'Spiritual Transfer,' diverting a portion of the damage the Trainer receives onto the shadow... It's truly unbelievable."
"However, those who achieve the above two points are basically rare... Moving forward, we will teach you the first two stages... I hope you can complete them within a month."