After yesterday's battle and special training ended, a new day began. Summer started his routine patrol, but today, he felt an inexplicable discomfort; a coolness permeated the scorching summer day.
"This is the third one."
Summer held his head in frustration, looking at the third Pokémon knocked unconscious by an evil spirit. Normally, this Greedent would greet him with a smile, but today, it had suddenly attacked him.
"Something's not right. This number is too abnormal."
Summer had only been patrolling for a short time and had already encountered three Pokémon exhibiting unusual behavior. At this rate, the number of victims could be incalculable.
"Yaa!"
A Nuzleaf leapt down from the treetop, attacking the pondering Summer. However, it was instantly caught by Rillaboom, who began to struggle fiercely.
"The fourth one," Summer said, frowning deeply.
Nuzleaf's eyes glowed with an eerie light, its face twisted in a grimace. Suddenly, it stopped struggling as a purple flame emerged from its body, quickly flying towards Summer.
But the flame halted in mid-air as it neared Summer, almost extinguishing. It seemed to see something terrifying and fled in all directions in a panic.
"Will-O-Wisp?"
Combining the anomalies in several Pokémon and the recent experience, Summer had a guess. Could it be Spiritomb, a Pokémon embodying both danger and malevolence?
Spiritomb is formed from 108 malevolent spirits. If the Keystone sealing them is compromised, these spirits can disperse as Will-O-Wisps.
Summer vividly recalled his experience collecting Will-O-Wisps in the game. The flame just now was identical, but instead of staying in place, they possessed Pokémon and began causing trouble.
Nuzleaf regained consciousness, looking around in confusion, clearly not remembering anything.
The Greedent and other affected Pokémon also woke up, and the spirits possessing them fled swiftly, likely having witnessed the recent events.
"Another ghost-catching mission, huh? But first, we need to find the Keystone," Summer murmured.
"Boni?"
"No, not that kind of ghost. More accurately, it should be a spirit," Summer explained to Ogerpon. The Sunset Forest was vast, and with the Will-O-Wisps' ability to possess, searching for them was even harder.
If not resolved quickly, the situation would worsen if they escaped the Sunset Forest.
"Uu~"
While Summer was troubled, the little Phantump floated over, wounded and apologetic.
"What happened to you, little Phantump? We'll talk later; let me treat you first," Summer said, carefully applying healing medicine.
This made the Phantump feel even guiltier. They had failed in their duty as the forest's guardians, unable to drive the evil Pokémon back to the spirit world, allowing it to wreak havoc in the Sunset Forest.
"It's not your fault. I know you did your best," Summer reassured them gently. "Let's work together to stop it. Your strength is indispensable."
The leader Phantump's red eyes flickered. Being the first to meet Summer, it was the most eager to repay Summer for his guidance.
The Phantump looked up at Rillaboom and Ogerpon, seeing their strength as a means to solve more problems. It too wanted to become stronger.
Its eyes grew determined, making a decision to evolve.
"Uu!"
"Is that so? I understand. The binding string is in the drawer with the wooden plaques," Summer said, patting its wooden head. "Go get it. I'm looking forward to your new strength!"
After bidding farewell to the evolving Phantump, Summer, led by the other Phantump, reached the Keystone's location. Unsurprisingly, it was at the Gate to the Spirit World.
Most of the talismans pasted on the trees had been torn down, and the carved wooden statues were all ruthlessly destroyed, making Summer feel heartbroken.
To break through layers of seals and escape the spirit world, and defeat the Phantump, this Spiritomb was undoubtedly powerful. After retrieving the spirits, they had to be prepared to defeat it.
Meanwhile, the little Phantump grasped the binding string tightly as it flew out of the wooden house. A possessed Pidove swooped down, attacking it.
The spirit that had possessed Nuzleaf earlier harbored deep hatred for Summer. Unable to retaliate against the human, it targeted his Pokémon.
"Since you left his side, blame yourself!" it sneered.
As a fellow Ghost-type Pokémon, the Phantump instantly recognized the spirit as part of the Spiritomb. This time, it wouldn't lose!
Light enveloped the Phantump, its body rapidly growing like a seed sprouting. Large wooden claws emerged, grabbing the Pidove and trapping the spirit with a shadowy hand.
The newly evolved Trevenant glared at the Pidove with its glowing red eyes. It resembled a tall tree, its hollow trunk and body connected by eerie shadows.
It didn't mind other Pokémon residing in its branches, but those who destroyed the forest would face a nightmare.
Its roots, extending from its feet, could manipulate the forest's trees. Opposing it meant opposing the entire forest.
The Pidove trembled as the spirit within felt fear. It couldn't escape, trapped like it had been in the Keystone.
"No, I don't want to be sealed again! I won't do evil anymore!" it pleaded.
Ignoring the spirit's pleas, Trevenant sensed Summer's location, signaling the hunt's beginning.
With Trevenant's help, finding the spirits was much faster. It could monitor every corner of the forest through the trees and, along with its Ghost-type abilities, left the spirits with nowhere to hide.
The Sunset Forest housed many strong Pokémon. At Misty Lake, the invading spirits were most unfortunate. Under Milotic's Purification, only a tiny wisp of Will-O-Wisp remained.
In Dream Forest, Hatterene, with Pumpkaboo's assistance, eliminated many spirits. It held the Will-O-Wisps, bombarding them with information, driving the spirits to near self-destruction.
In Eternal Forest, the spirits were exposed under Ursaluna's unique left eye, though Ursaluna couldn't control them, it relentlessly chased them, making them avoid the area.
Conditions were worse in the tropical rainforest, icy forest, and other parts of Sunset Forest, but with Summer and Trevenant handling it, the process was smooth.
The only safe place was Gracidea Prairie, as Summer guessed the sun's aura repelled the spirits, suggesting planting some near the Gate to the Spirit World.
"It's over. This is the last spirit," Summer said, watching the Will-O-Wisp merge into the Keystone.
The Keystone glowed eerily, emitting a purple gas with a ferocious green face. Spiritomb roared, but its aura was significantly weaker.
"So, you've awakened, Spiritomb," Summer said, smiling. "It's time to settle this."
Trevenant's massive claws emanated a chilling aura, eager for the battle. Other victims surrounded, ready to fight.
Summer's Pokémon and partners watched, having already been traumatized by Spiritomb. They decided not to intervene.
"Gaoong."
Spiritomb whimpered, pleading for peace.
"That's not for me to decide. You'll have to ask everyone," Summer said, still smiling.
Spiritomb despaired, wanting to return to the spirit world, away from the terrifying Sunset Forest.