"Sigh, a bad guy has escaped from the spirit world."
In a pitch-black arena, a black-haired boy repeated the words of the Gengar floating beside him.
"If we don't deal with it quickly, it will be bad. Hmm, I guess it's time to travel."
The boy wobbled as he stood up. He took the white mask floating in the air, carefully put it on, and then walked slowly out of the arena through the back door.
"Ah, Allister, are you going out?" Despite his caution, he still ran into one of the arena's staff.
"Yes," he nodded, then quickly left.
"Take care!" The old lady smiled and waved goodbye.
Watching him leave, a Mismagius appeared beside the old lady. She squinted her eyes and said, "What a kind child. My judgment was indeed correct."
There are more than ten registered gyms in Galar. If you have enough strength and successfully register a gym, the League can even build a brand-new arena for you.
With the Galar League backed by Macro Cosmos, money is the least of their concerns.
Stow-on-Side's two arenas are located on the high grounds on both sides of the town.
As a mountainous town, Stow-on-Side has no shortage of martial artists. The Fighting-type Gym was established by one of the best among them, the legendary champion Mustard. However, he was actually a later addition; the Ghost-type Gym was the first to be established in Stow-on-Side.
With Ghost Forest, Spectral Beach, and markets filled with ancient relics, it is undoubtedly the best place to nurture Ghost-type trainers.
Grandma Cidney, now seemingly an ordinary staff member, was actually the former Ghost-type Gym Leader, a legendary trainer from the age of chaos.
Mustard traveled the world, leaving the selection of his successor to the League, but Cidney had deeper feelings for the gym and chose to find a successor herself.
Allister was the one she chose. He had an accident at the age of four, almost dying, and gained the ability to communicate with Ghost Pokémon and see spirits.
His talent was extraordinary. At a young age, he had already shone in national competitions and even faced Leon in the finals.
Compared to the lively Fighting Gym, the Ghost-type Gym was much quieter. The two gyms were on the same level in the challenge order, and challengers could choose either.
According to statistics, the number of challengers for the Ghost-type Gym each year was about one-third of those for the Fighting-type Gym.
Cidney didn't mind this at all. This showed that challengers feared the intangible ghosts more than straightforward battles. Besides, Allister's mysterious and introverted appearance attracted many empathetic fans. Rumor had it that a League card showing Allister's true face was being sold at a high price.
But Cidney knew that the child was stronger than they thought. Hmph, those who have died and wish to return from the spirit world must first pass the gatekeeper.
In Sunset Forest, Summer sat on a chair, contemplating the gate to the spirit world. With most of the talismans destroyed, the wooden carvings he made couldn't completely restrict the Ghost Pokémon from entering and exiting the gate.
He had currently entrusted Trevenant to guard the gate, but that wasn't a long-term solution. He needed to think of a better way.
As for Spiritomb, it was now in a state of depression, suppressed by Milotic at Misty Lake. Under the power of the lord, it couldn't cause any more trouble.
"Sigh, if only there were a professional," Summer sighed.
"Boni?"
Suddenly, Ogerpon made a noise. Summer looked up to see a large, purple Gengar floating on the ceiling, sticking its tongue out at him.
"Another Pokémon running out?" Summer stood up and called out, "Let's go, Rillaboom, Ogerpon!"
Seeing Rillaboom waving its arms and Ogerpon taking out its club, Gengar was startled and fled outside. Summer hurriedly chased after it, only to find a masked boy standing outside the door.
The boy's hand was suspended in the air as if hesitating to knock. At this moment, the Gengar from earlier also emerged from the shadow behind him.
"A professional?" Summer was surprised. He hadn't expected the Ghost-type Gym Leader from Galar, Allister, to come to Sunset Forest. After all, he was famously introverted.
"Um, I'm, um, I'm…" Allister stammered, with Gengar silently cheering him on from behind.
"Don't worry, take your time. And sorry, Gengar, for mistaking you for a bad guy earlier," Summer said softly.
Gengar was taken aback, then let out a giggling laugh.
"Um," although his expression was hidden by the mask, Allister's tone changed, "I'm Allister. P-please take care of me."
"Oh, I'm Summer, the ranger of this forest. Pleased to meet you."
Ogerpon peeked out from behind Summer, its white mask in place, but it seemed less attractive compared to Ogerpon's. Seemingly showing off, Ogerpon wore its Teal Mask on its face.
Allister's gaze was immediately drawn to it, and he asked in surprise, "Do you, um, like masks too?"
"Boni!"
Of course, it's Ogerpon's precious treasure!
"Hehe... oh, right, business." Allister's tone became serious as he softly asked, "Summer, um, Mr. Summer, have you seen a Pokémon with a face coming out of a stone?"
"Hmm, you mean Spiritomb?" Summer hadn't expected the professional not only to come but also to deal with Spiritomb specifically.
"You've, um, seen it already? Were you hurt? But, um, it probably wouldn't hurt you, maybe."
"Oh? Why wouldn't it hurt me?" Summer asked.
"Um, Ghost Pokémon feed on life force, but your life force is like a burning flame. If it touches you, it would, um, get burned," Allister explained slowly.
Summer recalled that indeed, when the Will-O-Wisp approached him, it seemed to get hurt, which was why it fled.
"Regarding Spiritomb, it split into many souls two days ago to cause trouble, but I've already reclaimed them all with the Keystone. It should be staying put for now," Summer said.
"Wha?!" Allister exclaimed in surprise. He had come to stop Spiritomb and return it to its place, but this ranger had already done it.
In Allister's view, Ghost Pokémon weren't as dangerous as people thought. They were actually quite timid. Humans feared them, and they also feared humans, which was why they were active only at night when no one was around.
However, Spiritomb was one of the more troublesome ones, needing strict discipline. It was also very difficult to deal with, especially when its scattered souls needed to be gathered again.
"To be honest, there's actually a bigger issue. Do you know how to close the gate to the spirit world?" Summer asked the question that had been troubling him.
"Huh?" Allister clutched his mask, eyes wide open. Could it be a newly formed gate to the spirit world? How did this place not turn into a new Ghost Forest? How did he manage to do it?!