The sky was dark, the grass lay crushed, and even the towering trees behind him looked lifeless.
Opposite Rax stood a sticky Pokémon, but it was no longer the adorable creature it once appeared to be. Its crimson eyes glowed unnervingly, its right antenna was shattered, and a sinister grin curled its black lips.
It felt as though Rax had stumbled into a haunted realm. Even in death, the sticky Pokémon shouldn't look so ghastly.
"A ghost-type Pokémon?" Rax speculated, then immediately barked out an order: "Marowak, Piercing Screech!"
Marowak adjusted its bone weapon and unleashed a piercing wail, the sound reverberating through the eerie surroundings. The sticky Pokémon winced; the glow of its red eyes dimmed momentarily, then flared brighter.
"It's being controlled!" Rax thought, his conviction growing that this was the work of a ghost-type Pokémon.
Had it not been for the timely aromatherapy from skiploom dispelling the oppressive atmosphere, Rax shuddered to think what might have happened.
Just then, the sticky Pokémon opened its mouth, releasing a Water Gun attack aimed directly at Rax. But this was no ordinary move—black, foul-smelling water spewed forth, its stench reaching Rax even before the attack landed.
"Marowak, Rock Smash! skiploom, Grassy Terrain! Now!"
Marowak swiftly countered, smashing the incoming attack and sending droplets splattering harmlessly aside. The sticky Pokémon staggered, unable to recover quickly.
skiploom twirled, summoning a field of lush greenery that spread across the battlefield. The verdant glow wrapped around Rax and his team, revitalizing their bodies and minds. Even Beldum, planted firmly on the ground, glimmered faintly as it absorbed the energy.
But outside their small sanctuary of life, the landscape remained deathly desolate.
"Quack!"
A frog-like croak echoed as a Bad Croagunk emerged from the shadows, its crimson eyes gleaming with malevolence. Its body was broken and disfigured, matching the sticky Pokémon's eerie appearance.
"Grind~"
"Quack~"
"Squeak!"
The eerie cries multiplied as other twisted Pokémon appeared, creeping closer with each sound. Rax's heart pounded. Among the approaching figures were vaguely human-like shapes, each as grotesque as the Pokémon surrounding them.
The Death Wind Pokémon launched their attacks simultaneously. Though their movements were sluggish, their overwhelming numbers made up for it.
"Stomp! Iron Head! skiploom, Triple Powder Attack!" Rax commanded.
Marowak charged, stomping the ground to create shockwaves that sent groups of enemies tumbling. Beldum dove into the fray, targeting enemies attempting long-range attacks. skiploom spun rapidly, releasing a storm of powder—Hypnosis Powder, Poison Powder, and Paralysis Powder.
But Rax soon realized the powders had little effect. Only the Paralysis Powder seemed to work, slightly slowing their movements. The others? Ineffective.
"Are they even alive?" Rax wondered.
"skiploom, Leech Seed! Beldum, return to me!" Rax shifted strategies, abandoning the ineffective powders.
Beldum, bruised but unyielding, hovered back to Rax, its silvery body dirtied from the chaotic skirmish.
"Beldum, listen to me. While you're bold and strong, you must remember your psychic abilities."
"Beldum?" It blinked, clearly forgetting it even had psychic powers.
"This isn't the time to play around. Use your psychic perception to locate the true enemy. They're controlling these creatures!"
Inspired by Rax's urgent tone, Beldum's red eye began to glow faintly blue as it focused its powers.
Meanwhile, skiploom redoubled its efforts, releasing Leech Seeds to ensnare enemies. Although the seeds couldn't sap energy from these lifeless foes, they created a barrier, slowing their advance.
Marowak fought valiantly at the frontline, repelling waves of Death Wind Pokémon with precision and brute strength. skiploom provided support, its Grassy Terrain and Aromatherapy keeping the team in peak condition.
Minutes felt like hours. Marowak's stomping attacks shook the ground repeatedly, but the endless wave of enemies continued.
Beldum's efforts intensified, its glowing eye scanning the battlefield as it tried to detect the unseen manipulator. Rax, clutching his arm—unnoticed earlier, but now bleeding from a stray air slash—stayed low, praying for a breakthrough.
"Beldum, this is it. Focus! Once you find the enemy, strike immediately!"
"Beldum!" Its determination was palpable.
"Marowak, Piercing Screech! One more push!" Rax yelled, steeling himself for the next phase of the battle.