"Litwick capture complete."
A joyful expression appeared on Ethan's face as he stepped forward and solemnly picked up the Poké Ball.
Seeing this, the other Pokémon also gathered around to congratulate him.
"Only the final test remains. As long as I can truly earn Litwick's recognition, this experience will have been a blessing in disguise."
Ethan took a deep breath. To truly capture a Pokémon, it was not enough to confine it inside a Poké Ball; it was also necessary to gain its approval.
"Come out, Poké Ball."
When all the Pokémon were ready, Ethan threw the Poké Ball.
Immediately, Litwick appeared on the field. Its condition was somewhat weak, and its yellow eyes showed a dull expression.
"Litwick, you've now been captured by me. From now on, become my companion and travel together with me."
Ethan exhaled softly and showed a warm smile.
"Littwwiikk!"
To Ethan's surprise, Litwick accepted without hesitation and even seemed extremely excited.
Or perhaps... too excited.
"Uh... isn't something strange here?"
Ethan blinked several times. Before attempting to capture Litwick, he had mentally prepared himself for all kinds of situations.
After all, according to rumors, Litwick was a somewhat malevolent Pokémon. Seeing it so happy, almost like a child, made Ethan suspect it might be some kind of visual trick.
However, Ethan had already considered that possibility.
Riolu possessed an innate ability to perceive the emotions of both humans and Pokémon; with just a glance, it could tell.
And according to Riolu's perception, Litwick was genuinely happy.
"Riou!"
Riolu rolled its small eyes and cautiously approached Litwick, beginning to communicate with it.
Thanks to the constant training of its psychic power, Riolu's mental energy had already become very strong, and its intelligence had also increased significantly. Communicating with Litwick posed no problem at all.
Moreover, through a game of gestures and guessing, Riolu was already able to convey simple ideas to Ethan.
"You mean that this Litwick, having been trapped in this Spirit World for such a long time, felt very lonely?"
Ethan tried to interpret Riolu's gestures. Seeing this, Riolu nodded vigorously, confirming that this was exactly what it meant.
"Because it felt lonely, it wanted companions."
"Before, it used the mist to lure other beings into the Spirit World because it wanted someone to play with. And its mastery of the move Substitute also developed that way—being so lonely, it could only play with itself."
After repeatedly communicating with Riolu, Ethan finally understood the background of that Litwick.
Unknowingly, he began to feel pity for that lonely Litwick.
"From now on, follow me."
Ethan took a deep breath and gave it a smile.
"Littwwiikk!"
Litwick immediately cried out happily and carefully floated over to Ethan's side.
Realizing that Ethan truly was not afraid of it, it suddenly leapt straight into his arms and began to cuddle him.
That startled the other Pokémon. Even Gengar slowly emerged from Ethan's shadow.
However, sensing that Litwick had no malicious intentions, Gengar paused for a moment and then slowly retreated back into Ethan's shadow.
"Then let's head outside first. The world out there is truly wonderful."
Ethan smiled faintly and gently patted Litwick, whose flame atop its head had already gone out.
Litwick nodded repeatedly, letting out cheerful sounds.
After that, Litwick used its own flame to ignite the void of the Spirit World, and little by little, a door to the Spirit World wrapped in purple flames appeared.
However, upon seeing it, Litwick became depressed again, since it had tried countless times before: Pokémon of the Spirit World were restricted by certain rules and simply could not leave.
Otherwise, Litwick would have already left that tiny Spirit World to play in the outside world and would not be so lonely.
"Is there no way to get out?"
Ethan pondered for a moment and suddenly thought of the Dusknoir he carried in his backpack.
When that Dusknoir had first approached him, it had also dragged him directly into the Spirit World. Fortunately, Ethan had managed to break free.
But after successfully capturing it, he had also been able to summon it in the real world.
"Perhaps... through the Poké Ball, it's possible to bring Pokémon out of the Spirit World."
With that hypothesis in mind, Ethan immediately explained it to Litwick, who became joyful as soon as it heard it.
"Let's try it. Return, Litwick."
Ethan took out the Poké Ball and recalled Litwick into it.
However, just after doing so, the door to the Spirit World began to slowly fade away.
Fortunately, Gengar suddenly appeared in front of the door and used its power to stabilize it.
Seeing this, Ethan quickly recalled all his Pokémon and, under Gengar's protection, swiftly passed through the door of the Spirit World.
"Phew... we're finally out."
Looking at the clear sky, Ethan let out a soft sigh.
Then he took out Litwick's Poké Ball and released it.
"Littwwiikk?"
Upon coming out, Litwick felt the intense light and, feeling somewhat uncomfortable, hid in Ethan's arms.
When it was finally able to clearly see everything around it, Litwick let out a joyful cry, slowly floating as it curiously observed its surroundings.
Thanks to the Poké Ball's "black technology," Litwick had successfully left the Spirit World!
"Just as I thought, it worked."
Ethan sighed in relief and looked at the Dusknoir's Poké Ball in his hand.
All this time, he had never stopped investigating that Dusknoir.
Why had it come looking for him?
Why did it appear in Stonefield Town?
Could there also be an entrance to the Spirit World there?
And what was special about his own soul?
Why hadn't Gengar, being a Ghost-type Pokémon, detected any abnormalities in his soul?
"It seems I'll have to return to Stonefield Town at some point. If I don't clear this up, I won't be able to rest easy."
Ethan sighed softly and once again put the Dusknoir's Poké Ball back into his backpack.
Until he managed to uncover the whole truth, that Pokémon would have to remain inside the Poké Ball.
"Litwick, welcome to my family."
Ethan shook his head to push those thoughts aside and then spoke to the Litwick happily floating nearby.
"Littwwiikk!"
The words "my family" seemed to touch something special in Litwick.
It began to dance excitedly in the air, so happy that it could hardly contain itself.
(End of chapter)