Inside
Nowhere Gym,
ghostly blue flames illuminated the battlefield.
The mist had grown heavier.
The air itself felt haunted.
At the center stood
Soulmourne
—the ace of
Morrigan.
Facing it was
Eclipse Lunashade
—the partner of
Elior.
But unlike before—
Elior still had two Pokémon remaining:
Mystveil
Riolu
"Soulmourne, Shadow Pulse!"
A massive wave of ghostly energy surged forward.
"Lunashade, Night Slash!"
Lunashade burst through the attack and slashed directly into Soulmourne.
BOOOOM!
The ghost giant staggered backward.
The crowd above gasped.
Morrigan's Calm Expression
"…Your bond is strong."
"…But your fear still exists."
The eyes across Soulmourne's body glowed violently.
Suddenly—
The battlefield filled with copies of Soulmourne.
Dozens of them.
Mira's eyes widened.
"…Which one is real?!"
"Lunashade, don't stop moving!"
The shadow Pokémon dashed across the battlefield, striking illusion after illusion.
But every attack passed through mist.
Then—
The real Soulmourne appeared behind Lunashade.
"Hex!"
BOOOOOOM!
Lunashade crashed hard into the battlefield.
Lunashade Stands Again
Slowly—
It rose.
Breathing heavily.
Its aura flickering wildly.
Elior clenched his fist.
"…You can still fight!"
Lunashade roared and charged again.
Dark lunar energy exploded around its claws.
"Eclipse Claw!"
The attack landed directly.
Soulmourne slid backward across the battlefield.
For the first time—
Morrigan's expression changed slightly.
But suddenly—
The whispers returned.
"Bridge of the abyss…"
"You cannot escape what you are…"
Its crimson aura spiraled uncontrollably.
The abyss energy within it reacted violently.
Morrigan Sees It
"…So that is your hesitation."
"Soulmourne… Soul Eclipse."
Every glowing eye opened at once.
Dark spectral beams fired simultaneously.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The battlefield exploded in ghostly light.
When the smoke cleared—
Lunashade collapsed.
"Eclipse Lunashade is unable to battle!"
Mira gripped the railing tightly.
"…He still has two Pokémon left!"
Elior returned Lunashade gently.
"…You fought amazingly."
"Riolu, let's go!"
Riolu rushed onto the battlefield fearlessly.
Aura energy pulsed around its body.
"Use foresight and then Quick Attack!"
Riolu dashed forward faster than the eye could follow and struck Soulmourne directly.
"Force Palm!"
BOOOOM!
The Fighting-type attack landed perfectly.
Soulmourne staggered again.
Mira Smiles
"…He's pushing it back!"
"…Interesting spirit."
"Soulmourne, Phantom Chains."
Ghostly chains burst from the shadows beneath Riolu.
"Jump and use Aura Sphere!"
Riolu leapt upward and launched a glowing sphere of aura energy.
BOOOOM!
The attack destroyed several chains—
But Soulmourne emerged from the smoke instantly.
"Hex."
A direct blast struck Riolu midair.
Riolu crashed hard onto the battlefield.
Slowly—
It pushed itself back up.
Breathing heavily.
Still ready.
Elior smiled proudly.
"…That's my partner."
"Riolu, Aura Sphere full power!"
Blue energy gathered between Riolu's paws.
At the same moment—
Darkness spiraled around Soulmourne.
"Soul Eclipse."
Both attacks fired simultaneously.
BOOOOOOOOOOM!!!
The collision shook the entire gym.
Ghostly flames scattered everywhere.
When the smoke cleared—
Riolu collapsed.
"Riolu is unable to battle!"
Only one remained.
Mystveil
Elior looked toward it calmly.
"…Let's finish this together."
Mystveil entered the battlefield with incredible focus.
Psychic energy surged around the arena.
"Psybeam!"
A rainbow beam blasted forward.
Soulmourne countered with Shadow Pulse.
BOOM!
The attacks collided repeatedly.
Mystveil dodged gracefully through the battlefield.
Using speed.
Precision.
Instinct.
For a moment—
It looked like Elior might actually win.
But Morrigan suddenly closed her eyes.
"…Ghosts are strongest where fear exists."
The battlefield darkened completely.
Mystveil hesitated.
Only for a second.
But that second was enough.
"Phantom Collapse."
A massive vortex of ghost energy swallowed Mystveil whole.
BOOOOOOOOM!!!
Mystveil crashed onto the battlefield.
Unable to continue.
The referee Rotom raised its flag.
"Mystveil is unable to battle!"
"Soulmourne and Gym Leader Morrigan are the winners!"
Silence
The gym became quiet.
Elior stood still.
Breathing heavily.
He had used every Pokémon.
Every strategy.
Every ounce of effort.
And still—
He lost.
Morrigan Walks Forward
Soulmourne slowly disappeared into the mist behind her.
"…You are strong, Elior."
"…But strength alone cannot control the abyss."
She looked toward Lunashade's PokéBall.
"…Until both of you accept what lies within…"
"…you will continue to hesitate."
For a moment—
He lowered his head.
Then slowly—
He smiled.
"…Then next time…"
"…we'll overcome it together."
As Elior exited the gym beneath the endless mist of
Nowhere City,
A shadowy figure watched silently from a rooftop.
Zeff
A faint grin appeared on his face.
"…Good."
"…The bridge still has weaknesses."
And the journey continues....