Pokemon: Spiritual Master-Chapter 434: Darkrai, Have You Ever Considered Going Pro?

January 26th, early morning.

The training grounds behind the Alamos Town Pokémon Center.

Johan had planned a light training session for his Pokémon to maintain their condition and burn off some of their excess energy.

After all, freshly woken Pokémon were always full of energy—if it wasn't burned off properly, "accidents" could happen.

"You guys... saw Darkrai last night?"

Just as he was about to start training, Johan heard Ninetales mention it.

"Yoji?"

Larvitar tilted its head in confusion.

Saw who?

The little one had been sound asleep and hadn't sensed a thing.

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar let out a long yawn, stretching lazily with a smug expression.

It waved a hand dismissively at Johan—no big deal.

I already settled it.

Now, as long as they didn't flatten Alamos Town, Darkrai wouldn't bother them.

Johan's expression twitched.

This content is taken from fгeewebnovёl.com.

Gengar settled Darkrai?

...He wasn't sure if that meant physically settling, digestively settling, or—

Forget it.

Darkrai had shown up last night but hadn't caused any problems, so things were probably fine.

"Morning, Johan."

Just then, a steaming-hot Bruno appeared, draping a towel around his shoulders as he walked onto the training grounds with his Hitmonlee.

Judging from his appearance, he had already been exercising for a while.

"Just finished a lap around Alamos Town for a warm-up. What do you say—want a little spar?" Bruno grinned.

A lap around Alamos Town... as a warm-up?

And then a spar on top of that?

Johan's mouth twitched slightly.

This was Bruno—the Fighting-type Elite Four member of Kanto.

Though currently ranked fourth among Kanto's Elite Four, his physique was practically superhuman.

This was a guy who could take on an Onix with his bare hands.

Still, exchanging a few friendly punches with Bruno? That was Ash Ketchum's specialty.

"I'll pass. Just had breakfast—not ideal for intense exercise."

"Fair enough." Bruno didn't insist. "We'll grab breakfast first, then."

Johan let out a subtle sigh of relief.

However, Bruno's words made him realize something.

His Aura had grown a lot over time...

Could he finally form an Aura Sphere?

And Urshifu, after evolving, should now be capable of learning Aura Sphere as well.

Then there was Charcadet...

With that in mind—

While Gengar, wearing sunglasses, led a group of Pokémon on a morning jog around the training grounds, Johan sat cross-legged with Urshifu and Charcadet on the side—sensing the energy of the universe.

Ahem.

That is—his Aura.

Johan's method for training Aura was simple.

Aside from occasionally channeling Aura into Urshifu, Charcadet, and Dragonite to enhance their temporary bursts of power, he mainly...

Used Aura to help his Pokémon relax after battles and training.

Of course, that was just a side effect.

His main goal was to keep feeding his Rainbow Wing.

At this point, the Rainbow Wing was glowing in a constant neon shimmer—it was practically bright enough to be used as a night light.

A very low-key but effective training method.

With his eyes closed, channeling his Aura, Johan could clearly sense the two distinct Auras beside him—one large, one small.

He could feel Aura circulating throughout his own body.

It was as if, with every pass, he could vaguely perceive the sensations of different parts of his body.

...Wait a second.

Was Aura basically internal martial arts?

After all, Spirit Bomb was also a type of martial arts move.

Not only could he sense the Auras of Urshifu and Charcadet, but he could also perceive the life force of everything around him—Pokémon, plants, even tiny insects.

Their Auras were faint and peaceful.

In certain situations, Johan even felt as if he could... influence those Auras.

Perhaps that was why Aura could be used for mental communication.

Suddenly—

Johan opened his eyes.

He lifted his index finger.

A tiny, rice-grain-sized, light-blue sphere hovered at the tip.

For a moment, he almost burst into laughter.

This... This is an embarrassment to all Aura Guardians.

Having strong Aura was one thing—knowing how to use it was another.

For example—

Urshifu, after just a brief meditation, effortlessly conjured a fist-sized Aura Sphere.

"...Forget it."

Johan gave up.

After all, it wasn't like he would ever need to fight himself.

Even in the wild, whenever danger arose, Gengar and the others charged forward first.

Even when he tried to hold them back, he couldn't.

If an enemy arrived alone, they'd leave as a group.

And if even Gengar & co. couldn't handle a wild Pokémon or a Legendary, his pathetic little Aura Sphere wouldn't do squat.

What was he supposed to do—punch a Legendary Beast?

...He wasn't Ash Ketchum.

He couldn't just shatter Mewtwo's barrier with his bare hands.

Hmm?

Just as Johan was about to withdraw his Aura—he suddenly felt something strange.

He wasn't the only one.

Urshifu, Charcadet, and even Gengar's jogging squad had noticed it.

They all turned toward—

A large tree at the edge of the training grounds.

Under its thick shade, Darkrai hovered silently.

Marshadow grumbled, biting on a wooden stick as it clambered out from under the tree.

It had already claimed that shady spot first!

Before it could voice its complaints, though, Darkrai drifted across the field toward Johan.

...It looked exhausted.

Its deep-blue eyes were bloodshot, its spirit seemed drained, but the swirling black-and-white wisps around its body remained as active as ever.

Darkrai?

"Ka-kaah~~"

Gengar hopped over excitedly and, before Darkrai could react, threw an arm around its neck.

Hey, Johan, this is my buddy.

Darkrai: "..."

Johan's mouth twitched slightly.

Surprisingly, though, Darkrai didn't resist much.

It simply fixed its gaze on Johan and asked:

"...It said... you're a Pokémon psychologist?"

"Teacher." Johan corrected.

He wasn't an expert—but he was a teacher, and that was accurate enough.

Darkrai nodded slightly, not too concerned about wording.

Instead, it asked:

"You can... help Pokémon resolve their internal conflicts?"

No doubt, this was Gengar's exaggeration.

"...It depends on the situation." Johan replied.

As a Pokémon psychology teacher, he could immediately tell—

Darkrai had a burden on its heart.

And honestly... he could already guess what it was.

"What about me?" Darkrai hesitated for a moment before speaking again, its voice slightly hoarse.

Johan glanced at it, resting his chin on his hand in thought.

Then, in a warm and steady voice, he said—

"...There was someone you cared about deeply. But you can no longer see them."

"...And yet, for some reason, you constantly think about them... you remember them..."

Darkrai's gaze flickered.

It hadn't expected Johan to understand so quickly.

Was this the power of a Pokémon psychologist?

This time, Darkrai fell silent for a long time.

Then, as if gathering courage, it asked—

"...Can you... help me?"

Johan sighed softly.

Even a Nightmare Pokémon can't control its own dreams...

"...If you truly need it." Johan said seriously.

Darkrai did not hesitate.

"What do I have to do?"

"Nothing." Johan smiled gently. "Just relax."

He turned to Gengar and Ninetales.

"Ka-kaah~"

"Oowoo~"

Gengar flashed an "OK" sign, while Ninetales offered a soft, reassuring smile.

"...You're going to hypnotize me?"

Darkrai hesitated.

"It won't work."

Nothing had ever been able to hypnotize it.

But Johan was completely confident.

"No." He said.

"We can."

Johan shot a look at Gengar.

Gengar grinned, rolling its tongue out while rubbing its hands together.

Slowly, in its palms, a black sphere began to form.

"...Dark Void?!"

Darkrai's eyes widened slightly in surprise.

But upon closer examination—

No.

It wasn't.

It only looked like Dark Void.

Gengar had simply copied the appearance while shaping a specialized hypnosis technique. It just thought Darkrai's Dark Void hypnosis looked cool.

As Darkrai stared at the floating black sphere, Johan's voice flowed like water into its ears.

Gradually—

A sense of fatigue washed over Darkrai.

Its eyelids grew heavy.

"Oowoo~~"

At that moment, Ninetales let out a soft, ethereal cry.

And as its voice echoed, something deep within Darkrai's heart unlocked.

It felt as if it were submerging into a deep, endless spring.

A bright, sunlit afternoon.

A lone Darkrai, exhausted and wounded, dragged its battered body into a beautiful garden.

Feared and misunderstood by both humans and Pokémon, Darkrai was used to being chased away.

It just wanted a quiet corner to rest in.

But as expected—

The Pokémon in the garden noticed it immediately.

To them, Darkrai was an intruder.

They tried to drive it away.

But Darkrai was too tired.

It just needed a moment of peace.

So, when the other Pokémon attacked—

Darkrai fought back.

...But it didn't harm them.

It merely cast Dark Void, lulling them into a temporary sleep.

Just for a little while—

Just so it could rest for a moment.

However—

It had underestimated the garden's Pokémon.

Their resistance and sheer numbers left Darkrai even more exhausted.

After a great struggle, it barely managed to put them all to sleep.

And finally—

It collapsed beneath a large tree, gazing up at the flickering sunlight filtering through the leaves.

It was tired.

Not just physically.

But mentally.

Just to obtain this single moment of peace—

It had to struggle so hard.

It had long lost count of how far it had run.

Everywhere it went—

Humans and Pokémon alike shunned it.

They saw it as an omen of disaster and did everything in their power to drive it away—

Or even destroy it.

"...Maybe... if I just die here... that wouldn't be so bad."

Darkrai thought to itself.

The sun—so easily seen by others—

Was something it could only glimpse through the tiny cracks between the leaves.

Despised by the world.

Rejected by everyone.

It was tired.

At that moment—

A group of Pokémon approached once more.

They surrounded the tree, eyes filled with hostility.

This time, they would attack.

But Darkrai did not move.

It had given up.

To it, perhaps only death could bring true peace.

And just as the Pokémon were about to strike—

A young girl suddenly appeared.

She stopped the attacking Pokémon.

And then—

She ran toward Darkrai.

Even now, Darkrai remembered the way she had looked at it.

A gaze filled with kindness, warmth, and concern.

At that moment—

Darkrai thought—

Maybe the sun's light... isn't so far away after all.

The girl's name was Alicia.

She offered it food and water.

And gently told it—

"This garden belongs to everyone."

"If you want to stay, you can."

She even played a song on her grass flute.

A song called Oración.

A song taught to her by her mother.

To Darkrai—

That was the most beautiful song it had ever heard.

And strangely—

It noticed something.

That song—Oración—

Seemed to lessen the nightmares it accidentally brought to those around it.

At that moment—

Darkrai realized something.

Perhaps—

This girl was its destined person.

From that day onward—

Darkrai became her shadow.

It became the guardian of the garden.

It became the protector of Alamos Town.

But—

Humans live short lives.

Time passed.

The girl grew older.

And eventually—

She left.

Darkrai finally understood.

It would never see her again.

But even now—

Her words echoed in its mind.

"Darkrai, eat plenty so you can grow big and strong!"

"Darkrai, Oración is a song that prays for peace and rejects war. Be good, okay?"

"Darkrai, the garden belongs to everyone. You have to get along with others."

"Darkrai..."

"Darkrai..."

"..."

A single tear slipped from Darkrai's eye.

Like a pearl.

Pure and clear—

Like a diamond.

Johan stood beside it, quietly watching.

"...Is this what you wanted to see?"

His expression was complicated.

The bond between humans and Pokémon...

It really was amazing.

Especially when the right person and the right Pokémon crossed paths.

His mind echoed with Cynthia's words:

"When one life meets another, something is always born from it."

Darkrai said nothing.

But its floating body quivered slightly.

Johan spoke softly.

"Memories are pearls. Bonds are diamonds."

"Whether your meeting was fate or coincidence, it was something beautiful. And that's enough."

Darkrai murmured the words under its breath.

"Memories are pearls... Bonds are diamonds..."

Johan smiled.

"If you get the chance, you should go out and see the world."

"...Go out?"

"Memories are precious, but we can't live in them forever."

"The world is vast. If you don't explore it, how will you know if you're missing out on another pearl or diamond?"

Darkrai was silent.

But deep down—

It knew Johan was right.

"Ka-kaah~ Ka-kaah~"

Gengar and Ninetales appeared beside them.

Gengar nodded in agreement, looking oddly wise.

Darkrai glanced at it.

This Gengar...

Had clearly lived a long time.

"Did you also have a memory like this?"

Darkrai asked.

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar scratched its head.

Nah.

One was enough.

"...And in the future?"

Darkrai's eyes flicked toward Johan before hesitating.

"What will you do then?"

Gengar smirked, clapping Darkrai on the shoulder.

"Ka-kaah~"

"You're still young."

"Johan just won't let himself kick the bucket, and we'll be fine."

Darkrai: "?"

Gengar threw its arms wide.

"Ka-kaah!!"

"We'll just make Johan immortal! Problem solved!"

"Oowoo~"

Ninetales agreed wholeheartedly.

Darkrai blinked.

...That's an option?!

Johan: "..."

—Pop!—

Like a bursting bubble, the dream faded away.

Darkrai slowly opened its eyes.

"...Thank you."

Its voice was quieter.

Softer.

It looked at Johan, then at Gengar, truly grateful.

Johan waved a hand dismissively.

After dealing with so many Pokémon, this wasn't difficult.

But for Darkrai—

It had been life-changing.

For the first time—

Darkrai experienced what it was like to have someone enter its own dreams.

"...As a thanks, I could teach Gengar Dark Void—"

"Ka-kaah~"

Gengar waved it off.

Nah.

Darkrai was stunned.

Its Dark Void... wasn't enticing enough?!

It narrowed its eyes at Gengar.

Don't make me force you to learn it.

At that moment, Johan suddenly asked:

"If you ever decide to leave this place..."

Darkrai hesitated.

"...Do you have any recommendations?"

Johan smiled.

"...Have you ever considered going pro?"

----------

Powerstones?

For 20 advance Chapters: patreon.com/michaeltranslates