Ch.55: Encounter with the Shadow Cultists! The Will of the Shadow King!

The Snow Zone…an area that bears the most wicked and unforgiveable of blizzards and snowstorms. Only the bravest can survive in the harsh environment. The Snow Zone itself was the second largest of the many zones, with the Swamp Zone holding the title as the largest. Such uninhabitable lands meant few towns and cities to cross or explore.

The outer ridge of the Snow Zone was the safest, while the center of the zone was the most dangerous. Since there were very few towns and cities to stay at, lodges were built in different points of the zone for travelers to rest and stay at. They were a necessary blessing for the half-frozen. It wasn't a nice place to live, yet it fared better than places like in the Fire Zone.

Despite there being far less cities, they were well-maintained. If you knew what you were doing, the cold could be easily combated. Plus, the cities and towns themselves bustled with activity and were made to protect against the relentless cold. There was nothing to worry about for them. Play your cards right and the zone also made for a good vacation spot.

One point of interest about the zone was its expansive land. Much like the Swamp Zone, there were parts unknown to the Pokémon of the Mysto region in the Snow Zone. It was a prime zone for treasure hunters to see if old temples have been buried underground and free to be picked clean.

Or, in the case of a certain hitman, a prime place to hide and do wicked deeds.

After parting ways with Team Ravenfield, Fernando used the notes he picked off Reuben to track down new leads on the Shadow King's tomb. He took to the comforts of one of the many lodges and sat himself in the community living space with a mug of hot chocolate by his side. He sipped quietly as he removed the notebook in his hand.

From what he gathered, Reuben has been making deals for spare parts and dead bodies all around the Mysto region. The Snow Zone made for good grounds to start on, since death by hypothermia and frostbite was common out here. The question remained on where his search will lead the hitman. Hiding out in the blizzard was a task on its own.

Fernando took a sip at his chocolate, set it down on the table beside him, then resumed looking over the notebook. Collecting the parts of the deceased is not uncommon for a Puppet Master. The sick and depraved monsters that turn a once living corpse into their own personal slave. Mindless, stripped of a soul, and without thought of its own. He raised his brow. And yet…it's a miraculous skill to improve one's self physically. Reattached new parts to where the old once existed with the finest of upgrades. It's like artificial limbs, only true flesh, blood, and bone.

The contact information stated Reuben's more promising clients existed out in this region of the Snow Zone. He went on and on about how they were the most promising to their cause. Fernando already had an idea about his motives. Any Puppet Master would die to create their magnum opus. A powerful Puppet to control. However, that leads to his involvement with that specific group of witches.

It was obvious they had some connection with the shadows. That made him wonder if the creation of puppets wasn't simply for perfecting a powerful puppet, but for a completely different motive. So far, the Shadow King was inactive, meaning those witches had to be planning something important. Reuben was perfecting his craft to prepare for their ultimate masterpiece.

Fernando closed the notebook and stuffed it inside his suit. Regardless, my search begins in this general area. He sipped on his hot chocolate. The notes didn't say who he met with. Bounty hunters? Another criminal gang? What general interest did these nobodies propose?

He stood up and made his way to the front counter, where the head of the lodge worked. She, a Chandelure, was reading a book in her spare time right as Fernando made his way over. She quickly put the book away and greeted him. "Ah, hello, sir! Is there anything I can help you with?"

Fernando narrowed his eyes. "As a matter of fact, there is. You see, I came out here to this lodge looking for a specific group that has caught my attention."

"Oh. Anyone in particular?"

"Well, that's just it, I'm not sure who I'm looking for. I'm a hitman. I'm looking for a certain group that has been dealing out parts of the deceased to a group of witches. Given the Snow Zone's vast landscape, I figured they'd be well hidden. I only managed to deduce their location to this general area. I was wondering if you happened to hear anything about said dealings."

"Um…" The Chandelure crossed her arms and thought it over. "Oh dear, um…I don't seem to recall anything like that."

Fernando should have figured. Dealing out dead bodies to witches wasn't meant to be a public announcement. He'll have to try a different tactic. "Let me rephrase that, then. Have you ever had a resident out here by the name of 'Reuben?' An Alolan Sandshrew, specifically?"

"Why do you ask?"

"That particular Pokémon is a witch I encountered. Specifically a Puppet Master."

The Chandelure gasped. "Gracious! A witch?!"

Fernando nodded. "I'm currently working a complicated case I can't disclose. All I ask is that you tell me if you've seen anyone that matches that description."

The Chandelure thought it over for about half a minute, but the fire monkey waited patiently. He wasn't in a big rush. Plus, his patience was met with favorable results. "Hmm…I think I do recall such a Pokémon staying at my lodge before. A long time ago, actually. He didn't stand out from the usual guests, though he did go out into the snow a lot. I wasn't sure why since there wasn't any other civilization for miles. Though, he did get a few visits from other Pokémon. I never did pay attention to their conversations and they usually kept them private in his room."

So, Reuben did make some deals out here. At least that confirms I'm in the right area. However, that doesn't tell me where his clients are. He sighed. "That's all you know, I presume?"

She nodded. "I'm truly sorry. I wish I could've helped more."

Fernando held his hand up. "It's no problem. It's a start for me." He turned away and narrowed his eyes. Reuben could survive out in the cold, but he couldn't have gone far if he returns to the lodge promptly. That means he's either making these deals in the bitter cold or there's a secret hideout.

Fernando walked up to the lodge window and pressed his hand against the cold glass. He glared into the blowing, snowy winds dusting up the powdery crystal across the pale white blanket of land. Searching in this mess was a task he couldn't afford to waste, yet certainly not to risk his health over. A little cold wouldn't bother him, but one who wasn't fully adapted to the unforgiving cold would pay the price, especially in the even colder nights.

Fernando slid one hand into his pocket and turned away from the window. "At the very least, I should begin my search in the morning." He snatched his mug off the table and took a sip. "Guess I'll turn in for the night."

That's when he heard a loud explosion coming from outside the lodge. The sound startled him into a defensive stance, reaching for his balisong. He quickly assumed there was some sort of attack, but then he took note of the Chandelure running the front counter. She looked more annoyed than frightened, a reaction that caused him to relax his tense muscles.

He swirled his cocoa around and walked over. "You seem fairly calm for someone having their lodge under fire."

The Chandelure sighed. "You've just arrived today, so I must apologize for the noise. It's another one of the residents. She's staying at the lodge to train high up on the mountains."

"For what purpose?"

"If I recall, for some big tournament in Gelid Peak City. Three months from now." Fernando knew of that city. It sat on top of the highest mountain in the Snow Zone. Despite being so high up and exposed to the bitter winds, it was protected behind a large glass dome that converted the cold hitting the glass into energy, which gave off heat to sustain the city folks. A wonderful city to live in despite the only view they get being a raging snowstorm. "According to her, this year is team based. The winning team gets to fight the current champion for a shot at the title themselves." The chandelier ghost sighed. "How she hasn't started an avalanche yet is unknown to me."

Fernando slurped his hot chocolate and braced himself for a second rumble. He raised his brow. "Does she come out here often?"

"This is her home region. She considers this a perfect training spot to sharpen her mind."

Fernando sipped the last of his cocoa, set the mug down on the table, then started heading for the doors. "Well, I think I would like to have a chat with this young woman." A regular resident of the lodge might have the insider knowledge he sought.

Fernando stepped out into the cold and initially tense up from the sudden blast of wind to his face. He took a deep breath and exhaled. His hot breath steamed in the cold. Hands in his pockets, he made his way around the lodge. Along with the rumbles of the blasts, he saw the azure glow mixed in with it. Magic explosions?

He peeked around the lodge and pointed out the lone figure braving the harsh winds: a Delibird. She wore a red scarf that fluttered in the wind and a dark blue duster coat that also fluttered in the wind. Since she didn't feel the negative effects of the cold, it was undone and showed off her black t-shirt with a comical red and yellow 'KABOOM' printed on it and gray sweatpants.

She held her wing out and conjured a small, spherical orb colored azure blue. She bounced it in her wing a couple of time, then chucked it in the air. She pointed at it as it flew, then swung her wing down. By her command, the orb rocketed to the ground and exploded into a bright azure cloud, quickly followed by a shockwave that blasted a snowy gale against Fernando.

The Delibird held her hips and groaned. "Ugh…maybe I've finally reached my maximum output on a standard explosion."

Fernando dusted the frozen water off his shoulders, then made his way over. "That was a standard explosion? Remind me not to make an enemy out of you."

"Eh?" She looked over her shoulder, then smiled. "Oi, spying on me during my training, stranger?" She sounded friendly for the most part. "You're not here to learn my secrets, are you?"

Fernando smirked lightly and took a couple steps forward. "If this is about that tournament you're entering, no need to fret. Just came to see the firework show you're performing. Quite an archaic manner of magic, don't you think?" He held his chin. "What was the name for this particular study? Explosion magic?"

The Delibird held her hip and smirked. "Crepitus Style, but explosion magic works. Archaic or not, I prefer the simplistic method of battle." She formed one of the volatile orbs in her wing. "And even if it's a basic form of utilizing magic, it isn't without its charm. Perform the right types of spells and those little explosions become a devastating and strategic counterattack."

Fernando held his hands up in defeat, chuckling through his apologetic grin. "Didn't mean to step on any toes, my dear."

The Delibird laughed sincerely and evaporated the orb. "Do not worry, stranger, I mean no threat. Perhaps it's my way of saying that I want to improve explosion magic into a refine art. Either way, forgive me if I came off as defensive."

"No apology needed." Fernando stuck his hands back into his pockets. "I heard it's a team base tournament this year. Why are you training on your own? All the way out here, no less?"

The Delibird chuckled. "Funny thing about learning new ways to make explosions…the blasts don't discriminate, if you catch my drift."

"Understandable." Fernando rubbed the back of his head. "Not worried about starting an avalanche, though?"

The Delibird smirked. "I've been doing this for years. Besides, the snow's pretty solid. It won't budge unless it took a direct hit."

"You sure do know a lot about your craft."

"My parents were a big influence on me. They've taught me the hidden beauty of the explosion." The Delibird paused for a moment, then laughed out loud. "Oh, listen to us, stranger! All this conversing and we haven't even exchanged familiar greetings! How rude of me! Allow me to start!" She held her wing out. "Krystal. Krystal Frostwood."

Fernando smiled back and shook her wing. "Fernando Mangas. A pleasure to meet you, Ms. Frostwood."

Krystal smirked. "No formalities required, comrade. Krystal will do fine."

"You're very friendly." He pulled back and resumed his calm stance. "Again, my apologies for disturbing you through your training. I came here on a job and assumed the worst."

Krystal held her chin curiously. "Oh, a job, huh? You a news reporter coming to take my picture?" she teased. "Or should I be watching my back around you?"

Fernando rolled his eyes in amusement, then showed a light serious face. "Nothing to do with you, I promise."

"Harsh," she joked.

A light chuckle briefly breached his serious expression. "I came back here to ask for your help, if able to. You see, I'm a hitman hired to gather information on a classified case. Only thing I can say is that it involves some dealings with a group of witches."

The mention of witches caused Krystal to grimace in response. "Witches…ugh, I know how nasty they can get. Seriously, witchcraft gives me the creeps. I wouldn't want to be on the other end of their little experiments."

Fernando shook his head. "A fate I wouldn't want to throw onto my worst enemy." He closed his eyes. "I'm tracking a particular case after running into a Puppet Master. His journal entries I snatched point me to this area. He had clients working out here that provided him with-"

"-dead parts?" Krystal guessed. She sighed. "I've heard of trafficking drugs and slaves, but Pokémon remains is just…disgusting." She narrowed a brow. "And that particular group of traders are out here collecting dead bodies for this Puppet Master you speak of."

Fernando smiled. "You catch on quick. I suppose now you know what I'm after."

"Any info I might have," she concluded. She crossed her wings. "To tell you the truth, I might not be that much help. I do train in this area a lot, but I don't go exploring the vast stretches of the Snow Zone for fun." She shrugged. "I'm a fighter at heart, but I at least join in with my crew for some good ol' treasure hunting. The Snow Zone's uncharted reaches provides lots to dig up and uncover." She narrowed her eyes. "Point is, the Snow Zone's pretty big. You're not going to find a lot of obvious hideouts laying around."

"I was afraid of that," Fernando mumbled. He turned around and glared into the blustery winds, making out the vague shape of a mountain. "Guess I'll have to do guess work until something comes up."

"I…didn't say I had nothing, comrade." He faced her again, meeting her playful grin. "You at least know this secret meet up is within walking distance between the lodge and them. That's a start, but I can one-up on that." She held her wing out and formed another magic explosive. While it retained the azure colored, it lit up in a red glow, consecutively turning the explosive purple as a result. "I told you there's more to an explosive than just the kaboom."

Fernando raised one brow with curiosity. "What do you mean?"

"This right here is a personal favorite. The Calorquae Bomb, as it is called." She took a few steps away from him and wound her wing back. "Observe." She chucked the explosive in the opposite direction of the fire monkey.

He watched it fly curiously, then gasped as it stopped in midair and flew directly for him. The closer it got towards him, the redder it became. He quickly reached for his balisong for protective, but the magic explosive fizzled out before it could touch him.

Krystal snickered at the annoyed glare she received. "Sorry for the scare, comrade, but it was a necessary demonstration." She formed another one and bounced it in her wing. "My Calorquae Bombs are heat seekers. They gravitate to the closest and strongest heat source in the immediate area, excluding the caster."

Fernando let go of his balisong and held his hip. "What are you suggesting?" He took another look around, reminding himself they were in a cold desert. He narrowed his eyes, then looked at the heat seeking explosive with perceptive eyes. "Hmm…an explosive like that would be incredibly dangerous out in the Snow Zone. If it were thrown randomly, it'll likely only hit a living target that's warm-blooded. No other naturally occurring heat sources out here."

"Go on," Krystal encouraged with a big grin.

"…but if used supportively, it's the ultimate location device in the Snow Zone," Fernando concluded with an impressed grin, amazed by her line of thinking.

She spun the explosive on the tip of her wing. "Exactly, comrade! I'll have it modified so it doesn't trace you as a primary heat source. If you're looking for a large group in a hideout, the explosive will detect the mass of heat collected at that point and bring you to it. Easy pickings since the Snow Zone doesn't have a lot of people camping out in the hostile areas."

Fernando held his hips. "You've saved me a load of trouble, Ms. Krystal."

She laughed and slapped him across the back, catching him off guard. She was surprisingly strong, apparently. "I told you! No formalities! We've met! We are now friends!"

Fernando rubbed his sore back and grinned uneasily. "Right…of course." He looked out into the storm and glared. "Too dark to do work. I'll head out in the morning."

Krystal defused the explosive in her wing. "You do that, comrade. I'll be staying here for a few more days before I head out for more training. If you require assistance before I leave, feel free to ask."

Fernando waved off the offer. "It's fine. Shouldn't take me more than a day."

"In that case…" She swung her wing around his neck and dragged him back into the lodge. "Let me treat you to some hot chocolate! A sign of our new friendship!"

We've met for barely eight minutes. Fernando sighed, but chuckled along with her. Oh well, nothing wrong with a little festivity before work.

Once the morning had arrived, Fernando left the lodge after filling himself up on breakfast and meeting with Krystal again for the Calorquae Bomb. The storm blew less intensely and it was a bit brighter out. Little sun could penetrate the clouds, so it gave off an almost grayish tint. Not the best to walk through, but it could've been worse.

Fernando trekked through the snow with a supply of food on hand. He held the heat seeking explosive in one hand and wandered around the snowy fields without an exact destination, at least until the explosive picked up on something. He kept his professional attitude about him, even in his lonesome. His senses were sharp and alert, but all that could be seen or heard was more snow.

Though, after some time, Fernando felt it was best to contact Hal about his latest updates. He had the crystal ball in his other hand and spoke with the ex-pirate. "…I'm currently searching through the snow as we speak," he finished his lengthy explanation.

Hal seemed to be working in the back of the store with his own crystal ball in hand. "Nice to hear ye found a suitable lead, boy, but how will ye go about confronting them?"

Fernando usually planned in the moment at times like this. When faced with an unknown enemy, he would quickly evaluate the situation before acting accordingly. Other than that, he'll normally plan ahead and research his targets. Give the unusual nature of his latest assignment, that didn't call for much prep time.

"I suppose I'll go about my usual tactics. Infiltrate and pull the truth out from under their noses." Fernando closed his eyes. "Though, unlike those Anguis goons I dealt with, I don't know for certain what I'm up against."

"If they're conspiring with witches, we can only assume the worst," Hal said.

Fernando sighed. "Fair point. Working with a Puppet Master means they might have ties to witchcraft, too. Maybe the shadows if they're working so closely under this Callista woman." He glared. "I fear I'm making slow progress on locating the king's tomb. What secrets could be found there?"

"Hopefully something useful," Hal admitted as he set his crystal ball down on, presumably, the store counter. "We need to know what the Shadow King is doing. I'm not sure how, but he's been haunting poor Geno lately. It's worrying, if ye ask me."

That did raise some questions for the fire monkey. How could the Shadow King possibly be haunting Jonathan Geno of all people when he was in hiding? Not to mention, he was supposedly possessing the body of Alex Ghostwind. Something wasn't adding up for the hitman.

Fernando narrowed his eyes. "I don't have an exact explanation, but it may be best if you keep a closer eye on Mr. Geno. History says the Shadow King was a ruthless and conniving strategist. Playing into his traps will land us in more harm than we are already in."

"Ye don't have to tell me twice. I've been trying to keep that insomniac from doing work, yet he's unusually invested in solving the mystery!" The ex-pirate clutched his head and groaned. "How maddening…"

Fernando glared ahead. "Rest assured, I'll gather all the clues we need. Once my mission is complete, the rest is up to Team Ravenfield." He stopped and looked at the explosive when he saw the brief glow it emitted. "Wait, hold on, Hal."

The hitman waved the explosive around, finding the strongest indication of heat in the area. He pointed it at his right, then grinned when it glowed a bit brighter. It was sensing a collection of heat. There weren't any lodges this far out, meaning he was heading in the right direction.

"Lucky me," he muttered. He looked back at his crystal ball and said, "Hal, I need to go. I think I've found my targets."

Hal smirked. "Ha, excellent! Give them a good beating if they refuse to talk, boy! Good luck!" His image vanished from the orb.

Fernando stuffed it back into his blazer, then followed the glow of the Calorquae Bomb. He reached for another item in his arsenal as his eyes narrowed. Alright, let's see what you know.

Hidden within the endless snowstorms of the Snow Zone was a wooden base, made into the mountain and camouflaged with the snow. It was easy to miss if you weren't studying the one spot for long enough. The perfect hideout for a group of deranged Pokémon with dark intentions.

The inside of this wooden base was, for the most part, nearly empty of equipment and basic tools for survival. Not even a fire pit to warm the lodge, though the continuous activity inside said base provided some heat.

The Pokémon inside wore black robes in dim candlelight. They sat around a circle with their heads low and faces covered. Their breathing was silent. In the center of their circle were the possessions of the dead bodies they harvested and looted. Necklaces, pocket knives, amulets they had no use for, and so on. All part of their daily ritual to please their dark master, the Shadow King.

"All powerful Shadow King," one of the cloaked Pokémon, a Golbat, announced quietly, "your lowly servants offer you this stack of precious valuables picked from the delusional Pokémon who do not worship your might. Only we realize the corrupted power you possess. All who denounce your rule shall pay mercilessly." He raised his wings and hummed macabrely. "Let these sacrifices bring you one step closer back to our world, so you may raze it into the inescapable void of darkness!"

"Almighty Shadow King! Almighty Shadow King!" all the cultists chanted in unison, ghastly in tone.

One cultist off to the side turned a crank attached to the wall. The cultists rose to their feet and watched as the floor split open, revealing the wooden base did contain a heat source: a blazing pit of fire. The flames illuminated under the hoods of the cultists as they stared with emotionless expressions. Each of them had dark circles under their eyes.

Five cultists stepped towards the pit's edge and through down a basket of powder each. They stepped back as the powder reacted with the flames and erupted them over the pit. The powder turned the flames from red-orange to a menacing violet.

Each cultist grabbed one or two of the sacrifices and threw them into the flames. Knives melted in the flames. Jewels broke apart in the intense heat. The amulets and charms rapidly cracked and exploded into a magical explosion.

The cultists raised their arms and chanted, "Hear our prayers, almighty Shadow King! May your rule once again be realized! Let the world be consumed in your darkness!"

The lone cultist turned the crank in the opposite direction and closed off the pit. The Golbat pulled his hood down and looked around at his fellow followers. "The time of the shadows will soon be upon us, fellow Shadow Cultists. This delusional world will soon see the death of their life and embrace eternal darkness. The shadows will reclaim the land and we shall join in their darkness!" The cultists cried out with cheers. "The day we've waited for will soon come! The Shadow King shall rise once again!"

Their celebration and ritual took an abrupt stop from the sharp knock that echoed on their base door, causing them to gasp. They looked at each other with panic. They weren't expecting visitors with fellow colleagues. What was the meaning of this unannounced arrival?

A Vibrava fluttered over to the door and peered out the peephole. She narrowed her eyes as she examined the trespasser, then gasped. "Brothers and Sisters! We've been graced with the presence of Brother Reuben!"

The cultists gasped out in surprise. Immediately, Golbat waved his wings and shouted, "Let him in! Now!"

A Nidoking and a Malamar raced to the door and undid the barricades. They grabbed the pair of sliding doors and pulled them open, before bowing to the unexpected Alolan Sandshrew. He expressed no emotion other than seriousness as he stepped into the base with his arms behind his back.

Golbat immediately flew over to the Puppet Master and shook his hand unexpectedly. "Brother Reuben! What an honor to have you back in our sacred temple!"

Reuben raised his brow. "This is a temple?" It resembled a fancy log cabin at best. He shook his head and returned the shake. "I see you're in good spirts, Brother."

"With good reason, Brother Reuben! You gave our group purpose again after you informed us of such wonderful news! You are always welcomed back to our temple!" He draped his wing over the igloo shrew's back and guided him inside. "Forgive me for being so crass, but we weren't expecting your arrival for some time."

Reuben kept his eyes forward as he looked around at the cultists that stared at him with admiring eyes. Creepy. "My…plans had to be stepped up a bit. Work on the batch of Puppets has gone as well as I expected. The new modifications and…pieces I seized from your possession proved useful."

The Golbat rubbed his wings together. "We're happy to please you, Brother Reuben. We knew those organs and muscle would provide your Puppets with newfound vigor."

Reuben scratched his cheek. "Yes, well…I won't take up too much of your time. I only came here for-"

"-the new batch of corpses?" the Golbat guessed.

Reuben hid his grimace before facing the wide mouth bat. "No, I've actually discovered some…technicalities with my latest project." He turned away and tapped his foot calmly. "I'm sure you know how important my work is. Nothing can go wrong when we're this far in the game. I hope you realize that."

The Golbat nodded. "Oh, I do, I do! How can we discredit the man who will bring the Shadow King back to his former glory? Beyond even that?!"

Reuben narrowed his eyes suspiciously, momentarily caught off guard by the context of his praise. He kept his cool, regardless, never letting it waver. "Yes, my role in this holds the weight of our success. The Shadow King's rise to power was entrusted into these hands, restoring his…body." Don't tell me that's what's going on.

One other cultist, a Croagunk, continued on for him, thankfully. "As powerful as the Shadow King is, the perfect vessel is required to bring out his full potential! I refused to believe it was possible, but your contributions will make our lord and master stronger than ever!"

A Magneton buzzed in agreement. "Zzt- The rumors are that the Shadow King housed trapped himself in his new vessel for his own protection. Zzt- The Shadow King had to brave this delusional world by manipulating his vessel to live amongst the Pokémon."

An Illumise threw her head back and snickered. "But it doesn't matter anymore! Brother Reuben will modify the Shadow King's new vessel and make him the most powerful shadow in existence!"

Reuben clenched his teeth as the cultists went on and on about his apparent plan. Or rather, Fernando clenched his teeth. The disguised monkey, while relaxed on the outside, felt tense all the way down to his soul. So, that's what Reuben has been doing? Perfecting new techniques and seals on different corpses not to create an army. I was right, but for the wrong reason. His magnum opus isn't a Puppet…it's the Shadow King's vessel. They're planning to use the body of Alex Ghostwind and turn it into the perfect vessel for the powerful umbra specter. Fernando finally understood the motive, but it still didn't bring him closer to finding the tomb. These shadow enthusiasts have to know something.

'Reuben' grinned at their chanting and laughed along with them. "Okay, okay, that's enough praise. The final hour before our turning point will be upon us. The one true god of this pathetic world shall finally take his reign!" The cultists cheered in agreement. "However, as I said, my service requires an important component to be achieved."

"What, Brother Reuben?" the Golbat asked.

"A sample of the king's essence. Not something I have, sadly enough. However, his former prison might be the key to progress." 'Reuben' bowed to them politely. "I was hoping shadow worshippers such ass yourselves would help a fellow Brother out and give me the location of his tomb."

"The tomb of the Shadow King…" The Golbat hummed quietly, trying to recall the location. "We've theorized within our circle of trust for centuries, secrets passed down from member to member, trying to find the king's tomb. A historical landmark for the tests of time." He narrowed his eyes at the 'Alolan Sandshrew.' "However, I do question your logic. If the Shadow King's essence is an important component, why only now realize it? I thought your job was to make a powerful vessel. Why would his essence be of any use?"

'Reuben' laughed coolly. "Why, of course, to give the vessel a mutation boost to…accelerate the rate of energy conversion between the parts?" I'm making this shit up.

The Golbat was beginning to become wary- even suspicious- of the one he called 'Brother.' "Brother Reuben…if it was information you only required, why did you come all the way out here? You have the means of contacting us?"

'Reuben' folded his arms behind his back, hiding the nervous twitching in his fingers. "Means of contact have been…struggling lately."

The bat cultist narrowed his eyes piercingly at the disguised fire monkey, then made an open-mouthed smirk. "Heh…you do the weirdest things, dear Brother. Isn't that right, Brothers and Sisters?" The cultists nodded in agreement.

The way he spoke was unsettling to Fernando. I don't like how he's talking now.

"I have to wonder, Brother Reuben, if your sudden presence should be taken as an omen of fortune or calamity." He chuckled. "Though, in our excitement with your sudden presence, I'm only now realizing a peculiar difference about you."

'Reuben' scratched his cheek. "Eh…what exactly?"

"Why, you look fit as a fiddle!" That…was not the response he expected. "Brother Reuben, you look positively healthy. It's almost like you never suffered…serious, bone breaking injuries," he finished with a dark, revealing tone.

Fernando took a step back. Crap…

"I was stupid not to see it immediately, but you shouldn't have recovered from those injuries you described so quickly. Deformed face, a limp, broken bones, the works! Yet here you are, braving the harsh, snowy winds with a casual stride." The bat hissed and stomped forward, spreading his wings out intimidatingly. "Dear Brother Reuben, you would never try to trick us, would you? That is…you are Reuben, right?"

'Reuben' realized he was being glared at by all the other cultists. His ruse was unraveling into a chaotic mess. He took a gamble, knowing full well Reuben was likely still in a damaged state after being poisoned by Gwyn and mangled by Flint's Guardian.

He sighed and pinched between his eyes. "…well, guess we'll have to do this the hard way." Without warning, he kicked the Golbat's knees out from under him, then sliced his balisong through his left wing, tearing out the membrane.

"AGH!" He tried to attack, but got kicked in the back of the skull.

Fernando pulled off the illusion mask, reverting him to his normal form, and tucked it away in his blazer. He held his knife in a reverse grip and glared down at the surrounding cultists. "I'm not good at direct fighting, but I know none of you have trained to fight a day in your life. Just surrender and relinquish the information I seek." The cultists backed away from the knife wielding hitman.

Fernando glared at them, but the expression faltered when he heard the bat suddenly laugh in a quiet, ominous tone. He glared over his shoulder and watched as the shadow cultist went into a mad series of giggles as he cradled his damaged wing. He should have expected these shadow cultists to be too delusional to care about pain. If the Shadow King were here and ordered them to, they'd jump off the nearest cliff like mindless drones.

The Golbat glared over his shoulder with that open-mouthed smirk of his. "Not an injury to worry myself over. All of this…is for the glory of our master. The one true god of this pathetic world."

Fernando raised his knife, forcing the bat to keep his distance. "Don't make this harder on yourself. I will kill you if you try anything funny."

The Golbat blinked, then broke out into hysterical laughter. "HAHAHA! Kill us?! We don't care what happens to our lives! This cult was designed specifically to devote our resources to the Shadow King! Every day, we pray to our lord and master in the hopes that he returns! Once he returns, our purpose will be realized and the Tribe of Shadows will see our worth! They'll use and sacrifice us as they please!

"Generations of this cult, longstanding because of the Shadow King's eternal might. A world that must be purged of its purity! An age of darkness where only corruption thrives! Centuries of worship, taking steps closer to learning the secrets of our master!"

Fernando narrowed his eyes. "What secrets?"

The Golbat laughed. "What secrets?! Only the existence of the shadows!"

The fire monkey blinked. "Wait…not even you know where they came from?"

The large mouthed bat sighed sadly. "I know, it's so sad. What kind of worshippers are we if we don't know the origins of our dark master? Shadows are one of the greatest mysteries ever to grace our land. The Grand Imperium Age was a time no one expected. No build up, no warning, no beginning to recall. The shadows simply popped into existence, catching us all by surprise." He laughed maniacally. "That's…what makes them amazing. They were born to be powerful. Their existence brought about a new side to pokemanity. We live in this world governed by laws and regulations. A world plagued with bandits, pirates, witches, and mob bosses." He growled. "And yet…they suppress us because we defy them. Especially witches. Because witchcraft is considered the sin of magic, it's practices are banned."

So, that's why they took a shine to Reuben. Fernando glared. "Don't be idiots. Witchcraft delves into the dark arts; arts that can be utilize for death and depravity. There have been many witches who took up the art out of general interest. As history shows, they go bad, with very few resisting the temptation." He growled. "If you expect me to believe what you're doing for the Shadow King is some sort of divine justice-!"

"Not justice. Just freedom." The Golbat sneered. "Many things are unknown about the Shadow King, but our circle of worship has passed down the stories of the dark lord for generations." He grinned evilly. "The Will of Shadows."

Fernando narrowed his eyes. "Will of Shadows? The hell are you talking about?" He grimaced as the other cultists sniggered evilly. Already, he was getting a bad feeling about the answer.

The Golbat laughed cruelly and took a bow. "The Will of Shadows…is what we call the presence of the king himself. His presence, his will, empowers his servants with power as he wishes. All members of the Tribe of Shadows, chosen and created by him alone, become the strongest beings of their race."

His presence…amplifies his servants?

"The Will of Shadows can be given to anyone he deems worthy. That power allows one to bring forth an endless wave of shadows to do his bidding. Do you know why the shadows were such an unstoppable race for half a century? It's because, no matter how much you kill them, they will come back until the Will of Shadows is no more. The Boss Shadow himself and the Four Heralds of Darkness all have it. The Shadow King possesses the strongest Will of Shadows."

Fernando pieced the puzzle together. So, they have the power to summon endless shadows and empower them, likely based off their current strength? He glared. Wes and the others said they've encountered the Boss Shadow before. If they survived, that could mean the Boss Shadow isn't back up to full strength, meaning his shadows aren't as strong. He was trapped for centuries in his prison, having his powers restricted. But if he gets any stronger…ugh, and there's still the heralds. No telling how dangerous they'd be summoning shadows.

The cultists snickered at his trouble expression. The Golbat continued, "Do you see why fighting is pointless? Brother Reuben told us the Tribe of Shadows is plotting to restore the Shadow King. With his return, their power will grow exponentially. Why bother powering the Being of Nightmares or his shadow army against a bunch of useless pests who wish to interfere?!"

Guess Reuben mentioned that in passing.

"No matter how many times the shadows are beaten, they will return stronger than ever. Why bother wasting their full power when the end game is inevitable? Once the king is restored, that's when power shall be returned to the shadows! Don't you get it?! If you don't worship the shadows, you're nothing more than a worthless carcass that's better off dead!" He screeched with laughter, lost in his own depravity and madness. The cult joined in, laughing their asses off. They truly believed the fate of the Pokémon was certain.

Fernando, however, was adamant in defying them. He growled through his teeth and shouted, "Do yourselves a favor and SHUT UP!" With the loud boom of his voice, he projected a brief pulse of his hidden bloodlust, just enough to make them go silent in fear. Whether you were the strongest being in the universe or not, a hitman's or assassin's bloodlust was nothing to scoff at. Whether it be a slight, insignificant itch of discomfort or sheer terror incomprehensible beyond any mortal being's knowledge, that bloodlust could be felt.

Fernando turned his back to the Golbat and sneered at the cultists. "Don't give me that shit. No umbra phantom rules over me. Live in your own delusions if you want, but our world isn't going to be destroyed." He held up his balisong and glared them down. "You want to talk shit? Then come at me! I stand by the world Arceus and the gods created! If you want to take this world away from us to build your empire of gloom and doom, you'll have to answer to me."

Golbat glowered. "What are you saying?"

"Simple." His bloodlust projected around him, eyes glowing a sinister, faint red. "Call out to your 'god'…and pray."

Without warning, he threw down a ton of smoke bombs and covered the room in a veil of impenetrable smoke. The Golbat hissed and fanned his wings at the smoke. He gasped as he heard screams bellowing and bodies hitting the floor. He found an Aromatisse drop to the ground with stab wounds in the shoulders. She was still alive, but too weak to stand.

He's destroying their muscle tissue so they can't move! That's when his sensitive ears picked up on the fleeting footsteps running from behind. He spun around and shouted, "Barricade the doors! He's trying to escape!"

The Nidoking and Malamar quickly locked down the doors and barricaded them just before Fernando could get to them. They lunged to grab him through the smoke, but he jumped over their attack and stabbed them in quick succession. He had no time to unlock the doors. He could feel the cultists running towards him.

Fernando kept to the darkness as the cultists spread out amongst themselves. One by one, he grabbed them and buried them into the veil of smoke, silencing their activities. The decreasing sounds in the room alerted the cultists their numbers were dwindling.

The Golbat attempted to fly, but his wing was still mangled from the first strike. He screeched into the smoke, sending out a sonic wave to use as echo location. He narrowed his eyes, picking apart the varying body types in the smoke, before matching one to their foe. He screeched and lunged himself for the Monferno.

However, his attacked faltered when Fernando fired a murderous glare his way, projecting his immense bloodlust. The aura of malice nearly caused the Golbat to pass out on the spot, but he resisted the force and simply glided off course and crashed into the wall.

Fernando spun and folded his balisong with rapid flicks as he waited for another attacker. He had nothing to worry about. He was in his element. They have no chance of beating him in a fight. "You should have given me the tomb's location!" He folded up the balisong and backflipped over an Exploud. He turned around to fire a powerful shout at the fire monkey, but Fernando threw a smoke bomb into his mouth. He coughed on the smoke, allowing Fernando to strike him with his balisong. "This could have been easier!"

The Golbat screeched. "Nothing will make us relinquish our master's tomb! But it seems we'll have to silence you ourselves! We can't allow you to escape!" He ran right for the Monferno.

"Tsk…you're making this more difficult than it needs to be." He blocked one of his wings, then kicked him between the eyes. "Your Shadow King will not rise again!"

The bat growled angrily, then immediately laughed out in madness. "You don't even know what you're getting yourself into! The shadows are unstoppable! The Pokémon have only delayed the inevitable!"

Fernando sneered and ran right for him. "You're a Pokémon, too!" Fernando let his guard down at the wrong time, because it allowed the Exploud to grapple him from behind. Fernando glared at the Loud Noise Pokémon, impressed that the knife wound didn't take him out of the fight.

Golbat stood up and laughed. "Hehehe! You've had your fun! Time for payback! Make his ears bleed!"

The Exploud reared his head back, then unleashed a powerful shout down on Fernando. His own screams were muffled from the intense soundwave as they bombarded his eardrums. They couldn't hear him, but the cultists took pleasure in watching him squirm and suffer.

The Golbat knew his words won't be heard, but he couldn't resist mocking. "Tell me, how does it feel to be defeated by the superior race?!"

Fernando definitely didn't hear him, but he could read his mouth movements through his squinted eyes. He clenched his teeth and sneered. Don't go…acting all high and…mighty just yet! Fernando jabbed his thumb into his pocket, digging around to the bottom, then flicked a smoke pellet out and into the loudmouth's mouth.

The Exploud coughed on the smoke, which canceled out his attack. Fernando went for a low shot, kicking him between the legs to force the Exploud to release him. Fernando felt a trickle of blood drip from his ears, but he paid it no mind as he reached for his balisong and lunged right for the Exploud.

"Give it a rest! The only superior being here…is ME!" With that, he drove the knife straight through the Loud Noise Pokémon's heart, giving it a sharp twist to tear the tissue apart.

The Exploud gaped out in breathless agony, eyes glazed over from the kill. He couldn't scream, move, or think. All he could do was feel the bloodlust standing before him, staring into his unfocused eyes. The hulking Pokémon lost the will to stand and teetered forward. Fernando pulled the knife out of his chest and stepped out of the collapsing cultist.

The cultists stepped back in fear as Fernando directed his glare at them. Now that the smoke was clearing up, they could see the murderous aura in his eyes. He pointed his knife at them and sneered. The blade was painted in blood. "Anyone else brave enough to stop me, take a step forward." They refused to move. "That's what I thought."

The Golbat couldn't speak. He refused to show weakness to the enemy, but there's literally nothing they could do to beat him. He's too good. We have no chance in hell beating him!

Fernando waved the knife around. "Now, give me the Shadow King's location…or it's going to be a long day for all of you."

The Golbat growled and shouted, "We will not betray our king!"

Fernando scoffed and made a couple steps forward. "Fine by me. I've got the time-" His eyes widened suddenly before he immediately clutched his arm. The arm with his contract seared into his skin. "W…What?!"

The cultists stood agape as the hitman collapsed onto one knee. He struggled to look at his arm, then gasped as the ghostly green flames of his contract erupted from his arm and consumed him in the blaze. Fernando threw his head back and screamed as the flames ate at him. They left no burns, yet they burned away at his soul. It was eating away a part of his life force.

What…? I…I don't get it! Fernando dropped to both knees and slumped over, keeping himself up on one hand while the other clutched the burning tattoo. This…doesn't make any sense! Did I break one of the parameters?!

The two parameters set for him were to no withhold information regarding his task and to not kill anyone unaffiliated with the Tribe of Shadows or possessed. He never withheld information and he certainly didn't kill any shadow possessed innocents. It didn't make sense…unless…

"Every day, we pray to our lord and master in the hopes that he returns! Once he returns, our purpose will be realized and the Tribe of Shadows will see our worth!"

"All members of the Tribe of Shadows, chosen and created by him alone, become the strongest beings of their race."

Fernando's eyes widened in horror. They're working under Reuben…with the promise of being used in worth for their master. He clenched his teeth as the flames continued to hurt him. C-Crap! It's a technicality, but…they aren't a part of the Tribe of Shadows! Not officially! They're just working for Reuben so they can be a part of them! Dammit, Hal! Why couldn't you say 'helping their cause' or something?!

The cultists weren't sure what was going on, but the death of one of their own somehow triggered a state of vulnerability for the hitman. The Golbat smirked and walked right up to the hitman. "Well…this changes everything." He reared his foot back and kicked Fernando in the chin, knocking him flat on his back. The cultists gathered around and stomped on the hitman repeatedly. "What was that about being superior, you arrogant monkey?!"

Fernando couldn't defend himself or fight back, not while the flames took away a year off his potential lifespan. A part of his life force being taken away didn't bug him, as it was the first time this happened, but this was the worse time to be inflicted with the contract's curse over a technicality!

Thankfully, Golbat called off the stomping. "Enough! We shall keep him alive…for now." He cackled mischievously. "He deserves a proper punishment for defying the Shadow King and his power. A sacrifice is in order."

Fernando narrowed his eyes. A…sacrifice?

"Remove his equipment and lock him away. We'll prepare a special ritual to sacrifice him to the Shadow King! It'll require a couple days of planning, but we want to make it extra special for our dark master!"

The cultists looted all his extra equipment and weapons off his person before dragging him to the far end of the empty base. Fernando didn't put up a fight, too tired to do anything. He kept his cool, however.

It looks like they don't know what the Contract of Flames does. It may have backfired on me, but the contract will keep me from dying a few times in this sacrifice of theirs. He glared softly. Even if they kill me, I'll still be connected to the mortal plane until I find the tomb. Still, if I had to deal with shit like this, I'd rather put up with this in my fifties.

Fernando was going to be their prisoner until this sacrifice of theirs either backfires on them or does him in, but gives him the ultimate advantage of being a ghost. That said, he could use this to his advantage. They were going to let him live until they begin their sacrifice. That not only gave him enough time to think of an escape strategy, but to also gather clues they might accidentally spill.

The fire monkey sighed and slumped his head forward. Not point putting up resistance. He just hoped he didn't overestimate his chances and made it through without complications.

He glared up at the ceiling. Arceus, if you wish to prove these shadow loving fruitcakes wrong, please send me a miracle. He closed his eyes, drifting unconscious.

What was he thinking? What miracle could possibly get him out of this?

"Hahaha! Easy money, am I right?!"

"You do realize we had to capture that guy alive, right? Do you know how many times you came close to offing him?"

"Hey, I can't help myself once I'm in the zone!" The former of the duo crossed his arms and looked ahead. "Speaking of zone, where should we head out next?"

The latter of the two pulled out some wanted posters and shuffled through them. "Let's see…well, there should be a couple of bandits we can bag. Says here they were last seen fleeing into the Snow Zone. We could probably check there."

"Annnnd~?"

She sighed and crossed her arms. "Annnd…they either want them alive…or dead."

"Perfect! Snow Zone, it is!"

"You sure you want to go to the Snow Zone?"

"Oh, don't be cowering out just because you're a Lurantis!"

"I don't do well in the cold!" She rolled her eyes. "But, if it'll get you to shut up, I'm fine with going through the Snow Zone. We have the equipment for it, at least."

"Then off we go!" The nuttier of the two ran off ahead.

The Lurantis rolled her eyes and chased after him. You are a pain in the ass sometimes, Mack.