Pokemon Virus Version Chapter 160: Time Before Time Part 2
Location: Prypiat
The missing city housed a great mystery. Where are all the people and Pokemon? And why is the city missing from the Map?
'Whsipers…of the apocalypse…'
A great shadow lingers around the name of Prypiat…
At the carnival, Chapel, Rose, and Banette sat at a table, waiting for Seth and Yumi to return.
"Where are they?" Chapel asked.
"You did take off in a hurry, Chapel." Banette remarked.
"So sue me."
Rose sat in silence. Along with the threat of a Neo Snagem Commander in this city, she could also sense the darkness. This wasn't evil darkness, like she'd grown accustomed to facing. This was more of a calm, subdued darkness – Like something might've happened to cause this silence.
"Hey guys!" It was Yumi.
Yumi, Seth and Chikorita had returned to the carnival. Chapel, Banette, and Rose approached them.
"Did you find anything in town?" Chapel asked.
Yumi slowly shook her head, "Nothing…"
While Yumi and Chapel were conversing, Seth and Rose exchanged long, tension-filled stares.
"…"
Rose loves Seth, but that is the reason why she has been depressed. He has always been cold and distance toward Rose. She fears Seth's darkness…Seth, as distant as he's been toward Rose, had no reason to outright denounce her on this journey. But he's noticed a few details Rose has tried to cover up as of late. She still misses certain people in Neo Snagem, and Seth suspects that she's shielded them from him on more than one occasion...He thinks Rose knows whether or not 15 has followed them to Prypiat.
The two had nothing to say to each other.
"There's nothing to do in this town," Chapel said to Yumi.
"Should we just leave and continue our journey?" Yumi asked.
"No." Seth interjected.
Rose perked up, because as Seth concurred with leaving Prypiat, his gaze never left her.
"Commander 15 has been following us, hasn't he?"
Rose's eyes widened.
The reason why Seth withdrew all his Shadow Pokemon from the Pokemon Center was to fight Lord Bastion and finish him off for good.
Rose didn't answer Seth's question, but he was right…partially. 15 wasn't there when they were attacked by Corviknight and the mountain pokemon – that was Commander 06, Beatrice. Seth has never met Lady Beatrice, and Yumi might be in the dark about this too. They have no idea that Volbeat and Illumise have been following them as well. And with Lady Beatrice being their Trainer, there was no doubt that she would be close by.
"Am I right?" Seth was persistent, "He's here, and you're hiding him."
"Seth, let it go." Yumi put a hand on his shoulder, but Seth pulled away, walking closer to Rose.
"You'd have no problem saying 15 wasn't here if that was the case, but…" Seth's eyes narrowed, "But he is here, and you hesitate to answer my question because of this fact."
"Brother…" Rose began to worry…but who was she worried for? Uncle Bastion or Seth? Or maybe she was worried about herself.
Seth asked Rose one more time, "Where. Is. 15."
'Whispers of the apocalypse…'
And just like that, the conflict between Seth and Rose had taken a back seat, as those words echoed in the sky.
"…" Seth's heard those words before.
Inside, Rose felt a mixture of relief and worry.
'Whispers…of the apocalypse…'
Those were the words of the Reaper. Rose's feeling was right, Uncle Bastion was somewhere in Prypiat. The Reaper's echo inching closer spared any struggle of having to look for 15. Seth's attention was driven away from interrogating Rose. However…Rose feared for if Uncle Bastion and Seth fought. Seth has vowed that this time, he was after 15's life. She could only imagine the same from 15's part.
Uncle Bastion will stop at nothing to bring Rose back home to the organization.
'The whispers of the apocalypse…have long since settled within this city…' A dark portal appeared at the top of the Ferris Wheel. Appearing from it was Dusknoir, who looked over Prypiat, 'Such an empty city…It will be a perfect resting ground for your bodies…once your souls are delivered to Hell…' He then looked down to the group on the ground, namely Rose, 'Except for you, 26.'
Yumi took a step forward, wanting to ask The Reaper a question, "Are you the reason why the people of this city has disappeared?"
"…" The Reaper remained silent.
"Where's 15?" Chapel asked.
'The whispers of the apocalypse answered this city long before I knew of its existence.' Dusknoir first answered Yumi's question. He continued, 'And as for its people, why don't you ask them yourself? I know of a way…'
Dusknoir produced his Reaper's Scythe. In turn, Seth prepared a Pokeball.
'As I said, I shall deliver you to Hell. Then you mortals can ask each other all the questions you wish!'
Dusknoir gave one big swing of the Reaper's Scythe in Seth's direction. From atop the Ferris Wheel, the scythe ordinarily wouldn't do damage from such a distance. However, the scythe created a gust of wind in its wake. This wind was sharp enough to where slight blades of Seth's blonde bangs were cut off.
Dusknoir readied to swing the Reaper's Scythe once more.
The Reaper was powerful…more powerful than he let on during their previous encounter. Chapel realized this. And as the Reaper's Scythe came into motion, Chapel turned to the group, "Get out of here! Run!"
Everyone followed Chapel's order. Chapel stayed in the rear of the formation, ready to fight The Reaper if it meant protecting her friends.
"Chi! Chi! Chi…Chi?" As Chikorita ran with the group, she noticed someone was missing…her Trainer!
Looking back, Yumi was alarmed that Seth hadn't moved an inch, "What are you thinking?! You need to run, Seth!"
Chapel debated turning back and dragging Seth if that's what it took to get him away from the Reaper. "…" But it was Seth's decision to stay. Chapel guessed that Seth intends to fight the Reaper. And if that was his decision… "We have to keep running." It pained Chapel to say this, but the Reaper was that strong.
Yumi and Rose said nothing. They neither agreed nor disagreed…Don't misunderstand the group. They weren't abandoning Seth. While the Reaper was powerful, they also believed in Seth. Chapel, Yumi, Rose, and Chikorita just had to keep running, and believe that Seth could beat Death while staring it in the face.
As so, they ran further into the empty mystery that was Prypiat…
….
As the Reaper swung his Scythe, a sharp gust of wind followed, making its way in Seth's direction.
Seth performed a quick dodge roll to move out the way. Upon crashing to the ground, the sharp gust created a cloud of smoke.
From atop the Ferris Wheel, The Reaper watched as a flash of light resonated within the cloud of smoke.
'The whispers of the apocalypse…are hungry…'
When the cloud of smoke disappeared…
"…"
Nobody was there.
The Reaper was slow, but calm in turning around to see what was behind him.
'The whispers…'
Seth was standing atop the Ferris Wheel, on the cab right next to Dusknoir.
'…Of the apocalypse…'
Yukiko…that Froslass…was with Seth, and she'd flown him to the top of the Ferris Wheel.
Yukiko was the one who fended off the Reaper last time. The reason why the Reaper couldn't kill Froslass…was because she was already dead.
'Once again, you attempt to ward off death with Yuki-Onna, the spirit woman of ice…'
"Where is 15?" Seth asked.
The Reaper had no intention of answering Seth's question. Instead, Dusknoir started glowing a dark aura.
Seth didn't flinch. In response, his left eye turned dark purple in color, and he started glowing a similar aura.
'Then it is decided…' The red light hidden inside the Reaper's ghostly spirit began to glow brighter. 'You intend to fight me by your own means, in addition to using the ice woman. Do you honestly believe you can kill Death?'
In an attempt to finish The Reaper quickly, Seth rushed the dark energy at Dusknoir. He was hoping to crush the Reaper's mind.
The Reaper was no stranger to darkness. In fact, he thrived in it. Clad in his own dark aura, he rushed at the aura controlled by Seth. "Hmm!" He took control of Seth's dark aura, surrounding himself with it as he charged at Seth and readied his scythe.
Seth gasped…as The Reaper was about to slice him down.
'The whispers of the apocalypse…will welcome you to Hell!'
Seth was about to die…until Froslass grabbed him by the arm and flew a distance away. "Ngh…" Midair and being carried by Yukiko by the hand, Seth kept his gaze on The Reaper.
'Do you really think you can escape me?!' From the highest point of the Ferris Wheel, the Reaper jumped. Charging at Seth and Yukiko.
Seth's eyes narrowed as he hurriedly forced Yukiko's grip off him.
"Gh…" Yukiko was sliced by the Reaper's Scythe. Her beautiful, ghostly figure split in two for a moment before phasing back together in one piece. She was face to face with the Reaper.
Meanwhile, Seth was in a freefall from high in the sky. His eyes narrowed and focused on the ground. He was ready to escape death once again as he took out two Pokeballs.
"Kii!" Klefki was released from its Pokeball.
'Luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrr…' As was the ghostly Chandelure.
Falling, Seth grabbed onto the hook that was Klefki's keychain. The floating key Pokemon eased Seth onto the ground.
'Luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr…'
As Seth survived the fall, Chandelure revealed a new technique.
'Luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr…'
Chandelure was a ghastly pokemon with the power to imprison spirits and send them to Hell. The following technique, was a new way to manipulate spirits.
'Luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr…'
"…"
The Luring Pokemon engulfed Seth's body with a ghostly aura. Seth's deep blue eyes became blank and lifeless. It was as if he was a lifeless puppet.
'Luuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrrrrr…'
"Kiii!"
He was a lifeless puppet. Seth had given his entire being to Chandelure to use as a Poltergeist.
Klefki, Chandelure, and a Seth possessed by Chandelure are charged at a Dusknoir doing battle with Yukiko.
"Hmm!" Dusknoir was swift. He thrusted away from Froslass before rolling out of Chandelure's path just in time to avoid his attack.
"Kiii!"
Dusknoir then brandished his Reaper's Scythe and used it to parry Klefki, who bounced a few feet back.
"Ha!"
And finally, Dusknoir cloaked his fist in the aura of Shadow Punch and launched it at Seth.
"Ngh…" It was a critical hit. A possessed Seth was punched in the gut. His mouth hung agape as he remained floating in the air. There was brief paused where wind blew in the air. "…" Life came back to Seth's eyes, but it wouldn't remain that way for long. Dusknoir had successfully knocked the Poltergeist out of Seth.
"Hmm…"
Once Shadow Punch was called off, Seth began falling out of the sky. It was a long way down to the concrete ground.
"Lass…!" This alarmed Froslass, but before she could take action…
Seth reacted quick enough to grab onto a Ferris Wheel cab, effectively stopping his fall.
'Impressive.' Dusknoir couldn't help but smile. It wasn't everyday that a human had the instincts to save himself from certain death.
Seth climbed on top of the Ferris Wheel cab and rose to his feet. He glared at Dusknoir.
'Now what will you do?'
"Froslass! Chandelure!" Seth called.
This was the cue for Froslass and Chandelure to return fire.
"Lass!"
'Luuuurrrreee…'
The Ghost type Pokemon surrounded Dusknoir in what was to be a pincer attack. Froslass launched a stream of ice, while Chandelure launched a stream of fire. Ice Beam and Flamethrower.
Dusknoir promptly grabbed Klefki and threw him in Seth's direction.
"Hmph." Seth snatched Klefki from the air with admirable reflexes.
"Kii."
In the face of Flamethrower and Ice Beam, Dusknoir twirled around his Reaper's Scythe at breakneck speed. This maneuver was meant to repel the fire and ice, and it did its job.
"Kii." With Klefki no longer in Dusknoir's grasp, he was free to do what was needed to defeat Death.
"Lass!"
'Luuuuuree!'
When it appeared Dusknoir was confident he would successfully fend off Flamethrower and Ice Beam, Chandelure and Froslass increased the output of their respective attacks. "Ngh…" Dusknoir was faltering. If he wasn't a ghost, he'd be sweating right now.
"Lass!"
'Luuuuurrrrrree!'
No longer able to parry the attacks, Dusknoir gave in, leading to both Ice Beam and Flamethrower making their mark.
Seth watched as Dsuknoir fell from the sky.
A cloud of smoke was created as Dusknoir fell to the ground with great impact.
"Lass."
"Lure."
"Kii."
"…"
Seth, Froslass, Chandelure, and Klefki all watched and waited. They knew that it was gonna take more than that to defeat Dusknoir.
As the smoke dissipated, the red light inside Dusknoir's body flickered. It is here that Dusknoir looked Seth in the eye and addressed him, 'The whispers of the apocalypse commend you for being more powerful than during our previous encounter. With that said, you still stand no chance…'
Dusknoir begins emitting a dark aura.
From atop the Ferris Wheel, Seth's eyes widened when he saw Dusknoir's aura summoning forth transparent skeletons. "What kind of move is that?"
This was no ordinary move. Those skeletons…were they lost souls of people Dusknoir has slain? Or were they the souls of the people who once populated this empty city?
Seth gritted his teeth. The last time Dusknoir summoned lost souls, it took Seth achieving Darkness Grade 2 to defeat them. But the strain of Darkness Grade 2 left Seth in a comatose state for an extended period of time. With the threat of Commander 15 lurking should Dusknoir be defeated, Seth couldn't afford to use Darkness Grade 2 right now…Seth needed to rely on his Pokemon. "Froslass. Chandelure. Klefki."
The three pokemon all used their powers to fend off the lost sould.
"Lass!" Froslass used her variation of the move Ice Shard, which involved summoning forth shards of ice that were in the shape of kunai and shurikens. She threw kunai after kunai, striking whichever lost souls managed to close in.
'Luuuurrrreee.' Chandelure fought the lost souls by using Will-O-Wisp. The blue flames were maneuvered in a way that was reminiscent of cups being shuffled on a table. The flames of Will-O-Wisp shuffled around Chandelure at a pace nearly imperceptible to the human eye.
"Kii…"
However great Froslass and Chandelure's efforts were, even they couldn't have predicted what would come next.
"Kii…"
It was Klefki…His aura was growing intense.
"Hmm?" Whatever was happening to Klefki, even Seth didn't know…Or as a matter of fact – Seth knew. He just wasn't one hundred percent certain. "Could it be?"
"Kii…" The dark aura surrounding Klefki began taking on a reddish tint.
"It is…"
Throughout his journey, Seth has heard rumors about what a Shadow Pokemon is fully capable of. One particular power was that of when a Pokemon's emotions rise to a fever pitch. Despite fighting many Shadow Pokemon on his journey, and despite having several Shadow Pokemon himself, Seth has never seen a Shadow Pokemon tap into this rumored power. He'd believed the rumors to be a myth – That is, until now.
Hyper Mode
"So it does exist after all." Seth crossed his arms.
"Kiii!" Now in Hyper Mode, Klefki proceeded to launch an attack without Seth's command. "Kii!" It was a wave of thunder, and its reach was impressive.
"Thunder Wave…"
The wave of thunder singlehandedly dispatched of all the lost souls being summoned by Dusknoir.
"Ngh…" The wave of thunder inflicted a crippling paralysis on Dusknoir.
…
…
…
"La-ah…!" Thunder Wave paralyzed Froslass as well.
'Luuuu…' In addition to Chandelure.
Thunder Wave didn't discriminate between friend and foe. In Hyper Mode, Klefki had only one goal: to defeat his opponent by any means necessary.
Dusknoir, Froslass, and Chandelure all fell to the ground, unable to move through the paralysis.
"Kii!"
This was why everybody was wary whenever Seth withdrew his Shadow Pokemon. Rose, Yumi, and Chapel could've been hit by Thunder Wave, and Seth knew this. "…" He knew this, but he was never one to dwell on these kind of details. "Klefki!" Seth addressed the Steel type as he pointed at the downed Dusknoir. "Shadow Rush!"
"Kii!"
Shadow Rush was a move used by Shadow Pokemon upon reaching Hyper Mode.
Klefki flew high into the sky before halting and turning to Dusknoir. "Ki…" Klefki had unique powers. He summoned forth a translucent keyhole and focused it right above the Reaper. "KIIII!" In short order, Klefki charged at Dusknoir like a meteor falling from the sky. As Klefki got closer, the translucent keyhole began emitting a dark aura. This aura boosted the power of Shadow Rush as Klefki cratered Dusknoir into the ground.
"…" As the smoke cleared, Dusknoir didn't move.
Klefki had used the keyhole to unlock never-before-seen power. It made Seth wonder how powerful the Steel type truly was.
The wind blew as the Seth slowly descended from the Ferris Wheel. "…" He appeared before the fallen Dusknoir.
"Luuure."
"Lass."
It wasn't long before Seth and Klefki were joined by Chandelure and Froslass.
With the battle over, Froslass transformed into her human-spirit Yukiko form. She favored Yumi, where a white short-skirted furisode with a red obi. Her skin was as pale as porcelain, her long hair as black as night. Her stockings were as black as her hair, and her eyes were an icy blue color.
"Lure…"
Yukiko and Chandelure were paralyzed. In response, Seth treated their ailment with Cheri Berries.
"Thank you." Yukiko was grateful.
Not one to engage in idle talk, Seth went straight to the point when he spoke to Yukiko, "Did you sense it?"
Yukiko nodded, "Dusknoir was holding back." She recalled her previous bout with the reaper, "Dusknoir could've easily sent us to Hell again, but he didn't. Why?"
"Commander 15 is in Prypiat, just as Rose said. And I think I might know where he is…" Seth slowly looked to the tower that was Circle N. "Only someone from the top of that tower could've seen us enter the city."
"So, you think 15 sent Dusknoir from up there?" Yukiko asked.
It was here that Seth started walking in Circle N's direction, "He's waiting for us…" He wasn't gonna stop until 15 was defeated, "Perhaps this time he'll reveal his virus power."
And so, Seth and Yukiko started on their way to Circle N and the Nuclear Facility…
…
…
…
'Foolish mortal…You can't kill death.'
After Seth and Yukiko departed, Dusknoir's whispers echoed through the sky.
'The whispers of the apocalypse are still hungry…'
The Reaper disappeared into the shadows, as if he were completely unharmed by his fight with Seth.
This was only the beginning…
To Be Continued…
