CHAPTER 6

From files Diantha sent ahead of time, I knew I was working with a wide range of Dark Specialists here.

Most were employed with the Kalos League, but there were some freelance guards mixed into the bunch. This particular line of work had no shortage of applicants and tended to pay well for a number of reasons. For one thing, organizations generally preferred it when no incidents or casualties occurred during events they hosted. There was nothing like the death of an innocent citizen to send a public image plummeting into glacial depths. So, they didn't skimp out on protection services. For another… Security work was typically boring, but only in ideal situations where thugs weren't cooking up nefarious plans behind the scenes.

Potential run-ins with criminals meant things sometimes got dangerous. Of course you got paid more when you and your Pokemon's lives were at risk.

Dark type Pokemon were some of the most sought-after Pokemon for security work. Not coincidentally enough, they happened to be difficult to train. That was because of their temperaments. It wasn't exactly an exaggeration when trainers complained that Dark types were unfriendly, moody, or even downright malicious. Most Dark species were very independent or solitary by nature. They lived rough lives in the wild. The first and biggest hurdle people had to overcome was earning their respect and building enough trust with them.

For anyone who managed to do so… they usually earned themselves lifelong, trustworthy partners.

Honestly? There were more people here than I thought there would be. A cursory glance revealed that most of the guards gravitated toward being on the older side. The youngest person I saw was a kid who couldn't have been a day over eighteen. Everyone here had at least three Dark type Pokemon to their name. That was the bare minimum for them to be considered a 'Dark Specialist' in the eyes of the Kalos League.

Their skill levels probably varied greatly from person to person and were a whole other matter.

Still, I was thankful to Diantha for sending them my way. Perhaps some of these people would be interested in joining the Lumiose Gym later.

For now, I clapped my hands together. The motion almost woke up the napping Morpeko slumped over my shoulder.

"Good evening. I'm Ray, the new Lumiose Gym Leader, and I'll be your supervisor until the Lumiose Conference has fully ended," I greeted. Heads bowed briefly in the audience as people nodded with respect. "Let's review your jobs first. Your primary duty will be securing the premises of Lumiose Stadium and the other arenas used during the knockout stages. Outside of that, you'll also be taking turns patrolling nearby areas. Now, please take out your Holo Casters."

People obediently took out said devices without delay. Anyone who was not already affiliated with the Kalos League had been issued a temporary Holo Caster beforehand, one with secure channels. Similarly, everyone had also been given protective gear and a communication earpiece for the duration of the event. All standard treatment and consideration for the brave souls willing to guard one of the nation's biggest events.

I took out a brand new Holo Caster of my own. My phone served me more than well enough on a day-to-day basis, but Diantha had insisted I keep a separate device for League-related matters and emergency calls.

With only a few clicks, I sent out related files to the group in front of me.

"Please check your devices. You should have each received schedules for city patrols and stadium shifts going forward. You'll also see maps for the different arenas as well as a detailed Conference itinerary. I shouldn't have to say this, but none of this information can ever be leaked in the future. Otherwise, you'll suffer the consequences for violating the non-disclosure agreement signed prior to taking on this job."

A faint sound like someone gulping echoed in the silence that followed. No matter the time or occasion, NDAs never failed to strike fear into those involved.

I was going to continue, but one man raised his hand amidst a sea of black uniforms. I pointed at him.

"Leader Ray," he began formally, "there's one file in here that outlines a training schedule. Does this mean we'll be receiving training from you in the week leading up to the Conference?"

In response, my lips tugged upwards into a practiced, pleased smile.

Oh, did I love it when people could think for themselves. That was trait number one I looked out for when it came to subordinates.

"That's correct," I confirmed with gloved hands clasped behind my back.

It was subtle, but faint flashes of surprise crossed people's eyes or faces. Guides on how to become or improve as a Specialist didn't really exist in the world. Most high-level trainers kept secrets close to their chests for competitive or military reasons. In the case of masters like Gym Leaders who were at the pinnacle of their respective fields, they especially didn't go around teaching people willy-nilly.

Knowledge had to be imparted to those who were worthy. In the hands of the wrong people, such power could be used to destroy a country rather than help keep it safe.

So, people typically had to play it by ear and figure out the nuances of being a Specialist on their own. Finding a more experienced trainer who was willing to invest time and effort into teaching you was already difficult enough.

The chance to learn from someone like a Gym Leader? Now that was a truly precious opportunity that was hard to come by.

The guards assembled here today knew and understood as much. Though they remained quiet and at attention like they were supposed to, the atmosphere around them became thick with anticipation.

I refrained from smirking.

It wasn't exactly going to be for free. They would be expected to work twice as hard during the Conference after getting lessons from me. I was only going to help them reinforce basic skills, too. Give them small, tasty appetizers of what it would be like to learn from me. Bait.

The best way to recruit people wasn't necessarily through words but action. Five days of simple, basic instruction wasn't going to be enough for some of these people. They were going to want more.

And if they wanted to dip into more advanced territory, then they would have to come join the Lumiose Gym and earn it.

"Until the Lumiose Conference's opening day, you'll report here to the Gym for periodic training sessions with me. No complaints, yes?" I tacked on humorously with an easygoing smile. Obviously, no one said anything. "Training starts now. Follow me into the battle hall."

I turned on my heel without another word. Footsteps echoed behind me as guards promptly followed in neat, organized columns behind me. A good show of discipline as expected of people in this industry.

Past an open entrance and rows of spectator stands, we descended a flight of stairs. Fluorescent lights attached to the ceiling turned on as they registered activity inside the otherwise silent hall.

Hmm. I was going to have to adjust those for future gym matches. They were far too bright for my liking.

I was the first onto the massive field. I stopped in a spot somewhere around the middle back, then turned to face the people still trailing onto the field.

An inviting smile.

Unformed words on my lips.

And the world exploded with movement.

The shadow attached to my body surged outwards and engulfed the entire hall. Darkness bloomed above our heads in between half-formed shouts of surprise torn from people's throats. Whether it was due to good reflexes or keen foresight, a minority of people released Pokemon fast enough from their Pokeballs for the upcoming fight. Others already had Pokemon out to begin with, and those jumped out from their respective owner's shadow.

All of them were far too late. By the time combat stances were taken up, shadows had formed a dome around the room where no light could pass through. Only complete and utter darkness remained. I could see thanks to my ability, but the same couldn't be said for the others. They were blind sitting ducks.

Everything happened in the span of a single second.

I let people shout and shuffle around in confusion for a bit before snapping my fingers. Almost before I finished, the dome collapsed as if it had never existed in the first place. Umbreon sat on his haunches by my feet with a stoic expression, but I knew he was suppressing a grin. The pride emanating from him might as well have been as clear as day.

I had to clap my hands together a few times for order to return. Everyone shut up and stood stiffly in place under my intense gaze. I saw understanding dawn on some of their faces as they looked between me and Umbreon. Others didn't seem surprised at all as if they'd anticipated this turn of events ahead of time. That got them decent marks in my book.

"Too slow," I told everyone with a smile. My tone and expression were cheerful, but they didn't match the harsh words that came out of my mouth. "I said it just a minute ago, didn't I? Training starts now. In this line of work, you should expect and be prepared for possible confrontations at a moment's notice. Only a few people had decent reactions to my Pokemon. Most of you would already be dead if this was the prelude to a real fight. Assassinated in the dark… which would be ironic given that you're Dark Specialists."

More than a few people flinched or wilted at that. Unfortunately for these fine ladies and gentlemen, I wasn't here to coddle them. I was here to make sure they did their part in ensuring the Lumiose Conference went off without a hitch.

And, in the process, possibly steal some competent employees from Diantha and the Kalos League while I was at it. I had to make my own life easier in the future.

"Now, in an ideal world, you wouldn't be facing trainers of my caliber. You would normally be up against lackluster criminals instead, but you never know where life will take you. It's always better to be over prepared than not," I continued. My gaze swept across the enthralled crowd. "I'll be teaching your Pokemon how to deploy Dark type energy faster as well as sustain it for a longer period of time. Send out your Pokemon."

I didn't wait for anyone. I kept talking even as people released teammates one after another. Red flashes of light filled my vision while I paced slowly back and forth.

"Let's start with the basics. There are many different ways your Pokemon can utilize Dark type energy, but in terms of general security work, it comes down to four common methods: injection, diffusion, zone, and veil. These are what we'll be focusing on over the next five days."

If you asked any competent trainer how they felt about fighting against Dark types, nine times out of ten they would say something along the lines of it being an annoying or infuriating experience.

Odds were very good that any criminal attempting to subvert Dark type security checks would agree with that statement.

The Dark type encompassed a lot. People usually associated it with shadows and darkness which wasn't wrong per se, but you had to look a little deeper. What was darkness?

It was quite literally the absence of light. That was the core of what the Dark type was about.

Absence.

Emptiness. Stillness. Silence. The list went on and on.

A void so overwhelmingly vast that it consumed, obstructed, and severed connections between Pokemon and the world. It was why Dark types were so invaluable in security work. A lot of criminals gravitated toward Psychic or Ghost types to get things done.

Psychics used their minds to control the world around them. Ghosts were tethered to the mortal plane by their emotions. Both were good for infiltration, and both were easily countered by Dark types. Psychics couldn't tap into their mental powers with darkness drowning everything else out. It basically blocked their mental vision. Even the spectral existences of Ghosts fell into jeopardy against the Dark, for how could intense emotion contend against utter emptiness?

It didn't end at Psychics and Ghosts either. Dark types were nasty for a lot of Pokemon to deal with. I wasn't going to get into it with the guards considering that wasn't the purpose of our training, but Dark types were generally good at blocking or running interference in battles.

That was why it was crucial to be able to utilize them well. Security work with Dark type Pokemon was clear-cut and simple enough for even average trainers to try their hand at. In straightforward terms, they used their Pokemon as walking batteries, detectors, or living blockades.

Like I'd brought up with the guards, there were four easy and basic ways Dark type energy could be distributed for the purposes of security.

Injection. Like the name suggested, Dark type energy was introduced directly into things. These included physical, non-living objects or surfaces. A common usage was filling the interiors of walls, ceilings, and floors with Dark type energy so that Ghosts couldn't pass through however they liked.

Diffusion. Dark type energy was released as particles into the atmosphere. This required a little more fine control than the other methods and was the go-to for disrupting Teleportation or other Psychic shenanigans. With high concentrations of Dark type energy essentially polluting the air, it became infinitely harder to Teleport in or out.

Zone. With the user as a focal point, Dark type energy was spread out in a radius around them. It became a moving field that followed the user around. Unlike the aforementioned methods where Dark type energy was expelled from the body in a one-and-done thing, a zone had to be continuously maintained. It required the user to actively secrete Dark type energy and thus took up a lot of stamina. The zone method was useful for active patrolling around perimeters or city streets.

Veil. This final method involved Dark type energy being released into a dome-like shape around the user, essentially blocking out outside interference as well as trapping entities inside. It was used a lot for protection, too, like covering buildings or stadiums by mitigating damage from attacks.

All of these methods were going to be used in the upcoming days, so it was imperative everyone strengthened their handle on such basic skills.

"Before we begin training in earnest, I'd like to test everyone's skill levels first. When I call your name, come up to the front and bring one of your Pokemon with you. We'll record how fast your Pokemon can create a zone within a specified area. Keep this information so you can use it as a point of comparison in five days. Understood?" I stared pointedly out at the sea of faces with an amicable smile.

A chorus of polite and perhaps even eager affirmatives answered me.

"Good." Still smiling, I glanced down at a spreadsheet prepared ahead of time on my Holo Caster. "Let's move fast, we've got a lot to cover after. Léon Dwarric."

A man with curly hair immediately hurried to the front with a Pangoro by his side. Must have recently evolved, I thought to myself with one look at its awkward movements. I didn't say anything and gestured to the floor nearby. There, white lines made by chalk formed a complicated polygon in the earth. Léon's Pokemon took its place on a marked 'x' in the center.

The irregular shape was meant to test both speed and control.

"Fill that entire area with Dark type energy and create a zone," I instructed. "Start."

Darkness swirled outwards from Pangoro's feet. In jerky, wispy motions, it expanded until it hit the boundaries of the testing area. I glanced down at the timer on my Holo Caster.

"5.68 seconds. Next: Aimée Archambeau," I called out.

Léon and his Pokemon vacated the premises for the next person. A glance was directed my way, but I ignored it. If they were hoping for feedback, they weren't getting any. Twilight was burning, and they would realize on their own soon enough how their time fared against the others.

At the end of the day, it wasn't a competition. Meaningful self-improvement was the real goal here.

"Start."

And rinse and repeat.

There were so many people to get through, but we made good time. Most of the attendees were average or even lacking in my eyes, but there were individuals who stood out.

Every regional League made it a point to only recruit trainers who were at least fifth badge level or higher, but the best League Trainers were on the level of high-placing Conference goers. They were known as Ace Trainers. Most were scouted directly from competitions or annual Conferences, but there were others who joined the League after graduating from military academies. They were obviously the most skilled out of the bunch here.

Aside from them, I marked down a few other promising individuals for future scouting purposes.

There was a pair of ladies — fraternal twins if I wasn't mistaken — whose Pokemon were well-trained, a twenty-year-old guy newly incorporated into the ranks of the League, an eighteen-year-old freelance guard…

I slipped my Holo Caster into my pocket when testing finished.

"Good work. Before we get into actual training, let me preface things by saying that the next five days will depend on how well you can practice and retain my teachings," I announced.

Trait number two I looked for in subordinates: diligence. Your own efforts would never betray you. People who were willing to work hard were the type I wanted to keep around.

With my not-so-subtle warning out of the way, I now tapped a foot against the floor.

"You may be wondering how exactly I'm going to help your Pokemon utilize Dark type energy better. Physical training is probably what comes to mind first. Pokemon practice using moves — or in this case, releasing pure type energy — over and over again. It helps them build stamina, skill proficiency, and muscle memory. There's nothing wrong with physical exercises, but what people often don't realize is how important image training can be," I said with added emphasis.

I stopped pacing for a moment to cross my arms.

"There are several Pokemon types that are closely related to the mind or one's inner self. People are most familiar with Psychics or Ghosts. Fighting types also fall under this category because they focus on achieving inner harmony between their mind and body, and Fairy types rely on the power of belief to manipulate reality. There are two other types that people don't associate as easily: Bug types, which are good at creating disturbances and seeing through things, and…"

I trailed off, smiling a little wider.

"Dark types."

My gaze sharpened. "Some of you are further along your careers than others and have started to delve more deeply into what the Dark type means, but for those who haven't, know this core truth: the Dark type symbolizes absence. In its purest sense, true darkness is the absence of anything."

Purple eyes glanced from one side of the crowd to the other.

"Up until now, most of you have probably had your Pokemon supply Dark type energy without thinking about what it actually means. They can use it as naturally as breathing after all. Well, it's time to be a little more conscious. Only by understanding the element you're working with and becoming more attuned to it can you grow rapidly as a trainer or Pokemon."

I held up fingers as I spoke.

"For Psychics, they must first understand and control themselves before they can hope to control the world. Then what can Dark types do to better understand absence and grow closer to that concept?"

Nobody answered.

"The first step is being calm," I answered. "The absence of anything includes emotions. Learning to temper volatile feelings can help your Pokemon draw out the essence of Dark type energy faster. It also puts less of a strain on them when they're in a state of calm."

A few people in the audience flinched when my voice dropped in pitch.

"Aside from being calm, we'll work on visualizing and feeling absence. I will say it right now: total emptiness is a lot harder to imagine or achieve than you think. This will be a lifelong process for the majority of you. Now… it's probably better to experience it for yourselves rather than keep talking."

I gestured to Umbreon. "Umbreon will create a dome for you and your Pokemon to experience. Try to remember what you feel and use that to shape your image training later. I'm obligated to warn you ahead of time that it will be an intense experience. If anyone wants to opt out, speak now."

Cue cricket silence. We didn't have any cowards it seemed.

"Excellent. Get ready."

And by 'get ready,' I literally only gave them a scant second to prepare themselves. Umbreon's eyes glowed and—

Lights dimmed under clouds of hazy dust.

Colors faded.

A deathly silence descended upon the hall. People and Pokemon alike shifted in place, but no sound could be heard. Not even my own heartbeat echoed in my ears. I couldn't feel the cold from the air conditioning anymore.

In spite of or precisely because of it all, my mind was clear. Free.

Sight followed after the loss of hearing.

The monochromatic surroundings were stripped away one painstaking layer at a time. The floors and walls turned into nothing. One person faded out of existence.

Then another… and another…

Until all that remained was a sea of black.

I was nowhere.

Everywhere.

And yet everything.

My own body was gone with only a mind left in its place. Even if I wanted to feel something, I could not. This was a space without any light or motion or senses.

A true void.

Pure and unadulterated emptiness.

It stared into my soul. It should have been overwhelming. It should have gnawed at what remained of me, shattered what was left of the existence drifting through the profound abyss—

But it did not.

I stared back into the darkness that never ended. I felt comfortable here.

My sense of time slipped away, but my existence did not—

And I calmly blinked back to reality. Umbreon had retracted the Dark type energy he'd spread out across the hall.

I was fine, but most of my audience was not. I saw people heaving for breath, others sweating buckets, and some half keeled over already from mental exhaustion. Their Pokemon weren't much better off. Their reactions were within expectations. I'd brought in buckets and plastic bags thinking they would come in handy. Thankfully, no one seemed like they were going to vomit.

I cleared my throat to get their attention.

"What you just experienced was a weaker version of 'absence' through the mind of my Umbreon," I told them.

They stared at me with wide eyes.

Sad to say, that was only the tip of the iceberg. Child's play. A brief glimpse into the unknown. There was tapping into the general abyss, and then there was gazing into the abyss inside yourself. Go too long or too deep without the proper mental fortitude, and there would be irreparable consequences.

Being a true Dark Specialist came with a lot of occupational hazards.

"You felt it, didn't you? Absence is deep. Dangerous. It's nothing, but that's what's terrifying about it. An emptiness so vast that it swallows everything else," I said softly. My voice carried through the hall, amplified in the dead silence. "That's why I'm here to supervise you. We're starting image training now. Have your Pokemon deploy small zones around them, and make sure you're standing within those collective areas."

I started pacing around the room again as people hurried to follow my instructions. The whole time, darkness trailed after me in the form of a zone that connected Umbreon's shadow and mine.

"Treat Dark type energy like a living, breathing thing because it is. Our Pokemon can detect things within the darkness they create. It's a part of them. The reason I asked you to stand inside your Pokemon's zone is so that you can anchor each other." This was a Raynard Odaria-style training method I'd come up with long ago. "A team consists of a trainer and their Pokemon. There is no you or them but us. Therefore, you must become strong alongside your Pokemon and image train, too."

I gestured between me and Umbreon.

"Your Pokemon will be able to sense you within their self-made field of influence. Similarly, by standing within the darkness attached to them, you'll be able to sense a shift in your Pokemon's mental state. If either of you loses themselves during the training process, then the other entity just needs to help stabilize them through the mental link. Are we following along so far?"

Muted nods and words of assent followed.

"Then let's start with entering a state of calm first. I'm sure this isn't the first time you or your Pokemon have tried meditation, so do whatever you're most comfortable with. We'll move onto the next step in five minutes."

Small rustling sounds echoed in the hall as people moved to take sitting positions or adjusted their standing postures. I took the chance to check the time while the guards were doing their thing. Alright, we weren't falling behind schedule. I had to make sure they left on time for patrols later.

Astre also finally woke up. He'd been out cold on my shoulder this whole time, but he startled himself awake from his nap with a frazzled, half-asleep expression.

The Morpeko had a bit of drool coming out the side of his mouth, so I pulled out a handkerchief from my coat pocket and wiped him clean. Sixteen years later, and he was still a big baby. I also gave Umbreon some much-deserved headpats for all the help so far. Any of my Pokemon could have aided with today's lesson plan, but Umbreon had the best control and pure Dark type energy manipulation skills out of everyone on my team.

After five minutes passed on the dot, I called out softly.

"You should be in a state of calm now or something close to it, so we're going to move on to imagining absence. The goal is to carry that state of calm throughout the visualization process. You'll know if you succeed or not if your Pokemon's zone loses stability."

I let a few moments of silence pass before starting in earnest. If it was possible, it got even quieter in the room.

"Keep your eyes closed. Visualize your surroundings. The walls…"

A quiet breath.

"The earth under your feet…"

A rustle.

"The Pokemon standing next to you…"

Another breath.

"Everything. Focus on your five senses. Picture this whole room and hold it in your mind," I carefully instructed in a slow, clear voice. "Now imagine them fading away one by one. Layer by layer… Person by person… Think back to what you experienced earlier and how empty it was. A gaping darkness where no light pierces, where no sound reaches… A world where you can't see or say anything at all. The darkness bears down on you from all sides…"

Verbal descriptions continued flowing out of my mouth, but I paid more attention to what was actually happening in front of me. As expected, there were zones of darkness rippling all across the gym's battlefield. Emotional and mental states were wavering as people tried to imagine that terrible darkness I spoke of.

Embracing the unknown was difficult. People naturally feared what they didn't understand.

Luckily for them, my Pokemon and I were here to help guide them. Long ago, my grandfather had done the same for me in the beginning.

"If anyone needs help imagining absence better, raise your hand. My Pokemon will come by and give you another short glimpse!" I said sharply.

Hands went flying. Astre decided to help now that he was awake and scurried after Umbreon. Meanwhile, I walked around the perimeter of the field and jotted down notes on how people were doing.

Mainly, I looked out for overzealous individuals. I didn't want anyone or their Pokemon pushing themselves past their limits and incurring serious mental damage.

Fortunately, nothing happened. A whole hour flew by without incident. I had everyone recall their Pokemon and line back up in front of me at the end. The disappointment in the air was so palpable that I smiled wryly.

"Don't be too disappointed. Like I said, it's a lifelong process. Total absence is hard to achieve, so visualizing something as close to it as you can would be the next best thing," I said in an attempt to cheer them up. "Before I let you go, there's one thing I want to make clear. I'm sure many of you will continue training privately outside of our upcoming sessions. No matter how impatient or frustrated you get…"

Both my voice and smile took on a cold edge.

"Do not ever inject yourself with Dark type energy to try and understand absence. Am I clear?"

"Yes!"

"…Good. Then let's return to the lobby. There will be League Kadabra on hand to Teleport you to your assigned patrol areas. Until the Lumiose Conference opens, you'll be working together with other guards to ensure nobody tampers with the stadiums until then. When I'm not out in the field with you, look to the Ace Trainers in your midst for guidance. If any problems crop up, directly contact me via Holo Caster."

More affirmatives. I led everyone back up the stairs into the gym lobby, then saw them off without a word.

Soon enough, I was the only one left. I raised my head to stare at the ceiling without an ounce of emotion. Umbreon rubbed his head against my leg while Astre nuzzled my cheek. My first time teaching in awhile had done well.

I only hoped none of them were reckless enough to take shortcuts on the path to power. Any kind of type energy being introduced to human bodies in large amounts usually resulted in disastrous consequences. The human body wasn't a vessel meant to house type energy in the first place.

I was fairly certain none of the guards employed by the League would disregard my warning, but that didn't assuage the dark thoughts lingering in the back of my head. Some people were foolish enough to try such dangerous things for one reason or another.

Once upon a time, I was one of those foolish humans.

Author's Note: I appreciate every view, comment, review, favorite, and follow. Thanks a bunch!

I also have some art today to accompany CTN Chapter 6, a simple infographic that shows the most basic ways Dark types do security work in this world: https i imgur com 6oyq18K png