The Pokémon returned to Aoki one after another, their forms illuminated by the faint glow of the candlelight spirits scattered across the crumbling floor. The air was thick with ghost energy, swirling like mist in the dim light.
Under Aoki's command, Slowking unleashed his most powerful attack, a devastating Psychic that struck the Chandelure with overwhelming force, knocking it out instantly. The impact sent tremors through the already unstable floor, accelerating its collapse.
But the destruction could not be stopped.
Fortunately, Slowking's psychic powers, which had been passively radiating around his body, instantly solidified into a protective barrier as the ground gave way. The Pokémon did not plummet into the darkness below—instead, they hovered in midair, suspended by Slowking's telekinetic grasp.
"Combusken, light up the area below with a fire attack," Aoki ordered, his voice steady despite the chaos.
Combusken nodded, sparks flickering along its claws before coalescing into two fiery orbs. With a swift motion, it hurled them downward. The fireballs collided midair, exploding in a burst of flames that briefly illuminated the abyss beneath them.
The space below mirrored the chamber they had just been in, but it was shrouded in darkness, devoid of any light. Aoki used his psychic abilities to retrieve a few weakened Litwick that had fallen, tossing them downward. Though their flames were faint, they flickered back to life as they descended, feeding on the dense ghost energy that permeated the lower chamber.
Satisfied, Aoki signaled Slowking to lower them down.
Before descending, however, Aoki retrieved an empty Poké Ball and hurled it at the unconscious Chandelure. The capture was instantaneous—a valuable addition, even if he had no intention of keeping it. A quasi-Champion-level Ghost-type Pokémon would fetch a high price on the market, especially for trainers who didn't mind the risks of its life-draining abilities.
As they neared the ground, Slowking gently released his psychic hold, allowing the group to land safely. Aoki ignited several torches, combining their light with the faint glow of the Litwick to fully illuminate the chamber.
What he saw made his expression darken.
Now he understood why the Chandelure lineage above had thrived for so long.
Beneath the floor was a tomb.
A burial site, hidden directly beneath a living space.
Had this been intentional? Or had it been a last resort for those who once dwelled here?
Aoki didn't have time to ponder—because they were surrounded.
A horde of Pokémon—Cofagrigus and Yamask—emerged from the shadows, their hollow eyes fixed on the intruders.
No wonder the Chandelure had shattered the floor. It had known what lurked below and sought to drag Aoki and his team down with it.
Cofagrigus, the Coffin Pokémon, resembled an ornate sarcophagus with four spectral hands protruding from within. Its yellow-and-blue body was adorned with a mask-like face, its crimson eyes gleaming ominously.
These were true guardians of the dead—Pokémon that would drag the unwary into their coffins, turning them into mummies.
Normally, they remained dormant, disguised as ordinary coffins to lure in the curious. But the collapse of the floor had disturbed them, and now they were awake.
And Aoki's group was surrounded.
The lead Cofagrigus radiated an oppressive aura, its power unmistakable.
Aoki's psychic senses tingled—this was a Champion-level threat.
Slowking tensed beside him, sensing the same danger.
A quick scan confirmed his suspicions:
Pokémon: Cofagrigus (Light Cyan)
Gender: Female
Level: 60
Type: Ghost
Ability: Mummy
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Destiny Bond, Imprison, Trick, Toxic Spikes
Basic Moves: Scary Face, Astonish, Disable, Haze, Night Shade, Hex, Will-O-Wisp, Ominous Wind, Curse, Power Split, Guard Split, Shadow Ball, Grudge, Mean Look, Destiny Bond
Learnt Moves: Block, Psychic, Pain Split, Fling
Aoki grimaced. A wild Pokémon reaching Champion level was rare—and this one's Mummy ability was particularly troublesome. Any physical contact would overwrite the attacker's ability, nullifying crucial traits like Honchkrow's Moxie or Lairon's Rock Head.
Even worse, as a Ghost-type, it was resistant to most conventional attacks.
But what truly caught Aoki's attention was the formation of the Cofagrigus.
They were positioned deliberately—most of them clustered in front of him, while the rear was guarded by weaker Yamask. Behind the lead Cofagrigus stood a black door, partially obscured, as if they were trying to block it from view.
If so many Cofagrigus were gathered here, they had to be guarding something.
The other coffins in the chamber were decayed, their contents long turned to dust. Whatever lay beyond that door was the true prize.
Aoki released Florges—preparing for battle. Against a Champion-level Ghost-type, he needed his full strength.
Then, after a brief hesitation, he summoned one more: Mismagius.
Though it had never battled under his command, Mismagius had trained rigorously. Now, facing this formidable opponent, it was time for its debut.
"Mismagius," Aoki murmured as the phantom-like Pokémon materialized beside him, its body wreathed in eerie light. It nuzzled against him briefly before turning its gaze to the Cofagrigus, its eyes gleaming with anticipation.