Chapter 41: Violet Flame

Chapter 41: The Purple Flame

Light, brisk footsteps echoed through the cabin.

A Zhe lifted his gaze from the map, glanced at Xiao Zhu, who had just entered the cabin in high spirits, and asked, “Taken care of?”

“All done! Piece of cake.” Free from battle, Xiao Zhu had already returned to her usual energetic self and answered cheerfully.

A Zhe nodded calmly, unsurprised. The two of them were old partners, well-acquainted even before joining the organization—indeed, it was Xiao Zhu who had invited him into Dark Star. Naturally, they understood each other's battling habits intimately.

Though their strength didn’t rank within the organization, that was only in comparison to the true monsters among their ranks. Out in the world, both of them could hold their own as capable trainers. Dealing with a wild Gyarados like this was hardly a challenge.

“A Zhe, A Zhe, how much longer until we reach the island?” Xiao Zhu asked, toweling the rainwater from her hair as she returned to the cabin.

“At this speed, if nothing goes wrong, we’ll be there in two days,” A Zhe replied, gripping the map by either end and holding it up beneath the bright cabin lights. The ancient yellowed map glowed in the air.

Outside, the little white boat tossed upon tempestuous waves, as if the next moment it might be swallowed by a ferocious surge. Yet it stubbornly remained afloat, its glowing lights flickering in the pitch-black sea—like a tiny, eternal star in the boundless cosmos.

…

Life at sea was monotonous and dull. Sunrises and sunsets came and went, and two days slipped by in the blink of an eye.

“A Zhe, is this normal?” Xiao Zhu asked, glancing dubiously at the thick gray fog enveloping the boat.

“Of course it isn’t…” A Zhe replied, still calm, though his eyes betrayed a hint of worry. “But it’s all right—the compass still works. We’re heading the right way. We’ll arrive soon.”

The heavy mist had begun to gather the night before, though it hadn’t been nearly as dense as it was now.

He looked up. The blazing midday sun, usually scorching above the open sea, was now reduced to a faint yellow outline behind the fog. This strange, unnatural mist hadn’t been mentioned in any of the information he’d reviewed. As someone with a compulsive penchant for planning and considering every possible contingency, A Zhe found this anomaly profoundly unsettling.

Meanwhile, Xiao Zhu, ever curious, roamed the deck, peering into the unbroken haze that encircled them.

“A Zhe, A Zhe! Come look!” she suddenly called out, excitement in her voice.

Still troubled by unease, A Zhe followed the direction of her pointing finger.

Amid the gray mist, a cluster of purple fire had sprung into existence out of nowhere. That ghostly flame flickered, as if it might be snuffed out at any moment.

Sensing the presence of living souls aboard the vessel, the purple flame seemed almost conscious; it drifted toward the boat in a strange, arcing path.

A chill swept over A Zhe, as if someone had breathed on his ear. Goosebumps prickled his skin and he shuddered.

He shot a glance at Xiao Zhu, who looked as excited as ever, and cursed silently to himself. “This kid’s brain is really broken!”

Cold sweat trickled down his temple as he readied himself for trouble. His right hand trembled as he swiftly drew a red-and-white Poké Ball from his pocket and released its occupant.

A burst of red light—then a small white figure landed on the deck. Its black, egg-shaped body was cloaked in a yellow mantle like a conical hat. On its back, three orange diamond patterns stood out in neat arrangement; its hands were two cute, round orbs, now curled before its chest. Its mouth split open upside down, revealing white teeth with a hint of something uncanny. Its ghostly blue eyes were emotionless, radiating a faint chill.

“Snorunt, on guard!” A Zhe shouted, his tone edged with panic.

“Snorunt?” The Pokémon turned to its trainer, its voice ethereal and tinged with confusion.

“Be careful of that ghostly flame ahead!” A Zhe hurried to explain, seeing his Snorunt didn’t understand the situation.

“Snorunt!” Amused by its usually stern master’s fear, Snorunt let out a cheerful cry and patted its black hands against its chest, as if to say, “Leave it to me.”

In the thick fog not far away, the purple flame seemed to notice Snorunt’s presence and paused.

“Snorunt!” A clear, airy call rang out. The ghostly fire spun twice in the air, as if understanding, and the mysterious Pokémon hidden within the purple flame slowly revealed itself.

It looked like a small hot air balloon, its purple body glowing eerily. Two bright red eyes shone from the fog, and a yellow X-shaped pattern marked the center of its face. From the base of its body, like the stand of a toy, grew a red, irregularly shaped floral organ—the source of the purple fire.

“A Zhe, it’s a Drifloon!” Xiao Zhu’s excited cry rang in his ear.

A Zhe tugged at the corner of his mouth, nodding, and felt a measure of relief. As a professional trainer, discovering the supernatural phenomenon was caused by a Pokémon dispelled much of his fear.

He watched as his pure ice-type Snorunt communicated fluently with the ghost-type Drifloon. A thought crossed his mind: “It’s time to prepare a Dawn Stone for it.”

He’d previously debated whether to evolve Snorunt into the well-rounded, pure ice-type Glalie or the faster, ice- and ghost-type Froslass. But today, Snorunt had displayed an extraordinary affinity for ghost-types, confirming his decision.

“Snorunt!” Having finished its exchange, Snorunt turned to A Zhe and let out a clear, airy cry.

“You mean this Drifloon hasn’t eaten in a long time and wants my help?” he asked.

“Snorunt!” Snorunt nodded.

A Zhe looked at the Drifloon floating ahead. He hadn’t noticed before, but now saw its body was not as round and plump as other Drifloon he’d encountered—it looked rather deflated.

He rubbed the bristly stubble on his chin, thinking. “Ghost-type Pokémon feed on negative emotions and life force, right? I don’t have any special ghost-type Pokéblocks prepared, though…”

Just then, he caught sight of Xiao Zhu’s backpack on the deck.

“Of course!”