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"You two bottom-feeding grunts really are vicious."
When Sato heard the two members of the Malevolent Ghost Poaching Group order their two Ghost-type Pokemon to use Curse without the slightest hesitation, his expression changed instantly. Then he let out a cold laugh.
In the real world, Curse is nothing like the casual command it is in the games. Although it's a powerful offensive tool, it is also a technique that harms the user as well.
Once a Ghost-type Pokemon uses Curse, it means they're ready to risk their life—because the skill instantly forces them into a state of severe spiritual backlash. And this kind of severe state is not something conventional medical treatment can simply fix.
The price they pay for using Curse is sacrificing a portion of their own soul. Afterward, they remain weakened for a long time in order to recover.
During this period, a Ghost-type Pokemon basically has less than half of its normal combat power. Any random Pokemon could bully them.
Therefore, unless it's truly the last resort, Ghost-types almost never consider using the near-suicidal move Curse.
And of course, the target of the Curse doesn't get off easy either. In real life, Curse cannot be negated simply by returning the Pokemon to a PokeBall like in the games.
Once afflicted, the Pokemon generally can only endure it.
The duration of a Curse is usually quite long—around half an hour. During that time, the target suffers continuous soul-level assaults.
Alternatively, the afflicted Pokemon can seek help from Pokemon that know status-healing moves. Healing Wish, Heal Bell, Aromatherapy, and similar moves can weaken the effects to some degree.
But the best solution is to seek a Spirit Master. The spiritual power in a Spirit Master's body is the strongest counter to curses.
Without question, the two Malevolent Ghost poachers in front of Sato clearly understood the price of using Curse, yet they still ordered their Pokemon to do so and immediately turned to flee. They were deliberately treating Banette and Gengar as disposable pawns meant only to delay Sato.
Their method was cruel and heartless—but undeniably effective. Because the targets they commanded their Ghost-types to curse… were Sato himself.
"Hmph. Crobat—use Taunt on Banette."
"Kecleon—grab Banette with Lick, then drag him to Gengar."
Facing Banette and Gengar's Curse, Sato didn't dare be careless. He instantly shifted all his attention to them and quickly issued counter-orders.
Curse is a status move, and Taunt is the natural nemesis of all status moves.
Hearing Sato's command, Crobat immediately unleashed Taunt on Banette. A streak of black light wrapped around Banette's body, and the Curse he was attempting was abruptly and ruthlessly interrupted.
Although Banette's casting was stopped, the backlash from the incomplete Curse still hit him in full, causing him to let out a tearing, agonized scream.
At that moment, Kecleon extended her long tongue once again, precisely catching Banette's lightweight body—made even lighter by his Levitate ability—and dragged him quickly toward Gengar.
In an instant, Gengar's intended curse target shifted from Sato… to Banette.
The pitiful Banette not only suffered the backlash from having his own Curse interrupted but also became the recipient of Gengar's Curse. At that moment, he was in utter agony, wailing continuously.
As for Gengar, having just completed Curse, he too was already extremely weak.
"Two miserable creatures. End their suffering—Nidoking, Crobat, use Shadow Ball."
Seeing the tragic state of the two abandoned Ghost-types, a trace of sympathy flickered in Sato's gaze. But he still issued the order immediately.
On the battlefield, sympathy for the enemy is cruelty toward oneself—Sato knew this very well.
This had nothing to do with good or evil—just opposing positions. If he had been hit by their Curse, his fate would be no better than theirs.
Crobat and Nidoking reacted instantly, killing intent flashing in their eyes as they unleashed Shadow Ball at Banette and Gengar without hesitation.
A few seconds later, Banette collapsed into an ordinary rag doll, while Gengar dissipated into a cloud of black mist.
"Hmph. Two worthless grunts—truly detestable."
"Crobat, find them."
Sato's expression turned fully cold. He looked in the direction the two poachers had escaped and issued the order.
The two Malevolent Ghost members had split up to flee immediately after ordering the Curse, and by now they were already 700–800 meters away. Even for Sato, catching up wouldn't be easy.
However, with Crobat's help, he quickly locked onto the position of one of them.
A moment later, blue light flashed in Sato's eyes—his entire body vanished along with Crobat and Kecleon. When he reappeared, he was already 200 meters ahead.
By chaining multiple Teleports and using Crobat's echolocation, Sato intercepted one of the fleeing poachers within seconds.
"How—how is this possible?! Are you human or a ghost?!"
The poacher, riding a Dodrio at high speed through the forest, turned pale when Sato suddenly appeared in front of him. He screamed in terror.
He couldn't understand how Sato had gotten ahead of him—and what horrified him even more was that Sato was completely unharmed. That meant Banette and Gengar's Curse had completely failed.
"I don't care if you're human or ghost—Dodrio, use Drill Run!"
He forced down his panic and commanded his Dodrio to charge straight at Sato.
But Dodrio never reached him.
Nidoking burst out from a PokeBall in Sato's hand, blocking the path—and with one clean Thunder Punch, he knocked Dodrio to the ground.
The poacher was ruthless and quick-thinking enough to leap off immediately, saving his life for the moment.
But only for the moment.
Before he could even grab another PokeBall from his belt to fight to the death, Crobat dove from above and ended his life instantly with a Cross Poison.
"Consider yourself unlucky."
After confirming Crobat's kill, Sato turned toward the direction of the other fleeing poacher. He hesitated for a few seconds, then gave up the chase.
He mounted Crobat and flew rapidly toward Altaria's nest.
The four major poaching groups and various others had already entered the nest for quite some time. If he continued wasting time here, he might not even get a scrap of whatever was inside.