Perhaps it was because Blaziken had shown weakness that Trevenant did not personally attack Ron. Instead, it left him to be dealt with by the surrounding Sableye and Banette.
The outcome, of course, was predictable. With Persian and Bellossom stepping in, these Ghost-type Pokémon were no match at all.
After inspecting the corpses of Ugo and Mightyena, Ron wasted no time in looting Ugo's resources. Then, he had Gardevoir hypnotize the two remaining conscious Ghost-types to extract information.
When Trevenant finally returned after dealing with Anda, it was met with a surprising sight—Sableye and Banette lying motionless on the ground and Ron standing there as if he had been waiting for quite some time.
Trevenant's eyes flickered with surprise but nothing more.
Persian and Bellossom, despite their quasi-Elite Four strength, were not enough to make it feel threatened. Moving swiftly to perch atop a withered tree, Trevenant prepared to launch its attack.
Seeing this scene unfold again, Ron had already figured out the trick behind it.
It was nothing more than Phantom Force, but Trevenant had developed its own unique variation—just like its unusual Ability, Harvest.
Ordinary Harvest allows a Pokémon to regenerate a Berry during battle with a chance to restore its strength.
But this Trevenant's Harvest had mutated due to its habit of absorbing life force from other creatures.
Instead of generating Berries as usual, it condensed the life energy of living beings into fruit and consumed them, accelerating its growth to the level of an Elite Four-tier Pokémon.
Combined with its unique Phantom Force, the entire forest was essentially an extension of Trevenant itself.
Some of the Ghost-type Pokémon here had originally inhabited the area, but many more had been forcefully kept behind after wandering into Trevenant's domain.
For example, the three Dusknoir—once they had slain their Trainers under Trevenant's command, they were forcibly tamed and bound to the forest.
It wasn't that Trevenant intended to build a massive faction. It simply saw these Ghost-types as tools and sustenance.
Whenever a Trainer or Pokémon entered the forest, these Ghost-types were sent to hunt them down.
If no one entered, then these same Ghost-types became Trevenant's next meal.
That was how this place had remained undiscovered for so long—a hidden sanctuary for Ghost-type Pokémon.
Because those who had learned its secret had already become Trevenant's nourishment.
Now that Ron had encountered it, he certainly wouldn't let Trevenant get away so easily.
Level 61.
Even if Fighting-types were disadvantaged against Ghost-types, Ron didn't believe Machamp would lose.
"Machamp, Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock!"
At Ron's command, Machamp shot out from its Poké Ball like a white streak of light.
Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock unleashed a fiery barrage, forming a screen of flames that surged forward.
Caught off guard while using Phantom Force, Trevenant had no time to react before the blazing fists struck its face head-on.
"Machamp, suppress it with Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock!"
The Fire-type attack not only inflicted immense pain but also disrupted Trevenant's attempt to phase out with Phantom Force—rendering it completely ineffective.
Struggling against the searing pain, Trevenant used its power over trees to manipulate several massive trunks, sending them hurtling toward Machamp.
"Bellossom, One-Sword Style: Sword Slash!"
A vibrant green glow burst forth, enveloping Bellossom's arms.
With Flying Finger Pistol incorporated into its technique, Bellossom had now mastered a form of flying blade energy, akin to an aerial sword slash.
The ordinary trees controlled by Trevenant stood no chance—Bellossom's attack cleaved through them effortlessly, let alone stopping Machamp's Morning Peacock.
Flames spread rapidly as the battle raged on.
Meanwhile, after dealing with the other Pokémon hunters, the three Dusknoir finally arrived at the battlefield.
They froze.
In their eyes, Trevenant had always been an unchallenged, god-like figure—a monster of pure dominance.
Yet now, it was being overpowered.
For the first time, a tiny spark of hope ignited within them.
Ron seized the moment.
"I know you were all forced into servitude by Trevenant. Don't worry—I'm only here to take it down. I won't harm you!"
"Do you really want to be drained dry by Trevenant, forced to serve until death? Don't forget its cruelty! Don't forget how it slaughtered your fellow Ghost-types—how it killed your Trainers!"
"Are you certain this fate won't one day befall you as well?!"
Without turning his head, Ron focused on commanding Machamp to suppress Trevenant with Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock.
Even though it was a Fire-type technique that countered Trevenant, it still couldn't take it down in a short amount of time.
This was partly due to the resilience of an Elite Four-tier opponent but also because Trevenant had absorbed excessive amounts of life energy, granting it a special enhancement.
After a moment of hesitation, a Dusknoir retreated a short distance, its actions expressing its stance.
Upon witnessing this, the other two Dusknoir followed suit, and soon, more Ghost-type Pokémon chose to stand by and watch.
Most of these Pokémon had either been forcibly left behind after their Trainers were slain by Trevenant or had wandered into this area only to be trapped by it.
However, some Ghost Pokémon—perhaps after being suppressed by Trevenant for too long—had lost the will to resist and, despite their hesitation, still chose to attack.
"Persian, take them down!"
"Bellossom, keep up the Sword Slash as support!"
"Machamp, continue suppressing with Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock!"
One command after another rang out, and with a flash of white light, Nidoking and the others appeared at Ron's side, forming a defensive perimeter around him.
Perhaps sensing the impending threat of death—or maybe due to the change in Dusknoir's stance—Trevenant suddenly began to tremble, wisps of black mist seeping from its body.
The next moment, the mist erupted violently, blocking Finger Pistol: Morning Peacock and granting Trevenant a brief respite.
Amid the swirling darkness, eerie ghostly wails echoed, and Trevenant's form began to expand. It grew larger and larger until it finally reached nearly the height of a three-story building, then slowly came to a stop.
Merging itself with the earth using Ingrain, Trevenant immediately retaliated with Horn Leech.
Gnarled branches, resembling withered limbs, shot forth rapidly, sealing off Machamp's escape routes in an attempt to ensnare it entirely.
"So, this is your last stand?"
"Machamp, Second Gear—Four Tiger Slaughter, clear the way!"
White steam billowed from Machamp's body, forming a stark contrast against Trevenant's dark mist.
Four ferocious white tigers surged forward, brutally shattering Trevenant's Horn Leech attack.
At this moment, Trevenant resembled an ancient forest wraith, manipulating both its own limbs and the surrounding trees, enveloping them in Ghost-type energy to resist Machamp's assault.
Clusters of Shadow Balls formed on Trevenant's withered branches, launching forward like artillery fire toward Machamp.
A massive, crimson elephantine foot appeared, stomping down and obliterating both the Shadow Balls and the attacking branches.
Utilizing the recoil from Shave, Machamp combined it with Moonwalk, launching itself into a high-speed charge. In the blink of an eye, it was right in front of Trevenant.
Due to the effects of Ingrain, Trevenant had lost its agility and could only manipulate its withered limbs to clamp down on Machamp.
Stepping deftly with Shave, Machamp dodged Trevenant's attacks—its time to shine had begun.
-----
Want to read ahead of schedule?
Join here for advance chapters: patreon.com / madbot635