Hu Tao opened her Pokédex and looked at the dumbfounded Gible after it hit the wall:
"Um? Missed?"
"If it is this type of Ghost Pokémon... it is indeed difficult to hit with Physical attacks!"
Xiangling took a long time to catch her breath, patting her chest, her eyes still wide open from the scare.
"I didn't call for help just now... I was already very brave!"
"W-what?"
"This type of Pokémon..."
"Hu Tao, you said the old woman just now was a Pokémon?"
While muttering, Hu Tao in front suddenly shined the Pokédex flashlight on Xiangling's face, frightening the girl so much she staggered back.
"Ah! What are you doing!"
Xiangling, who was easily startled in the first place and was often frightened half to death when Hu Tao slapped her on the shoulder as a prank, turned a little pale.
Hu Tao said seriously:
"That's right! We've definitely discovered a new type of Pokémon!"
"They can create illusions and scare people."
"But, seeing Xiangling, you were scared out of your wits, so you better get out quickly and wait for me at the entrance of the cave."
"I asked Gible to help me take the video! You are not as courageous as Shark Bao!"
This move to provoke the general (Xiangling) was effective.
Xiangling's voice became sharper. "I'm not that timid!"
"OK!"
Hu Tao turned her head and continued walking deeper into the cave.
During this period, they encountered terrifying phantoms that tried to bluff people several times.
But let alone Hu Tao who was immune to such scenes, even Xiangling gradually got used to it and could withstand all kinds of corners hiding "Surprises."
Finally, an underground cavern suddenly opened up in front of them.
Snap!
Who knew that as soon as they stepped out into the open space, Hu Tao's Gible, and Xiangling's Larvesta and Scyther...
They all fell to the ground instantly and lost consciousness.
"Heh heh heh..."
A sinister laughter sounded from all around.
From the shadows, a dark purple, round Pokémon floated out, with scarlet eyes and a sinister and terrifying smile stretching across its face.
[Gengar] (The Shadow Pokémon)
"It's you who I'm waiting for!"
Hu Tao, who was extremely courageous, quickly scanned the appearing Pokémon with the Pokédex.
Beep!
[WARNING!]
[Pokémon:] Gengar
[Type:] Ghost / Poison
[Status:] Overlord (Alpha)
[Danger Level:] High! It is recommended that the Trainer escape immediately!
The mechanical electronic sound of the Pokédex sounded an alarm. At that time, more than twenty Gastly and Haunter floated out in the darkness around them.
There were ghosts everywhere.
But there was only one Gengar in front of them—the Boss.
Xiangling had silently taken out a long spear weapon (Dragon's Bane) that she had brought with her in her backpack, staring at Gengar nervously.
Gastly, Haunter... their levels were high or low, but Xiangling did not feel dangerously threatened by them personally.
However...
The Overlord-level Gengar was different.
Even if there was no "Lv. 68" tag shown explicitly in reality, as far as her warrior's danger sense was concerned, Xiangling could detect a strong fatal threat!
You know, Xiangling and Hu Tao relied on their personal strength and Vision abilities to explore here safely so far.
If they relied on their primary cultivation level—their unevolved Pokémon—they would have been toyed to death by some little ghosts outside long ago.
The ghosts outside thought that these two humans were not easy to mess with, so they let them go deep into the cave... only to let the Boss deal with us?
It's a trap!
Sweat dripped down Xiangling's forehead.
"What should I do, Hu Tao!!"
"This big guy... is dangerous!"
Hu Tao: "Of course I know it's dangerous!"
"My martial arts skills are only slightly higher than yours."
"I made a calculation... even if I use my Elemental Burst... maybe it can only be a tie?"
Xiangling and Hu Tao looked at each other.
In an instant, the old friends had a tacit understanding. They pressed the recall buttons of their Poké Balls and took back the unconscious Pokémon on the ground in red beams of light.
Then... there was no need for a signal exchange.
They turned around, let go of their feet, and ran at full speed.
RUN!
Outside the Cave.
Their legs and feet became weak, and they collapsed onto the grass. However, they still didn't bother to wipe their sweat and pant. Their eyes were fixed on the entrance of the cave, waiting for the pursuit.
After a while, the Overlord-level Gengar was confirmed not to be chasing them outside.
The two of them looked at each other happily for surviving.
"Holy grass!"
"There really are Ghost Pokémon!"
"Hu Tao, you almost killed us! Aren't you very brave in front of me usually? I just saw that you didn't even take out your weapon (Staff of Homa), and you didn't even have the courage to try to fight!"
Hu Tao got up, dusted herself off, and cast a look of contempt at her best friend sitting on the ground.
"Are you stupid, Xiangling?"
"I have a human body, a mortal body! But that Overlord Gengar has a Pokémon physique, resistant to physical attacks and full of poison!"
"I'd only fight it to the death after I lose my mind!"
After this incident...
Xiangling and Hu Tao felt a heavy realization. The water in this Ecological Zone is very deep!
Just an inconspicuous hidden cave may contain elements comparable to the Elemental Bosses, the Golden Wolflord, or the Primo Geovishap! An Overlord Pokémon with terrifying fighting power!
Mud Girl...
The first Ecological Zone in Teyvat was promised to be a beginner-friendly area, but it hides such exaggerated existences!
This Overlord Pokémon is simply equivalent to a World Boss in Teyvat. It takes a super team to push it away!
Massaging and rubbing their trembling calves, after a while, their heartbeats gradually calmed down.
Xiangling and Hu Tao looked at each other excitedly.
"Yes, confirmed."
Hu Tao: "My combat power with a Vision is roughly equivalent to that of a top Overlord Pokémon (Level 60+), but in a life-and-death fight, a mortal body cannot defeat a Pokémon with resistances and strange abilities easily."
Xiangling: "I... am weaker. I can only fight against the Quasi-Overlord or the lowest-level Overlord."
Ordinary High-Level Elite Pokémon are all in the range of Lv. 60 ~ Lv. 69. However, the Overlord Template Pokémon have much better talents. Not only do they have high numerical values (IVs/EVs), but they also have many skills. Some Overlord Pokémon have even swallowed treasures or rare berries, so the power of their skills is far ahead of standard wild ones.
Hu Tao confirmed that her combat power is only equivalent to that of Overlord-level Pokémon at best.
Hu Tao is not only not discouraged, but also becomes more and more excited.
Her martial arts skills are already among the top of the human race in the Liyue area. Keqing, Yelan, etc., are in similar tiers. They are weaker than Shenhe, a descendant of the Adepti, and Ganyu, a half-qilin beast.
However, even Ganyu, who has a long lifespan, is only as brave as the Elite Four (Heavenly King) and Champion levels among Pokémon (Lv. 70-90).
This is where Hu Tao's excitement lies.
How vast is my Gible's growth space? It has a great future!
When it evolves into Garchomp, it will be cultivated to the Champion level.
Isn't that comparable to Liyue's half-human Adeptus Ganyu?
Moreover!
There is only a thin wall between the Champion level and the Yakshas (Xiao)!
After resting, Xiangling and Hu Tao took out Potions, Antidotes, and various medicines. After a hurried first aid attempt, they finally rescued their unconscious baby Pokémon.
"Please wake up... Gible... Larvesta..."