The next morning, after waking up and having breakfast, the Marowak man appeared in front of the players. His presence immediately silenced the room, and all eyes turned toward him.
"The next game will begin now," he announced in a firm voice.
Kay felt a wave of anticipation spread through the room.
'The first game had already eliminated 14 players. What kind of challenge would come next?'
"You should know that in this game, you will all play at the same time. There will be no rounds."
Murmurs broke out among the players, but before anyone could ask a question, the Marowak man continued,
"There will also be no teams. You will play individually."
Kay immediately noticed the frustration on the faces of the players who had formed alliances over the past two days.
Some of them exchanged nervous glances, clearly realizing that their earlier plans were now useless.
Ignoring their reactions, the Marowak man continued, "Now, I will reveal the special item for Team 2."
At his signal, the Cubone-masked guards moved through the hall, gathering the members of Team 2 and leading them to stand beside the Marowak man.
Kay watched closely as the man reached into his pocket and pulled out several small devices.
Holding one of the devices up, he began to explain, "This device can protect its holder and his Pokémon from any harmful effects."
The players looked at each other in confusion. The Marowak man noticed their confusion and continued, "For example, if your Pokémon is hit with a move like Toxic, it will not suffer from poison. The same goes for flinching, paralysis, burns, and other status effects."
A few of the players widened their eyes in realization, but Kay remained calm, waiting for more details.
Then, the Marowak man added in a serious tone, "It can even protect against curses… Which will help you survive the second game."
Kay's mind clicked instantly. 'So the next game involves curses.'
As murmurs spread among the players, the Marowak man took five additional devices from his pocket, each identical to the first, and handed one to every Team 2 member. The recipients looked pleased, some even smiling.
However, before their excitement could grow, the Marowak man quickly shattered their expectations.
"But don't think this device will protect you forever," he warned, his voice cold. "It has limits."
Kay immediately turned his attention back to the man, noticing the shift in expressions from the Team 2 members. Their smiles faded, replaced by a mix of anticipation and concern.
The Marowak man continued, "After connecting your device to your Pokedex, a new window will appear, displaying the device's status. You will see a percentage that represents its remaining lifespan."
He paused, letting the information sink in, before adding, "The speed at which the device's lifespan decreases depends on how much it has protected you and the strength of the Pokémon that attacked you."
Kay narrowed his eyes. 'So the stronger the opponent, the faster the device wears out.'
The Marowak man cleared his throat and began explaining the second game.
"For the next game, it's called the Cursed Labyrinth."
As soon as he mentioned the name, murmurs spread through the room. Some players exchanged nervous glances, while others whispered among themselves.
Kay had already suspected that this game would involve curses, and now he was sure. He listened carefully as the Marowak man continued.
"In this game, the players must conquer a labyrinth before the time limit ends."
Kay narrowed his eyes while thinking. 'It sounds simple, but it won't be.'
He remembered in the first game how the Marowak man had made it seem like all they had to do was catch a fast Pokémon. But in reality, they had barely survived.
After a short pause, the Marowak man added, "Inside the labyrinth, you will encounter Ghost-type Pokemons. They will try to trick you and stop you from reaching the exit in time."
Some players visibly tensed up at the mention of Ghost-types. Many trainers feared these Pokemons, not just because of their abilities but also their unpredictable nature.
Then the Marowak man continued. "The leader of the labyrinth is a Gengar, it is very strong, but it has never attacked humans. However, you should know one thing about this Gengar…"
The man's tone became slightly amused.
"It loves playing tricks, and its trickery is a little bit harsh."
Kay's expression remained neutral, but in his mind, he made a mental note. If this guy thinks it's only 'a little bit harsh,' then it's probably a nightmare.
Then, without warning, the Marowak man clapped his fingers. In an instant, Alakazam appeared beside him using Teleport.
Then the Marowak man ordered. "Now, form a line! Players with lower numbers in the front, higher numbers in the back."
The players quickly obeyed, arranging themselves in a row as instructed.
Suddenly, a strange multicolored light surrounded them.
The next moment, Kay felt a powerful pull on his body. The world blurred around him, and before he could fully adjust, he found himself standing in a dark place.
As Kay regained his balance, he noticed several players nearby struggling. Some of them had turned pale, and a few even fell to their knees, vomiting from the effects of Teleport.
Kay himself wasn't feeling great either. His stomach churned, but he had gotten used to it after teleporting two times before. He took a deep breath and steadied himself. Then, he looked around.
The place they had arrived at was eerie. It looked like an old abandoned house, with worn-out wooden walls and a damp, musty smell in the air.
Dim, flickering lamps barely lit the area. The weak light cast strange shadows on the walls, making the place seem even more unsettling.
Right in front of them stood a large, ancient-looking door. Its heavy wooden frame was covered in deep cracks, and its rusted metal handles looked like they hadn't been touched in years.
Kay thought it resembled the entrance to a haunted house, or even worse, a cursed tomb.
The Marowak man turned to the group and pointed toward the eerie door that Kay had noticed earlier.
"Do you see that old door?" he asked.
The players nodded in response.
He continued, "That door is the entrance to the labyrinth. Now, I want each of you to stand in front of the door, one by one, in order of your numbers."
The players obeyed, moving into their assigned positions without hesitation. Kay followed along, standing in line with the others.
Once everyone was in place, the Marowak man made his announcement.
"Now, the second game of the Tentacruel Tournament will officially begin."
As soon as he finished speaking, he signaled to one of the Cubone guards.
The guard stepped forward, holding what looked like an ID card. He approached the door and swiped the card through a small card reader mounted on the wall beside it.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then... Click!
The old wooden door slowly began to open, making a loud creaking noise similar to that of opening doors in horror movies.
As it did, a sinister aura seeped out from within. A cold, eerie wind brushed past the players, sending chills down their spines.
Beyond the doorway was a dark corridor.
It stretched deep into the unknown, its end completely hidden in shadows. The darkness inside seemed almost unnatural, as if it could swallow anyone who stepped inside.
A heavy silence filled the air.
Kay felt his heartbeat quicken slightly. He clenched his fists, reminding himself to stay calm.
'This place… is definitely a home of Ghost-type Pokemons.' Kay thought after sensing the aura.
The players stood frozen, staring into the black void ahead. Some shifted uncomfortably, while others glanced at each other, uncertain about what awaited them inside.
See you in the next chapter...
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