NOVEL NEXT Chapter 170: 170. Bell Tower
Join my p@treon for more chapters
[email protected]/Tempest_29
"I don't carry a target item, so I can't open the tenth layer?" This was the first time Chris had encountered a quest that required a specific trigger.
The Bell Tower, where Ho-Oh once resided, likely required something connected to Ho-Oh.
Rainbow Feather?
Chris thought of this item first.
Then there was the "Sacred Ash," known for its power to revive the fallen. These two items were synonymous with Ho-Oh.
However, neither of these items was in his possession.
Fortunately, even without these special items, it seemed he could still access the first nine floors of the Bell Tower.
Chris stepped forward and chose to enter.
With a flash of light, Chris found himself inside the Bell Tower.
It was dark, the air cold and damp. The place felt deserted, as though it had been abandoned for years. Yet, there was an unshakable sense of presence here—a faint, lingering vitality that hinted at hidden life.
"Flash!" Chris called, tossing a Poké Ball.
Gardevoir appeared, holding a radiant orb of light.
The glowing light illuminated the surroundings, revealing dozens of Gastly. Startled by the sudden brightness, they scattered in panic.
"Dazzling Gleam!" Chris commanded.
Gardevoir raised its arms, and a pink, shimmering Energy Ball surged forward. The attack detonated amidst the fleeing Gastly, bathing the entire first floor in a dazzling, rosy glow.
[Defeat Gastly LV10, Gardevoir gained 120 experience.]
[Defeat Gastly LV10, Gardevoir gained 120 experience.]
[The dissipated Ghost aura condensed into an item: obtained "Reaper Cloth."]
[Tip: The Ghost aura on the first floor seems lighter now. You can proceed to the second layer!]
Chris smiled at the notifications.
The Gastly he had encountered were all level 10. Gardevoir's Fairy-type move, despite being resisted, had still been powerful enough to defeat them instantly.
Surveying the area, Chris noted the first floor was a vast, open hall. It seemed the Gastly Gardevoir had defeated were the only Ghost Pokémon here.
Checking his inventory, Chris found the Reaper Cloth—a rare item used to evolve Dusclops into Dusknoir. Although valuable, it was of little use to him since he didn't have a Dusclops or plans to train a Dusknoir. He decided to sell it later.
In one corner, he spotted the stairs leading to the second floor.
Chris released Greninja and Blaziken from their Poké Balls.
The benefit of physically entering a quest was the unlimited ability to summon Pokémon.
Greninja and Blaziken each carried a glowing orb as they ascended the stairs, lighting the way for Chris.
On reaching the second floor, Chris found Greninja and Blaziken engaged in battle with more Pokémon.
The skirmish ended quickly.
By the time Chris joined them, a cascade of notifications appeared before his eyes.
[Defeat Gastly LV20, Greninja gained 250 experience.]
[Defeat Shuppet LV20, Blaziken gained 331 experience.]
The collapsed Ghost aura condensed into an item, and Chris obtained the "Choice Band."
[Tip: The atmosphere of Ghost energy on the second floor seems lighter now, and you can proceed to the third layer!]
"The Ghost Pokémon on the second floor are at level 20?" Chris muttered, pondering the implications. If each floor increases the Pokémon's levels by increments of 10, then the third floor would feature level 30 Pokémon, the fourth level 40 Pokémon, and so on.
By that logic, when reaching the ninth level, the Ghost Pokémon could be as strong as level 90.
This thought filled Chris with excitement.
If there really was a level 90 Ghost Pokémon waiting on the ninth layer, defeating and capturing it would be akin to securing an incredibly powerful ally.
Chris had already confirmed that the Pokémon defeated in the Bell Tower could be captured.
Of course, taking on a level 90 Pokémon right now was out of the question. Even the level 80 Pokémon likely residing on the eighth floor would pose a significant challenge.
But a level 70 Ghost Pokémon on the seventh floor? Or a level 60 Ghost Pokémon on the sixth floor?
Chris's determination flared.
"I have to try," he thought, setting off to find the stairs to the next floor.
The second floor of the Bell Tower differed greatly from the first. Half-man-tall tombstones were neatly arranged, marking the graves of countless Pokémon. The heavy, oppressive atmosphere made even the bright glow of Flash feel dim.
As Chris recalled from his studies, the Bell Tower served as a resting place—a burial site for Pokémon.
The tombstones explained the Ghost Pokémon's presence here. But the thought nagged at Chris.
Why bury Pokémon in a tower rather than in the wild? Was it for trainers to have a place to mourn and remember them?
Chris's mind wandered to Lavender Town in the Kanto region, home to a similar Pokémon Tower. It was a place filled with the memories of Trainers and their lost partners.
The comics had even referenced this in Gary's story with his Raticate...
(The memory brought a sharp pang—Gary's loss was a story etched painfully into Pokémon lore.)
Shaking off the somber thought, Chris scanned the second floor, ensuring he left nothing behind. Then he pressed on to the third layer.
Greninja and Blaziken continued to lead the way.
As soon as Chris arrived on the third floor, a battle was already underway.
The Pokémon here were indeed level 30, just as he had deduced.
Gastly had now evolved into Haunter. Scattered among them were a few Misdreavus as well.
The Ghost Pokémon here were stronger, but they still posed no real threat to Greninja and Blaziken.
Within a minute, the floor was cleared.
[The collapsed Ghost aura condensed into an item: obtained "Haunted Gem."]
[Tip: The atmosphere of Ghost energy on the third floor seems lighter now, and you can proceed to the fourth layer!]
Chris examined the Haunted Gem in his hand. It radiated a faint, eerie glow. This treasure-tier item was an excellent reward.
"If the rewards on the third layer are treasure-tier," Chris speculated, "then perhaps the fifth layer holds secret treasure-tier items."
Pocketing the Haunted Gem, Chris eagerly continued his climb.