POKEMON : STARTING WITH FLASH METAGROSS

The door opened automatically, an unmistakable invitation into the trap.

Rax gripped Metang tightly and cautiously stepped into the room.

Dim and coated in dust, the room still hinted at its past as a young girl's haven.

Bang!

The door slammed shut behind him, sending chills up Rax's spine. He turned, only to see the maid standing by the bed once more.

This time, her face was clearly visible, revealing dark red eyes devoid of pupils.

Suddenly, the room began to change. Dust vanished, the carpet restored itself, and sunlight poured in, transforming the space into a warm and welcoming room.

The maid's sinister aura dissipated, replaced by a kind smile that seemed almost maternal.

"Loto~ Loto~"

A cheerful sound echoed as an unusual Pokémon appeared from behind the maid, flying around her joyfully.

It was a Rotom, but not just any Rotom—it was shiny, its body a vivid rose-red hue.

Rax's initial surprise turned to panic as he realized he was immobilized. Despite knowing he was trapped in an illusion, he couldn't break free.

He could still feel the chill of Metang's steel arm in his left hand and the faint breeze on his neck, but his body refused to respond.

His attention was drawn back to the maid and Rotom.

Suddenly, a figure of a girl in a denim jacket—ghostly and ethereal—passed through Rax and approached the pair.

The Rotom clung to the cowgirl, chirping with delight, but her expression turned apologetic. After a brief exchange, the cowgirl gently removed Rotom, placed it in the maid's arms, and walked away without looking back.

Time accelerated as the maid visited the room frequently, always accompanied by Rotom, who watched the window as if awaiting someone's return.

Years passed in moments. The maid grew older, but Rotom remained unchanged, faithfully staying by her side.

One dewy morning, the elderly maid sat silently by the window. Rotom floated behind her, reacting anxiously as it realized she had passed away.

With a flash of dark blue electricity, Rotom plunged into the maid's lifeless body, pulling a shadowy figure from her form.

Rax's scalp tingled as he watched—the ghost maid he had been seeing was the result of Rotom's actions.

Rotom, now revealed as the creator of the ghost maid, continued its vigil. Eventually, it managed to restore her youthful form, but the maid was not pleased.

Despite Rotom's excitement, the ghost maid's disgust was evident. She spoke words that left Rotom stunned, its electric aura flashing in anger.

The ghost maid only smiled, a gesture that caused Rotom to reconsider. Its electricity faded, and it left the mansion, ignoring the maid's desperate calls.

---

The illusion faded, and Rax found himself back in the dusty room, free to move.

He sighed with relief but remained shaken. His legs felt weak as he noticed the ghost maid floating before him, her pupil-less eyes silently pleading: Save me!

Rax swallowed hard. "How am I supposed to save you?" he muttered to himself.

A shiny Rotom capable of extracting souls and prolonging its own existence was no ordinary ghost. It was an ancient being far beyond the norm.

The ghost maid, sensing his hesitation, reached out toward him.

Before Rax could react, a ghost-type energy crystal from his bag floated out, merging with the maid.

In an instant, she vanished, and the door creaked open.

Rax stared in disbelief.

"That's it? My precious energy crystal is gone just like that?!" he exclaimed, but fear kept him from demanding it back.

Taking a deep breath, Rax glanced around the room. He wasn't leaving empty-handed.

His gaze landed on an old oil painting, almost entirely covered in dust.

Brushing the dirt away, Rax studied the artwork, and a spark of inspiration hit him.

"I think I know how to solve this…"