Ou Yishu stood quietly by the lakeshore, her gaze fixed on Zhang Heng on Wailmer’s back, a surge of unspeakable worry rising in her heart, concerned for his safety.
Yi Shu knew very well that her role in this team was not significant. However, unlike her, Zhang Heng possessed excellent medical skills, capable of providing lasting support and reliable assurance for the entire team. Therefore, she chose to stay behind, guarding the Swamp Monster Clan and awaiting official support.
The people behind Wailmer also tensed their nerves, observing the lake surface before them.
A researcher spoke at this moment, “Let my Pokémon scout ahead, it can also share some of the burden and allow us to rest for a while.”
Boom! A flash of white light revealed a Pokémon that was entirely blue, 1.3 meters tall, with long, webbed limbs—it was the Water-type Pokémon, Golduck.
This researcher, Lin Yue, was a highly talented student from a Pokémon university who was about to graduate and had just been transferred to the Research Institute for an internship. He was a friendly person.
Zhang Heng had a good impression of this researcher, who had also shown him considerable care on the journey. Zhang Heng was also very interested in his Pokémon, narrowing his eyes to observe Golduck.
Pokémon Name: Golduck
Type: Water
Level: 45 (Gym level strength)
Potential: Quasi-Champion
Tera Type: Water
Nature: Timid (Increased Speed, Decreased Attack)
Ability: Cloud Nine
Affection: -
Held Item: -
Special Ability Bonus: None
Learned Moves: Aqua Jet, Confusion, Hydro Pump, Calm Mind
Egg Moves: Psybeam, Yawn, Clear Smog
TM/TR Moves: None
It is known that Pokémon with Quasi-Champion potential are extremely rare, their numbers pitifully scarce. And young Pokémon experts like Lin Yue are even rarer. If Golduck can receive his careful cultivation and guidance, its potential will be fully realized and will not be wasted or buried.
The Golduck demonstrated excellent swimming skills and speed. Like an experienced swimmer, it swiftly dove into the lake 10 meters ahead, disappearing beneath the surface like a bullet entering water.
It swam at the bottom of the lake, clearing a path for the entire team to advance.
After the team advanced about one kilometer, they discovered a mudflat about a hundred meters ahead, roughly the size of a basketball court. A mudflat is a tidal flat between the normal water level and flood level of rivers and lakes, which could serve as a resting transfer station.
Dr. Chen Chunjiang crouched down and patted Wailmer’s back, saying, “Wailmer, please, take us to the mudflat ahead. You can also rest there.”
Although Wailmer was huge, its aptitude was not high, and carrying five people while swimming was still very strenuous.
Wailmer understood, fanning its two large fins and heading towards the mudflat.
When they were less than 20 meters from the mudflat, Golduck suddenly leaped more than a meter out of the water. Lin Yue and Golduck had excellent rapport, and he instantly commanded, “Golduck! Hydro Pump!”
Although Golduck was in the air, upon hearing its master’s command, its duck bill immediately opened, and Water-type energy began to rapidly gather and surge within its mouth. This was the powerful Water-type move—Hydro Pump! A water column as thick as a bucket shot out from Golduck’s mouth, striking towards the two dark figures that were rushing forward at an extremely fast speed.
The two dark figures were as swift as lightning, flying in at astonishing speed. Although the Hydro Pump skill failed to hit one of them, it accurately landed on the lake surface in front of the two dark figures. The powerful impact caused the lake surface to churn up huge splashes, forming a high wall of water. This water wall became an obstacle blocking the dark figures’ advance, causing their speed to suddenly slow down and eventually bringing them to a halt.
The battle happened in an instant, and everyone reacted. Zhang Heng blurted out, “It’s Sharpedo!”
Chen Xue: “Sharpedo is one of the Water Blade Gang’s signature Pokémon. It seems we’ve encountered them.”
A speedboat marked with the Water Blade Gang’s emblem sped from a distance. The speedboat stopped behind the Sharpedo, and a group of people stood on it. The leader was Xia Yong, who said with a sinister grin, “I didn’t expect you to deliver yourselves to our doorstep. There’s a path to heaven, but you don’t take it; there’s no gate to hell, but you come knocking! Dr. Chen, this time we’re on the lake, and you land creatures might not be a match for our Water Blade Gang! Hehehehe~”
Upon hearing this, Dr. Chen frowned. He knew Xia Yong was right; on the lake, they were indeed at a disadvantage. However, he did not back down, ready to fight the enemy to the end.
“Boom~” With a soft sound, a Beheeyem glowing with a strange light appeared on the lake surface. As a Psychic-type Pokémon, it could telepathically communicate with its master. When it sensed that its master might be in danger, it spontaneously emerged from its Poké Ball and protected everyone.
Zhang Heng looked at the Shiny Beheeyem before him. He quickly opened the system interface to check Shiny Beheeyem’s attribute panel:
Pokémon Name: Beheeyem (Shiny)
Level: 51 (Quasi-Champion level combat power)
Seeing that Shiny Beheeyem’s level had risen to 51 and it possessed Quasi-Champion level strength, Zhang Heng secretly breathed a sigh of relief. It should be noted that in the previous battle with the Overlord Crawdaunt, Shiny Beheeyem gained a large amount of experience, directly leveling up twice. Now, facing the upcoming challenge, Shiny Beheeyem would become a powerful asset to them.
Zhang Heng then looked at the attribute panels of the two Sharpedo.
Pokémon Name: Sharpedo × 2
Type: Water + Dark
Level: 47, 52 (Gym level, Quasi-Champion strength)
Potential: Quasi-Champion, Elite
Tera Type: Water
Nature: Naive (No ability bonus)
Ability: Rough Skin, Speed Boost (Hidden Ability)
Affection: -
Held Item: -
Special Ability Bonus: None
Learned Moves: Liquidation, Poison Fang, Crunch, Ice Fang
Egg Moves: Flip Turn, Scale Shot
TM/TR Moves: None
Zhang Heng sighed inwardly, “This is bad.” The Dark-type has a natural advantage against Shiny Beheeyem, and its STAB Psychic-type moves would be ineffective against Sharpedo.
Moreover, one of the Sharpedo has Elite-level potential, and its hidden ability is Speed Boost. As the name suggests, Speed Boost means it gets faster and faster, gaining one level of speed each turn. Coupled with its decent physical attack and the natural Water-type terrain, it’s like a killing god in the water, causing everyone present to worry.
The Bastiodon Uncle Luo left for Zhang Heng, with its Rock + Steel typing, was not suitable for battle in water. This was the real world, not a game, and its massive body could not stand on Wailmer like Zhang Heng did.
The Pokémon held by other members of the team, such as Chen Xue’s Galar Rapidash, also had no way to fight on the lake. The scene became a 2v2: Golduck, Beheeyem vs. two Sharpedo.
A great battle was about to break out. Xia Yong grinned menacingly and roared at the two Little Bosses, “Crush them! Crush them for me!”
