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Just like a long-lost traveler returning home, the moment Kael was enveloped in the crystal-clear lake water, the worries and troubles that had been lingering in his mind disappeared in an instant.
What replaced them was a deep sense of peace and comfort, as cold as the lake itself.
The brilliant sunlight refracted off the surface of the water, casting dazzling beams of light through the clear lake, their colors dancing like a kaleidoscope.
Kael glided effortlessly through the water, following his body's natural instincts, his gaze slightly absent as he took in the serenity.
This was a sensation he had never experienced in his previous lives an immersion and pleasure that was entirely new and unprecedented.
Just as the sky is to a Flying-type Pokémon or the dense forests are to Grass-types, the oceans and lakes are the perfect home for Water-type Pokémon.
Kael moved gracefully through the water, his transparent body carried by the flow, unburdened by any particular goal, simply relishing the release of inner tranquility.
Compared to the ever-present dangers of the forest, he had an instinctive sense that the small lake he was in had no immediate threats lurking within it.
His piercing blue eyes scanned the surroundings.
The water was clear, untouched by pollution, and as a Water-type, Kael's special physiology allowed him to see far beyond what most could.
Long green weeds like ribbons swayed gently in the water's movement.
Small, dark gray stones mixed with brownish-yellow silt lay at the lake's bottom, while colorful, tiny fish-like Pokémon swam in schools, nibbling on whatever tiny floating creatures or plant debris they could find.
There was no aggression here, only peaceful nourishment for survival.
Suddenly, a splash of orange and red broke his focus.
A long, catfish-like whisker extended from the fish's mouth, gently waving through the water.
Its golden, crown-like fins spoke of its noble lineage, and its large, pink fish lips and rough, bulky scales only added to its intimidating appearance.
It was the Magikarp.
Magikarp was known for its resilience. Whether in the murky swamps of thick mud or in polluted artificial lakes, it thrived in nearly any environment.
Even without water, it could survive for extended periods on land.
In the world of Pokémon, it was one of the most recognizable and commonly seen species, known not only for its powerful evolution into Gyarados but for its notoriously weak form before evolution.
This was not the first time Kael had seen one of these, but as he observed the creature, an idea suddenly sparked in his mind.
Magikarp was weak, but its potential was legendary. It could evolve into the fearsome Gyarados, one of the most fearsome Pokémon to ever exist. Kael had a plan, and he realized that this seemingly weak creature could help him in his current situation.
Back in the games of his past life, Magikarp, despite its uselessness before evolution, had one useful feature: experience points.
At level 15, this typically weak Pokémon would gain its first attack move, Tackle. Before that, the only move it could learn was Splash, a completely useless move with no offensive power.
But for someone like Kael, this could be the perfect opportunity to level up quickly.
He could see it clearly: a Pokémon that was weak, under level 15, would yield a perfect amount of experience. Not much, but enough to begin his rise.
Kael's heart quickened. This was it.
With renewed purpose, he silently swam deeper into the lake, where the Magikarp lazily swam, its dumb, unblinking eyes staring vacantly at the water.
Its slow, erratic movements indicated that it was completely unaware of Kael's approach.
Kael moved quietly, using his innate ability to blend with the water, his body almost invisible, like any ordinary ripple in the lake.
The closer he got, the more he prepared. His large, powerful tail, like a whip, coiled in anticipation, building strength with every passing second.
Buzz...
A strange humming sound resonated through the water, and a burst of dazzling white light flashed in an instant.
Splash!
With a force that humans could never hope to replicate, Kael's tail shot through the water, its massive power colliding with the Magikarp's body in a powerful slap.
But unexpectedly, the normally sluggish Magikarp reacted.
With a sudden burst of strength, its tail whipped around with surprising speed, and its orange-red body shot forward like an arrow.
Magikarp's sudden burst of speed, thanks to its higher level, propelled it quickly, and Kael's strike missed the mark, landing instead on its scaly back.
Thud!
The dull sound of the impact echoed underwater as Magikarp was sent spinning off, but the fish quickly righted itself and darted away.
Kael hadn't expected it to be so fast, but it only reaffirmed his understanding. The real-world Magikarp was far more formidable than the weakling from the games.
Despite its lack of offensive power, it had the strength to survive in this harsh world.
Kael didn't feel defeated. His strike might not have been perfect, but it proved his point. Magikarp, though seemingly weak, was far from useless.
Still determined, Kael, with his slender limbs, kicked off the water and began to follow the fleeing Magikarp. His pursuit wasn't over yet.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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For early access to advanced chapters on P-atreon:
P-atreon/iamxeno
(Just remove the - hyphen to access normally)
Thank you so much for your support and for reading!