Early in the morning, the family finished breakfast.
Hayato Sora's mother called over her Rhyhorn and prepared to leave. She had a competition to attend and needed to arrive early to familiarize herself with the venue.
"Serena, behave yourself while you're staying with your brother!"
Taking the helmet Hayato Sora handed her, Saki reminded her daughter.
Serena nodded rapidly like a pecking chick.
"Mm-hmm! Don't worry, Mom. I'll listen to big brother."
Serena would stay at Hayato Sora's ranch for a few days. Once the competition ended, their mother would come pick her up. That way she could focus entirely on training.
"Phew!"
Watching Saki's figure disappear into the distance, Serena let out a huge sigh of relief and immediately looked at her brother with excitement.
"She's finally gone! Big brother, what are we doing today?"
Hayato Sora placed his hand on her head and smiled.
"How about we go visit Korrina today?"
"Okay, okay!"
Serena's eyes lit up.
"Korrina won't expect me to come today. I'm going to surprise her!"
First, Hayato Sora finished the ranch's daily chores. Even Serena, the little "radish head," had to help out.
Once everything was done, Hayato Sora called over Cyclizar, and the two of them rode toward the Shalour Gym.
After asking one of the gym staff members, they learned where Korrina currently was.
"She's at the training grounds. Serena, can you go by yourself?"
"No problem."
Serena lowered her voice as she replied, quietly running in the direction indicated while carrying Cinccino—clearly planning to surprise Korrina.
Hayato Sora didn't bother stopping the little girl.
Instead, he went to find Gurkinn, the Gym Leader, to ask where Siebold was.
He still had something important to do today.
The Dragon-type dish he planned to make for the Noibat needed to be prepared soon.
Before leaving, Hayato Sora found the two girls.
Korrina and Serena were happily hugging each other, extremely excited to meet for the first time.
"Serena, big brother needs to go take care of something. Stay here and play with Korrina this morning, okay? I'll come pick you up at noon."
"Okay, big brother!"
Serena agreed immediately.
Korrina patted her chest confidently.
"Don't worry, Brother Hayato Sora! I'll take good care of Serena."
Hayato Sora reached out and rubbed both girls' heads.
Under their puffed-cheek protests, he laughed and left.
Without wasting time, Hayato Sora headed straight to the seaside seafood restaurant.
His sudden appearance surprised Siebold.
After hearing Hayato Sora's explanation, Siebold thought for a moment.
"I know a little about the Gyarados you're looking for."
"That creature has attacked several cargo ships already. Yesterday Gurkinn asked me to help drive it away from the coastal waters."
Gyarados were Pokémon with extremely strong territorial instincts. Anything entering their territory would be attacked.
Its presence had severely disrupted shipping in the area.
Siebold removed his apron and called over his Blastoise.
"Let's go together. I'm very curious about the dish you mentioned—making food from dragon scales."
The two of them arrived at the shallow beach.
Siebold threw out a Poké Ball.
"Barbaracle, please carry Hayato Sora."
"Barba!"
The Barbaracle, with its seven claw-like limbs, nodded. Its body shifted and compressed, transforming into something resembling a stone raft, complete with natural paddles.
Hayato Sora stepped onto it, and the ride was surprisingly stable.
The location of the Gyarados had already been investigated, so the two of them headed straight for that stretch of ocean.
As they approached the waters where the Gyarados was active, Siebold suddenly stood up and looked into the distance.
His brows furrowed deeply.
This unusual behavior immediately caught Hayato Sora's attention. He had already gripped the Poké Ball containing Cyclizar.
"What's wrong, Siebold?"
Siebold withdrew his gaze.
"There are wild Pokémon fighting in that area ahead."
"Huh?"
Hayato Sora looked out across the ocean.
The sea appeared calm—there wasn't a single Pokémon visible.
"They're underwater."
Siebold pointed toward a powerful current rushing toward them.
"It's probably the Gyarados we're looking for."
"I just don't know what Pokémon it's fighting."
After a brief discussion, the two decided to retreat a little, minimizing the chance of being caught in the crossfire.
Moments after they moved away—
the sea suddenly erupted.
Towering waves rose violently.
Then a massive waterspout burst from the ocean surface, accompanied by a deafening roar.
"ROOOAAAR!"
It was Gyarados.
Its enormous jaws gaped wide, its eyes glowing crimson.
This Gyarados was in an extreme state of rage.
It had been completely provoked.
It released its power recklessly, and the roar it emitted carried a special signal.
Both Hayato Sora and Siebold's expressions changed instantly.
"This is bad."
"The Gyarados is calling other Gyarados."
In the wild, even a single Gyarados was difficult for ordinary trainers to handle.
Its destructive power could easily destroy a small town.
Because of this, both Gyarados and Sharpedo were known as the "Tyrants of the Sea."
They were treated with the same caution as Beedrill swarms in forests.
But if there was something even more dangerous than a Gyarados—
it was a Gyarados in a berserk rage.
In this state, it would lose all reason.
And it would summon others of its kind.
"Barbaracle, protect Hayato Sora."
Feeling the ocean gradually boiling with energy, Siebold gave a quick command.
"Barba!"
Meanwhile, Hayato Sora searched for the Pokémon that had angered the Gyarados.
A pink fin sliced through the waves.
Like an arrow shot from a bow, a Pokémon shot through the water toward Hayato Sora.
"Bo-bo!"
"It's you—Veluza!"
Hayato Sora looked surprised.
"I should've guessed."
In the waters near Shalour City, the only Pokémon bold enough to provoke a Gyarados—
would be this one.
Half of its body surfaced from the sea.
Using psychic power, Veluza tried to push Barbaracle away while blowing a series of bubbles, as if saying:
"Leave. This isn't something you can get involved in."
As a Psychic-type Pokémon, Veluza's senses were extremely sharp.
Several Pokémon filled with hostile intent were rapidly approaching.
In just a few minutes, they would reach this sea area.
Siebold also looked over curiously, observing this Pokémon that had traveled across oceans.
"There's no need to worry."
Hayato Sora guided Barbaracle closer to Veluza and noticed the broken pink spine on its body.
It had clearly suffered serious injuries while fighting Gyarados.
"Bo-bo!"
Veluza grew anxious.
It recognized this human.
After all, it had once helped Hayato Sora achieve a transformation.
Otherwise, it wouldn't bother warning him.
Those mindless brutes couldn't harm it anyway.
If it wanted to leave, it could escape at any time.
The reason it stayed was simply to buy time.
Not far from the Gyarados' territory—
a strange fish Pokémon with a rough, fossil-like body swam through the water, carrying a translucent blue egg.
After swimming outward for a while, this Pokémon—known as a living fossil—suddenly doubled its speed.
It fled as fast as it possibly could.
Meanwhile—
heavy rain began pouring down.
Several terrifying auras rapidly approached.
"Siebold."
Hayato Sora spoke calmly.
"You handle the enraged Gyarados. I'll deal with the rest. Sound good?"
Siebold revealed his Key Stone and nodded confidently.
"No problem."
Hayato Sora threw the Poké Ball in his hand.
"Time to fry some fish."
PS: I've been releasing chapters daily . Honestly, it hurts seeing almost no support on Patreon after all that work.If you're enjoying the fic, even a little, supporting me would mean a lot. It helps a student stay independent .
complete fic (all chapters ) are already up on Patreon → patreon.com/Chakraflow789
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