Chapter 70
Sonia, on the other hand, wasn't surprised at all, because Xia Mu had already mentioned it to her.
Moreover, Xia Mu's red Gyarados was no ordinary creature; its strength was extraordinary.
"Going out to sea to check out the new island is a must.
That's the purpose of my visit.
Before that, I will try my best to bring back any trainers who are lost at sea, so some cooperation is needed." With that, Xia Mu directly pulled out a Poké Ball for his red Gyarados.
"Come out, Gyarados!" With Xia Mu's shout, the Poké Ball opened, flashing a dazzling white light, and the massive body of a red Gyarados appeared before them.
Officer Jenny and Voyager were shocked.
Not only was it a red Gyarados, but its size was unlike anything they had ever seen.
Before the two could say anything, Xia Mu leaped onto the red Gyarados's body. Because it was so large, there was plenty of space even for Xia Mu to stand on.
Seeing Xia Mu's intention to move, Sonia became anxious: "What will I do if you leave?"
Xia Mu, of course, hadn't forgotten her, and said, "You stay here and wait for me for now. I'll deal with those trainers first, and then I'll take you with me."
If he left her behind, she would definitely hold a grudge.
Even if later in the story, Mewtwo and Mew would combine their powers to erase all traces of existence, Xia Mu was still worried that some memories wouldn't disappear.
Since he had promised to take her with him, he couldn't go back on his word.
Xia Mu rode the red Gyarados away.
The three girls stood on the shore, staring blankly, unable to recover for a long time.
The three girls only reacted when the rain suddenly intensified.
Officer Jenny and Voyager sprang into action, while Sonia, at their suggestion, temporarily took shelter in a small guard post to escape the storm.
To alleviate the loneliness and fear brought on by the oppressive dark clouds and raging storm, Sonia summoned Yamper for company, seeking a small sense of security.
...
On the high seas.
The gale-force winds, accompanied by torrential rain, swept wildly across the land.
The waves surged and churned relentlessly. Before, standing on the shore, one could only observe, unable to fully grasp the terrifying power of the ocean.
Now, experiencing it firsthand, Xia Mu realized how much it tested the limits of the human body, and of course, the greatest test was the strength of the Pokémon.
The red Gyarados, however, was completely unaffected by the storm and giant waves, like a sea overlord, moving through the ocean as if it were flat land.
Xia Mu could stand at first, but later could only cling to the Gyarados's dorsal fin for safety.
It should be said that it was because the people of this world had sufficiently good physical abilities; otherwise, how could they withstand it?
Not long after they started traveling, Xia Mu faintly heard cries for help coming from a certain direction.
Using his Aura to probe the area, he located the target and immediately ordered his red Gyarados to go and rescue the two trainers who had failed to cross the sea.
One of them was the one who had used Scyther to cross the sea, and the other's identity was unknown, but it was certain that he hadn't used a Water-type, otherwise, if he had, he would have sent one out already.
Instead of immediately sending them back to the port, Xia Mu briefly calmed them down and then continued with Gyarados.
Because of its large size, it had enough space to carry two more people, but he needed to be careful not to throw them off.
The two trainers who had escaped death were clearly terrified, and Xia Mu worried that they might develop a fear of the sea and be afraid to take risks again.
"Your spirit is commendable.
Although you failed, your courage surpasses that of most people." Xia Mu praised them appropriately, genuinely admiring their bravery.
The two trainers' eyes lit up, clearly overjoyed by this recognition.
After rescuing two more trainers in the same area, Xia Mu finally sent the red Gyarados back to the port.
Along the way, they encountered four trainers using Water-type Pokémon to return to port, including Ali.
It has to be said, the difficulty was immense; without sufficient strength and luck, one simply couldn't survive.
Xia Mu didn't encounter Ash and his group.
It's unknown whether they escaped unscathed like in the original story.
And Team Rocket too
…
Back at the port, there were not only more than ten police officers on the shore, but also six trainers returning from the storm.
These were trainers who hadn't even survived a few waves, possessing a strong spirit of exploration, yet unable to overcome the power of nature.
With Xia Mu's return, the trainers who returned with him received comfort and care.
Officer Jenny and Voyager, having received help from other trainers, rushed out, but before they could even speak with Xia Mu, they saw him riding the red Gyarados back out to sea.
Only fourteen trainers returned, but twenty-six crossed the sea.
Twelve people were still adrift at sea.
Xia Mu's plan was to bring back all the trainers from outside the original story safely, and then take Sonia to the new island.
After searching, Xia Mu's aura power was limited, so he had to call on Lucario for help.
With Lucario's aura power, they finally found the remaining six trainers.
After rescuing these trainers one by one, Xia Mu commanded his red Gyarados to return to port.
Having had these experiences, Xia Mu was already used to riding Gyarados across the sea.
"There are no trainers in this area according to Lucario's aura scan, so I suspect they have already landed on the island. You can rest assured, after finding them, I will do my best to ensure their safety, and some of them are my friends."
Xia Mu made his statement without hesitation, despite Officer Jenny and Voyager's objections.
Then, he took Sonia and set sail again for the new island.
In fact, everyone couldn't understand why he had to bring Sonia along, since such an action was inherently dangerous.
However, Xia Mu had already established his prestige by rescuing people one after another, and everyone chose to believe in him.
...
The storm on the sea grew stronger, especially as they approached the new island, with lightning frequently striking from the sky.
Although it didn't strike the sea, the mere sight of it flashing overhead was enough to terrify most people.
Although Xia Mu was a transmigrator, he had only awakened the power of Aura and didn't possess any superhuman strength, so he was just as afraid.
Fortunately, Lucario was on guard the whole time, providing enough sense of security.
In short, Xia Mu was alright and could control his fear.
But Sonia was already pale with fright.
This woman appeared brave on the surface, but she was actually very timid and terrified of thunder.
Every time thunder rumbled and lightning flashed, she would involuntarily tighten her grip on Xia Mu's arm, seeking protection.
At first, the feeling of their bodies touching was indeed pleasant, but as Sonia's strength increased, Xia Mu felt as if his arm was about to break, yet he couldn't say anything.
It wasn't until they crossed the storm zone and entered the new island's territory that they finally escaped the thunderstorm.
...
"This is the new island?
It feels so oppressive."
The island's strange shape, coupled with the gloomy and heavy atmosphere, gave it an eerie and terrifying feel.
Having already experienced the storm, their emotions hadn't fully calmed down, and this scene only amplified their fear.
"If the map is correct, this is the new island." Xia Mu was certain it was here, but he couldn't be too direct.
After all, he knew the original story; he had seen the new island before, even though the real world and the anime world differed, Xia Mu had seen photos of it.
He let the red Gyarados move forward quietly and slowly, not wanting to attract attention.
He just didn't know if their arrival could escape Mewtwo's psychic powers.
"How do we get up there?" Sonia asked, huddled close to Xia Mu, as they closely observed the new island's entirety.
The reef pillars surrounding the island, like the claws of a demon, appeared even more sinister under the atmosphere.
"There must be an entrance ahead; we'll find out once we go in," Xia Mu remembered that Ash and his friends had entered from there in the original story.
However, without light, the dark cave entrance seemed like a path to an abyss, chilling to the bone.
Xia Mu could feel Sonia trembling slightly, and in that situation, he naturally pulled her into his arms, trying to calm her down.
This action wouldn't be noticed by Sonia; they had already taken advantage of the situation while sailing the seas.
Entering the cave, turning a corner, and walking a few hundred meters further, Xia Mu and Sonia finally saw lights.
Unsurprisingly, this was where Ash and his friends were greeted in the original story.
However, clearly no one was there to greet him.
They must have already arried, and the original story was already unfolding above.
Without his intervention, the plot would likely continue as it was.
For him, this was perfect.
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(End of this chapter)