This wasn't the Growl of a Pokémon, nor the sound of rolling rocks, but... the sound of water!
Ariel's spirits lifted; he knew he wasn't far from his destination.
He quickened his pace, following the direction of the water's sound.
The cave passage suddenly opened up here, and the mist in the air was so thick it could almost be wrung out like water. The cool mist brushed against his face, instantly refreshing him.
After turning another corner, the scene before him caused Ariel's breath to hitch for a moment.
An incredibly vast underground hollow revealed itself.
The ceiling of the hollow was so high it was out of sight, adorned only by countless ores and mosses emitting faint blue or emerald green light, resembling an inverted starry sky.
Underneath this "starry sky," a magnificent waterfall surged from a massive crack in the ceiling like a silver celestial river, crashing thunderously into a bottomless pool below, kicking up layers of white waves and filling the air with mist.
The cave wasn't dark. Against the backdrop of the surrounding luminous rocks, every detail of the waterfall was clearly visible. Every movement of the flowing water was filled with a sense of majestic power, a spectacle that inspired awe.
At the edge of the pool and along the extending underground river channels, various Water-type Pokémon could be seen.
A few Magikarp flopped uselessly in the shallow water, splashing up strings of droplets.
Schools of Goldeen swayed their elegant tail fins, darting through the water.
In the silt at the bottom, one could occasionally see a Barboach poking half its head out, blowing a string of bubbles.
It was a scene full of vitality.
Ariel stood there, quietly admiring the view for a while.
The wonder and magnificence of this world were far beyond what a screen from his past life could ever show.
Every time he witnessed it with his own eyes, the fire in his heart to become stronger and travel to every corner of the world burned even brighter.
Taking a deep breath to suppress the shock in his heart, Ariel took out the map and carefully checked the markings on it.
His target was a hidden cave downstream of the waterfall, carved out by the current.
Ariel advanced cautiously along the slippery rocks at the edge of the pool.
Soon, he found the tributary marked on the map. The stream branched off from the main pool and flowed into an unremarkable-looking cave entrance.
Without hesitation, he slipped inside.
The inside of the cave was a world of its own.
It was like an independent small grotto. The light was much dimmer than outside, with only a few patches of luminous moss providing faint illumination. A clear stream ran through it, the gurgling water making the place feel exceptionally quiet.
Ariel lightened his steps, his sharp gaze scanning the surroundings.
Suddenly, his vision was caught by a flash of blue by the stream.
It was a frog-like Pokémon, pale blue all over, with a pair of bright, large yellow eyes that looked exceptionally spirited.
Most striking was the collar of white, dense foam around its neck, like a soft scarf.
Ariel's pupils suddenly constricted, and his heart skipped a beat!
Froakie!
He recognized the Pokémon's identity almost instantly.
This was one of the starter pokémon from the Kalos region!
Ariel's head buzzed, a massive surge of pleasant surprise rushing to his brain.
Was this a joke? A wild starter pokémon?
One must know that the League's control over starter pokémon was strict to an almost perverse degree.
Every starter pokémon's egg had a record from birth and was only distributed through specific channels to qualified Newcomer Trainers or given as League rewards.
The probability of encountering a wild starter pokémon in the wild was lower than being struck by lightning ten times in a row!
But now, this opportunity, comparable to winning the lottery jackpot, had appeared before Ariel without any warning!
He immediately crouched down, lowering his center of gravity as much as possible, almost shrinking into the shadow of a rock, and even subconsciously held his breath.
He quietly took out the pokédex and aimed it at the oblivious Froakie.
An imperceptible red light shot out.
"Beep. Froakie, the Bubble Frog Pokémon. Level 10. Ability: Protean (Changes the Pokémon's type to the type of the move it's about to use). Well-developed physique, abundant Water-type energy..."
"Aptitude assessment in progress..."
When the word "Protean" appeared on the pokédex screen, Ariel's eyes widened instantly.
A Hidden Ability!
It was actually a Hidden Ability!
If a wild starter pokémon was a windfall from heaven, then a wild starter with a Hidden Ability was practically a gold mine falling from the sky!
A normal Froakie's ability is Torrent, which only increases the power of Water-type moves when health is low, which is very restrictive.
But Protean meant it could change its type at any time during battle, maxing out its tactical flexibility!
A Greninja with Protean was of immeasurable value!
Ariel's heart was beating so fast it felt like it would jump out of his throat.
However, just as the words "Aptitude assessment in progress" flashed on the pokédex screen, the Froakie playing by the stream seemed to sense something. The bubbles on its neck twitched slightly, and its yellow eyes snapped toward the direction where Ariel was hiding.
That gaze was sharp and alert!
In the next second, before Ariel could make any reaction, the Froakie's hind legs kicked off powerfully. Its entire body turned into a blue afterimage, leaping into the water with extreme agility.
With a soft "plop," a small ripple spread across the water's surface, and its figure completely disappeared into the stream.
The pokédex scan was also interrupted.
"Damn it! Just a little bit more!"
Ariel couldn't help but curse under his breath as he stood up from behind the rock, his face full of frustration.
The pokédex was just one step away from analyzing its specific aptitude!
He walked to the stream. The water was clear, but there was no sign of the Froakie.
"This little guy is much more sensitive than I imagined," Ariel muttered to himself.
He had been careful enough just now, his movements extremely light.
Yet even so, it had still detected him.
This wasn't just simple vigilance; it was an almost instinctive, super-strong perception of danger.
However, after the frustration passed, the fire in Ariel's heart burned even brighter.
The more alert and difficult it was to handle, the more it proved how extraordinary this Froakie was.
A starter pokémon with a Hidden Ability and such intelligence and alertness... it was practically a perfect partner tailor-made for him!
Ariel clenched his fist, his gaze sweeping over the quiet grotto.
He knew this Froakie hadn't gone far; this was its nest.
"A Froakie with Protean..."
The corners of Ariel's mouth curled up slightly, his eyes filled with a light of determination.
"You, I'm definitely catching!"
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