Ariel's back was instantly soaked with cold sweat.
That "gurgle" sounded like the doorbell of the Grim Reaper.
The Trainer guarding the entrance of the crack moved with startling speed, completing the entire sequence of turning and using Lock-On almost the instant the bubble burst.
A sharp gaze and Luxray's golden pupils, flashing with electricity, were like two poisoned daggers pinned straight toward the pond.
The rock Ariel was hiding behind was right in the path of that sweeping gaze.
His muscles tensed instantly, and he almost couldn't control the urge to let his pokémon take action.
His brain quickly formulated the worst-case scenario—Krokorok's Stomping Tantrum would directly collapse the cave entrance, while he, under the cover of Sneasel and Inkay, would rush toward the pond to forcibly snatch that Froakie amidst the falling rocks and dust!
But that thought only flashed for a moment before he firmly suppressed it.
This was a suicidal tactic.
Setting aside the counterattack from the opposing Trainer, the Whiscash of unknown level beneath the pond alone would be enough to give him and his pokémon more than they could handle.
A last resort; it must never be used unless absolutely necessary.
Ariel suppressed his presence to the extreme, his breathing becoming faint and indistinct, as if he had truly become a piece of cold rock.
Time seemed to stretch out at this moment.
One second, two seconds... The Trainer's brow furrowed as he stared intently at the pond.
The water's surface returned to calm; only the sound of the waterfall's flowing water remained, with no further abnormalities.
He perhaps felt that under Luxray's X-ray vision and Noctowl's monitoring, it was impossible for any living creature to hide so well.
The sound just now might have just been a coincidence caused by a surge of energy underwater.
However, just as his suspicion grew and he was about to have Luxray step forward for a closer investigation—
"Boom!"
A dull explosion, accompanied by the vibration of the rock walls, came from deep within the crack they had just entered! Immediately after, there was a Pokémon's roar mixed with rage!
It was the sound of a pokémon battle!
"What's going on?" The Trainer outside's expression changed.
"There's a situation inside! It's the leader of the Froakie Family! Come and support us!" a companion's urgent shout came from within the crack.
The situation was urgent, leaving him no time for second thoughts.
A flash of sternness appeared in the Trainer's eyes as he barked at the pokémon beside him, "Luxray, Noctowl, let's go!"
He no longer paid attention to the disturbance in the pond and turned to rush into that narrow crack.
Luxray followed closely behind, its agile figure disappearing into the darkness.
The Noctowl circling the cave ceiling also folded its wings and dived in like a bolt of black lightning.
The cave entrance returned to dead silence once more.
Ariel's tense body finally relaxed; leaning against the rock, he panted heavily, his heart still drumming wildly in his chest.
A narrow escape.
"Splash—"
The crisp sound of water rang out as a small head poked out from the pond behind Ariel.
Blue skin, white Frubbles surrounding its neck, and a pair of orange-yellow eyes—much larger than those of its peers—were gazing with worry at the crack that had swallowed the intruders.
It was indeed that Froakie with the Protean Ability!
It was clearly worried about its kin and couldn't help coming out to check the situation.
A great opportunity!
A sharp light flashed in Ariel's eyes. Suppressing his pounding heart, he reached back for the Poké Ball at his waist.
Now was the best time; while everyone's attention was inside, he could capture it directly!
However, just as his hand touched the Poké Ball, the water's surface behind him suddenly surged violently.
"Gurgle gurgle—"
A massive shadow rose rapidly from underwater, kicking up huge waves.
A second later, a giant blue head with two long whiskers broke the surface—it was that Whiscash!
It floated on the water, its dull eyes first wandering blankly before seeing the small Froakie on the shore, then looking toward the crack where the sounds of battle were coming from.
"It's that Whiscash!" Ariel's movements froze.
Was this fellow planning to go help because it saw the Froakie Family was in danger?
Ariel quietly raised his pokédex and aimed it at the massive figure.
"Whiscash, the Whiskers pokémon. Level 42. Ability: Oblivious..."
Looking at the bright red "Level 42" on the pokédex, Ariel felt his heart, which he had just let down, leap back into his throat.
He fell silent.
If it were only in the thirties, he might have dared to take a gamble with Krokorok and the others by relying on the advantage of a first strike.
But Level 42... this was already beyond the range he could deal with at his current stage.
The gap in levels was often not something that could be easily bridged by tactics and attributes... Inside the crack, there was a whole other world.
This was a massive underground karst cave. Oddly shaped stalactites hung from the ceiling, and moss that emitted a faint blue glow grew on the stone walls, reflecting the entire space like a dreamlike underwater world.
An underground river ran through the cave, converging into puddles of various sizes, with white nests built of bubbles by the Froakie dotting the area.
This was supposed to be a paradise for the Froakie Family.
But at this moment, the peace had been completely torn apart.
Sen and his three bodyguards, along with the nine pokémon they had released, had formed a perfect encirclement, trapping the entire Froakie Family in the center of the cave.
Charizard, Sceptile, Hitmonchan, Luxray, Noctowl, Seadra... every single one exuded a powerful aura and cold eyes.
Most of the pokémon's levels hovered around 38 or 39, and among them, that muscular Hitmonchan's level was as high as 45!
Sen stood outside the encirclement with a gentle smile on his face, holding his daughter Misato's hand as if enjoying a brilliant performance.
"Wow! Daddy, so many Froakie!" Misato's small face was flushed red with excitement. "Is that big one a Greninja? So cool!"
Her finger was pointing at a solitary figure standing in front of all its kin.
It was a Greninja, its build more agile than its usual peers, with a long tongue like a scarf fluttering behind it.
It crossed its arms over its chest, and in its palms, two rapidly spinning Water Shuriken had already formed, emitting a dangerous, cold light.
It was the leader of this Family, Level 39.
However, facing nine powerful opponents of similar or even far superior levels, there was no retreat in its eyes, only the determination of a leader and the protection of a parent.
Behind it were twenty shivering Frogadier and Froakie, huddled together in terror and letting out anxious Growls.
This was a crushing defeat with no suspense.
"Do it," Sen's voice was very soft, yet it carried an unquestionable command. "Watch your strength; don't hurt those young ones with good potential. Misato, watch closely; Daddy will catch the best one for you."
"Yay!"
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