"Swampert, use Whirlpool to restrict Gyarados's movements!"
Seeing Gyarados shatter Swampert's tidal wave with a combination of Hurricane and Hydro Pump, Kuro immediately issued his next command.
As Whirlpool was unleashed, a swirling vortex appeared on the ocean's surface, trapping Gyarados within its grasp.
"Swampert, use Sludge Wave to further hinder Gyarados! Prepare to fire an Aura Sphere."
With the pull of Whirlpool keeping it in place, Gyarados had no choice but to endure the attack, countering Swampert's Sludge Wave intermittently with Dragon Rage.
Even so, a considerable amount of toxic sludge seeped into the water, drawn in by the vortex surrounding Gyarados.
Compared to trained Pokémon, wild Pokémon often lack refined techniques—a weakness that even Elite Four-level Pokémon struggle to overcome.
"Now's the time! Swampert, launch Aura Sphere, then follow up with Surf!"
A brilliant blue Aura Sphere shot forward, standing out starkly against the dark stormy sky.
The Surf attack followed—an enormous wave rising from the depths. Unlike the previous attack, this time, Swampert rode atop the wave, commanding it like a towering force crashing toward Gyarados.
A deafening roar echoed through the storm as Gyarados completely lost its composure.
The fear it had previously felt—the lingering aura of an unseen threat—was now forgotten. All that remained was its singular focus on eliminating its opponent.
Perhaps fueled by rage, Gyarados's power surged slightly, allowing it to break free from Whirlpool's grip. It charged madly toward Swampert, reckless in its assault.
While the fierce battle raged outside, Ron remained inside, focusing on refining his psychic abilities.
With Gardevoir and Lucario by his side, Ron didn't need to step outside to know what was happening. He could already tell that Kuro had gained control of the battle and was well on his way to victory.
In the room adjacent to Ron, two men sat across from each other.
One wore an eager expression, while the other hesitated.
"Tyro, stop wavering. With you and me working together, this ship—guarded by only one Elite Four-level trainer—will be ours for the taking."
"That's two Elite Four-level Pokémon outside," Tyro countered. "How about this? I'll take the Captain's Swampert, and you can have Gyarados. Fair trade?"
Bord appeared tempted by the proposal but remained undecided.
"The storm outside is no joke. Even if we take over, getting away safely will be difficult."
"Don't forget, our mission is to transport the package back, not to seek personal gain."
Bord frowned at Tyro's caution but had to admit he had a point.
Their task had originally been assigned to top Elite Four members. It had only fallen to them because of repeated losses and the League's increased scrutiny.
Just as Bord hesitated, the ship suddenly shook violently.
"Damn it! Half of you, follow me! The rest, stay here and defend the ship's cargo hold. Alert the other trainers onboard!"
Upon receiving the report from his subordinates, the vice-captain's face darkened. Barking out orders, he quickly strode toward the deck.
"Another Elite Four-level Pokémon? We need to finish this quickly. Swampert, unleash a Tidal Surge!"
Recognizing the urgency in Kuro's voice, Swampert punched Gyarados back before diving into the water.
Sensing danger, Gyarados instinctively tried to chase after it, only to be momentarily stunned by Swampert's sudden, furious roar.
Seeing that Swampert had infused its Roar attack seamlessly into its battle cry—preventing Gyarados from interrupting its move—Kuro smirked.
"Looks like this is our chance. Let's deal with that Elite Four Pokémon first. Afterward, we'll take the Captain's Swampert and Gyarados."
"If we act quickly, no one will ever know it was us in this storm," Bord chuckled, listening to the broadcast.
"Alright, let's make this fast. We need to move before the Captain realizes what's happening."
Tyro, convinced by Bord's plan, finally agreed.
The two slipped out of their room, navigating through the ship's sparse defenses until they reached the aft section.
What they didn't know was that, the moment they left, a shadowy figure slipped into their room before silently tailing them through the ship's corridors.
At the rear of the vessel, the vice-captain's Pokémon had already fallen. Only the sheer number of defenders and the enemy Tentacruel's inexplicable hesitation to go all out had kept them in the fight thus far.
But the vice-captain knew they couldn't hold out much longer. If the Captain didn't win soon, everyone here would be done for.
"Crawdaunt, use Aqua Cutter!"
A sudden voice rang out as a crimson figure darted forward, slicing through several of Tentacruel's tendrils before landing a direct hit on its main body.
The once-dominant Tentacruel now looked utterly powerless in the face of this red-clad attacker.
"Reinforcements?"
Seeing Crawdaunt demonstrate Elite Four-level strength, the first mate did not share the excitement of the other sailors. Instead, he cautiously scanned the area, searching for Crawdaunt's trainer.
"Walrein, Icicle Impact!"
Another voice echoed, and for some reason, the first mate felt a sudden sense of impending doom.
A split second later, an ice spike shot forth, effortlessly piercing the first mate's chest, the force of impact sending him flying off the ship.
One after another, the sound of bodies hitting the water filled the air. The sailors and officers who had once formed a defensive line on the deck were now plunging into the sea like dumplings dropped into boiling water.
Beneath the ship, a Tentacruel surfaced, rummaging through the fallen men's backpacks and tossing them onto the deck.
Seeing this, Tyro and Bord quickly stepped forward, retrieving the Poké Balls inside and pocketing them without hesitation.
With the first mate and his crew neutralized, Walrein dove into the water, ready to join Crawdaunt in swiftly eliminating the remaining Tentacruel.
"People from Team Aqua… Looks like I arrived a step too late."
A murmured voice came from the shadows as a lone figure observed Tyro and Bord, eyes filled with murderous intent.
Gardevoir's psychic abilities and Lucario's Aura flared, continuously relaying every movement on the ship back to Ron.
Tyro and Bord's ambush had caught Ron off guard. Even after realizing what was happening, he had no intention of revealing himself immediately. Taking on two Elite Four-level trainers was no small feat—Ron wasn't about to make the reckless claim that he could defeat them outright.
He had no choice but to wait. The moment they let their guard down and exposed a weakness—that would be the perfect time to strike.
Meanwhile, in the ocean, Swampert raised both arms. The once-invisible ocean currents seemed to materialize, coalescing into a force the Pokémon held aloft.
Even the enraged Gyarados, caught in a fury, hesitated for a brief moment as it took in the towering waves before it.
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