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The sound of water lapping against itself...
Blastoise's head turned, but it couldn't see clearly what was happening on the sea's surface. Everything was just a vast expanse of whiteness, like smoke obscuring all vision.
However, the uneasiness in Blastoise's heart grew increasingly strong. Even its Aura sensing ability was activating involuntarily, warning of potential danger.
Blastoise couldn't determine direction on the sea's surface, but it still remembered the underwater route back to camp.
Blastoise dove beneath the waves, only to encounter complete darkness—something it had never experienced in these waters before.
Blastoise tilted its head in confusion, finding the situation incomprehensible.
Is it just because it's still so early in the morning?
Either way, there was no choice. If it stayed here any longer, the Water-type would very likely encounter even greater danger.
For some inexplicable reason, Blastoise had this strong premonition in its mind.
Although the fog on the ocean's surface was thick and continuous, it was still much better than the seabed where visibility was absolutely zero.
So Blastoise decided to navigate along the surface, heading toward what it sensed was the direction of Poni Island.
After swimming for a while, Blastoise suddenly felt very strong fluctuations in the water coming from behind.
Despite Blastoise's considerable strength at this point, facing this situation in such an isolated position caused the fear in its heart to magnify without limit.
It didn't dare turn back to look. Instead, it could only continue swimming forward at maximum speed.
However, the creature behind seemed to have locked onto Blastoise specifically. It followed closely, persistently. For several heart-stopping moments, Blastoise felt certain the creature was about to catch up.
The tense mood and the near-limitless exertion made Blastoise feel unprecedentedly exhausted. Gradually, it began to feel the seawater growing colder, knowing instinctively that the creature was closing in.
Blastoise felt extreme desperation rising within.
Could it be that after being a good turtle my entire life, I'm going to die here today?
Overcome with unwillingness to accept such a fate, Blastoise fired a full-powered Hydro Pump backward in the general direction of the pursuing creature.
When the creature saw the ripples caused by the Hydro Pump that nearly blended into the surrounding seawater, it recognized that Blastoise's attack was absolutely serious and potentially devastating.
The creature froze momentarily, then reacted quickly to dodge Blastoise's powerful blow.
Seeing this, Blastoise had a very complicated expression on its face.
It felt like the attack had been completely ineffective—as if it had struck nothing but cotton or mist.
Resigned to its fate, Blastoise spread its flippers wide and closed its eyes tightly.
Fine! Kill me or spare me—whatever you want!
After mentally preparing itself, Blastoise quietly opened one eye just a crack, carefully watching the creature's movements.
Through the murky water, Blastoise saw the dark figure gradually approaching from not far away. Moving at such a slow, deliberate speed, it was impossible to tell that this was the same Pokémon that had been "racing" with such intensity just moments ago.
Slowly, the figure drew closer and closer to Blastoise, and its outline became increasingly visible and clear.
However, its approach speed remained cautious and measured, as if it were guarding against some sudden trick from Blastoise.
This Pokémon appeared to be very intelligent and strategic.
Which was accurate, because Blastoise really did have one more trick prepared.
The two cannon barrels that Blastoise had deliberately kept hidden were quietly accumulating tremendous power, ready to deliver a devastating blow to the creature the moment it came within optimal range.
Blastoise chuckled internally with satisfaction.
Didn't expect this, did you? We've still got this ace up our sleeve!
However, on the surface, Blastoise displayed an expression of bitter defeat and resignation, appearing to have completely lost all fighting spirit.
As the distance closed, Blastoise was finally able to discern the color of that Pokémon—it appeared to be purple...
It looked somewhat like a scallop shell...
Blastoise tilted its head, squinting thoughtfully as it tried to recall the various Pokémon creatures inhabiting the ocean depths near Poni Island that its Trainer had described just yesterday.
Actually, the most important information had been about which Pokémon could be safely encountered while swimming in the sea, and which Pokémon should prompt an immediate retreat upon sight.
At the time, Blastoise had been daydreaming about playing in the ocean and had only half-listened to the descriptions of dangerous Pokémon. It hadn't even bothered remembering all their names properly.
And among those dangerous species, there definitely hadn't been mention of any scallop-like creature...
Blastoise's confidence grew as it concluded that this opponent might just be a speed-focused Pokémon—fast at running and quick in reaction ability.
If we actually fought seriously, who knows who would win and who would lose!
Hmph! Take this shot for scaring me so early in the morning!
Blastoise's anger flared, and it suddenly mobilized both Hydro Pump cannons from its shell.
In an instant, the twin barrels automatically aimed at the Pokémon that still hadn't fully revealed its complete appearance.
Massive volumes of water were expelled under extraordinarily high pressure. Two powerful streams of water could be clearly seen cutting through the ocean depths.
The force was so intense there seemed to be a tendency to actually break through the sea's surface above.
Hydro Pump.
The Pokémon had apparently been maintaining vigilance against Blastoise, so it wasn't particularly surprised when it saw these two menacing Hydro Pump attacks incoming.
Instead, it calmly extended both hands, facing Blastoise's assault with open palms. The energy gathering within those palms should not be underestimated.
Just as the twin Hydro Pumps were about to strike the mysterious Pokémon, muddy water suddenly erupted from its palms, polluting the surrounding seawater while simultaneously neutralizing Blastoise's two powerful attacks completely.
Realizing things had gone terribly wrong, Blastoise immediately turned and fled.
If I can't beat you, can't I at least run away?
However, Blastoise had obviously forgotten one crucial detail about why it had been fleeing in the first place.
Wasn't there a Pokémon behind it whose speed was at least equal to—if not greater than—its own that had been chasing it this entire time?
This time, the Pokémon watched the fleeing Blastoise but didn't immediately pursue. Instead, it slowly rotated its hands in circular motions at chest level, and the surrounding seawater completely obeyed its commands.
Circles of water moved from slow to fast under the Pokémon's direction, condensing into powerful vortexes.
The seawater rapidly formed into swiftly flowing whirlpools. Soon, the Pokémon launched them in Blastoise's direction the moment each vortex fully formed—one in each hand, fired in quick succession.
"Fini..."
Blastoise vaguely thought it heard a familiar voice. Just as it was about to look back to confirm, it heard a more intense sound of seawater being violently cut and surging with tremendous force.
The sound made Blastoise's entire body tense with alarm, its scalp tingling with fear. It immediately abandoned all other thoughts, with only one goal remaining in mind.
Run!
However, Blastoise's swimming speed was obviously no match for Tapu Fini's aquatic techniques, especially not in the ocean that the Guardian Deity knew intimately.
Before Blastoise had time to properly accelerate, the next moment it felt itself surrounded by two vortexes approaching from different angles.
To escape this predicament, Blastoise would need to either speed up dramatically to break through the vortex attacks and leave this area of sea, or turn back and choose to confront the Pokémon in direct combat.
Unfortunately, Blastoise's previous exertion had consumed a significant amount of stamina. Its current speed couldn't match its earlier pace. And in the brief moment that Blastoise hesitated, considering its limited options, time had already delivered its answer.
The Water-type found itself wrapped completely by the two vortexes that merged into a single, inescapable spiral of water.