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Area: 27
Danger Level: Red
Pokémon Leader: High Elite Gyarados
Rare Pokémon: ???
Rare Items: Evolution Stones
---
Alex studied the map for several seconds longer than usual.
a Red Danger Level meant confirmed casualties in the past. High Elite-level Pokemon with a dominant personality. Environmental disadvantage. And limited retreat options.
Area 27 was marked as aquatic terrain—deep pools, submerged tunnels, unstable ledges. Perfect territory for a High Elite Gyarados.
Which also meant: Terrible terrain for most land-based teams.
Crobat and Scizor were still muttering insults in the background. Luxio was explaining rules to Kingdra and Zweilous.
Evolution Stones were confirmed in the area, and if a High Elite Gyarados controlled it, that meant one thing:
Few trainers would dare to enter like with Area 25.
Low competition. Untapped resources.
He folded the map.
"We're going to Area 27."
The chatter stopped.
The path toward Area 27 sloped downward, the air growing colder and heavier with moisture. The sound of distant water echoed through the stone corridors—slow at first, then louder, rhythmic, like something vast moving beneath the surface.
Kingdra moved closer to Alex's side.
"This terrain favors him," Kingdra said calmly. "Deep water gives Gyarados full mobility. If he's High Elite, he likely controls the central basin."
Alex replied, "That's not a big problem. Even with this advantage, we shouldn't have any problems against a late Elite as long as there aren't several of them."
Kingdra nodded in agreement. He also felt that a team full of High Elite Pokémon was too much for a Gyarados, even with home advantage.
Alex's gaze drifted across the underground stream feeding into the central basin.
Movement caught his eye.
Several Barboach swam lazily near the rocky shallows, whiskers brushing against the sediment as they sifted for nutrients.
Instinctively, Alex evaluated them.
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Pokémon: Barboach
LV: 27
Type: Water/Ground
Abilities: Hydration (hidden ability)
Gender: Female
Potential: Shallow Gold (2%)
Move:
- Mud-Slap, Mud Sport, Water Sport, Water Gun, Mud Bomb, Amnesia, Water Pulse, Magnitude, Rest, Snore,
- (Innate Talent) Waterfall [E], (Innate Talent) Bulldoze [E], (Innate Talent) Protect
-----------
Alex turned slightly toward Kingdra.
"Can you defeat that Barboach and bring it to me?"
Kingdra didn't ask why. He nodded once and slid into the water without a splash.
The stream shifted instantly. Barboach reacted—but too late. A precise burst of compressed Water Energy struck it from below. Not overwhelming. Not lethal.
Measured.
The Barboach was stunned, consciousness flickering but intact. Kingdra surfaced moments later, guiding the unconscious Pokémon upward with controlled currents.
He had deliberately suppressed his output. Too much force and the body would rupture. Too little and the target would escape.
He delivered the Barboach gently onto the rocky edge near Alex.
Alex crouched. He studied it again, this time at close range.
Shallow Gold. But was it a born Shallow Gold Pokemon?
Or was it a Born Deep Silver that had improved through external consumption?
That difference mattered.
Alex took out a Poké Ball and caught the Pokémon. He didn't want this Pokémon for himself; instead, he wanted to give it to Maria or one of his two subordinates.
But if it wasn't truly Born Shallow Gold, giving it to Maria would be not good enough.
Later, with Gardevoir's assistance, he would verify its origin. If the Barboach had ever consumed the corpse of a Pokémon with Good potential or something else.
Although this Barboach didn't know the potential of a Pokémon corpse, most Pokémon can instinctively know if something can improve their potential as soon as they see it.
With this information, Alex should have no problem determining this Pokémon's Born Potential with 90% certainty.
"Let's move."
They advanced deeper into Area 27.
Gradually, the stone pathways narrowed.
Solid ground became fractured ledges.
Then scattered platforms.
Then little more than slick protrusions between widening pools of dark water.
The cavern opened wider ahead. And the ratio shifted unmistakably.
More water. Less land.
Although Alex and his Pokémon still had enough room to move through the area, most of it was now covered in water.
Gardevoir telepathically said, "Father, I sense the presence of a high-level Elite Pokémon."
Alex asked, "Just one Pokémon, or more?"
"Just one Pokémon."
Alex smiled slightly. "Okay. Let's start the reinforcement plan."
At his command, his Pokémon immediately began using buff moves. Scizor performed Swords Dance and Focus Energy, his metallic body sharpening with lethal precision. Gardevoir set up Light Screen, a faint barrier shimmering around the group. Umbreon used Work Up, while Baton Pass rotated through the team member who need the buff to maximize their output.
Once all his Pokémon were at their maximum power, Alex said, "Okay, Ditto, now transform into Kingdra."
Ditto's body shifted instantly, reshaping into a perfect copy of Kingdra.
Then Alex explained his plan, which couldn't have been simpler.
Ditto and Kingdra would swim toward the High Elite Gyarados and deliberately provoke it into chasing them. As soon as Gyarados entered the designated range near the shoreline, the rest of Alex's Pokémon would unleash their strongest long-range moves simultaneously.
A focused burst.
Overwhelming damage in one exchange.
Kingdra and Ditto slid into the water without hesitation.
Moments later, the surface exploded as Gyarados rose, furious at the intrusion into his territory. The two Kingdra immediately retreated, drawing it closer and closer to the prepared firing line.
Alex watched calmly, calculating distance.
Almost there.
He also had a backup plan in case Gyarados defeated Ditto or Kingdra with a single move—. However, the probability of needing that plan was low.
Kingdra and Ditto, with Umbreon's help, were probably strong enough to defeat Gyarados on their own. Everything was under control.
Now it depended on timing.
*******
if the story gets 100 powerstones in 24 hours, I will upload 1 bonus chapter tomorrow.
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