c41: The Crisis in Shantou City
"Guoxiong, head to the eastern pier and evacuate the civilians away from the coastline. The wild Gyarados are breaching the bay! Watch for Hydro Pump and Dragon Rage. Also, request back-up from the League branch in Lilycove!"
These Gyarados had long lived deep in the waters of Haidi Bay near Shantou City, undisturbed. Their power ranked above the average most were at quasi-Elite level, with several confirmed as full-fledged Elites based on scans from the local Pokédex network.
Ordinary trainers couldn't match that level of strength. "Hold them here, don't let them reach the population!" shouted Curator Zhang as Altaria's Dragon Pulse collided with a raging Hyper Beam, deflecting it just short of the harbor.
"I understand. You be careful too, Dad! Altaria, let's go!"
Zhang Guoxiong knew the immediate priority was to divide forces one group had to protect the citizens, the other had to hold the line.
With more than a dozen furious Gyarados rampaging, if even one got into the city, it could result in a mass casualty event. The port area housed commercial cargo docks; a single Dragon Rage could cause fire and chemical spillage.
After warning his father with a look of concern, Zhang Guoxiong leapt onto his Altaria's back and soared over the skyline toward the crowds gathering along the coast.
"I may not be young, but I'm not done yet! Swellow, Pidgeot go!"
Master Zhang released two more Poké Balls. The capsules burst open with twin flashes, releasing Swellow and a majestic Pidgeot, evolved from his longtime companion Pidgeotto. He mounted Pidgeot, directing it toward the sea while Swellow and Altaria flanked him.
"Gyarados! Why now? You've coexisted with the port traffic for years why attack the cargo vessels today?"
Zhang Guosheng shouted into the wind, though he knew the Pokémon likely wouldn't respond to reason. Still, desperation clung to his voice.
As the native Gym Leader of Shantou, Zhang had monitored the waters for years. The Gyarados population had been stable and unprovoked, thanks to League-regulated feeding zones and no-fishing zones around their habitat.
Suddenly, the waters surged violently.
"ROOOAR!" ×10
A deafening chorus erupted from the Gyarados pod.
Without warning, several of the serpents launched simultaneous Hydro Pumps towering columns of seawater surging toward the city's airspace, powerful enough to shatter reinforced structures.
"Damn it! Pidgeot, use Tailwind Swellow, Altaria, bank left and dodge—NOW!"
Zhang's veteran instincts kicked in. Years of Gym Battles had prepared him for split-second decisions under pressure.
"Master Zhang—it's too dangerous!"
"Zhang-sensei! Pull back!"
"Master Zhang, watch out!"
"Please—DON'T!!"
Everyone along the coast gasped in unison. Some of the more timid bystanders instinctively shut their eyes, unable to bear witnessing what they feared would be a devastating blow.
"Don't worry about me, Dad!" shouted Zhang Guoxiong, trying to suppress the tightening feeling in his chest. For a moment, it felt as if his heart had stopped altogether.
Then...
They saw Master Zhang, poised atop his Pidgeot an evolved form of his trusted Pidgeotto from his early years dancing elegantly among the towering columns of water. His movements were swift, weaving through the synchronized Hydro Pumps like a ribbon in the wind.
Though the scene was perilously tense, he emerged completely unscathed.
Cheers erupted from the coastline.
"Master Zhang is incredible!"
"He's so cool seriously! I want a Flying-type Pokémon too!"
"Of course he's the Shanshan Gym Leader unreal!"
"Master Zhang, you're amazing!"
Zhang Guoxiong finally exhaled, the tight knot in his chest slowly easing.
But up in the sky, Master Zhang felt no pride.
"This isn't good... That was just several Gyarados firing the same attack, and only because they used Hydro Pump together that I could read it and dodge."
"If they start mixing it up Ice Beam, Aqua Tail, Dragon Rage, even Bounce I won't be able to keep track of it all. I'm only human, with a single pair of eyes. I can't defend against everything."
His mind raced. "I need to stall for backup. If nothing else, I need to draw their aggression and keep them from targeting Shanshan directly."
Suddenly, a plan sparked in his mind.
He needed to weaken their Water-type attacks.
"Pidgeot, Altaria, Swellow spread out! Use Sunny Day!"
The command was clear. The trio of Flying Pokémon split in three directions, glowing with power as they each cast Sunny Day.
Suddenly, a strange pressure filled the air. Three radiant orbs ignited in the sky like mini suns, bathing the Gyarados group in searing light. The sea shimmered under the intensified sunlight, and the ambient temperature soared.
"ROOAARR!" ×10
The Gyarados bellowed in fury. The oppressive heat and harsh sunlight weakened their Water-type attacks, agitating them further.
Master Zhang winced. "Tch... Just casting Sunny Day got them this enraged?"
His Pokémon scrambled to avoid retaliatory attacks as he issued rapid dodge commands.
Meanwhile, many civilians stared in confusion from behind the newly raised barricades.
"Why would Master Zhang use Sunny Day like that?"
"He's not even fighting back!"
Curator Zhang gritted his teeth.
They didn't understand. It wasn't that he lacked the opportunity to strike back it was that he couldn't afford to.
Attacking the Gyarados now could cause them to go into a full berserk frenzy. If the entire pod became enraged, the destruction would escalate. Unless he had the certainty of defeating them all swiftly, retaliating would only worsen the crisis.
All he could do now was bait them stall them until reinforcements arrived.
"If only... If only I had someone powerful enough to help me. Just one trainer with an Elite-level Pokémon then we could turn the tide."
But for now, he could only hope the Gyarados would eventually calm down or retreat of their own accord.
"This is such a mess..." Master Zhang muttered, rubbing his temple, sweat and sunlight mixing on his brow.
A few minutes later, the beach had been cleared; civilians were evacuated several hundred meters inland. Shantou's public safety forces had established a secure perimeter. Despite their pleas, many civilians refused to leave.
"Master Zhang! We're rooting for you!"
"Why isn't he fighting back?!"
"Come on, hit 'em already!"
"Stop holding back! Smash those Gyarados, Master Zhang!"
The crowd was a mess some were excited, others confused, and a few were jeering. Just like people from Chen Xiaoxiao's past life more interested in the spectacle than their own safety.
Tell them to retreat they'll step back. Tell them to leave entirely?
As long as the commotion hadn't died down, they wouldn't go anywhere.
"Damn it! I hate being this weak!" Zhang Guoxiong muttered, clutching Altaria's mane tightly as they hovered along the coastline, intercepting stray attacks.
He watched helplessly as his father danced just inches from disaster again and again, narrowly avoiding bursts of Ice Beam and Aqua Tail.
"If I were stronger... I could fight beside him... not just watch!"
Then, from the crowd behind him, a sudden shout broke through:
"Look up there! Someone's flying in on a Pokémon!"
"So cool! What kind of Pokémon is that? Big bro, explain it!"
"I told you to study more, but you kept spamming Mud Sport!"
"..."
"Idiot! That's Togekiss!"
The words jolted Zhang Guoxiong from his spiral of self-doubt.
Togekiss? His heart surged.
Hope sparked in his chest.
"Could it be...?"
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