Chapter 654: Giant Tentacruel

"Sacred Fire, you say?"

Lugia, maintaining its flight posture, lowered its head and pondered for a few seconds; while interested, it was indeed surprised to hear the name of this move from Luo Mu's mouth.

Once, both it and Ho-Oh had, for a certain period, dwelt atop a Gao Ta built by humans who worshipped them, accepting their offerings.

But due to some accident, humans angered them, and after descending judgment, both it and Ho-Oh flew away from the Gao Ta.

One vanished without a trace, while the other sank into slumber in the depths of the ocean.

Suddenly hearing the name of the move "Sacred Fire," it felt somewhat dazed.

Being very close to the Kanto waters, they found a small island in the sea; Lugia and Moltres landed on the island, while the giant Dragonite continued to soak in the water.

Not to mention whether its current size could even allow it to fly, the island itself could not possibly bear its weight.

It could only blow bubbles while staring at Luo Mu, Lugia, and Moltres with its simple eyes, which were countless times larger than light bulbs, like a colossal giant climbing over a city wall.

Stopping at the island, there was actually only one thing Lugia needed to do.

—It employed its all-purpose psychic power, just like Lei Guan Wang, attempting to use its spiritual sense to probe the rainbow-colored fire seed within Moltres.

"It is indeed pure Sacred Fire."

Lugia first gave the most important conclusion, though it was one Luo Mu had already confirmed.

Subsequently, it began trying to contact this slightly agitated fire seed with its spiritual sense.

"You are saying that this fire seed was gifted to your Moltres by a Moltres transformed from a 'flame possessing life'?" While inspecting, Lugia asked Luo Mu as if reconfirming.

"Mm, yes."

Luo Mu nodded slightly, recounting the situation once more.

Who would have expected that at this moment, a human-like smile would float onto Lugia's face, signaling that the layer of blue membrane on its surface, which it used to channel its psychic power, had disappeared.

"In that case, there is no need to investigate further."

Under Luo Mu's puzzled expression, Lugia suddenly uttered this abrupt statement.

However, it soon provided an explanation to Luo Mu.

"The one who left behind that 'flame possessing life' was actually the previous generation's Fire God, that is, the Moltres that once dwelt on Fire Island."

Luo Mu was stunned, his voice full of confusion, "The Fire God? And there was a previous generation?"

"Why couldn't there be?"

Lugia was even more perplexed but still explained:

"But actually, there is no need to specifically worry about the matters of the previous generation. You only need to know that after stepping down, it spent some time mingling with humans, and when that human's lifespan reached its end, it left behind some of its own power before disappearing to who knows where."

"Due to some past events that are no longer important to the present, it learned 'Sacred Fire' from that fellow Ho-Oh."

"The reason the flame it left behind reacts unusually to your Moltres is half because they are of the same species, and half because after that incident, your Moltres also received part of nature's favor and blessing, possessing a corresponding aura."

Lugia's voice paused here.

"This is just like a gift from a senior to a junior; just like with Dragonite, once your Moltres grows stronger in power and gains greater control over its strength, it will be able to master 'Sacred Fire' normally."

"It's just that because this is a transmission of an original inheritance, its power and effects might be slightly inferior to the authentic version."

Lugia's explanation was quite comprehensive; although Luo Mu felt curious about why the previous generation's Fire God passed on its position and how it learned 'Sacred Fire' from Ho-Oh.

But he understood clearly that since Lugia did not speak of it, he should not break the jar to ask about the bottom merely to satisfy his curiosity.

Luo Mu's just-right sense of distance made Lugia sigh with emotion.

Although it preferred humans of Ash's type, those with sincere hearts.

But getting along with a "social expert" like Luo Mu was not a bad feeling either.

A moment later.

Having resolved a small problem, and under Luo Mu's precise guidance on which direction to fly, they continued toward the waters where the giant Tentacruel resided.

Finally, they stopped in the sky over the distant sea, to the side of the beach at Blue Point, a famous vacation spot in the Kanto region.

To be honest, when the hint system led him all the way here, Luo Mu was still a bit stunned.

Especially when looking at the golden beach on the other side of the waters, teeming with people, he did not know what to say.

Good heavens, so it's been nearly a year, and you're still hanging around nearby.

Blue Point is not far from Yuzu Town Dock, where the plot originally took place, which also meant the giant Tentacruel had been living in the nearby waters all along, and the Kanto region seemed to have had no reaction.

If Geeta knew about this matter, she would definitely lose all appetite for tea and rice, and would at least send someone to communicate with a big fellow like the giant Tentacruel, which cannot be measured by levels, to reach an agreement.

One wonders if the Kanto region already has a plan in place, which is why they have adopted a laissez-faire attitude toward the giant Tentacruel.

Speaking of the origin of the giant Tentacruel, it is quite nonsensical, yet also very heavy.

The cause of the matter was a person named Jin Po Po at Yuzu Town Dock, who occupied the coral reef, the dwelling place of the Tentacool, and transformed it into a luxurious offshore hotel.

This construction severely damaged the living space of the Tentacool, causing a large number of them to begin retaliating against humans.

Just as the conflict intensified, Jin Po Po, as the instigator, not only failed to recognize her mistake but instead started throwing money around, hiring capable individuals and strange experts to drive the Tentacool away.

The Rocket Trio were also among those who came upon hearing the news.

But due to their actions, a originally ordinary Tentacool was struck by their barrel-shaped "Domestic Three Cups of Vinegar."

Stimulated by this, that Tentacool evolved in one breath into a giant Tentacruel and began leading the Tentacool group to launch revenge and counterattacks against humans.

At the very end of the anime episode, no one defeated or drove away the giant Tentacruel; instead, it was Misty, Ash's partner in the Kanto region, along with the Pokémon's verbal persuasion, that made the giant Tentacruel, feeling it had retaliated enough, stop its continued destruction.

After using Meowth to say, "We'll let you off this time," the giant Tentacruel turned around with its clan and returned to the sea.

Luo Mu made no judgment on the matter itself, but after confirming something, he spoke to the giant Dragonite, which had most of its body submerged in seawater and generated a thick fog when moving: "In these waters, there exists a being roughly your size."

"It's just that its species is Tentacruel, not Dragonite; would you consider it the companion you have been searching for all this time?"

Hearing this.

The giant Dragonite blinked its simple eyes, its gaze falling upon the waters ahead.

That line of sight seemed capable of penetrating the seawater to see the hidden things below.

Lugia flapped its wings, its expression somewhat surprised.

Clearly, it had also discovered the colossal creature hidden beneath the seawater.

At the same time, it was caught off guard that two Pokémon of such immense size actually existed in this world.

Even though Luo Mu and the others had only just arrived in these waters, the presence of such a large fellow as the giant Dragonite swimming within them had naturally long ago drawn the attention of the Tentacruel swarm, which had become the undisputed hegemon of this sea.

First, countless densely packed Tentacool floated up from underwater; as one of the sea's major ruffians, they presented an overwhelming sense of oppression.

But if one were to speak of true oppressive force, it was the giant Tentacruel that slowly surfaced under the protection of the Tentacool.

Although its size was not as terrifying as that of the giant Dragonite, viewed from close range, it still gave the impression of towering over most buildings.

Its gaze was somewhat cold; evidently regarding the giant Dragonite as an enemy invading its territory, it aimed its nearly eighty massive, venomous tentacles at the giant Dragonite.

Simultaneously, the agate crystals atop the heads of those Tentacool began to emit a chilling red glow.

Were it not for the thick fog naturally accompanying the giant Dragonite's movements, such a scene would likely have frightened the returning fishermen to death.

The battle situation was poised to erupt at any moment.

But just then, before Luo Mu could act to prevent the conflict from breaking out, Lugia descended first between the two parties.

A majestic and domineering whale-like cry rang out accordingly.

"Wuuu—" (Cease this dispute—)

Although Lugia's size was negligible compared to that of the giant Tentacruel, the moment the latter appeared, the giant Tentacruel's pupils contracted sharply as it suddenly felt immense pressure.

That was something it could not resist, even though it had mutated due to an accident and possessed its current powerful body.

—The majesty belonging to a god!

Above the slightly rough seas of the Hoenn region.

Facts proved it.

The allure of food was infinite.

At this moment, Hearing Hearing Nimo and the other two were sitting on the back of a Pokémon that was somewhat spacious, resembling a small moving island upon the sea.

The Pokémon's name was Wailord, the largest known Pokémon in the world.

Carrying three tiny humans was, of course, an effortless task for it.

The reason Hearing Hearing Nimo and the others managed to connect with the Wailord was thanks to a playful Whiscash.

After a night of patient waiting and rest, at dawn they began considering which wild Water-type Pokémon to lure into helping them.

Lapras, being most suitable for riding, was naturally the best choice, but even though the Hoenn region was rich in water resources, Lapras families rarely stayed here.

Sharpedo was also suitable for riding; its swimming speed, comparable to a speedboat, would grant them flexible initiative on the sea.

—But all of this presupposed a well-trained Sharpedo equipped with a saddle.

Not to mention whether wild Sharpedo, as one of the sea's major ruffians, would be willing; if they sat upon a Sharpedo possessing the "Rough Skin" ability without any protection, they would only grind their own buttocks raw.

Fortunately, luck always favored children traveling away from home.

Just as Hearing Hearing Nimo and the others, holding Pokémon food emitting a peculiar aroma in their hands, were moving back and forth on the beach.

They heard only "duang~ duang~ duang~" a few times, and a not-so-small blue ball bounced before them; its black little eyes, resembling mung beans relative to its body size, were gazing at the Pokémon food in their hands with immense longing.

A wild Whiscash.

In terms of battling, Shizuka might be somewhat dull, but regarding Pokémon ecology, her knowledge reserve lived up to the name Joy.

In an instant, looking at this Whiscash lingering before them begging for food, she recalled the habits of this Pokémon species.

Beside a young Whiscash, there would invariably be an adult Wailord accompanying it; in deeper waters, there were even "communal families" composed of multiple Whiscash and Wailord.

Facts indeed proved her conjecture correct; by establishing a good relationship with the Whiscash through food, they successfully boarded this Wailord express.

The Wailord was quite intelligent; under the trio's efforts to describe, it soon understood their objective.

As aquatic Pokémon roaming freely in the ocean, they were crystal clear about any abnormalities within the sea.

Not to mention that although Team Aqua's actions avoided the Hoenn League, they were virtually undefended against wild aquatic Pokémon.

Abstract descriptions like "a large underwater fellow made of iron sheets, lacking any sign of life" allowed the Wailord to quickly associate it with the submarine it and the Whiscash had avoided from afar the previous night.

Coupled with the Whiscash's socially adept personality, which had established good relations with many aquatic Pokémon, asking for directions saved them from taking many detours.

Around two o'clock in the afternoon.

A small island unrecorded on any map came into view.

The island was quite massive, with a huge volcano emitting thick smoke standing tall in its center.

Clearly, compared to the dormant Chimney Volcano and Sootopolis Volcano, this volcano was still active.

"Team Aqua's submarine is docked at the edge of the island!"

Having dispatched the fastest and least likely to alert the enemy, Ninjask, to circle the island and investigate, Shinji spoke up.

"In other words, this is their lair?"

Standing on the slightly smooth back of the Wailord, a glint of eagerness flashed in Hearing Hearing Nimo's eyes.

Shizuka and Shinji naturally could not let her rush out recklessly, so they spoke up: "We shouldn't land on the island rashly; this area is still within the range of signal jamming. Let's leave this vicinity first, then contact Miss Miss Junsha of Mossdeep City."

As a former Joy, Shizuka certainly did not want Hearing Hearing Nimo to take risks, hoping instead to safely notify the Hoenn League first.

Never mind that Hearing Hearing Nimo was the strongest of the three; usually, Shizuka possessed a strong big-sister aura, and constrained by this, Hearing Hearing Nimo could only hang her head in dejection and abandon the plan to charge into Team Aqua's lair.

—However, just as they were asking the Wailord to turn around and leave the signal-jammed area first, a figure that was slightly conspicuous on the sea suddenly crashed into their line of sight.

It was a Gyarados entirely red in color!

And upon closer inspection, on the back of that seemingly shiny Gyarados, three people who had also noticed them atop the Wailord were waving vigorously at them.

Coincidentally, for either side, the other party was an acquaintance!

(End of Chapter)