Chapter 402: We Won't Give Up Until We Steal Them
After finding the complete Deep Sea Tooth in the mysterious cave on Bo Island, Ash's group, led by the child James, found the key item for Gorebyss evolution, the Deep Sea Scale, in a similar cave on Lu Island.
"So, as long as we put this on a Clamperl and then perform a link trade, it can evolve?"
Namiko looked at the Deep Sea Scale with a yearning expression on her face.
Apparently, this little girl was a "traitor" to Bo Island; while she claimed Huntail was amazing, in reality, she preferred Gorebyss.
The little boy James's preference was the opposite of Namiko's; he was more interested in the ferocious-looking Huntail.
The preferences of these two were extremely obvious; their four large eyes were almost pressed against their respective evolution items.
Ash's group also noticed what these two children were thinking.
Consequently, under the direction of Professor Birch, the two children placed the corresponding items on their own Clamperl, and then used the Lu Island transporter to send the Poké Balls to the Pokémon Center on I Island.
After the transfer was complete, Ash's group immediately rushed back to I Island.
"Here are your two Poké Balls."
Nurse Nurse Joy returned the received Poké Balls to the two children respectively.
"Alright, you can let your Clamperl out now," Professor Birch said.
"Yes!"
Both children opened their respective Poké Balls at the same time.
The two Clamperl holding the items appeared for less than five seconds before their bodies emitted the light of evolution.
"It seems your guess, Ash, was very correct. The evolution of Clamperl is similar to that of Scizor; both require holding the corresponding evolution item and then performing a trade to achieve it," Professor Birch said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"But didn't Namiko say before that the Clamperl of the people on their island could evolve just by being placed in the spring water of that cave?" May asked, puzzled.
"Wild Clamperl with a high enough level can potentially evolve on their own after absorbing a large amount of energy from evolution items, but the success rate for this species is very low," Ash explained.
Pokémon have existed in this world for so many years, and transporters and other exchange machines have only been around for a few decades. Ash didn't believe that Clamperl couldn't achieve autonomous evolution in nature; otherwise, where did those wild Huntail and Gorebyss that had appeared come from?
To better study the two newly evolved Pokémon, Professor Birch took everyone back to the poolside.
Just a few minutes after the Gorebyss and Huntail got into the water, a huge water column suddenly erupted from the direction of the estuary.
"What... is that?" May asked, confused.
"I heard someone asking 'What is that?'. Since you have asked with such sincerity!"
"Then we shall grant you mercy..."
The familiar motto of the Team Rocket Trio came from behind the water column.
As the water dissipated, a robot shaped like a Kingler appeared before everyone.
"Team Rockets, why are you three still following us?" May said, annoyed.
"We won't give up until we steal all your Pokémon, Meow!"
Since Larousse City, the Team Rocket Trio had been hesitant to make a move because each of Ash's group had a Legendary Pokémon, fearing they would be hit hard.
However, now that there were many outsiders present, and one of them was a famous Pokémon researcher from the Hoenn region, the Team Rocket Trio was betting that Ash's group wouldn't dare to use Legendary Pokémon.
Of course, the Team Rocket Trio hadn't forgotten to report the intelligence that Ash's group had each captured a Legendary Pokémon to Giovanni.
For this, the Team Rocket Trio received a substantial bonus, and the Kingler Z they were driving now was built by betting their savings along with that bonus.
Ash released his Sceptile. "Your perseverance is truly admirable, but since you've shown yourselves, just wait to be beaten. Sceptile, use Solar Beam."
"Hmph, Ash, do you think we will just let you beat us obediently?"
James sneered, then controlled the Kingler Z to attack Sceptile, with the giant crab claw charging straight at Sceptile's face.
But in the next second, Pikachu appeared in front of Sceptile, its tail condensing into a white sickle over two meters long.
Iron Tail (crossed out) Behemoth Blade slashed out, and the mechanical crab claw was forcibly cut open, and it was also knocked back.
The crab claw crashed into the robot's chest, the robot's shell cracked, many wires were exposed, and wisps of blue electric arcs constantly jumped on the shell.
At this moment, Sceptile's Solar Beam had finished charging, and with a burst of white light, the Kingler Z robot exploded, and the Team Rocket Trio turned into a shooting star for a perfect exit.
"We're blasting off again!"
After dealing with the Team Rocket Trio, Ash's group stayed overnight at the I Island Pokémon Center.
The next morning, after saying goodbye to Professor Birch, the group set off for Mossdeep City.
After sailing for most of the day, Ash's group arrived at the next island, Gangga Island.
Here, they met a group of Trainers who loved fitness exercises. Ash and May used the time they stopped there to challenge the Trainers on this island one by one, reaping a wave of battle experience.
The one who gained the most was, of course, May, because the strongest Trainer on this island was accustomed to double battles, and May took advantage of this to practice double battles intensely.
After all, the Mossdeep Gym challenge was a special 1v2 double battle.
Leaving Gangga Island, they boarded the ship heading to Mossdeep City.
"Why is it still more than two hours until we reach Mossdeep City?"
May was already tired of taking the ship.
Ever since they took the wrong ship when leaving Larousse City, they had been traveling by boat between islands almost every day.
"It's only two hours, just bear with it," Ash said.
"Sigh..."
May lay on the railing, sighing to pass the time.
Not long after the ship set sail, Ash sensed a bunch of familiar Aura reactions, one of which was actually the Flying Elite Lance, and the other Aura reactions were mostly the unlucky guys from the former Team Magma.
Analyzing the situation, Ash was certain that this guy Lance was playing undercover.
Just as he was distracted, carefully exploring the location of the Team Magma base, an elongated fishing net extended from the cabin entrance.
But before the net could launch an attack, Pikachu released Thunderbolt at the person using the net.
With electricity coursing through them, the Team Rocket Trio trembled while pulling out Poké Balls to launch an attack.
"Team Rockets? Why is it you guys again?" May and Brock asked simultaneously.
"Cacnea, use Pin Missile!"
"Seviper, use Haze!"
Cacnea's Pin Missile did not have much power and was easily handled by Eevee, but thick Haze covered the ship's deck.
"Cough, cough..."
The Haze made everyone cough constantly.
Latias raised her hand and fired a Mist Ball at the Team Rocket Trio.
Perhaps it was because she didn't control her strength well, or maybe some other power was at play, but this attack from Latias not only sent the Team Rocket Trio flying, but also accidentally blasted Ash's group away in another direction.
"Hmm..."
Ash, who had been focused on finding the Team Magma base, finally came back to his senses.
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