Pokemon: Rising From The Dark Chapter 154: A Group of Slowpoke

"Slowpoke, let's check out the water."

Saying that, Aoki placed a hand on Slowpoke's back and entered the lake alongside it.

Thanks to Slowpoke's Psychic shield, Aoki could breathe underwater, though not indefinitely.

As they subrged, Aoki imdiately noticed the sheer number and variety of Water-type Pokémon in the lake. If he could relocate them to his personal reserve, the future construction of a Water-type Gym would go much smoother. After all, a Water Gym without a strong population of Water Pokémon wouldn't be appealing to League Trainers.

Among the common Magikarp and Goldeen, Aoki spotted several Pokémon native to the Hoenn region—Huntail, Gorebyss, Luvdisc, and even the rare Relicanth! Sealeo and Corphish also moved gracefully through the water. It was as if the lake held a miniature ecosystem of nearly every Water Pokémon in Hoenn.

This place was a hidden treasure!

However, Slowpoke suddenly tensed, its expression sharpening. Without waiting for instructions, it began swimming toward a specific location.

Aoki didn't intervene.

Absol had warned him of sothing in the water, and now Slowpoke was acting on its own. That could only an one thing—whatever was in the depths was connected to Slowpoke in so way.

After navigating through dense aquatic plants and rocky outcrops, the scenery changed. Aoki's eyes widened.

Beneath the seemingly small lake lay a vast, hidden cavern. As they moved further in, the space expanded into a massive underground chamber. At the far end, a dry bank erged from the water.

Slowpoke swam straight toward the shore, and as soon as they surfaced, Aoki's breath hitched at the sight before him.

"Slowpoke...?"

A large group of Slowpoke lay scattered along the bank—nearly thirty of them. However, there were no Slowbro or Slowking among them. Every single one bore visible scars, and their skin looked dry, as if they hadn't been in the water for a long ti.

Most disturbing of all, these normally lazy and relaxed Pokémon weren't basking near the water as usual. Instead, they huddled together, their gazes locked onto a small, central pool, staring in eerie silence as if it were their last hope.

"Slowpoke!" Aoki's Slowpoke called out loudly.

The group stirred at the unfamiliar voice, and an older-looking Slowpoke sluggishly crawled forward. It seed to be the leader of the group.

"Slowpoke..."

"Slowpoke..."

The two Slowpoke began communicating in their own way.

Aoki couldn't understand their words, but he could feel his Slowpoke's emotions shifting—growing heavier, more intense. A slow-burning rage flickered in its eyes.

Ten minutes passed before their conversation ended. The elder Slowpoke sighed and turned away, crawling back toward the group.

The other Slowpoke, having briefly shown signs of life, returned to their previous state, lying motionless on the cold ground, their gazes empty as they fixated on the pool.

"What happened, Slowpoke?" Aoki asked.

"Slowpoke!" Slowpoke growled—an expression of raw anger Aoki had never seen before.

Then, through telepathy, Slowpoke connected with Aoki's mind.

"Master, my kin told they've been trapped here by a powerful enemy lurking in the water. They can't enter the lake, nor can they escape. They have no choice but to wait here… to die."

Aoki's expression darkened. "An enemy? But we saw nothing when we entered."

As if responding to his doubts, movent rippled through the water.

First, a single dorsal fin cut through the surface. Then another. And another.

A total of three large fins. Then ca smaller ones—pairs of yellow, jagged fins appearing in droves, their owners swarming beneath the surface.

Thirty to forty of them.

Aoki's eyes narrowed as his scanner activated, displaying a data map of the Pokémon before him.

The strongest among them caught his imdiate attention.

Pokémon: Sharpedo (Dark Green)

Gender: Male

Level: 35

Type: Water/Dark

Ability: Rough Skin

Held Item: None

Inherited Moves: Ancient Power, Brine, Final Gambit

Basic Moves: Slash, Sucker Punch, Feint Attack, Leer, Bite, Rage, Focus Energy, Aqua Jet, Pursuit, Screech, Taunt, Ice Fang, Scary Face, Poison Fang

Taught Moves: Icy Wind, Aqua Cutter, Water Pulse

TM Moves: None

Aoki imdiately understood why the Slowpoke were trapped. A group of Sharpedo and Carvanha had taken control of the lake.

As Water/Dark-types, Sharpedo were natural predators of Psychic-types like Slowpoke. And since this was Hoenn, Slowpoke were an anomaly—outsiders. It made sense for the Sharpedo to target them.

There could be more to the story, but the present situation was clear:

The Slowpoke were completely overpowered. If Aoki and his team hadn't arrived, the entire group might have perished here.

Even so, Aoki noted sothing peculiar.

If the Sharpedo were so dominant, why hadn't they finished off the Slowpoke already? Could it be that the conditions of this battle didn't favor them either?

Despite their fearso strength, Sharpedo fought best in open water. Engaging in combat inside this cavern would limit their movent. That could be why the Slowpoke were still alive—they had no way to fight back, but they also couldn't be wiped out easily.

Slowpoke trembled with barely contained fury. It wasn't just angry at the Sharpedo—it was furious at its own kind for their resignation. For their helplessness.

Aoki understood this feeling.

This was Hoenn. Slowpoke didn't belong here. Even if they wanted to evolve, they couldn't. There were no Shellder in this lake to trigger their evolution into Slowbro.

Without evolution, they had no way to counter the Dark-types preying on them.

Aoki clenched his fists. The scars on their bodies proved that they had fought before, but they simply weren't strong enough to win.

anwhile, Carvanha could evolve into Sharpedo.

But Slowpoke? Without Shellder, they were stuck.

This was the cruel reality of Pokémon that required special evolution conditions. It was why Slowpoke thrived in Kanto, where Shellder were abundant, but struggled elsewhere.

Yet none of this mattered to Aoki's Slowpoke.

Even if they were at a disadvantage, even if they were outmatched, even if it ant certain death—

A warrior did not accept defeat without a fight.

Slowpoke had spent too much ti with Aoki.

And Aoki? He was exactly the sa.

A fight was inevitable.