Pokemon: Skybound Chapter 480: 480. Rising Water and Underwater Breathing

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Kai had barely taken two steps before a violent surge of water nearly swept him off his feet.

He cursed under his breath. There was no way to chase after Dr. Zager now.

"Erika! Get your goggles and rebreather now!" he shouted.

Thankfully, neither of them had discarded their underwater gear. Within seconds, they were strapped in but even then, the ocean had already flooded up to their waists.

The base was sinking fast.

Kai swiftly returned Gardevoir to its Poké Ball and released Dragonair instead. In a collapsing underwater environnt, Dragonair's agility and strength would be far more useful than Gardevoir's now-useless [Teleport].

The water was rising like a beast uncaged within monts, it had surged up to their chests, compressing their lungs, making every breath a struggle.

They reached for the nearest support an iron column that Erika clung to tightly. Kai wrapped one arm around both the pillar and Erika, anchoring himself against the rushing tide.

Slam!

Chairs, equipnt, and debris surged past them. Dragonair coiled protectively in front, using its tail to sweep the worst of it aside.

The two of them clung together, pressed tightly by necessity and by survival instinct.

Kai could feel Erika's heartbeat, rapid and strong, through the soaked fabric of her clothes. Erika, in turn, could feel the rhythm of his chest, sturdy and calm despite the chaos.

There was no room for modesty only survival.

It wasn't until the room was completely subrged that the pressure finally eased.

Kai patted Erika's waist gently. She nodded, understanding. They pushed off from the column and began swimming back the way they had co.

Swimming through the flooded hallways was nothing like walking through them just minutes ago. The water churned and pulled, and it took everything they had just to push forward.

Erika led the way. From Kai's angle, he couldn't help but notice her streamlined figure cutting through the water, her long legs moving rhythmically a rare mont of beauty amid all the tension.

He smirked slightly behind his mask. At least the view's not bad.

But the journey was exhausting. Even with Dragonair guiding them, it felt like they were swimming against a storm.

And then boom!

Just as Erika turned a corner, a side pipe burst from the pressure. The explosion's shockwave slamd her against a wall.

Kai reacted instantly.

He lunged forward and caught her ankle, preventing her from being thrown completely. But her rebreather, her only source of oxygen, was knocked from her mouth and lost in the swirling current.

Bubbles escaped her lips.

Thankfully, Erika had closed her mouth in ti, but her air was gone.

Kai didn't hesitate.

He pulled out his own rebreather and handed it to her. Erika grabbed it, pressed it to her lips, and inhaled deeply, finally regaining her composure.

She reached to return it, but Kai waved her off.

She assud he had taken a deep breath before giving it to her. But minutes passed.

And Kai still wasn't breathing.

Erika frowned behind the mask. No way... is he still holding his breath?

She reached out, pressing a hand to his chest in concern.

That's when Kai felt it too.

His body felt... fine. Too fine. His lungs weren't burning. In fact, he could feel oxygen entering his body. Through his skin?

Wait... could this be it?

He rembered sothing the Blessing of the Sea Guardian.

Could this be its second effect? Passive underwater respiration?

Instead of taking back the rebreather, Kai grinned and gestured for them to keep moving.

Monts later, they erged from the collapsing base where Misty's Corsola and Ash's Totodile were waiting.

Turns out, Ash and Misty had sent their Pokémon to search when the base began to sink. Their instincts had been right.

Grabbing onto their aquatic partners, Kai and Erika let themselves be pulled toward the surface.

As they rose, sothing caught Kai's eye a shadow below.

Large. Silent. Familiar.

A submarine.

Even from a distance, Kai recognized the sleek silhouette of Team Rocket's escape vessel. That ant all the key researchers were inside.

So that was their true exit plan.

The chaotic evacuation earlier? A distraction. A false trail.

Kai clenched his jaw. They got away... again.

But at least the virus lab was gone.

He might not have captured Zager but this mission hadn't been in vain.

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