Silas subconsciously raised the communicator on his wrist and began recording.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would become the fourth known location in the Pokémon world where the phenomenon known as "Magikarp Leaping the Dragon Gate" had been discovered.
The other three locations were in the Orange Archipelago, Hoenn, and Unova.
"Where did all these Magikarp come from?"
Brock watched the Magikarp and voiced his confusion.
While Magikarp were among the most common Pokémon in the world, seeing so many gathered in a single pool was still astonishing.
Nobuhiko sighed with admiration.
"This is probably one of the wonders of Pokémon."
Even the most authoritative Pokémon Professors couldn't confidently explain how these Magikarp gathered here.
Perhaps it was the pull of evolution itself.
Or perhaps it was an instinct buried deep within their bodies.
They had converged here from countless underground rivers.
"Look over there."
Silas wasn't participating in the discussion.
Holding up his wrist communicator with one hand, he excitedly pointed toward a section of the waterfall with the other.
Nobuhiko and Brock followed his finger.
A streak of gold stood out brilliantly amidst the sea of red.
"A Shiny Magikarp!"
Both of them showed a certain amount of surprise.
But only a certain amount.
Research had consistently shown that the appearance rate of Shiny Pokémon hovered around one in one hundred thousand, regardless of species.
As a result, among Pokémon as numerous as Magikarp, the absolute number of Shiny individuals wasn't actually that small.
The population base was simply too large.
If a vast forest might not contain a single Shiny Pokémon, then a large lake would almost certainly contain at least one Shiny Magikarp.
So seeing a Shiny Magikarp during a Dragon Gate event wasn't particularly unusual.
However, for a Pokémon like Magikarp, even a Shiny specimen had limited value.
At most, wealthy collectors favored them because their golden coloration was aesthetically pleasing.
Their most common fate was becoming ornamental pets kept in decorative aquariums.
After all, being Shiny had nothing to do with whether a Magikarp could evolve into a Gyarados.
As long as it couldn't evolve, Magikarp remained one of the weakest Pokémon in existence.
Many people didn't even consider Shiny Magikarp to be "real" Shiny Pokémon.
They felt Magikarp lowered the prestige and rarity associated with Shinies.
Furthermore, no one had ever successfully raised a Shiny Magikarp into a Shiny Gyarados.
The chances of a Magikarp evolving into a Gyarados were already relatively low.
A Shiny Magikarp successfully evolving was even rarer.
While Shiny Magikarp were more common than most other Shiny Pokémon, that was only in comparison to other species.
Compared to the overall Magikarp population, they were still extraordinarily rare.
Because of that, people still didn't know what color a Shiny Gyarados would be.
Silas, however, did know.
It would be red, just like the Red Gyarados that Lance was currently searching for, the one created through Team Rocket's experiments.
Yet the two were fundamentally different.
A normal red Gyarados evolved naturally from a golden Magikarp, making its red scales completely natural.
The experimental Red Gyarados, on the other hand, retained traces of Magikarp's original coloration because it had been forcibly evolved, creating an abnormal mutation.
Although becoming a Shiny Pokémon was considered rare, most Pokémon with independent thought didn't actually enjoy looking different from their own species.
Occasionally, their unusual appearance might attract admiration.
More often, however, it led to exclusion.
The golden Magikarp charged up the waterfall.
After struggling upward for about one-fifth of the distance, it ran out of strength.
The descending torrent slammed it back down.
The surrounding ordinary Magikarp fared no better.
After resting briefly, they launched themselves at the waterfall once more.
"That's truly admirable determination."
Nobuhiko sighed.
As a martial artist, he genuinely respected what he was seeing.
"Determination alone isn't enough."
Silas shook his head.
His words might have been blunt, but they were true.
From his perspective, it was obvious that the Magikarp making second and third attempts weren't achieving significantly greater heights than they had on their first tries.
By the fourth, fifth, and sixth attempts, their performance only deteriorated further.
The golden Magikarp was the clearest example.
Its brilliant coloration kept drawing Silas's attention.
Yet even its best attempt had only reached about one-third of the waterfall's height.
Two-thirds still remained.
That was the enormous chasm separating Magikarp from Gyarados.
Brock, however, continued staring at it intently.
"What? Thinking about catching it?"
Silas easily read his intentions.
"A little."
Brock didn't deny it.
His mother, Lola, had been a very capable Water-type specialist trainer, so Brock had grown up around Water-type Pokémon.
In his eyes, this golden Magikarp possessed considerable potential.
He even wanted to see whether he could raise the world's first Shiny Gyarados.
Although he was the heir to a Rock-type Gym, his father Flint's tendency to defer to his wife meant raising a Water-type Pokémon wasn't a major issue.
Silas glanced at the status panel provided by Zero.
The Shiny Magikarp possessed Elite- potential.
It genuinely had a chance of evolving into Gyarados.
Potential didn't guarantee reaching a certain level.
Many factors influenced growth, including effort and training.
However, once it evolved into Gyarados, its potential would receive a massive boost.
At minimum, it would likely reach Pseudo-Elite potential, and with sufficient luck or perhaps assistance from items such as a Water Stone, it might even attain Elite Four potential.
For most Pokémon, such a leap would be impossible.
For Magikarp and Feebas, however, it was completely normal.
Gyarados and Milotic existed on an entirely different level of life compared to their pre-evolved forms.
Even so, Silas wasn't particularly interested in this Shiny Magikarp.
He didn't like Pokémon that were this stubbornly headstrong.
In his view, there were only two practical ways to overcome the Dragon Gate.
One was overwhelming personal strength.
The other was cooperation.
If the Magikarp worked together, several of them could likely cross the Dragon Gate.
Unfortunately, their desire for evolution was too strong.
None of them were willing to sacrifice their own chance to help another.
The first option was more straightforward.
Weak as Magikarp were, there were still exceptional individuals capable of leaping over entire hills in a single jump.
Compared to ordinary Magikarp that could only jump a few meters above the water, such Pokémon were unquestionably the "strongest" of their species.
Even if their combat power remained practically zero.
For Magikarp like those, crossing the Dragon Gate wasn't particularly difficult.
And the Gyarados they evolved into would certainly be powerful.
Silas believed that with its potential, the golden Magikarp could eventually accomplish that feat.
It simply needed time and continuous training.
The smartest choice would be to give up on this year's Dragon Gate challenge and return after becoming stronger.
Brock, however, saw things differently.
To him, this Magikarp possessed remarkable perseverance.
It also displayed the steadfast qualities often associated with Rock-type Pokémon.
In his eyes, it was an exceptional Water-type Pokémon.
That difference probably came down to personality.
Pokémon and Trainers always chose one another.
Without compatibility, becoming true partners was difficult.
There were exceptions, an extrovert and an introvert could sometimes make it work.
But generally speaking, matching personalities mattered.
Take Silas as an example.
Most of his Pokémon possessed a somewhat cunning streak, reflecting aspects of his own personality.
Even his most dependable Pokémon, Gigalith, occasionally revealed a playful side.
As for Brock, perseverance and stability were practically his defining traits.
Please ignore his behavior whenever Nurse Joy was involved.
At those moments, it almost seemed as though someone else had taken over his body.
That incredibly stubborn golden Magikarp suited him perfectly.
Still, Brock didn't choose to interrupt the golden Magikarp and announce that he wanted to catch it and become its Trainer.
He decided to wait until tonight's Dragon Gate Leap had ended before bringing it up.
The moon gradually climbed higher into the sky, and the moonlight became even more brilliant.
More than two hours passed, yet not a single Magikarp had successfully crossed the Dragon Gate.
"It's time."
Seated cross-legged atop a massive boulder, Nobuhiko suddenly spoke.
As his words fell, another wave of Magikarp joined the assault.
Compared to the earlier groups, however, these newcomers were far stronger. On their very first attempt, most of them reached roughly one-third of the waterfall's height.
That was already the absolute limit the shiny Magikarp had managed to reach.
Their long whiskers revealed their age—these were all very old Magikarp.
And these veterans were the true main force of the Dragon Gate Leap.
The red mass of Magikarp spread even further across the pale-blue waterfall, creating a striking contrast beneath the moonlight.
Every so often, two or three Magikarp would break away from the main group and charge even higher, only to be smashed back down by the torrent.
Before the power of nature, they were still far too weak.
Soon enough, however, many Magikarp adopted the method Silas had been thinking about earlier.
Several groups consisting of around a dozen Magikarp separated from the main swarm and launched coordinated assaults.
Though their teamwork wasn't particularly refined, it still allowed them to climb significantly farther than before.
Beside the pool, Silas completely ignored Piplup's expression as he strapped his wristwatch camera onto the penguin Pokémon's round head.
Stretching lazily, he realized it was already around one or two in the morning.
Combined with the intense battle from earlier, his head was beginning to throb.
"How long does the Dragon Gate Leap usually last?"
he asked Brock, who remained completely focused on the spectacle.
"Usually until around two or three in the morning. It's different every time and every location, there's no fixed schedule."
Brock knew Silas was simply trying to stay awake.
"Why don't you get some rest first?"
"Nah, I'll stay up with you. At the very least, I want to see a Gyarados evolve."
Silas yawned helplessly.
Despite the arrival of stronger Magikarp and all sorts of strategies being employed, not a single one had managed to reach the top and evolve into a Gyarados.
"This Dragon Gate Leap is way too difficult."
He couldn't help complaining.
With this many Magikarp, he would have expected at least one or two successes by now.
"Magikarp that evolve by crossing the Dragon Gate are generally stronger than those that evolve normally, so it's not surprising."
Brock remained calm.
He was extremely familiar with this phenomenon.
Combined with his growing interest in the golden Magikarp, he remained full of energy.
As for Nobuhiko, he had already returned to his tent to sleep.
According to him, he would be staying here for years anyway, so if he felt like watching again, he could simply do so next time.
That left only Silas, who wasn't even sure why he was still awake except for wanting to witness a miracle.
The moon continued its journey across the sky.
Less and less moonlight shone upon the waterfall.
The Magikarp grew increasingly frantic.
"Wake up! Wake up!"
Half asleep, Silas felt someone shaking him repeatedly.
Opening his eyes groggily, he saw Brock.
"What happened?" he mumbled.
"ROOOAAAR—!"
A thunderous roar answered his question instead.
Silas immediately jolted awake.
His eyes widened as he stared toward the top of the waterfall.
There, bathed in silver moonlight, a blue Gyarados stretched its massive body and let out a mighty roar.
Its powerful aura sent spray flying in all directions.
Then came a second.
A third.
And more.
Under the moonlight, a total of five Magikarp evolved into Gyarados within pillars of white light.
They stood proudly above the rushing waters like towering monuments.
Picking up the equally sleepy Piplup, Silas excitedly aimed his wristwatch camera at the scene.
It was an extraordinarily rare sight.
Gradually, the silver moonlight vanished from the waterfall.
The Magikarp returned to normal and disappeared beneath the water in groups.
Brock hurried toward the golden Magikarp.
If Silas hadn't seen incorrectly, that shiny fellow seemed to be flirting with a normal female Magikarp that had white whiskers.
"What a perfect match."
Barely able to keep his eyes open, Silas muttered the comment before turning off his camera and crawling into his sleeping bag while holding Piplup.
"Piplup..."
Suddenly being restrained, Piplup instinctively tensed up.
Yet feeling the reassuring presence beside him, the Pokémon who had lived alone for so long finally relaxed.
"Pii~"
Blowing bubbles from its beak, it drifted into sleep.
"Hiss... so cold."
The next morning, Silas was awakened by a damp sensation.
Opening his eyes, he discovered that the water and bubbles coming from Piplup's sleep-breathing had landed directly on his face.
Combined with the cave environment, even though it was summer, he still felt chilled.
"Piplup."
Sensing Silas's movement, Piplup immediately opened its eyes as well.
"Morning."
Silas greeted it.
His body was already accustomed to waking up early, so he wasn't particularly tired.
Nearby, Nobuhiko had already begun his daily training session, leading his Pokémon beneath the waterfall to endure the relentless impact of the rushing water.
"Piplup!"
Piplup responded energetically.
"Since we've got time today, let's go check out what's above the waterfall."
After washing up, Silas casually tossed out Pidgeot's Luxury Ball.
He had wanted to explore the area above the waterfall yesterday, but the Dragon Gate Leap had prevented him from doing so.
Naturally, today was the perfect opportunity.
He was extremely curious about what kind of environment had given birth to this phenomenon.
Who knew there might even be something unusual up there.
Piplup immediately followed him onto Pidgeot's back.
The small Alolan Vulpix followed as well.
The rest of his Pokémon remained behind for their daily training.
With Pidgeot protecting him, none of them were worried about Silas's safety.
Only Blaziken wore a somewhat strange expression.
"Caw!"
Pidgeot beat its wings and soared into the sky.
"Piplup?!"
Piplup's face instantly froze.
Earlier, it had simply followed Silas without thinking.
Now the sudden sensation of weightlessness and the terror of being high in the air made its legs tremble uncontrollably.
"Vulpix! Vulpix!"
Alolan Vulpix walked around Pidgeot's back as if it were flat ground, circling Piplup and laughing at its new companion.
Of course, it also took the time to teach Piplup how to maintain its balance.
"Relax. You'll be fine."
Silas gently placed a hand on Piplup's head.
Honestly, his own fatigue from staying up late probably hadn't helped.
"Want Pidgeot to take you back down first?"
he asked.
"Piplup! Piplup!"
Piplup stubbornly shook its head.
Flying?
No problem.
Easy.
Totally easy.
Tiny tears shimmered in the corners of its eyes.
Fortunately, the ordeal didn't last long.
After all, if Pidgeot wasn't deliberately slowing down for its passengers, climbing a hundred meters would take less than a second.
With Pidgeot's help, Silas and the two little Pokémon quickly arrived above the waterfall.
Before them stretched a long river whose source was impossible to see.
Normal land bordered both sides.
Everything looked utterly ordinary.
The moment Pidgeot landed, Piplup jumped off immediately.
It silently swore that it would never fly again.
"Come on, little guy. Go check what's in the river for me."
While exploring the shore, Silas called for Piplup to dive into the river and investigate the riverbed.
For a strong swimmer like Piplup, as long as it stayed away from the cliff's edge, the current posed no problem.
"Piplup!"
Piplup confidently slapped its chest and leapt straight into the river.
...
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