After bidding farewell to the Horsea clan, the Gullwing adjusted its course according to Chen Mo's request and resumed its voyage.
Since the millions of viewers in the livestream—and even the crew aboard the Gullwing—believed Chen Mo's purpose for this expedition was simply to introduce new Pokémon...
The ship slightly increased its cruising speed so they could encounter new Pokémon as soon as possible.
Chen Mo naturally had no objections.
After all...
He wanted to reach the sea where the Tentacruel clan had once lived as quickly as possible.
Unfortunately...
Perhaps his luck really had been poor lately.
Over the next three days...
He still failed to encounter any new Pokémon.
That said...
Judging by the endless schools of lively wild Magikarp, Feebas, and Wishiwashi they encountered from time to time...
There was clearly nothing wrong with the sea itself.
Although his educational broadcasts had to be put on hold...
The unexpected downtime wasn't all bad.
During the day...
Chen Mo would bring his Pokémon onto the deck to bask in the sunshine.
Sometimes, the Gullwing would slow down...
Allowing Gengar to fish off the stern using a drifting-line technique it had learned from the sailors.
Now that the waters had returned to normal...
With guidance from the experienced seamen...
Gengar had no trouble reeling in one large fish after another.
Having discovered the joy of fishing...
Gengar spent every day playing with Pikachu, Gible, and Jirachi.
At night...
It would often grill the fish it had caught during the day, hosting barbecue parties on deck and inviting the crew to join.
Thanks to this cheerful prankster...
The atmosphere aboard the Gullwing became wonderfully harmonious.
Every day was filled with laughter.
And just like that...
Another day slipped quietly by.
The following morning...
When Chen Mo stepped out of his cabin...
He immediately noticed through the window...
A thin mist had risen over the sea.
Visibility had become rather poor.
"Looks like it might rain."
Without thinking much of it...
He led a group of still-drowsy Pokémon toward the dining hall for breakfast.
Just then—
A deep, ethereal cry echoed across the mist-covered ocean.
At the same time...
Shouts of surprise erupted from the crew ahead.
"Wha—"
Chen Mo had just stepped onto the deck to ask what was happening...
When the sight before him stole his attention.
Within the mist...
Massive creatures—so large that even their exact appearances couldn't be made out—leapt high out of the sea...
Only to crash heavily back into the water...
Sending towering sprays skyward.
"What are those..."
"Whales? No... they don't quite look like whales..."
"If only the fog would clear a little more..."
The sailors discussed excitedly.
Seeing those gigantic silhouettes breaching through the mist...
Everyone couldn't help but feel exhilarated.
Then...
Someone suddenly exclaimed,
"Teacher Chen is here!"
Instantly...
Everyone turned toward Chen Mo.
Hao Tianyu quickly adjusted the camera he'd already prepared...
Turning the livestream toward Chen Mo and his Pokémon.
"Teacher Chen..."
"Those things just now... they're Pokémon, right?"
One sailor voiced everyone's question.
Although whales were rarely seen...
Many crew members had spent years at sea.
Some had personally witnessed the true giants of the ocean.
Therefore...
The moment they saw those enormous shapes...
They immediately sensed...
While they resembled whales...
Their outlines were distinctly different.
Chen Mo smiled...
Confirming their suspicions.
"That's right."
"If I'm not mistaken..."
"They're a species called Wailord."
"They closely resemble the blue whales of our world..."
"And among all currently known non-Legendary Pokémon..."
"They possess the largest body size."
The deck immediately erupted in excitement.
Another sailor quickly caught one particular phrase.
"Teacher Chen..."
"You said among ordinary Pokémon."
"So does that mean..."
"There are Legendary Pokémon even larger than Wailord?"
"Well..."
Seeing the anticipation in everyone's eyes...
Chen Mo smiled mysteriously.
"That's a secret."
Immediately...
Groans echoed all across the deck.
After the lively exchange...
Once the crew learned that Wailord were gentle Pokémon with little aggression...
Everyone returned to their duties.
According to the voyage plan...
Today...
They should finally reach the Tentacruel clan's former territory.
Just as Chen Mo's thoughts began to wander...
The captain hurried over.
"Teacher Chen!"
"Our radar has detected a small island ahead."
His voice was full of excitement.
The previous evening...
Chen Mo had specifically asked him to watch for any islands using the ship's equipment.
Not knowing Chen Mo's true purpose...
The captain had assumed...
After spending so many days at sea...
Chen Mo simply wanted to stretch his legs on land.
A perfectly reasonable request.
However...
Out on the endless ocean...
The captain had no idea whether they would encounter an island within the next few days.
He had been secretly worried.
So now...
This suddenly discovered island...
Was an enormous relief.
"I just hope Teacher Chen doesn't think it's too small..."
After hearing that Chen Mo wished to go ashore...
The captain immediately returned to organize preparations.
Nine o'clock that morning.
The sea fog gradually dispersed.
Contrary to expectations...
No rain arrived.
For Chen Mo...
That was excellent news.
After all...
He had no desire to conduct his exploration beneath a torrential downpour.
That would have looked rather strange.
"...Do you feel it?"
Marshadow's voice echoed inside his mind.
Looking toward the distant horizon...
Chen Mo silently nodded.
Although the island described by Tentacruel had yet to appear...
He could already sense...
A very unusual energy flowing from afar.
It was...
Aura.
Yet...
Something felt strange.
Aura was an exceptionally unique form of energy.
It originated from a living being's spirit.
A power representing the heart itself.
Every living creature possessed its own unique nature.
Accordingly...
The Aura born from each individual's spirit reflected that inner self.
Which meant...
No two Aura signatures were exactly alike.
The differences were subtle.
Even Pokémon highly sensitive to energy couldn't distinguish them.
Only another Aura user...
Could vaguely perceive those tiny distinctions.
Chen Mo had personally experienced this countless times...
Through the two Pokémon in his own team capable of wielding Aura.
However...
Although he could sense the differences...
He had never been able to clearly describe them with words.
That...
Was precisely why he found this so strange.
The Aura ahead...
He could describe.
It felt...
Warm.
Inclusive.
As though it embraced all things.
Chen Mo frowned...
Falling deep into thought.
After a long while...
He sighed softly.
His understanding of Aura...
Was still far too shallow.
Even after everything Manaphy had taught him...
He had merely scratched the surface of what Aura Guardians truly were.
"Teacher Chen!"
"Are those Wailord?"
An excited shout interrupted his thoughts.
Turning around...
He saw the ocean now free of mist.
Gigantic blue bodies floated peacefully upon the water...
Watching the passing Gullwing.
What a coincidence.
We've met them again.
Just as Chen Mo was about to answer...
Several Pokémon shaped like manta rays suddenly leapt gracefully from the sea.
Their movements were elegant.
Their speed astonishing.
The sailors immediately burst into excited cheers.
Perhaps hearing the humans...
The Pokémon settled back onto the ocean surface...
Floating curiously just like the Wailord...
Watching the Gullwing.
"Those are..."
Chen Mo froze.
He naturally recognized them.
Mantyke.
And their evolved form...
Mantine.
To be honest...
After several days without seeing a single new Pokémon...
Encountering one entirely new species after another...
Almost made him forget why he had come here in the first place.
"If there are Mantyke and Mantine..."
"Then..."
His eyes searched beneath the water.
The next instant...
He stood completely speechless.
Swimming through the crystal-clear sea...
Were schools of Remoraid, living alongside the Mantyke and Mantine...
Along with countless graceful Lumineon, their butterfly-like pink tail fins gliding elegantly through the water.
More species...
He had never encountered before.
As for the innumerable Magikarp and Feebas...
They were subconsciously ignored.
"Pokémon!"
"They're all Pokémon!"
Not only Chen Mo...
The crew finally noticed the enormous schools of Pokémon filling the sea.
Centered around the moving Gullwing...
They swam alongside the ship...
Crowding both sides of the ocean.
"So beautiful..."
Someone couldn't help whispering.
Mixed among the countless fish Pokémon...
The Lumineon shimmered exactly as their name suggested.
The pink patterns along their bodies and tails emitted a faint glow.
Gathered together...
They resembled a brilliant river of stars...
Flowing through the sapphire sea.
"I understand now..."
At this moment...
Looking upon this ocean that resembled a paradise for Pokémon...
Chen Mo finally understood...
Why he had encountered so few new Pokémon during the past several days.
Besides simple bad luck...
There was another important reason.
Most wild Pokémon...
Had gathered here.
Drawn by that mysterious Aura.
Whether it was the Mantyke...
Or the Wailord...
They were naturally gentle Pokémon.
The ocean held many predators.
Although they likely had no idea what Aura truly was...
They could instinctively sense the uniqueness of the energy enveloping this sea.
It wouldn't harm them.
Perhaps...
It would even protect them.
After all...
The Aura radiated nothing but warmth.
Faced with such immense power...
Even notoriously violent species like Gyarados...
Would probably think twice before acting recklessly.
One could say...
This place was a sacred sanctuary...
For every Pokémon that loved peace.
At the same time...
Chen Mo couldn't help smiling.
This incredibly gentle Aura...
Obviously wasn't aggressive in the slightest.
Yet...
The Tentacruel had still fled this sea without the slightest hesitation.
One could only imagine...
Just how enormous the psychological shadow left behind by Aura Guardians truly was.
"No matter what..."
"This..."
"Is what real strength looks like."
Watching the solitary island slowly emerge on the horizon...
Chen Mo unconsciously clenched his fists.
Forget handcrafting Aura Spheres and beating Pokémon barehanded.
If this trial...
Allowed him to finally awaken the complete form of his Aura...
Then both he...
And every one of his Pokémon...
Would experience a tremendous leap in strength.
"Teacher Chen..."
A timid voice spoke from beside him.
Turning around...
He saw Hao Tianyu shrink back slightly...
Before gathering his courage.
"Teacher Chen..."
"The viewers seem... really anxious."
As he spoke...
He pointed toward the phone displaying the livestream chat.
"Ah..."
"I almost forgot."
Only then did Chen Mo remember.
So many new Pokémon had appeared...
The viewers had surely been waiting impatiently for his explanations.
Since there was still some distance before reaching the island...
He planned to begin introducing the Mantyke family first.
Just then...
Another shout came from behind.
"Teacher Chen!"
Chen Mo turned.
A crew member was running toward the bow in obvious panic.
"Teacher Chen!"
"Your backpack!"
"The backpack you left in the dining hall..."
"It's glowing!"
"...Hm?"
Chen Mo blinked.
Since they were living aboard the ship...
He hadn't carried his dark backpack everywhere as usual.
After breakfast that morning...
He had casually left it in the dining hall.
Now that Jirachi had awakened...
The backpack mostly contained ordinary Comet Shards.
Even if someone discovered them...
There was nothing to worry about.
But...
His backpack...
Was glowing?
Leaving aside the fact that Comet Shards had never shone brightly enough to illuminate the outside of the bag while Jirachi absorbed them...
They also shouldn't glow on their own.
Just as Chen Mo frowned in confusion...
A faint white light once again seeped through the backpack's fabric.
He looked up toward Jirachi.
The little wish-granting star also shook its head in confusion.
Clearly...
The light wasn't coming from the Comet Shards.
"Then..."
A flash of realization struck Chen Mo.
Most of his travel supplies were stored inside Gengar's dimensional pocket.
But there were a few things...
He always carried personally.
Things he would occasionally take out.
For example...
The two Unown...
Who had sacrificed themselves without hesitation during the Crystal Incident at Mount Cangqing.
The two stone tablets they had transformed into...
Were still inside that backpack.
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