"Forget it, Ash! The match isn't over yet!" Brock stepped forward to stop the impulsive Ash, but Ash still wanted to say something…
"You lose the moment you let your head overheat without thinking about the situation!" Gary mocked. Yet there was a trace of disappointment in his eyes. Ash was still the same as ever—how was he supposed to keep up with him and Red at this rate?
To retaliate for Moe's success, Brutella deliberately repaired Team Rocket's mechanical Gyarados and ordered them to destroy the beauty contest venue, promising a hefty reward in return. That way, she could seize all of Moe's savings without lifting a finger.
"We'll handle the fake Gyarados. Everyone, please stay where you are and don't panic!" Ash said calmly into the microphone.
Gary, who had been about to make a move, paused in surprise and turned to look at the unusually composed Ash.
"Let me see what you're capable of now, Ash," Gary said with a faint smile, intending to witness firsthand how much Ash had grown.
"The missiles Team Rocket released are probably heat-seeking!" Brock explained.
Hearing this, Ash spun his cap and threw out his Poké Ball.
"Pidgeotto, Charmander! You're up!"
Pidgeotto grabbed Charmander by the shoulders and swiftly flew toward the approaching missiles. Under Ash's command, Charmander unleashed Flamethrower.
Engulfed by flames, the missiles' internal systems were destroyed. They suddenly turned around and flew straight toward the mechanical Gyarados.
"This scene… could it be?!" ×3
To avoid being hit, Team Rocket hurriedly steered the mechanical Gyarados away. By sheer coincidence, they arrived at Brutella's restaurant and ended up destroying it completely. The trio, covered in soot, shot off into the sky like meteors.
"What an annoying feeling!" ×3
The beauty contest concluded perfectly. Ash and the others bid farewell to Moe, who was setting off to travel the world and fulfill his dream after repaying his debts. Delia held the championship trophy from the contest, along with a commemorative photo of the two brothers, Red and Ash, standing beside a golden Pidgeot.
To prepare for the battle against the giant Tentacruel, Red temporarily accompanied Ash and the others to their next destination. From behind, Delia and Professor Oak watched the group depart.
"In the end, neither of those brothers looked back," Professor Oak remarked.
"It's fine. This is just right. They each have their own journey," Delia said, looking at the photo in her hands. "Besides, we've already made a wonderful memory."
...
Under the azure sky, beneath white drifting clouds, and before the boundless sea, Red and the others—having overslept—could only watch helplessly as the ferry departed. They stood at the harbor at a loss. This was Hutber Port, the only harbor with a ferry heading to the mainland.
Although Red usually woke at six every morning, he had deliberately relaxed for a day so he could justifiably oversleep, allowing his Pokémon to rest and reorganize. Only in top condition could they face the giant Tentacruel ahead.
Ash and the others rarely traveled alongside Red, and since they weren't staying in the same room, they hadn't noticed anything unusual. Now they had no choice but to wait three hours for the next ferry.
"Pika! Pika!" Pikachu suddenly pointed at the sea.
A Horsea had appeared on the surface.
"It's Horsea! So cute!" Misty exclaimed excitedly. She had always had a soft spot for Water-type Pokémon.
"That's it—let's check it out!" Ash immediately pulled out his Pokédex. "Horsea, the Dragon Pokémon. Every spring, it lays thousands of eggs. The male Horsea takes responsibility for raising the young. It's a very rare Pokémon!"
"It looks injured," Brock observed.
The Horsea cried pitifully on the surface. Its right eye was bruised black, making it look utterly miserable.
(If this little one has appeared, then that means…)
Red stood silently to the side. Once he confirmed Horsea's appearance, he began preparing for the upcoming battle with the giant Tentacruel.
Horsea then used ink to draw images of Tentacool and Tentacruel on the sea's surface, attempting to warn Ash and the others about what was about to happen. However, the trio were too focused on its injuries to decipher the warning in time.
Just as Misty was about to capture Horsea to treat its wounds, a ship in the distance suddenly exploded without warning. Many crew members were forced to abandon the vessel for their lives.
Concerned for the victims, Misty immediately sent out her Water-type Pokémon—Staryu, Starmie, and Goldeen—to swim ahead and rescue the sailors. At her urging, Ash and Brock found a small boat and headed toward the explosion site as well.
Meanwhile, Horsea hid in the shadows, silently watching them…
"I… I'm numb…" one paralyzed crew member muttered.
"Paralysis? Looks like they were attacked by some kind of Pokémon in the water," Red said calmly.
Misty quickly refuted him. In her view, most Water-type Pokémon were kind creatures that would never attack humans unprovoked.
Hearing this, Red briefly recalled the image of a red Gyarados. However, he chose not to argue. Misty wasn't entirely wrong—if humans hadn't recklessly destroyed Tentacool's habitat, they wouldn't have lashed out in retaliation to warn humans away from their home.
"Quickly… notify the president…"
Following directions from a recovering crew member, Red and the others set off in the small boat. Deep beneath the sea, several Tentacool that had attacked earlier still lingered.
'What should we do? That human in red seems strong,' an older Tentacool said worriedly, its experience allowing it to sense the aura of power radiating from Red.
'So what? Humans have destroyed our home without restraint. We must strike back!' a younger Tentacool replied angrily, showing no regret.
'It's a pity we didn't catch that Horsea who tried to tip them off. Otherwise we'd have given it a harsh lesson!' another Tentacool fumed. Their revenge plan could not be exposed so easily.
"I am the president, dear! I heard you saved my employees. Thank you so very much, dear!"
Before long, Red and the others were led to a luxurious office—the president's room. Standing before them was Brutella of Hutber Port, cousin of the Brutella from Acapulco.
It had to be said, this Brutella lived even more extravagantly than her cousin. She was surrounded by several young male attendants. It was astonishing what some people would do for money.
"So, what exactly do you want with us?" Red asked, frowning.
"I intend to build a tourist resort here that surpasses Acapulco, dear!" Brutella explained, gazing at the seaside construction outside the window.
"You mean that thing out at sea?" Misty realized.
"Of course! That's our biggest landmark! The ultra-luxurious Paradise Resort Hotel, dear!" Brutella boasted proudly. "The crown jewel is the honeymoon suite surrounded by the most beautiful coral in the world, dear! But…"
Her expression darkened as she explained why construction had slowed.
"Those annoying Tentacool keep interfering with my project, dear!"
"You've taken away their living environment. Do you really expect them not to fight back?" Red sneered.
"According to official League regulations, your offshore construction counts as illegal expansion. Where did you get the nerve to build it?"
Brutella froze, clearly not expecting a knowledgeable youth like Red. But she quickly regained her composure.
"I have the mayor's approval, dear! That's why I'm building this seaside resort!"
(No wonder this place will eventually be swallowed by Tentacruel's seawater… not entirely undeserved.)
Red pressed down on his cap coldly. So she had government approval. It seemed the local authorities weren't any better, allowing such blatant encroachment on Tentacool's habitat.
"Because of those jellyfish, tourists have all gone to Acapulco instead! Why do such detestable things even exist, dear!" Brutella complained.
"Tentacool aren't detestable at all!" Misty retorted, refusing to let her beloved Water-type Pokémon be insulted.
"You children know how to use Pokémon to save people. How about helping me drive those jellyfish away, dear?" Brutella offered. "Of course, I won't let you work for nothing. If you succeed, you can enjoy the most luxurious dinners in the world for a whole year—eat as much as you like! Plus a one-million prize and a year's worth of hotel vouchers!"
She tried to tempt them, but no one wavered.
Ash even muttered, "That's it? My big brother makes way more than that."