"Immediately activate Deep-Sea Sonar Detection! Set power to maximum, scan all areas within three hundred meters directly below the victory, focusing on metal reactions!"
Ariel's tone suddenly became sharp, carrying an undeniable command.
"Yes!"
Cliff dared not delay any longer, operating the control panel with a series of rapid movements.
"Buzz—"
An invisible sound wave spread from the bottom of the victory, and the holographic sea map in the command room changed accordingly. The seawater was digitized and peeled away layer by layer, revealing the dark deep-sea scene.
The data on the screen refreshed rapidly, and a few seconds later, a dazzling red alert box suddenly popped up!
On the holographic sea map, directly below the massive model of the victory, a ghostly black submarine silhouette slowly emerged from the data stream.
It had maintained silent submerged navigation, using the victory's own engine noise as cover, and was now getting closer and closer to the ship's bottom!
That was a perfect blind spot for attack!
Cold sweat trickled down Cliff's forehead.
He couldn't imagine what the consequences would have been if not for Ariel's reminder, allowing the submarine to get any closer.
If anything went wrong with any of the supplies or personnel transported on this victory, he would be to blame a thousand times over.
He suddenly stood up from his seat, turned, faced Ariel, and knelt on one knee on the hard metal floor.
This action was the highest etiquette within Team Rockets, signifying absolute obedience from a subordinate to a superior during wartime.
"Executive Sir! I have failed in my duty, please take over command!"
Ariel's entire focus was already on the battle at hand.
He simply walked forward calmly, stepped over the kneeling Cliff, and stood in the center of the command console.
Inside the cockpit, the atmosphere was as oppressive as the deep sea.
The victory's alarm system blared an ear-piercing buzz, and red warning lights cast intermittent shadows on everyone's faces.
"You operate it."
Ariel's voice was not loud, but it was like a calming pill, dropping into Cliff's chaotic thoughts.
Cliff suddenly turned his head to look at Ariel.
At this critical moment of life and death, this young man's face showed not the slightest hint of panic. His eyes were as calm as an ancient well, reflecting only the flickering complex data on the control panel.
"Me?" Cliff was somewhat taken aback.
"I can read the data, but I don't know how to use your equipment."
Ariel was concise, his gaze already firmly locked on the holographic sea map from the sonar feedback.
"You be my hands."
No unnecessary words.
Cliff took a deep breath, and the wildly beating heart in his chest seemed to calm down a little.
He nodded heavily, his fingers rapidly tapping on the control panel, connecting the permissions of the communication system, sonar system, and Pokémon command system to the secondary screen in front of Ariel.
"Gyarados escort team, listen to my command."
Ariel's voice was clearly transmitted to the mind of every Gyarados through the underwater communication device.
"G-1 stay, clear the deck of small fries."
On the deck, the pirates were still fighting desperately.
A rather robust Gyarados let out a heaven-shaking roar, its massive body stirring up monstrous waves, as it single-handedly confronted the disorganized mob.
"All other units, submerge. Target, seven o'clock direction, depth one hundred twenty meters, that tin can."
Ariel's instructions were cold and precise.
Cliff watched as the blue light dots representing the Gyarados escort team on the screen, except for one remaining on the surface, instantly vanished, merging like ghosts into the deep ocean.
His palms were unknowingly covered in cold sweat.
This was simply insane!
Using Gyarados to fight a military-grade submarine?
How was that different from hitting steel with bare flesh?
The submarine commander apparently also detected abnormal energy fluctuations underwater.
"Report, Captain! Sonar shows a large number of massive creatures rapidly surrounding us! It's... it's a Gyarados swarm!"
"They're just a bunch of beasts, what's there to fear?"
The Captain's face showed a cruel smile,
"Just in time to try out our newly installed electromagnetic torpedoes. Fire! Let them know who truly rules the sea!"
A sharp buzzing sound rang out, the submarine's forward launch tubes opened, and four torpedoes, flashing with eerie blue electric light, shot out, drawing four straight death trajectories in the water, heading towards the Gyarados swarm.
"Disperse! Diamond formation!"
Ariel's command was issued almost simultaneously with the torpedo launch. Cliff only saw the blue light dots on the screen, with an unimaginable tacit understanding and fluidity, instantly disperse from their dense formation, forming a huge diamond shape.
The four torpedoes, barely missing them, passed through the gaps they created, plunged into the deeper seabed, and exploded with a roar.
The dull explosion sound transmitted through the hull, making the entire victory tremble.
The dull explosion sound transmitted through the hull, making the entire victory tremble.
Cliff's pupils suddenly contracted.
This reaction speed... this execution... this was no longer cooperation between Pokémon and Trainer; this was practically a well-trained special forces unit!
"G-3, G-4, go around its bottom, target its propeller. G-5, G-6, surface to its back, prepare your Dragon Rage."
Ariel's speaking speed was not fast, but every word carried an undeniable force.
"All other units, feign attack from the front with Hyper Beam, free fire, draw its attention to me!"
Beneath the deep sea, a silent and fierce war thus began.
Several scorching white energy beams tore through the dark seawater, accurately striking the reinforced outer skin of the black submarine.
The seawater instantly vaporized, creating huge cavitation bubbles, and the submarine's shield flickered violently, emitting an overloaded alarm.
"Damn it! These beasts!"
The submarine captain roared,
"Hard to starboard! Depth Charges ready! Blow them all to hell!"
The submarine clumsily turned its body. However, it didn't notice that two even larger dark shadows had already ghosted close to its stern.
"Now."
Ariel said softly.
G-3 and G-4, two Gyarados, suddenly opened their ferocious dragon mouths, their pale white teeth gleaming with a metallic luster, and bit fiercely into the rapidly spinning propeller!
"Crunch!"
The ear-piercing sound of twisting metal was clearly audible even in the deep sea.
The submarine's propulsion system instantly paralyzed, and the massive steel body lost its balance in the water, beginning to spin uncontrollably.
"Report! Propeller destroyed! We've lost power!"
"How is that possible!"
The captain's face was distorted with rage.
Before he could react, above the submarine, two other Gyarados had finished charging.
Burning Dragon-type energy converged in their mouths into two deep blue Energy Balls.
"Dragon Rage!"
Boom! Boom!
Two Dragon Rages accurately struck the submarine's conning tower. Although protected by special materials, the violent impact still caused severe tremors throughout the submarine's interior.