Equipment sparked everywhere, and the crew members were knocked off balance.
"It's not over yet."
There wasn't a single flicker of emotion in Ariel's eyes, as if everything before him was merely playing out according to a script he had written.
"All units, listen to my command."
"Center on the submarine, Lock-On coordinates."
"Prepare... maximum power, Hydro Pump!"
Cliff sucked in a cold breath.
Over a dozen Gyarados using maximum power Hydro Pumps at the same time? What kind of scene would that create?
A second later, the images on the screen gave him the answer.
Over a dozen water columns, thicker than torpedoes, slammed into the exact same point on the submarine from all directions with thunderous force!
That wasn't an attack; that was a crushing! It was pure, unreasonable power!
The submarine's energy shield held for less than three seconds before it shattered like smashed glass.
Immediately after, the high-pressure water currents slammed violently against the fragile submarine hull.
The steel let out a painful groan as cracks spread across the vessel, and cold seawater poured in frantically.
Inside the submarine, red alarm lights flashed wildly, and desperate screams rose one after another.
"No! No!"
The captain watched the incoming seawater, his face etched with terror.
He frantically slapped a red button.
"If I'm going to die, we're all dying together! Ram them! Sink the victory!"
The submarine's final backup energy was activated, and the entire vessel, like a maddened bull dragging a broken body, launched a final suicide charge toward the victory.
"Wishful thinking."
The corners of Ariel's mouth curled into a cold arc.
"G-11, stop it."
A Gyarados that had been hovering on the edge of the battlefield without acting finally moved.
Its body was even more massive than the other Gyarados, and its scales were a deeper shade of azure.
It didn't use any skills; it simply placed its massive body directly in the path of the submarine's charge.
Then, it opened its mouth.
A highly compressed orb of orange-red light, containing destructive energy, rapidly took shape in its mouth.
Hyper Beam!
But this Hyper Beam, whether in terms of condensation speed or energy fluctuations, far surpassed any seen before.
"Roar!"
The beam of light erupted.
There was no earth-shattering explosion, only a brilliant white light that instantly pierced through the darkness of the deep sea.
After the light faded, the black submarine—a crystallization of modern industry—had been pierced straight through the middle, leaving a large, smooth hole in the center of the hull.
All momentum and all madness came to an abrupt halt at that moment.
The wreckage of the submarine, like two pieces of scrap metal, slowly and feebly sank toward the deeper, darker depths of the ocean, finally vanishing from the sonar's range.
The entire cockpit was deathly silent.
Cliff stared blankly at the calm blue sea chart on the screen, then looked at the composed Ariel beside him; his Adam's apple bobbed, but he couldn't say a single word.
He had been a captain for half his life, seen countless storms, and dealt with all sorts of Trainers.
But he had never seen a command like this.
It wasn't an order; it was more like a prophecy.
Every instruction was perfectly timed, and every attack hit a vital spot, as if he wasn't looking at data but had personally dived into that battlefield, overlooking everything from a god's-eye view.
Calm, precise, efficient.
It even possessed a kind of... beauty that disregarded life.
"The pirates on the deck should be dealt with as well."
Ariel's voice pulled Cliff back from his shock.
"Have the crew prepare to clean up the battlefield."
"...Alright."
Cliff's voice was somewhat dry.
He looked at Ariel and finally couldn't help but ask:
"How... exactly did you do it?"
"Analyze, judge, then execute."
Ariel spoke nonchalantly, as if he had only performed a trivial task.
He turned around, his gaze falling on Cliff.
"However, don't you find it strange?"
"Strange?"
"The pirates."
Ariel's gaze grew profound.
"Could a group of ordinary pirates get their hands on a submarine of this level? And accurately find the victory's route to launch an ambush?"
Cliff's heart skipped a beat.
He had been lightheaded from the sudden attack, but now, with Ariel's reminder, countless doubts instantly flooded his mind.
Yes, this was not something pirates could pull off! This was clearly a long-premeditated military operation!
"Are you saying..."
"Team Aqua."
Ariel uttered the two words.
"Besides them, I can't think of anyone else with the motive and the strength. I suggest you report this battle data and the final images of the submarine wreckage to the organization and let them investigate thoroughly."
Cliff's expression turned solemn, and he nodded gravely.
"I understand. This is no small matter; I will report to the organization immediately."
Ariel gave a brief hum and said no more.
He leaned against the porthole, watching the sea surface gradually return to calm as sunlight danced on the shimmering water, as if the brutal slaughter from moments ago had never happened.
After Cliff finished reporting the situation, he saw Ariel's silence and thought he was still troubled by the recent events, so he walked over and said:
"We owe it to you this time, Executive Sir. I will request a reward for you from the organization."
However, Ariel didn't seem to be listening.
His thoughts had already drifted far away.
Team Aqua? Submarines? These were certainly troubles, but for him, they were just problems that could be solved.
What truly bothered him was something else.
It was Cliff's hesitant, tight-lipped behavior before the attack occurred.
Just what kind of person or matter could make this old captain—who had braved the seas for decades and was used to storms—show such a conflicted expression?
It wasn't the solemnity of facing Team Aqua, nor the anger of facing pirates, but a... more complex emotion, filled with reservations and dread.
An imperceptible hint of inquiry flashed in the depths of Ariel's eyes.
Compared to that massive organization hidden in the deep sea, he was now more interested in the secret Cliff couldn't bring himself to say.
Judging by Cliff's reaction upon first meeting Ariel, Ariel should currently have the highest status in Team Rockets aboard this victory.
So why did Cliff need to hide things from him?
If that person were a Senior Cadre or something, Ariel felt there would be no need for secrecy.
And it was impossible for anyone of even higher status to be on this ship.
Then there was only one possibility: that person's identity might be something of a classified nature.
Ariel spoke to Cliff.
"Besides me, are there any other of our people on the ship?"
"You can answer me now, can't you?"
What Ariel wanted to see was Cliff's reaction; based on that, Ariel would naturally have an answer in his heart.
"This..."
Cliff still looked as though he had something difficult to say.
Just then, a voice suddenly appeared.
"Ruth, if they don't want to say it, then just stop asking.