Chapter 341: Chapter 23: Evolution, Giant Gyarados
At the bottom of the sea, Nurse Joy swam deeper with practiced ease. Though she carried no oxygen tank, her experience with underwater rescues allowed her to hold her breath for up to fifteen minutes. This gave her a limited window to locate and treat Seel.
Fortunately, Nurse Joy already knew where the injured Pokémon was, saving her the time of searching. In no time, she reached a colony of Dewgong living among the ocean's rocky depths.
Among them was the young Seel she had come to help.
The Dewgong observed Nurse Joy's arrival with calm acceptance. Recognizing her as a friend rather than a threat, they allowed her to approach.
Nurse Joy gestured her greetings before quickly moving to check on Seel. After confirming its condition, she administered an antimicrobial medicine to aid its recovery. For three to four minutes, she monitored the Pokémon to ensure it responded well to the treatment.
Satisfied, Nurse Joy bid farewell to the Dewgong and began her ascent. Her job was done, but the turbulent sea had other plans.
The hurricane's growing power had transformed the underwater currents into chaotic streams.
Fighting through the surging water required immense effort. The strain was far greater than Nurse Joy had anticipated, forcing her to expend precious energy.
Initially, she believed her lungs could hold out for the fifteen minutes she had trained for. However, the worsening conditions quickly changed that calculation.
Between the descent, the treatment, and the intense current, nearly six minutes had already passed. Nurse Joy remained calm, confident that she could surface in time—until disaster struck.
A sudden, violent current surged through the depths, sweeping Nurse Joy and Chansey further into the ocean.
The force of the current caused Nurse Joy to exhale involuntarily, depleting her oxygen reserves further. Though she fought to regain control, it became clear her time underwater was running out far faster than expected.
Still, she remained composed. Years of experience had taught her that panic would only make things worse. Steeling herself, she focused on reaching the surface.
After an exhausting struggle, Nurse Joy and Chansey finally broke through the water's surface, gasping for air. Relief, however, was short-lived.
The churning waves and torrential rain had carried them far from their original position. Looking around, Nurse Joy realized she no longer recognized her surroundings.
The storm had turned the ocean into a chaotic, endless expanse. Massive waves, some nearly a meter high, battered Nurse Joy and Chansey relentlessly, sapping their strength.
Nurse Joy tried to stay calm, scanning the horizon for any signs of landmarks or islands. But the darkened sky and the vast, featureless ocean offered no clues.
The situation was dire. As her strength waned, Nurse Joy came to a grim conclusion. She wouldn't last much longer.
"Chansey, I'm so sorry," Nurse Joy said, her voice tinged with guilt. "If I hadn't insisted on coming here, you wouldn't be in danger too."
"Chansey!" the Pokémon chirped in response, shaking its head as if to reassure her. Chansey's loyalty to Nurse Joy was unwavering. No matter the risk, it would never abandon her.
Although Chansey wasn't a Water-type Pokémon, its endurance far surpassed that of Nurse Joy. Seeing her weakening, Chansey offered her back, allowing Nurse Joy to conserve her energy.
Nurse Joy reluctantly agreed, knowing that conserving her strength was her only option. Lying on Chansey's back, she allowed the Pokémon to lead them forward.
The waves grew larger and more treacherous, their relentless force threatening to overwhelm both Nurse Joy and Chansey. Each passing moment drained their energy further.
Even Chansey, despite its determination, began to falter.
"Chansey, stop!" Nurse Joy cried out. "If we keep going like this, we'll both drown. Let me go—you have to save yourself!"
But Chansey refused. It gripped Nurse Joy's arm tightly and continued pushing forward with all its might.
Then, disaster struck. A massive wave crashed over them, wrenching Nurse Joy from Chansey's grasp. When Chansey recovered, Nurse Joy was gone.
Panicked, Chansey dove into the turbulent waters, searching frantically for her companion.
Below the surface, Nurse Joy struggled against the powerful currents. Without enough air in her lungs, she quickly began to lose strength. The swirling water dragged her deeper into the ocean's depths.
Just as her strength gave out, a massive shadow appeared beneath her. In an instant, it surged upward, catching Nurse Joy on its back.
Chansey, still searching, surfaced just in time to see what had happened. Relief washed over her as she recognized the newcomer: Magikarp!
Magikarp, though small and seemingly weak, was giving its all to carry Nurse Joy and Chansey to safety. Despite its determination, however, its energy was rapidly depleting.
The turbulent waters made each movement an exhausting battle. Magikarp strained under the combined weight of Nurse Joy and Chansey, its strength waning with every passing second.
Nurse Joy noticed this and looked at the Pokémon with concern. "Why did you follow me, Magikarp?" she asked softly, her voice filled with both gratitude and worry. "You're pushing yourself too hard."
Magikarp didn't respond. Its resolve was clear—it would protect Nurse Joy no matter the cost.
As the waves grew more violent, Magikarp's exhaustion became evident. Yet, it refused to give up.
A deep, burning determination filled the Pokémon's heart. Nurse Joy had cared for it selflessly, and now it was its turn to repay that kindness.
Suddenly, an extraordinary energy surged within Magikarp. The Pokémon's body began to glow with a brilliant, multicolored light.
The light engulfed Magikarp completely as its shape began to shift and grow. Nurse Joy and Chansey watched in awe as the tiny Magikarp transformed before their eyes.
When the glow faded, a massive Gyarados, nearly 25 meters long and three meters wide, emerged from the water. Its immense size dwarfed the waves around it, radiating an aura of power and majesty.
Magikarp had evolved.
And now, as a towering Gyarados, it was ready to protect Nurse Joy and Chansey from the storm's fury.
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