Pokemon: Skybound

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Quackenpoker didn't offer any further explanation. Instead, he glanced at his watch and frowned. "No time to waste! You'll understand everything once we get there. Let's keep moving."

Without waiting for a response, he quickened his pace, pressing on toward the mountain's peak.

By now, Kai and the others had gained a basic understanding of the old man's eccentric personality. He wasn't a bad person just one of those odd, single-minded scientists who lacked social awareness.

Although they still had countless questions, they had no choice but to follow him.

The Magikarp continued their relentless struggle upstream.

Before long, they reached a cluster of three waterfalls, where the river split into multiple cascades.

This was a huge obstacle for the Magikarp.

Despite their best efforts, many of them failed to overcome the powerful current and were swept back down. Only a select few, through sheer determination and effort, managed to leap over the falls and continue their journey.

Kai paused to watch.

For these Magikarp, this was a major trial. The scene was almost legendary. It reminded him of dragons from his previous life.

Of course, in this world, those who succeeded wouldn't become mystical dragons. Instead, they would evolve into the ferocious and destructive Gyarados.

Pulling out his Pokédex, Kai snapped more photos.

In just the short time they had been standing there, hundreds of Magikarp had failed, tumbling back into the lower waters, exhausted. But those that remained continued their ceaseless assault on the waterfall, determined to reach the top.

Tracey, having been observing the scene as well, suddenly asked, "Mr Quackenpoker, what exactly is at the top of this mountain that's drawing them in?"

Without stopping, Quackenpoker replied, "Nothing more than an ordinary lake. But I call it the Lake of Birth and Evolution."

Everyone's ears perked up.

"The Lake of Birth and Evolution?!"

"That's right." Quackenpoker nodded. "That lake is where these Magikarp were born. Every year, they return here to complete their evolution.

Evolution?!

Kai was momentarily stunned.

Normally, Magikarp required extensive training to evolve. But from what Quackenpoker was suggesting, these Magikarp could evolve simply by reaching the lake?!

If that's true… then this place is like a legendary paradise for Magikarp trainers!

Kai wasn't the only one thinking that. His perspective as a trainer naturally led him to consider the battle potential of such a place.

But Tracey, as a Pokémon Watcher, had an entirely different thought process.

"Quackenpoker," Tracey asked, genuinely intrigued, "how many Magikarp actually make it to the lake each year?"

Quackenpoker gave him a thoughtful look before turning his gaze toward the waterfall. "It's hard to say for sure… but based on past data, only about one in ten successfully reach the lake."

"One in ten?"

The number took everyone by surprise.

Thinking about it, though, it made sense.

Even with the massive numbers of Magikarp, only about a thousand would be able to overcome the waterfalls and reach the lake.

Ash, wide-eyed, asked, "And once they make it there… do they all evolve into Gyarados?"

Quackenpoker let out a short laugh and shook his head.

"Don't be ridiculous," he scoffed, giving Ash an amused but slightly irritated look. "Just because they reach the lake doesn't mean they're guaranteed to evolve."

"Only one in ten will actually evolve into Gyarados."

One in ten… of one in ten?

That meant only around a hundred Magikarp would evolve into Gyarados.

Even so, that was still an incredible number one hundred Gyarados appearing all at once was no small event!

Ash scratched his head, wanting to ask another question, but before he could, Quackenpoker waved him off impatiently.

"That's enough questions. If we don't hurry, we'll miss their mass evolution!"

That was all it took to make everyone fall silent.

If they were already here, they had to witness this phenomenon for themselves.

With renewed excitement, they rushed ahead, eager to see what was about to unfold.

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Meanwhile…

Just as Kai's group disappeared over the ridge, a bush nearby rustled slightly.

"Psst! Did you hear all that!?"

A gravelly voice whispered from within the undergrowth.

A second voice responded.

"Of course I did!" James' eyes widened in excitement. "An Evolution Lake?! That's an amazing discovery!"

"You idiot!" Jessie crossed her arms, rolling her eyes at James. "This is a golden opportunity."

"Oh?" James blinked. "What do you mean?"

"Heh he,." Jessie smirked, raising her chin. "If this Lake of Evolution makes Magikarp evolve, then all we need to do is capture a bunch of them and throw them in! That way, we'll instantly get tons of Gyarados!"

"An entire Gyarados army?!"

James' eyes went even wider as he imagined commanding a legion of rampaging Gyarados.

"If we pull this off, the Boss will finally respect us! We'd even get to put that smug four-eyes Cassidy in her place!"

Jessie clenched her fists, fire burning in her eyes.

"Exactly! With an invincible Gyarados army, Team Rocket will be unstoppable! No one will be able to defy us!"

But just as James was getting carried away with the dream, he hesitated.

"Wait a second…" he said, rubbing his chin. "Are we sure this will work? You do remember that Gyarados and we… don't exactly get along?"

"Don't worry about that." Jessie laughed confidently, waving off his concerns. "The solution is simple. We'll catch them while they're still Magikarp! That way, once they evolve, they'll already be under our control!"

Meowth, who had been quiet up until now, finally grinned.

"Nyahaha! That's actually a pretty good plan!"

Jessie nodded proudly, hands on her hips.

"Alright, let's get moving. We've got Magikarp to catch and a Gyarados army to build!"

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What would happen at the Lake of Evolution?

And more importantly… Would Team Rocket's scheme actually work?

Find out next time on Dragon Bal—ahh... I mean Pokemon: Skybound.

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