Ash was still a bit slow to react as Meowth kicked Magikarp, sending it flying towards the pool in front of them.
Splash!!!!
Magikarp landed in the water with a loud splash, but surprisingly, it didn't create any significant waves.
"Hmph!
Meowth, hearing Ash's words, expected something to happen. However, when it saw that it was just a Magikarp, it dismissed any worry, thinking there was nothing to fear.
Boom!!!
Not long after Magikarp hit the water, a bright light began to shine from beneath the surface, piercing through the water and illuminating the entire pool.
At that moment, Misty's Pokémon, along with the Pokémon of the Gym, felt an astonishing surge of energy from the bottom of the pool. They all huddled together, clearly frightened, and everyone on the shore noticed the change.
"This... is this light?"
"I've got a bad feeling about this!" Jessie and James huddled together, with Jessie swallowing nervously.
"Me... me too!"
At this point, the Magikarp in the water began to emit a dazzling light, and its body started to grow rapidly. As it extended, it broke through the surface of the water.
**ROAR!!!**
A deep roar echoed from the water, making Meowth tremble. He looked up to see a large shadow rising from the depths—a long, slender figure slowly emerged.
Water cascaded down from the trident-like horns on its head, and the sight of its wide, menacing jaws and fierce eyes made it hard to believe that this was the same dull-eyed Magikarp from before.
"G-Gyarados!"
Seeing the massive, scarlet-eyed figure rising from the water, Meowth trembled in fear. As a fellow Pokémon, it knew all too well that Magikarp could evolve into Gyarados.
But how could it have known Magikarp would evolve at this exact moment? Faced with the terrifying Gyarados, even Jessie and James were clinging to each other in fear.
Gyarados' Ability was Intimidate, and weaker Pokémon would tremble just from its gaze, let alone Meowth.
"G-Gyarados..." Misty stammered, her voice shaking. Gyarados was her greatest fear.
In fact, Gyarados scared her even more than Bug-type Pokémon ever did. Though she had overcome her fear of Bug-types, the shadow of Gyarados still loomed large in her mind.
When she was a child, she was nearly swallowed by a Gyarados while playing. Even though it had only wanted to play, the memory haunted her.
ROAR!!!
Suddenly, Gyarados let out another roar. The force of its Growl stirred the air, causing waves to form in the pool. It was clear that Gyarados was enraged by Meowth's earlier actions, and its temper was far fiercer than Magikarp's had ever been.
As Gyarados roared, the trident-like horns on its head began to glow with a blue light, and the water in the pool was driven by a mysterious force.
Gyarados swung its massive body, and the surrounding water responded, forming a powerful whirlwind. The swirling water rose up like a massive blue waterspout, with electric currents sparking through the air. This wasn't just a regular Twister—this was Dragon Rage!
**Boom!!!
The Twister spun out of the pool with incredible force, tearing up the ground as it rushed toward the shore. Meowth was the first to be caught in its powerful grip, getting sucked into the whirlwind.
The Twister slammed Meowth into a water pump, instantly shattering it with the force of its rotation. Jessie and James were also caught up in the fierce storm, their cries echoing as they were swept away.
The Twister then smashed through the already damaged wall, dragging Team Rocket outside the gymnasium. The force grew stronger, and soon the entire Team Rocket trio was sent flying into the air.
"What a revolting feeling!!" they cried out as they soared through the sky.
The scene in front of the gym was chaotic, with debris scattered everywhere and deep gouges carved into the ground. Gyarados' destructive power was truly astonishing.
"It's incredible!!" exclaimed the three Cerulean Sisters, especially Lily.
She had underestimated Magikarp just like Meowth had, and now she was grateful that she had faced Magikarp instead of the fearsome Gyarados.
Ash's earlier sense of unease was confirmed—Magikarp had been on the verge of evolution. However, he was still puzzled by the strange feeling he had experienced and the mysterious power he sensed. He didn't yet fully understand this power or how to control it.
Shaking off his thoughts, Ash walked over to the pool. Gyarados, now calm, turned its head to look at Ash.
**Grrr...**
Gyarados let out a low growl, causing Misty to shiver involuntarily. She couldn't help but worry for Ash's safety. But Ash remained unfazed, raising his hand slightly.
To everyone's surprise, the once fearsome Gyarados softened, closing its eyes and lowering its head to rub against Ash's hand like a child seeking comfort.
"You've done well, Magikarp—no, Gyarados."
Magikarp had evolved quickly, as is typical for weaker Pokémon. Their short evolutionary cycles are essential for their survival.