Dewford Town Pokémon Swimming Race

The sea breeze brushed against Lin Mo's face. Wingull circled overhead, sometimes beating their wings to accelerate, sometimes folding them to glide.

The area around the competition grounds was already packed with people. The townsfolk's chatter mingled with the cries of Pokémon, forming a lively current that carried the salty, damp sea air straight at them.

"Woooo—"

At that moment, a long horn blast sounded from the end of the pier.

Dewford Town's mayor, a slightly plump elderly man with graying hair, stood atop a temporary platform with a megaphone in hand.

He wore a crisply pressed blue uniform with a corsage pinned to his chest, his face bearing a kindly smile.

"Good morning, fellow townsfolk and friends who have come from afar!"

The mayor's voice rang across the entire pier through the megaphone.

"Welcome to Dewford Town's annual Pokémon swimming speed competition!"

Thunderous applause and cheers immediately erupted below the stage.

The mayor cleared his throat and continued.

"I won't waste any time with nonsense. Let's get straight to the point. This year, in addition to our usual straight-course race, we've added an all-new obstacle course!

"The course is five hundred meters long, with three obstacles along the way—

"The first is a floating ring formation, which tests your Pokémon's agility.

"The second is an underwater current zone, which tests their speed control.

"The third is a shallow reef field, so everyone should watch out and avoid the rocks!"

He paused, sweeping his gaze over the competing Pokémon gathered near the starting line, his voice full of anticipation.

"We've got quite an enthusiastic turnout this year—fifty-six contestants in total! There are familiar faces from Dewford Town, as well as many new friends from other towns. I'm sure this will be an absolutely spectacular race!"

Lin Mo's livestream equipment slowly rose into the air, its camera sweeping over the Water-type Pokémon at the starting line and clearly conveying the lively yet tense atmosphere to the viewers watching through their screens.

The most eye-catching among them was a gleaming Starmie.

The jewel at the center of its body flashed with striking light, while its five limbs gently stretched and swayed, as though it was completely confident about the coming race.

Starmie's Trainer was a little girl with twin ponytails. Holding a soft absorbent cloth, she carefully wiped the jewel at the center of Starmie's body while softly murmuring words of encouragement.

Not far away, a Seaking was unwilling to be outdone. Its scales glittered under the sunlight as it swished its long tail, brimming with energy and ready to take on the challenge at any moment.

A Wartortle lay on a rock nearby, curled inside its hard shell with only its round eyes exposed, seemingly deaf to the commotion around it.

Besides those, there were Tentacool, Shellder, Goldeen, and all sorts of other Water-type Pokémon. Some swam about excitedly, while others waited quietly. The entire starting area was buzzing with activity.

"Wow, there are so many Pokémon!" someone immediately exclaimed in the chat.

"Starmie is so pretty! I'm switching sides—I'm rooting for Starmie!"

"You can do that? Then I'm backing Seaking! Seaking, you have to do your best!"

"You guys are too much! Feebas, do your best! Even if you don't get first place, you're still the best in my heart!"

Lin Mo looked down at the Feebas by his feet. It seemed to sense the tense atmosphere around it, its tail swishing faster than usual, its tiny eyes filled with excitement and a hint of unease.

"Don't be nervous, Feebas."

Lin Mo gently stroked Feebas's little head, his voice soft. "Just like in our usual training, do your best and show what you can do."

Feebas understood Lin Mo's words. It rubbed its forehead against his finger, then gave its tail a fierce flick, as if cheering itself on.

"The rules are simple. The Pokémon will start from the red starting flag, follow the route marked by the buoys for five hundred meters, and whoever touches the yellow finish flag first wins!

"Attacking other contestants is forbidden throughout the race. Violators will be immediately disqualified. Does everyone understand?"

"Understood!" the competing Trainers answered in unison, every face full of anticipation.

"Alright, all competing Pokémon, please enter the starting preparation area!"

The mayor's voice rang out again.

Lin Mo hurriedly placed Feebas into the designated starting area.

The moment Feebas entered the water, it immediately became lively. It swam several circles near the starting line, familiarizing itself with its surroundings.

The other competing Pokémon also moved into position one after another.

"On your marks—"

The mayor raised the starting pistol.

The entire pier fell silent in an instant, everyone's eyes focused on the starting line.

The livestream chat also became flooded with comments as everyone held their breath and waited.

"Ready—"

Bang!

The instant the starting pistol fired, every Pokémon shot forward like an arrow loosed from a bow!

"Go!"

"Starmie, do your best!"

"Seaking, charge!"

Deafening shouts erupted from the shore.

The camera on Lin Mo's livestream equipment automatically tracked and zoomed in on the race.

Feebas was no longer that little fool who could not even hit a reef with its moves. With Lin Mo's Energy Orb and Technical Machine, Feebas had now been completely transformed.

Feebas swished its tail and swam forward with all its strength. Though it was not particularly large, it was not slow in the slightest.

Its body darted flexibly through the water, quickly rushing ahead and taking a place in the leading pack alongside Starmie and Seaking.

"Great job, Feebas! Keep up that speed!" Lin Mo could not help shouting.

Soon, the first obstacle—the floating ring formation—appeared ahead.

The rings varied in size and floated across the water in a scattered pattern. The Pokémon had to pass through the middle of the rings, or else they would be considered in violation of the rules.

Starmie took the lead, spinning its body like a colorful bolt of lightning as it accurately passed through one ring after another.

Seaking displayed powerful water control as well. With swishes of its tail fin, it traced graceful arcs through the water and easily passed through the rings.

Feebas also arrived before the ring formation. It took a deep breath, then violently flicked its tail as its body instantly leaped upward!

With its perfected Splash skill, Feebas traced perfect arcs through the air, precisely passing through the center of each ring before falling back into the water with a splash and continuing onward.

The entire sequence was smooth and seamless.

"Beautiful!"

"Feebas's leap was so cool!"

The chat erupted in cheers.

After passing through the ring formation, Feebas gradually began widening the gap between itself and the Pokémon behind it as it desperately chased the leading Seaking and Starmie.