The Shadow Ball exploded amid the waves, dark purple energy instantly expanding into a sphere over ten meters across and blasting a massive gap through the towering wave.
With its structure broken apart, the wave was like a sand pile cleaved in half. Its upper half collapsed into scattered spray that crashed onto the sea, while its lower half retreated feebly.
"Good job, Eevee!" Xinhai's voice rang out through the wind and rain.
"Eevee!" Eevee nodded vigorously. A flicker of excitement flashed through its large brown eyes, but its body remained tense as it continued watching the surrounding sea.
Milotic and Quagsire seized that brief opening and sped forward.
Pulled by them, the inflatable boat passed through the lingering aftermath of that crosswise wave. The hull rocked violently twice, but it did not overturn.
"Milotic, veer fifteen degrees to the right!" Xinhai shouted.
"Woo!" Milotic immediately adjusted course, its long body tilting slightly right as its tail paddled even harder, cutting through the waves ahead.
"Quagsire, there's a Pokémon approaching us from ahead. Drive it away!" Gardevoir's voice reached Xinhai's mind at once, and he immediately called out to Quagsire.
"Quag!" At the command, Quagsire suddenly accelerated. Its round body shot toward the direction Gardevoir had indicated like a blue torpedo.
Its short legs paddled powerfully through the water as a Water Pulse gathered around its body, the pale blue energy especially striking in the dim sea.
A moment later, a muffled boom came from the sea ahead, followed by a brief burst of churning water.
A few seconds later, Quagsire poked its head out of the water. Its small eyes narrowed into slits as it gave Xinhai an honest, goofy smile that said, "Taken care of." Then it turned and swam back to the side of the boat, continuing