WebNovels

Chapter 675 - Chapter 674: Burning the Ghost Ship

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"We can't keep going like this… we have to find a chance to heavily damage these wild Ghost-type Pokémon."

Even though Sato was pleased with how much his Pokémon had grown, his battlefield instincts—honed on the mysterious island—warned him that if things kept up, they might not survive until dawn.

His psychic power stretched across the battlefield, and by his estimate, the trainers on the cruise ship had already defeated no fewer than four hundred wild Ghost-types.

But even so, the number of Ghost-types pouring out from the ghost ship didn't diminish. They just kept coming, wave after wave, and the ones showing up were only getting stronger.

Many trainers' Pokémon had already fallen, and some trainers themselves lay collapsed on the deck, their conditions unknown. The tide of battle was slowly shifting back in favor of the wild Ghost-types.

But how to break this deadlock? Sato kept commanding his three Pokémon to fend off nearby enemies while his mind raced for an answer.

Finally, his eyes fell on the half-sunken, rotting ship shadowing the cruise liner. In that instant, he realized what needed to be done.

It was obvious—those Ghost-types wouldn't be relentlessly chasing the cruise ship if not for that vessel. If they could take the ghost ship out, reinforcements would be cut off and the horde would scatter.

In fact, they didn't even need to destroy it completely. Just crippling its speed so it couldn't keep up with the cruise liner would be enough.

"Everyone, we can't keep fighting like this! The wild Ghost-types are being reinforced from the ghost ship nonstop. It's barely 6 a.m.—we've got at least another half hour until sunrise. We can't hold out that long. We need to cut off their reinforcements, or we're finished!"

"That ghost ship is the key! We don't need to sink it—just make sure it can't keep up with the cruise ship, and that will break the flow of their attack."

"I need volunteers to come with me and strike the ghost ship directly. Best if you have Fire-types or Poison-types that know Acid. If you've got the guts, follow me!"

Sato barked out the plan after blasting down a level 35 Dusclops with his Tentacruel and Lanturn. Then he rushed with his Pokémon toward the starboard railing.

"Damn it! Either way, we're dead men. Might as well fight while we've still got strength. Count me in!"

"If these damned Ghost-types won't give me a way out, then I'll burn their nest before I die. I'm coming too!"

"You saved me earlier—I'll follow your lead."

Sato's performance in battle had already won respect. As soon as he spoke up, several nearby trainers he had supported before immediately responded. They shook free of their opponents however they could and charged after him.

"Men, we can't lose to these brave youngsters! Show some backbone and clear them a path!"

"Feraligatr! Crawdaunt! You too—show your fangs and Crunch these pests to bits!"

Captain Reggie, hearing Sato's words and seeing so many trainers willing to risk their lives, flushed with excitement. He roared commands at his sailors.

The veteran crew, hardened by years under Reggie, responded at once. With their Pokémon, they carved a path for Sato and his group. Some were fired up enough to join the charge themselves.

With Reggie and the sailors holding the line, Sato's strike team finally broke through. But the ghost ship still maintained distance. To get close, they'd have to take to the sea.

Sato didn't hesitate. Leading by example, he leapt overboard with Tentacruel, Lanturn, and Shellder.

The others, seeing his boldness, gritted their teeth and followed. Releasing their Water-types, they plunged into the waves after him.

In all, thirty trainers charged with Sato—half of them sailors, who had an abundance of Water-types. No less than twenty-five Tentacruel joined the assault, making sea travel no problem.

Under Sato's direction, the sailors had their Tentacruel use Reflect Type on his Tentacruel, which he had shifted to Normal-type. This let the others copy the typing and avoid being instantly obliterated by concentrated Ghost-type attacks.

Of course, wild Ghost-types weren't limited to Ghost moves. Many used other techniques too.

Under the command of especially cunning and powerful Ghost-types, the attackers suffered losses. Five trainers were struck down before they even reached the ghost ship, swallowed by the sea.

But the mission was a race against time. Breaking into smaller groups, they dove beneath the waves with Tentacruel carrying them forward, and finally closed in.

By the time they reached the ship, ten more had fallen. Only Sato and twenty others remained.

The ghost ship was barely holding together, its hull riddled with holes—but Sato's psychic scan showed those gaps were stuffed with sickly, glowing seaweed that kept it afloat.

As planned, the moment they got close, everyone unleashed their Fire-types and Poison-types. Flames erupted across the rotting hull, and Acid attacks melted through the seaweed patches.

Soon, the ghost ship was ablaze and riddled with holes. Its timbers collapsed, green kelp dissolving into sludge, and the whole vessel started breaking apart.

The moment it was crippled, the effect was immediate. Both the Ghost-types swarming the cruise ship and those within the ghost ship itself staggered as if struck in a vital spot. Their fighting power plummeted.

The trainers still on the cruise liner seized the opportunity to cut down their foes. Meanwhile, Sato ordered everyone back underwater. With Tentacruel carrying him, and Lanturn and Shellder protecting his flanks, they made a break for the cruise ship.

"Hmm? What's that? A treasure chest!"

"Lanturn, grab that little chest that just fell from the ghost ship's hull!"

Just before retreating, Sato's psychic scan caught something—a small, ancient-looking chest sinking from the bottom of the ghost ship. Without hesitation, he commanded Lanturn via telepathy to fetch it.

There was no time to check the contents. With the chest secured, Sato kept his team focused on getting back to the cruise ship as fast as possible.

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