"Poliwag, Krabby—hurry, get back to shore!"
Reiji had been peacefully fishing, just about to reel in a Magikarp from the sea.
But the commotion he caused at the water's surface had drawn some uninvited guests—fast and aggressive.
He was talking about more Krabby. The moment he saw several of them charging toward him, he didn't even have time to reel in his rod.
All he could do was toss the fishing rod and the hooked Magikarp onto the shore and shout for Poliwag and Krabby, who were training near the water, to retreat quickly.
Reiji himself hobbled over with his walking stick, moving behind Poliwag to see what exactly this ambush of Krabby intended to do.
Fortunately, he had made a habit of calling Poliwag over whenever he caught a fish, having it knock the Pokémon out so he could catch it with a Poké Ball.
Hearing his call, Poliwag moved quickly and positioned itself in front of Reiji, facing the charging Krabby who had stopped in their tracks.
But it wasn't because they were intimidated by Poliwag—they had halted because they spotted the little Krabby.
"Krkk krkk!" came an angry shout from the leader of the four aggressive Krabby, a harsh interrogation aimed at the little one: what was it doing here? Was it trying to claim this beach?
In truth, they didn't even care for this barren stretch of sand, but they also wouldn't allow other crabs to claim it.
Especially not this weakling. A runt like it didn't deserve any territory—not even a beach with no food. It had no right.
"Krkk…" The little Krabby trembled, hiding behind Reiji, letting out a feeble cry.
Why was it always targeted by its kind no matter where it went? They looked the same, shared the same species—why the hostility?
Why did they always bully it?
Why couldn't they just leave it alone?
Why did they insist on driving it to the brink?
Why was it that even the last safe haven had to be taken from it?
Why were its own kin so cruel—forcing it to the edge of survival?
It had already run far, far away. All it wanted was to live. Why was that too much to ask?
Compared to Poliwag and these strangers, this was the first time it had ever hated its own kind. Before, it had simply lost in competition—nothing personal.
But it had left the group. This beach had nothing—just sand.
So why were they still coming after it?
It truly didn't understand. Why?
It had already given up food, territory, mating rights—everything.
Why were they still so relentless?
All it wanted now was to survive in this new family, peacefully and happily. Why was that so hard?
"Krkk…"
"Krabby, don't be afraid. I'm here. They won't hurt you," Reiji said softly, feeling Krabby clutching at his pant leg with a trembling claw.
To be honest, this was a one-against-four. Poliwag wasn't even at full health, and there were two non-combatants to protect. He really didn't feel confident.
There was no contest here. The outcome was obvious—they couldn't win. Not like this.
Originally, he thought the Krabby would just grab the Magikarp on the beach and leave. But now that he saw the angry expressions and the way they were clearly targeting the little one, it was clear: they wanted Krabby. This wasn't going to end peacefully.
Unless he handed over the little Krabby, they were going to have to fight for real.
He never imagined there'd be a day when he'd be cornered by a bunch of crabs. But even if the odds were against him, he would never hand over Krabby—not even if Kyogre showed up.
"Krkk krkk, snap snap…" The leader raised its massive claw and opened and shut it with a chilling crack.
Seeing their target hiding behind a human, the Krabby didn't want to fight head-on, not because they couldn't win, but because they knew this particular weakling could be threatened—through the human it cared about.
"Snap snap—You coming over by yourself, or do I break that human's three legs first, then crush you?"
"Krkk…" The little Krabby whimpered. It was terrified—those claws reminded it of the one that had been broken.
But then it looked up at Reiji. This human had been nothing but kind. So had Poliwag. It couldn't drag them down with it.
Even if it lost all its limbs again, they'd grow back. If that would calm the leader's rage, it was willing to be the target—for Reiji, for Poliwag.
"Krkk, krkk…" Having made up its mind, the little Krabby no longer hid behind Reiji. It stepped out and faced the four attackers.
"Yo yo! Yo yo…!"
But just as Krabby opened its mouth, Poliwag cut it off.
Now that Krabby was their companion, how could Poliwag let it be taken?
Poliwag had promised to protect Reiji—and that meant protecting all its teammates. Krabby was one of them now.
Poliwag immediately used its tail to sweep Krabby back behind it. It would take on the four enemies alone.
"Krkk," Krabby tried to step forward again.
"Yo yo!" Poliwag snapped angrily at it, scolding it harshly. "Protect Reiji. Come forward again and I'll knock you out myself."
"Krkk…" Seeing how determined Poliwag was, Krabby gave up its self-sacrificing plan. It didn't retreat behind Reiji either.
It had severed ties with the Krabby clan. Now it was on Poliwag's side. It would protect Reiji, no matter what—even if it meant getting its limbs broken again.
Even if it had to endure the cold ridicule and rejection of its kind, it didn't care anymore. What mattered was the human and the tadpole who shared meals with it, who cared for it—even after just one day together.
"Krkk! Krkk!" Krabby roared at the four attackers, declaring war on those who had once bullied it. It would fight to the bitter end, no retreat.
"Krkk krkk, snap snap!" The leader was furious.
A weakling that couldn't even lift its claw was roaring at it? Declaring war?
Fine then. "Krkk krkk—so be it. I'll make you watch as that blue tadpole and that human get crushed by our claws…"
"Krkk krkk—attack!" The leader raised its claw and ordered its underlings to charge Poliwag.
Seeing the Krabby attack, Reiji immediately gave the command: "Poliwag—use Water Gun! Aim for the eyes!"
(End of Chapter)
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