The sea breeze brushed gently against Theo's face, carrying with it the briny scent of saltwater. Above him, a flock of Wingull circled in the sky, sometimes flapping their wings to accelerate, sometimes gliding effortlessly with wings tucked in, riding the currents of air.
Ahead of him, the area around the competition venue was already packed with people. The locals' chatter and laughter mixed with the cries of various Pokémon, forming a lively, bustling atmosphere that rolled together with the briny wind coming off the ocean.
"Woooooo—!"
A long, resonant horn blast echoed from the far end of the pier at that moment.
The mayor of Slateport City—a slightly chubby elderly man with graying hair—stood atop a temporarily constructed platform. He held a megaphone in one hand. His sharp, freshly ironed blue uniform fluttered gently in the breeze, and a small corsage was pinned to his chest. A kind, amiable smile spread across his face.
"Good morning, fellow townsfolk and friends who have traveled from afar!"
His amplified voice boomed throughout the entire wharf.
"Welcome, everyone, to Slateport City's annual Pokémon Swimming Race Competition!"
Thunderous applause and excited cheers immediately rose from the crowd below.
The mayor cleared his throat and continued with growing enthusiasm:
"I won't waste too much time on small talk. Let's get straight to the main event! This year, in addition to the usual straight-line speed race, we've added a brand-new obstacle course segment!
"The total course length is five hundred meters, and along the path we've placed three obstacles:
"The first is a series of floating rings, testing your Pokémon's agility.
"The second is an underwater current zone, testing their ability to control their speed.
"The third is a shallow reef area—so everyone, please guide your Pokémon to avoid the rocks carefully!"
He paused, casting a sweeping glance toward the water where the contestants were gathered at the starting point. His voice carried anticipation and excitement:
"This year's participation rate is astonishingly high! We have a total of fifty-six contestants! There are familiar faces from our city, as well as many trainers who have traveled from other places. I'm sure today's race will be absolutely spectacular!"
Beside Theo, his livestream drone slowly ascended, the camera panning across the Water-type Pokémon at the starting line and sending the bustling atmosphere directly to viewers' screens.
Among all the competitors, the one who drew the most attention was undoubtedly a beautifully radiant Starmie.
The gem at its center pulsed with a brilliant light, and its five limbs gently flexed and swayed in the water as though it were perfectly confident in the race ahead.
Beside it stood its trainer, a young girl with twin ponytails. She held a soft absorbent cloth, carefully polishing the jewel at Starmie's core, whispering words of encouragement under her breath.
Not far away, a Goldeen shimmered brilliantly under the sunlight. Its scales gleamed like polished gold, and it flicked its long, flowing tail with vigor, brimming with energy and ready to dash forward at any moment.
On a rock nearby, a Wartortle lounged lazily, half withdrawn into its shell, only its two round eyes peeking out as if indifferent to the noise around it.
There were also Tentacool, Shellder, Seaking, and many other Water-type Pokémon. Some swam around excitedly, while others waited in quiet focus. The entire starting area buzzed with energy.
"Wow, so many Pokémon!" someone exclaimed in the livestream chat.
"Starmie is gorgeous! Sorry, I'm switching sides—sorry, but I'm supporting Starmie!"
"You can do that? Fine, then I'll back Goldeen. Goldeen, don't you dare embarrass me!"
"You traitors! Feebas needs support too! Even if it doesn't win, Feebas will always be number one in my heart!"
Theo lowered his eyes toward the Feebas beside his feet. It seemed to sense the tense atmosphere, because its tail was wagging faster than usual, and in its tiny eyes gleamed both excitement and a bit of nervousness.
"Don't be nervous, Belle."
Theo gently patted its little head, his voice soft and calming. "Just perform the way we trained. Do your best, that's all you need."
Feebas understood. It rubbed its forehead against Theo's fingers, then gave a strong flick of its tail as if pumping itself up.
"The rules are simple. The participating Pokémon will start from the red starting flag and swim along the route marked by the buoys. The first to touch the yellow finish flag wins!
"Attacking other contestants is strictly prohibited. Anyone who breaks the rule will be immediately disqualified. Everyone clear?"
"Clear!" the trainers called back in unison, their faces filled with anticipation.
"All right, contestants—please bring your Pokémon into the starting area!"
Hearing the announcement, Theo quickly placed Feebas into its designated position.
The moment Feebas entered the water, it became energized. It swam a few quick circles around the starting line, familiarizing itself with the situation.
Other Pokémon also settled into their respective lanes.
"On your marks…."
The mayor raised the starting pistol.
Instantly, the entire pier fell silent. Every pair of eyes, both human and Pokémon, focused on the glistening line at the start.
The livestream chat grow dense with message after message, viewers holding their breath.
"Ready…."
Bang!
The shot rang out—and every Pokémon launched forward like arrows released from taut bowstrings!
"Go!!"
"Starmie, let's go!"
"Goldeen, charge!!"
"..."
The cheers from the shore were deafening.
Theo's livestream camera auto-zoomed, tracking the race closely.
Feebas was no longer the clumsy little fish who once couldn't even tackle a rock correctly. With the combined help of Energy Orbs and Technical Machines, Feebas had undergone a complete transformation.
It powered forward with vigorous tail sweeps. Though small in size, its speed was far from slow.
Slicing smoothly through the water, Feebas surged ahead, joining Starmie and Goldeen in the leading pack.
"Great job, Feebas! Maintain that speed!" Theo couldn't help shouting.
Soon, the first obstacle—the floating ring formation—came into view.
These floating rings varied in size and floated at different angles. All Pokémon had to pass through the rings' centers; failure to do so would be counted as a penalty.
Starmie took the lead, spinning its body like a shimmering bolt of light as it shot through ring after ring with impeccable precision.
Goldeen showed exquisite control over its movements, using elegant sweeps of its tail to carve smooth arcs through the water while passing cleanly through each ring.
Feebas approached the rings next. It took a deep breath, then flicked its tail sharply—its entire body leaping upward!
With its fully mastered Splash move, Feebas soared through the air, tracing a beautiful arc as it passed cleanly through ring after ring before splashing gracefully back into the water to continue onward.
The entire sequence of movements was fluid and perfect.
"Beautiful!"
"Feebas's jump was incredible!"
The livestream chat erupted in cheers.
After clearing the floating ring formation, Feebas opened a noticeable gap with the Pokémon behind it and now focused on chasing the leading Starmie and Goldeen.
(End of Chapter)
TN: Guys, if you get confused if sometimes Slateport is called a town and the people as townfolk it is because while it is a city, it is also a Port Town. I don't get it myself but that's what on the description too, so I went along with it.