The Temple of the Sea was divided into two distinct sections—the outer temple and the inner temple.
The outer temple was accessible to any Trainer or Pokémon capable of passing through the protective membrane surrounding the sacred site. Movement here was unrestricted, allowing exploration of the vast halls and waterways. However, entry into the inner temple required special held items, making it far more exclusive.
As Aoki and his team ventured deeper, the surrounding canals narrowed, and the number of wild Pokémon attacking them gradually decreased. Though the density of Pokémon here was lower compared to the open sea, the water itself was remarkably pure, crystal-clear, and rich in life-sustaining energy. The currents mirrored those of the underground rivers beneath the island, providing an ideal habitat for aquatic Pokémon.
Living in these pristine waters, Pokémon could survive for extended periods without needing food, explaining the thriving ecosystem within the temple. Over time, the Pokémon residing here naturally grew stronger, though their combat experience remained limited due to the lack of external threats.
Slowking, Aoki's trusted companion, barely needed to intervene in battles. Most of the offensive work was handled efficiently by Swampert and Politoed, with occasional support from Florges.
After passing the initial large platform, the group ascended a flight of stairs leading to the first floor. A single dedicated water channel ran alongside the steps, its flow originating from the inner temple. This aligned with the legends describing the Temple of the Sea as a natural seawater spring, continuously circulating life-giving water throughout the structure.
Upon reaching the first platform, they were greeted by an unexpected sight—lush green plants thriving in carefully maintained flower beds. Despite the passage of time, the vegetation remained vibrant, surrounding a small, tranquil lake at the center of the platform.
Aoki approached the lake and froze in astonishment.
"The entire lake is filled with Clamperl?" he murmured, eyes widening.
He had encountered a sizable group of Clamperl in the ocean before and had considered establishing an artificial breeding farm to harvest their pearls. However, the wild population he had seen was insufficient for such an endeavor. Now, before him lay a natural Clamperl colony—a perfect, self-sustaining pearl farm.
"Then I'll be taking these Clamperl," Aoki declared, his voice firm.
This marked the first time he had actively initiated a battle within the temple.
"Slowking, use your psychic powers to control the area!"
"Florges, bombard them with Energy Ball!"
"Swampert, Politoed, dive in and bring up as many Clamperl as you can!"
Swampert let out a mighty roar and plunged into the water without hesitation, disrupting the peaceful Clamperl colony. Politoed shook its head at Swampert's recklessness before following suit.
The moment they entered, chaos erupted. The Clamperl, disturbed by the intruders, began retaliating. However, before they could mount a proper defense, the stronger specimens were seized by Slowking's psychic grip and hauled onto the shore.
Slowking focused on the most powerful Clamperl, while Lady Florges dealt with those flung out of the water by Swampert and Politoed's rampage. Her Energy Ball attacks, amplified by the type advantage, swiftly incapacitated the weaker Clamperl.
Yet, a colony this large, having thrived for centuries, inevitably harbored formidable individuals. Soon, the Clamperl organized themselves under a single leader's command, launching a coordinated counterattack. Swampert and Politoed found themselves struggling against the unified assault.
Aoki quickly identified the commanding Clamperl and ordered Slowking to drag it ashore.
A magnificent specimen—its shell shimmered with a light cyan hue.
Pokémon: Clamperl (Light Cyan)
Gender: Female
Level: 60
Type: Water
Ability: Shell Armor
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Whirlpool, Muddy Water, Water Pulse, Brine
Basic Moves: Clamp, Water Gun, Iron Defense, Shell Smash
Learnt Moves: Ice Beam, Rest
TM Moves: None
A Clamperl reaching Champion level in the wild was extraordinary—this one had likely lived for centuries. The pearl it produced would be invaluable.
This ancient Clamperl served as the colony's matriarch, maintaining order among its kin.
Clamperl had two evolutionary paths: Huntail with the Deep Sea Fang or Gorebyss with the Deep Sea Scale. Without evolution, its combat capabilities were severely limited.
Aoki's system scanned the lake, confirming only one King-level Clamperl. Most were Elite-level or lower, with only a handful nearing pseudo-champion strength.
Pearls from Quasi-champion or champion-level Clamperl were far superior to ordinary ones.
Once ashore, the Clamperl leader's mobility—already poor—became a crippling disadvantage. Despite Shell Smash, it couldn't compensate for its sluggishness. Outmatched by Slowking and Lady Florges, it was gradually worn down until it collapsed, defeated.
Two pseudo champion-level Pokémon had overpowered a freshly evolved King-level Clamperl. The type disadvantage and numerical superiority made the battle manageable, but Slowking and Lady Florges still sustained significant injuries.
The difference between champion and pseudo champion was stark, even at a two-level gap.
With their leader defeated, the Clamperl colony descended into chaos. Swampert and Politoed were recalled, and the four Pokémon unleashed a relentless assault on the disoriented Clamperl.
Exhausted, the team finally paused, surveying the aftermath—hundreds of fainted Clamperl floating on the water's surface.
The tally was staggering: one champion-level, five pseudo-champions, thirty Elite-level, and over four hundred lower-tier Clamperl.
Such numbers would have been overwhelming for most teams, but Clamperl's pre-evolution weakness made the feat possible. Lady Florges' Grassy Terrain had been instrumental in sustaining the team's endurance throughout the grueling battle.