The second layer of the Secret Realm — Moon Bay.
Jacob stood on the beach, face pale.
He had just sent Noivern out over the water, hoping to fly straight across to the distant island. But the attempt confirmed what he had started to suspect — this layer of the Secret Realm had an air restriction in place. Flying was not an option. No Pokémon could approach the island from above.
That settled it. Whatever the challenge of this second layer was, it would play out in the sea. Most likely a race to reach the far island first — and his opponent would be that enormous Relicanth lurking in the deep water below.
Gym Leader level strength.
But Jacob wasn't about to be fooled a second time. He had seen how Claydol and Bronzong had operated on the first layer — outwardly Gym Leader level, but clearly suppressed from something far greater. This Relicanth was no different. Its real strength was almost certainly at the Master level, held back by the rules of the Secret Realm.
Not that it mattered right now. The real problem wasn't how to beat the Relicanth.
The real problem was that Jacob had no Pokémon that could battle in the sea.
With Gigantamax Pokémon unavailable inside the Secret Realm, he didn't have a single Water-type on his team to work with.
Jacob's expression darkened as his mind raced through every option he had.
Then a thought surfaced — bold, risky, but possibly the only path forward.
Catch a Water-type Pokémon. Right here. Right now.
It wasn't a perfect solution. There were several hurdles to clear. His passive talent, Master's Demeanor, meant that any Pokémon he caught needed to have at least a King-level Qualification — otherwise, it simply wouldn't take to being caught by him. On top of that, whatever he caught would need enough raw power to stand up against that Relicanth. And a freshly caught Pokémon with no rapport built between them might ignore his commands entirely when it counted most.
Even so, Jacob saw no other way.
He had not come this far to turn back. Since finding the Dark Stone, he had pushed through too much to give up now. As long as there was even the smallest chance, he would take it.
Jacob's gaze swept across the water's surface.
Now and then, a Pokémon broke through the waves — a flash of silver scales, a splash, and then it was gone again.
Relicanth. Magikarp.
Catching another Relicanth was out of the question. Pitting one against that massive guardian Relicanth would be pointless. And Magikarp, while full of potential in the long run, was far too weak in its current form. A Gyarados would be another matter — but he hadn't spotted one yet.
As for other Water-types, none had shown themselves.
Jacob took a slow breath, pushed aside the noise in his head, and got to work.
He pulled a fishing rod from his storage space, picked out a solid spot on the rocks near the shore, baited the hook, and cast out with a clean, wide throw. Then he steadied himself and watched the bobber, waiting.
The bobber dipped hard. Jacob signalled to Iron Valiant, who was standing beside him, and together they hauled back on the rod. The line went taut. A moment later, a Pokémon broke the surface —
"Relic!"
Relicanth. Again.
Jacob stared at it flatly and released it back into the water.
Over ten minutes had passed. The catch so far: Magikarp, Relicanth, and Tentacool. Magikarp, Relicanth, and Tentacool. Over and over again, in different orders.
Can you three give it a rest?
Even setting aside the question of whether any of them had high enough aptitude to qualify, none of them had the strength to be useful against the guardian Relicanth. Jacob felt his patience wearing thin.
Worse, he was running out of time.
He knew there were other trainers somewhere behind him. The first layer of the Secret Realm would hold most people back, but not everyone. Sooner or later, someone would arrive with the right Pokémon to counter Claydol and Bronzong — a strong trainer who had done their homework. When that happened, the second layer would start filling up, and whatever advantage Jacob had from being first would disappear.
He needed to move.
Jacob stared at the water for a long moment. Then his jaw set.
Fine.
If the sea wouldn't give him what he needed politely, he would have to ask less politely.
"Noivern, come out!"
Noivern appeared at his side with a sharp cry — "Noiv!" — its large ears fanning out as it looked to Jacob for instruction.
Jacob met its gaze steadily. "I need you to go into the water," he said. "Use Boomburst."
It wasn't exactly the most elegant plan. Noivern using Boomburst underwater would flush out the weaker Pokémon and, hopefully, drive the stronger ones up to the surface. Essentially — blasting the water to see what rose from it.
Noivern didn't hesitate. It strode to the water's edge, drew a deep breath, and dove in. Its enormous ears spread wide beneath the surface, and a pulse of compressed sound erupted outward through the deep water.
Boomburst.
The effect was immediate. Weaker Pokémon that had been drifting through the shallows went still, eyes rolling back, floating limply to the surface. The attack had knocked them clean out.
And from somewhere much deeper, something stirred.
A low, furious roar shook the water — and then a Gyarados exploded upward from the sea, its red-tinted body coiling in the air as it turned its glaring eyes on Noivern and Jacob. A Shiny Gyarados — scales the deep, vivid red that only appeared in the rarest of individuals.
Then, from the other side, a different sound cut through the air. Long. Melodic. Calm.
A serpentine shape slid to the surface — sleek and pale blue, its body moving in slow, graceful curves. Sapphire scales caught the light all along its length. Its belly was a clean white. Two small, wing-like fins framed either side of its head, and a short white horn curved gently from its forehead. Along its neck and at the tip of its tail, deep blue orbs glimmered like gathered starlight.
Dragonair.
Jacob's eyes went straight to it.
He checked both Pokémon quickly. The Shiny Gyarados read at Gym Leader level strength — suppressed, clearly, from what was almost certainly a Champion-level aptitude. The Secret Realm had capped it.
And Dragonair? Gym Leader level strength as well. But its aptitude—
Master level.
Jacob felt his breath catch.
He had never encountered a wild Pokémon with Master level aptitude before. This was it. This was what he needed.
As for the Shiny Gyarados beside it — Jacob's eyes drifted back to those brilliant red scales. Something about it felt like more than coincidence. Encountering a Shiny Pokémon of that caliber in a place like this... it felt like a meeting that was meant to happen.
He made his decision quickly and released Dragapult.
"Noivern — take Dragonair," Jacob called out, his voice steady. "Dragapult — you're on Gyarados."
He added one quick warning before they moved: "Stay away from that far island. Don't get close to it — the air restriction will drop you both into the water."
The two Pokémon launched forward without a moment's pause, each angling toward their target.