A water-type trainer who specializes in dragon-type water.

Amidst the energetic quacking of the shimmering ducks, Zhang Heng and his son began their journey across the basin.

The little guy seemed to have completely cast aside the gloom of the past, or rather, placed his trust and brief peace on Zhang Heng, who had shown him kindness.

It waddled ahead, occasionally turning back to check if Zhang Heng and the others were following, and would use its tiny webbed feet to point out some seemingly ordinary but actually safe paths.

They cleverly avoided some whirlpools hidden in the mud or the territories of temperamental wild Pokémon.

It would even excitedly dance and introduce to Zhang Heng some of the strange water-type Pokémon they encountered along the way, even though he couldn't understand them. He could still understand them because of his water-controlling abilities.

Seeing its lively figure again, Zhang Heng felt much more relaxed. Thanks to this "local guide," their journey had been exceptionally smooth, and they had even encountered many Pokémon rarely seen elsewhere:

Near some shallow fossil mounds, we saw ammonites carrying spiral shells and moving slowly.

In deeper waters, a sickle helmet, resembling an ancient warrior wielding a huge, sharp scythe, swiftly swam by.

Although the journey was peaceful, it was full of novelty and small joys, which eased the tension in the secret realm.

Finally, led by the water duck, they arrived at the other edge of the basin. Before them was a rather steep slope leading to a higher platform.

"Looks like we'll have to climb over there." Zhang Leiyuan estimated the slope.

“No problem.” Zhang Heng nodded.

The father and son, relying on their trainer's excellent physical abilities, climbed up with their bare hands, while Swampert and Urshifu were below ready to help.

The water duck then demonstrated an unusual jumping ability, flapping its wings and barely managing to keep up.

After climbing onto the platform, a breathtaking view suddenly opened up before me. It was an extremely spacious and enormous stone platform, with a huge depression in the center, and right in the very center of the depression stood an ancient stone tower!

However, this ancient tower is like a mirage, particularly illusory. The tower body seems to be carved with ancient water patterns that are difficult to recognize, and it is also distorted like mist.

However, just as they were about to get closer, something unexpected happened!

“Rumble——!!!”

A tremendous roar suddenly erupted from the center of the depression! The next moment, the water accumulated in the depression seemed to be seized by an invisible giant hand, and a huge waterspout connecting heaven and earth was formed with a thunderous roar!

This waterspout was extremely large, with an astonishing diameter, and the amount of water it swirled up was beyond imagination, as if it had absorbed all the water in the entire secret realm!

The turbulent water swirled and roared at a terrifying speed, producing a deafening roar.

This enormous waterspout completely enveloped the ancient tower at its very center, like an insurmountable water barrier!

Zhang Heng could clearly sense that the tower shadow he had seen before seemed somewhat illusory, while the one in front of him, protected by raging water energy, was the real ancient tower that required a challenge to approach!

He turned to look at his father, about to say "Let me do it myself," but saw Zhang Leiyuan already with his arms crossed, taking two steps back with an encouraging and trusting smile on his face.

“Of course, you have to complete the trial yourself,” Zhang Leiyuan said first, as if he could see through his son’s thoughts.

Zhang Heng smiled too; the unspoken understanding between father and son needed no further explanation. "Of course!"

He took a deep breath and turned his gaze to the roaring waterspout. He could sense that to break through this barrier, he would need to rely on a stronger and purer water-based power—to use water to break water!

"Swamp Monster! Waterfall Climb!"

"Roar!" The Swamp Monster strode forward, letting out a roar full of fighting spirit.

Its arms bulged with muscles, and it suddenly raised them high above its head, then swung them down hard!

In an instant, two waterfalls, thicker and more condensed than ever before, appeared out of thin air, like two roaring water dragons, carrying immense power, and crashed fiercely into the giant waterspout!

"boom!!!"

A tremendous crash resounded! The two waterfalls successfully plunged into the waterspout, causing its spinning momentum to tremble violently and even tearing open a small gap.

However, the size and rotational force of this waterspout were truly terrifying!

In just a moment, the water that had been knocked apart was once again engulfed and swallowed up by an even stronger rotating force.

Even the energy from the two waterfalls unleashed by the Swampert was forcibly twisted and absorbed, becoming part of the waterspout's own power!

This makes their momentum seem even more terrifying!

Swampert roared, its water-based energy erupting, and an even more turbulent waterfall surged beneath its feet, carrying it like a warrior braving the wind and waves as it charged headlong into the waterspout!

"Bang!!"

Swampert rode the waterfall and slammed into the outer edge of the waterspout! The powerful impact did indeed create a small opening about the size of a bowl in the waterspout!

Through that fleeting gap, Zhang Heng could clearly see the faintly visible, real, and ancient stone tower inside!

But that's all! The endless rotational power and enormous size of a waterspout are simply beyond the reach of a waterfall.

Swampert's power was quickly exhausted, and the waterfall it emitted was instantly shredded and absorbed.

"Roar!?"

The Swamp Monster let out a startled roar. Its massive body could no longer resist the terrifying tearing force and was instantly swept away by the raging torrent.

Like a leaf in a storm, it was being flung high into the air by a rapidly spinning waterspout, and it looked like it was about to be violently thrown out!

"Charizard!" Zhang Leiyuan exclaimed immediately.

The Charizard, which had been waiting in the wings, suddenly took flight and caught the Swampert, which had been thrown from the sky and was disoriented. Then it gently and safely brought the Swampert back to the ground.

It will not interfere with the trials, but ensuring the safety of its companions is its bottom line.

"Thank you, Dad," Zhang Heng said with a sigh of relief and gratitude.

He turned his gaze back to the seemingly indestructible waterspout, his brow furrowed, lost in thought.

"If... if the 'mystery of water' I sensed inside the Water Tower was a continuous, steady flow of control..."

Zhang Heng muttered to himself, carefully observing the roaring tornado, "The one in front of me... seems to need something completely different... Is it a more powerful burst of energy? Is it a more immense quantity? Or... some kind of technique that can cut into and disrupt its rotating core?"

His gaze swept over his companions: Swampert was powerful, but its attack methods were somewhat simplistic; should this pure water-based confrontation be left to Martial Arts Ursa Master or Rippling Water...?

His mind raced, trying to find a way to overcome this formidable barrier. The water trial in this secret realm was far more difficult and intricate than he had imagined.