Raj's plan was simple—head to Bill's Lighthouse first, then travel onward to Vermilion City to challenge the Gym Leader, Lt. Surge, and earn the Thunder Badge.
After leaving Cerulean City, Raj made sure no one was around before taking out his airship.
He was eager to visit Bill's Lighthouse, the legendary place where a mysterious, phantom-like Pokémon was said to appear. What exactly was that creature?
In the original anime, the Pokémon didn't show up often—it appeared only on rare occasions. Raj wasn't sure if his timing would be right, but it didn't matter.
Even if I don't see it, at least I'll have tried, he thought. Better that than regret it later.
Besides, the area was known for its abundance of wild Pokémon. It'd be a great place to train his team and grow stronger.
The airship's speed was incredible.
In less than half a day, Raj arrived at the coast near Bill's Lighthouse. The sun was still high and hot, shining over the pristine beach where few people ever came.
Only daring or curious trainers usually ventured here—to catch rare Water-type Pokémon or just explore.
The view was stunning.
Tall coconut trees swayed by the shore, warm sand pressed underfoot, and the sea shimmered endlessly into the horizon. The sound of waves brought a rare sense of calm.
This place… would make a perfect vacation spot, Raj thought with a grin.
Up ahead, perched on a cliff overlooking the ocean, stood a tall white lighthouse. Even from a distance, it looked majestic.
That had to be Bill's Lighthouse.
Raj didn't plan on going inside.
Bill was no ordinary researcher—he was one of the most brilliant minds in the Pokémon world. Even Professor Oak held deep respect for him. Raj figured it was best not to get too close.
If Bill noticed anything strange about him or his Pokémon, it could raise questions Raj wasn't ready to answer.
Before coming here, Raj had stocked up on supplies in Cerulean City—beach chairs, fruit platters, and plenty of food—all neatly stored in his system space.
He had plenty of cash, too. While exploring Mt. Moon earlier, he'd found small fragments of Moon Stones scattered around Clefairy's cave.
Raj had already returned the giant Moon Stone to the system, but he kept the smaller fragments.
These stones were valuable—trainers used them for Pokémon evolutions, and collectors paid a premium.
When he reached Cerulean, he sold three small Moon Stone shards for nearly 100,000 Poké Dollars—more than enough to restock and enjoy himself.
"I remember hearing that there are more Pokémon in the sea than on land," Raj muttered, lounging in a beach chair as the sea breeze brushed his face.
"This world's oceans are massive… there must be countless species no one's ever discovered."
Curiosity sparked in his eyes as he summoned the Destroyer System interface.
"System, got anything that can attract Water-type Pokémon?"
[Of course. I'll list a few recommended items.]
[1. Sea Vanilla – Attracts nearby Pokémon within a 30-meter radius. (Cost: 3,000 points)]
[2. Jade Sea Grass – Attracts small Pokémon like Magikarp and Goldeen within a 300-meter range. (Cost: 5,000 points)]
[3. Netherwater Pearl – Emits a glowing aura underwater, attracting Pokémon from up to one kilometer away. It also produces a charm effect that makes Water-type Pokémon reluctant to leave. (Cost: 20,000 points)]
Raj browsed through the list, and his attention locked onto the third option.
The Netherwater Pearl—expensive, but powerful.
He bought one without hesitation.
Following the shoreline and steering clear of the lighthouse, Raj found a narrow, quiet bay. There, he placed the glowing pearl by the water's edge.
The waves rolled in, briefly submerging the pearl, but each time they retreated, the orb bobbed gently back to the surface, radiating a faint blue light.
Within ten minutes, the results were clear—large Krabby began scuttling out of the surf, and further out, several Magikarp leapt playfully from the shallows.
Raj leaned back in his chair, content.
Beside him, his team was already hard at work.
His Haunter floated menacingly over the sand, using Hypnosis to put Krabby after Krabby to sleep.
His Shiny Grimer squelched excitedly toward the water, absorbing stray Magikarp as if they were snacks.
Meanwhile, his Shiny Kakuna stood motionless nearby, its shell glinting faintly in the sun, staring at Raj as if expecting something.
Raj frowned. "You again?"
With a sigh, he gave it a light kick and strapped the Sonic Accelerator device he'd bought earlier onto its shell.
"If you're going to evolve, do it faster," he muttered. "Once you're a Shiny Beedrill, maybe you'll actually be useful."
He still found the thing mildly annoying—but at least it was trying.
As time passed, both Haunter and Shiny Grimer showed visible improvement in their combat power. Satisfied, Raj recalled the Netherwater Pearl and stretched lazily.
Just then, a deep, haunting roar echoed from the distance.
It came from somewhere far beyond the sea—loud enough to make the air tremble.
Even Haunter, whose combat power was nearing a thousand points, froze in fear.
Raj slowly rose from his chair, eyes narrowing toward the ocean horizon.
"That sound…" he murmured.
"Is that the mysterious Pokémon?"