Chapter 87: Evolution
Faced with this rare pure water Spring, Froakie also appeared very tempted.
The allure of this substance to Water-type Pokémon was akin to that of a beautiful, sweet-voiced, perfectly designed limited SSR rarity beautiful girl to an otaku.
However, he was very sensible and didn't make a move rashly.
Not until Arthur gently nudged the back of his head.
"Go on, go take a drink."
"Froa?"
Froakie sought confirmation again: Can I really drink this for free?
Arthur patted his head lightly.
"Yes. Just remember in the future, you must take extra good care of Little Lapras. Consider this a gift bestowed upon you by her grandmother."
"Froa!"
Froakie nodded forcefully, secretly vowing that in the future, he must act as a proper leading big brother and take good care of this little sister.
However, at this moment, he still didn't know what this promise would bring him down the line...
Subsequently, unable to hold back any longer, he leaped a good three feet towards the pure water Spring before him.
As he bent down to take the first sip, swirling gusts of wind suddenly kicked up all around.
The faint blue ripples that had been drifting about like colorful silken ribbons all found their target, surging like a flock of swallows returning to their nest towards Froakie, who was drinking by the edge of the pool.
In that instant, Froakie, with his head lowered, seemed to become the eye of a vortex, continuously drawing the surrounding Water-type energy to gather upon his body, almost forming a small whirlwind within the cave.
"Awooo."
Little Lapras, staying close to Arthur's feet, couldn't help but let out a worried whimper upon seeing this.
Celebi landed on her head.
Having been educated by the elders earlier, Little Lapras finally understood that this onion head was actually a Mythical Pokémon of noble status. Consequently, she finally stopped underestimating this little bean whose fighting strength was only equivalent to one Magikarp.
This greatly pleased Celebi, who had been holding back her smugness. Now, she took every opportunity to lie on Little Lapras's back, enjoying the treatment befitting a Mythical Pokémon.
Now too, she perched on Little Lapras's head and translated with unconcealed pride, "The little one is worried about your little water frog. She says absorbing energy like this hurts a lot."
No sooner had her voice fallen than Froakie's slightly pained cries emanated from the center of the whirlwind ahead.
No matter the substance, an excessively turbulent infusion into the body would never be a pleasant experience, even if it was beneficial elemental energy of one's own type.
However, Arthur, even upon hearing the sounds, remained remarkably calm.
A short while later, Froakie's cries grew louder, gradually transforming from pained whimpers into fierce roars.
Yet even so, he still stood steadfastly by the edge of that water pool, right at the center where the Water-type energy converged, refusing to retreat even a single step.
This continued for several minutes. Even the Milotic clan leader standing aside was visibly moved.
He transmitted telepathically, "Young human friend, this Froakie partner of yours possesses truly strong willpower."
"Naturally." Arthur smiled lightly, seemingly nonchalant. "He was trained by me, after all."
He remembered clearly the earliest days when Froakie had to persist through training daily under his 'nuclear-kind' (terrifyingly intense yet seemingly benevolent) gaze filled with killing intent. With willpower like that, how could he endure if he were weak?
Until another three minutes passed. The energy ribbons drifting above the spring eye had visibly diminished significantly; one could only imagine how much energy Froakie had absorbed by now.
Following that, accompanied by an exceptionally loud and cathartic cry from him:
"FROA!!!"
The whirlwind abruptly dispersed outwards in all directions.
Simultaneously, Froakie by the edge of the pool suddenly began to glow with a dazzling white light.
"This is?"
"Awoo~"
All the Pokémon present gasped repeatedly in amazement.
As Pokémon themselves, they were utterly familiar with this white light. It signified a change in form, an increase in combat power, a leap in the hierarchy of life!
This was—Evolution!
When the white light dissipated, Froakie had undergone a complete transformation.
Now, he should be called Frogadier.
His height had clearly increased considerably compared to before evolution, and the color on his back and the top of his head had become much darker.
Due to his increased height, his figure appeared more slender. When his hind legs straightened completely, allowing him to stand fully upright, Frogadier's form was already very close to that of a humanoid.
However, around his neck, there was still a circle of white, foam-like tissue that extended down his back, looking just like he was wearing a white scarf.
When Frogadier stood straight and the foam behind him fluttered in the wind, his image was quite cool and handsome.
The newly evolved Frogadier first looked down at his own body, reassessing his changed physique. Then, excited, he jumped up and down on the spot, confidently raising a hand as if preparing to use some kind of skill.
However, in that instant, Arthur didn't see any visible phenomenon occur.
Instead, it was the Milotic clan leader beside them, having lived for a long time and thus being more experienced, who reacted. He quickly flicked his tail, creating an electric arc that ignited a torch mounted on the cave wall.
But subsequently, that torch inexplicably extinguished itself very quickly, leaving behind only wisps of green smoke curling upwards.
Little Lapras was still confused, but Arthur had already reacted by then.
"Is this the move 'Water Sport'?"
Frogadier crossed his arms proudly, nodding repeatedly.
Water Sport: A Water-type move. Its effect is to disperse Water-type energy into the surrounding space, significantly suppressing flames, high-temperature reactions, and Fire-type Pokémon moves.
This move seems inconspicuous and deals no direct damage. In certain parallel world battle games, it's almost completely ignored by players. However, in reality, its applications are extremely wide-ranging.
The reason is simple: upon entering the modern era, almost all mainstream human weapons rely on gunpowder explosions to provide kinetic energy and destructive power.
Two hundred years ago, during his campaigns for the Alliance, Arthur had suffered considerably due to this very move on numerous occasions.
Similar abilities that inhibit explosions, like the Damp ability, were also capabilities that caused tremendous headaches for human armies back then.
"Well done, Frogadier."
Arthur encouraged him, simultaneously opening his arms to welcome the successfully evolved Frogadier as he rushed into his embrace.
Not every Pokémon evolution necessarily guarantees the simultaneous learning of a new skill. In reality, mastering skills is very difficult for Pokémon; many without relevant training might evolve twice consecutively and still only possess four or five moves.
That Frogadier could comprehend such a challenging area-of-effect move upon evolution was the result of his accumulated potential bursting forth, as well as his outstanding willpower. It was the payoff for every single day of diligent training endured previously.
He deserved a big hug and encouragement.
However, Celebi standing aside asked with some confusion.
"Based on the past I observed, aren't you currently working as a competitive trainer? This move actually isn't very useful on the competitive stage, is it?"
On the competitive stage, very few people would be foolish enough to use a Fire-type Pokémon to challenge Frogadier.
Therefore, she didn't quite understand why Arthur was so happy.
This happiness didn't seem like mere encouragement for Frogadier; it felt genuinely heartfelt.
Arthur didn't hide anything either, calmly explaining, "Perhaps it's not very useful in competitive matches, but in real combat, that might not necessarily be the case."
"What are you planning to do?"
Celebi felt that Arthur's gaze at this moment was extremely dangerous.
"Isn't it obvious?"
Arthur smiled coldly. "Of course, it's to find the Stitched Shadow Army. I need to find out my Gengar's whereabouts! If he truly has gone astray, then I will personally go beat him up and then bring him back."
(End of Chapter)
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