Its limbs and tail became more slender and agile, while sharp, wing-like protrusions similar to those of Sceptile emerged from its wrists.
As the light of evolution faded, Mega Charizard Y stood proudly in place, its entire body radiating a suffocating heat. The flame at the tip of its tail burned like a blazing torch.
Just by standing there, the surrounding air visibly warped and heated.
[Pokémon: Mega Charizard Y]
Type: Fire / Flying
Category: Flame Pokémon
Ability: Drought (When it enters battle, the weather turns into harsh sunlight, increasing the power of Fire-type moves while weakening Water-type moves.)
"It is Mega Charizard Y!"
Theo's heart tightened.
Compared to the X form, Mega Charizard Y focused more on special attack. Its control over fire energy was far more precise, making it perfectly suited for guiding volcanic energy.
Nearby, little Fire Vulpix widened its eyes, sensing an energy within Mega Charizard Y that shared the same origin as its own, yet was far more vast and overwhelming.
Curious, the small creature trotted closer, circling Charizard twice, its tiny nose sniffing constantly as if trying to figure out how it had transformed.
After Mega Evolving, Charizard's ability had changed from Blaze to Drought, exactly the same as Fire Vulpix, so it was no wonder the little one felt an unusual sense of closeness.
Mega Charizard Y slightly activated its Drought ability, causing the temperature in the air to surge once again. Fire Vulpix immediately grew excited and responded in kind, releasing its own Drought ability with all its strength.
The two forces of sunlight intertwined and resonated with each other. The crimson cocoon that Larvesta had transformed into was gradually stirred, its color becoming increasingly vivid and translucent.
"Metagross, you Mega Evolve as well."
Theo took out Metagross's Mega Stone.
"In a moment, use your psychic power to assist Charizard. Filter out any impure energy. If the volcano erupts, use your psychic power to form a barrier and block falling rocks and lava."
"Meta—"
Metagross let out a low hum as the light of evolution blossomed across its body once more, and Mega Metagross appeared again in its eight limbed form.
Mega Metagross hovered in midair, its deep blue psychic field pushing away all the volcanic ash in the sky, forming a clean, vacuum-like domain.
Theo reached out and picked up Fire Vulpix, which had crept too close to Charizard.
"Do not disturb Charizard. It needs to help Larvesta evolve. You can play with it again after everything is finished."
Professor Oak gave a firm command,
"Charizard, take Larvesta to the center of the crater. That is where the energy is most concentrated.
Metagross, you heard the plan just now. With your intelligence, I have complete confidence in you. If Charizard overlooks anything, help remind it."
Charizard and Metagross both nodded at the same time.
Mega Charizard Y gently lifted Larvesta's crimson cocoon with its tail, slowly rising into the air and flying toward the volcanic crater.
Mega Metagross followed closely behind, its psychic field protecting both the cocoon and Charizard as they advanced steadily.
Seeing this, Tyrantrum immediately took a large step forward, intending to follow and help, but Theo called out to stop it.
"Tyrantrum, come back!"
Tyrantrum let out a low growl at Theo, its heart full of eagerness to help.
Theo smiled helplessly.
"You cannot even fly. If you go up there, you will just stand around watching. Besides, with your weight, standing on the edge of the crater is dangerous.
If the volcano erupts, do you want to roast yourself to celebrate Larvesta's evolution? Just wait here. Once Larvesta successfully evolves, I will let you greet it first."
Only then did Tyrantrum stop reluctantly, lowering its head in disappointment.
It glanced at Mega Metagross floating in the air, then at Milotic hovering by manipulating water, and the more it thought about it, the more unbalanced it felt.
It could accept that Charizard and Pidgeot could fly since their wings were so large. Even Dragonite, with its tiny chubby wings, could fly, and it had reluctantly accepted that.
But why could Metagross fly without wings? Why could Milotic float without wings? Even Cynthia's Garchomp could soar through the sky, yet it alone could only run wildly on the ground.
Tyrantrum had seen images of Larvesta's evolution and knew that it would grow wings and be able to fly as well.
It shook its head and looked at its companions, silently calculating.
After evolving, Larvesta would have wings and be able to fly. Metagross and Milotic could already fly. Ice Vulpix and Fire Vulpix were not dragons, so they did not count.
That left only itself and Deino.
Tyrantrum's gaze fell on Deino.
It secretly glanced at the little Pokémon beside it and noticed that Deino was also staring longingly at the sky, its expression filled with envy.
Instantly, Tyrantrum felt a bit more balanced.
At least there was still one companion that could not fly, someone to fall behind together with it.
Theo did not notice this entire chain of thoughts. Together with Professor Oak and Professor Birch, he raised a telescope and focused intently on the volcanic crater.
Mega Charizard Y had already brought the crimson cocoon to the edge of the crater. Thick steam billowed there, and the ground was charred black, with faint glimmers of magma seeping through cracks.
Charizard slowly descended, lifting its tail slightly to gently place the cocoon onto a relatively flat rock.
It exchanged a glance with Mega Metagross, as if communicating silently. Then, Metagross tightened its psychic field, bringing everything within a ten meter radius of the cocoon under its control.
In the next moment, once everything was ready, Mega Charizard Y took a deep breath and released a low, resonant dragon's roar toward the crater.
Within that roar was a special fluctuation, like a key that instantly unlocked the gates of energy within the volcano.
The mist inside the crater suddenly dissipated, revealing the churning orange-red magma below, like boiling blood, radiating a heat capable of melting steel.
As Charizard called out, it was as if a massive beast deep underground had awakened, and the heat within the crater grew even more intense.
A stream of energy carrying the sharp scent of sulfur slowly rose upward. Guided by Charizard's flames, it twisted like a winding red ribbon, wrapping itself around the crimson cocoon.
Mega Charizard Y's gaze grew increasingly focused. The flame on its tail flickered between bright and dim as it precisely controlled the flow of energy being infused.
Meanwhile, Mega Metagross operated its psychic power at full capacity, filtering out all impurities and violent energy mixed within the flow, leaving only the purest volcanic heat.
Professor Birch nodded in approval.
"As expected of Mega Evolved Charizard. The control is excellent. Maintain this rhythm."
The flow of energy from the crater became increasingly dense, and the glow of the crimson cocoon grew brighter and brighter. Scarlet patterns began to move across its surface as if they had come alive, flowing endlessly along the shell.
Mega Charizard Y flapped its wings and hovered in the air. Once it stabilized its position, the flame on its tail burned even more fiercely, clearly indicating that it had begun guiding the energy with its full strength.
Mega Metagross also rose into the air at the same time. The X shaped mark on its forehead flashed with an intense blue light, blocking sparks and fragments of rock that burst from the magma, ensuring that the cocoon remained completely undisturbed.
Time passed second by second. The light from Larvesta's crimson cocoon grew ever more brilliant, and faintly, the outline within became visible, as if a pair of enormous wings were slowly unfolding inside.
(End of Chapter)