Chapter 81: I Want to Live Under the Same Sun as You
Dragonite Valley.
The valley plain was not just a flat grassland; the surrounding hills were dotted with caves of various sizes. These were places the Dragonite used for shelter during rain or snow. Most of the time they were unnecessary; they would usually just sleep on the soft plains. But for the Zubat, who couldn't be exposed to direct sunlight, these caves were always useful. After all, the Zubat species itself preferred to live in nests inside caves.
While Will was learning skills from the Dragonite Chief, the Zubat would obediently stay in these caves.
A week passed in a flash.
Will had originally thought that his leveling progress would stagnate for a while after coming to Dragonite Valley, as he didn't think he could find any suitable opponents in this central region. But later, while practicing his skills, he was struck by a realization: he could spar with the other Dragonair.
One sunny day, Will was learning the move Fire Spin from the Dragonite Chief. He had already been learning it for a week. The chief hadn't proactively taught him this; it was a move Will had requested.
When he had first arrived, the chief had required him to have a test battle with another Dragonair. He had wanted to see Will's current skill level to provide more targeted teaching. In that battle, Will had been severely hampered by the other Dragonair's Fire Spin. The move's damage wasn't high, but its ability to lock down movement was truly powerful. You either had to take the damage or have your actions restricted. So, after the battle, Will had proactively asked to learn it.
This request was made with a specific purpose in mind. Will had never forgotten that his future enemies were not a single Pokémon, but a group of Pokémon and humans. A move like Fire Spin might not have the raw power of Flamethrower, but on a battlefield, its effect would be far superior.
Just then.
"Dragonite!"
A crimson energy flashed in the Dragonite Chief's mouth. The next moment, a surging vortex of fire shot towards Will. Of course, the chief didn't intend to one-shot him. He didn't have the attack hit directly, but instead used the massive vortex to surround him.
This served several purposes. It allowed Will to personally experience how Fire Spin was used and how it worked, and it also let him figure out how to escape when trapped by it.
And the chief's Fire Spin was completely different from the one used by the other Dragonair. At least in Will's eyes, the difference in proficiency had turned it into a completely different skill. The other Dragonair's was the Fire Spin most people imagined. But the chief's... was a whole new move.
Perhaps it could be called a "Fire Cage." Because at that moment, you couldn't even see Will on the plain, only an oval-shaped, constantly spinning cage of fire.
Will was inside it.
In a nearby cave.
"Zubat-bat!"
The Zubat felt the wave of heat wash over it and became extremely anxious. It flapped its wings, flying in circles inside the damp, dark cave. It tried to step outside, but the scorching sunlight hit its wings, and a burning pain immediately made it shrink back. It had always been a rather timid child.
Inside the fire cage on the plain.
"There's not a single crack," Will said, looking at the seamless wall of fire. He truly felt the power of the Dragonite Chief. A normal Fire Spin was made of strands of fire with gaps in between. A slightly stronger, more proficient one might form a wall, but it wouldn't seal the top. But this one didn't even leave a window.
He didn't dare to just ram his way out. The damage from Fire Spin wasn't high, but it depended on who was using it. The chief was at least 20 levels higher than him. He couldn't even imagine how powerful this Fire Spin was. If he were even grazed by it, he'd probably faint.
I can only try a Water-type move.
Will could feel the surrounding temperature getting higher and higher; sweat was already starting to form on his skin. He couldn't let this continue.
[Brine]
First, he whipped his tail, sending countless streams of cold water at the surrounding flames. But unfortunately, the moment the water touched the fire, it was instantly vaporized into steam. The only effect this move had was to briefly lower the temperature inside the vortex. It was useless. He had to try something else.
[Water Pulse]
Will shot a large Water Pulse orb towards one spot on the wall. He then followed closely behind it, preparing to break out. If it was strong enough, the Water Pulse could open a hole in the fire wall, and he could escape unharmed. If it wasn't, it could at least temporarily slow the wall's temperature and rotation, weakening it and giving him a chance to break through. If even Water Pulse couldn't help him escape, then he didn't know what to do.
"I'm betting it all on this one. Water Pulse, I believe in you!" Will gritted his teeth and followed closely behind his attack.
The next moment, pop. The Water Pulse was like a balloon hitting a needle. It burst violently, having almost no effect on the wall of fire.
Water Pulse, I'll never believe in you again!
That was Will's last thought before he fainted.
The Dragonite Chief on the plain saw a blackened serpent get flung out of the vortex. He was a little confused at first, but then he immediately realized it was Will. He wasn't too alarmed and had a Dragonair, who was already waiting, feed Will a few berries. They were berries that looked like green strawberries, known as Pecha Berries, specifically used for treating burns.
"ZUBAT!!"
Just as the Dragonite Chief was pondering his next lesson, a piercing cry came from the distance. He turned his head and his eyes widened. He saw the Zubat flying out of the cave.
"Nite?!"
The chief remembered it was the little one Will had brought with him and was startled. Others might not know, but having lived for so long, how could he not? The reason Zubat were nocturnal wasn't because they didn't want to come out in the day. It was because their body structure made it impossible for them to do so.
But the next moment, all eyes were on that Zubat.
A minute ago, the Zubat, which was constantly sensing Will's presence, felt his aura weaken and not stop weakening. It could no longer hold back and rushed out. It had no eyes; it couldn't see anything. It didn't know what kind of environment it was in, nor what was causing its body so much pain.
"Zubat..."
The pained cry in its throat could not drown out its call for Will. The wings that were in so much pain it could barely feel them could not stop its determination to fly to him.
The worry for Will.
The desire to see Will.
The desire to be closer to Will.
In this moment, these feelings intertwined, converged, and fused.
I want to live under the same sun as you.
I don't want to keep watching you from the dark, distant shadows as you slowly fly away.
As long as I can reach your side, I don't care if I become a monster.
The desire for change reached its peak. The energy inside the Zubat's body surged unstoppably. This surge was not permanent, but it was enough to push the Zubat to the threshold it was already so close to.
A light more dazzling than the sun suddenly burst forth from its body. Even the brilliant sun had to temporarily yield to the light of evolution. The form within the white light gradually changed. The flames ignited by the sun faded from its body.
The next moment, the Zubat, in a brand new form, flew towards Will.
"GOLBAT-BAT!"
The newly evolved Golbat no longer feared the sun. It no longer needed ultrasonic waves to perceive the world. In this moment, it could see all the vibrant colors of the world. But its gaze, naturally, fell first upon the one it had longed for: Will. Just as when it was born, the first living being it had sensed with its ultrasonic waves was him.
"Nite," the Dragonite Chief sighed in relief. That scene had really scared him. But thinking back on it now, he couldn't help but be moved by the bond between Will and the Golbat. He had thought that after living for a thousand years, his heart had turned to stone. But now, it was still so easily touched by the feelings between other Pokémon. This really didn't fit the image of a domineering, cold-hearted leader.
"Dragonite!" the chief clenched his fist. He decided to continue to work hard to cultivate a strong heart. Starting tomorrow, he would try to maintain a stern face for a whole day!
Will woke up the next day. He glanced at the Golbat guarding his left side and the Shiny Dragonite on his right, and decided to go back to sleep for a while.
Half an hour later, he woke up again and accepted the Golbat's new form. Although the Golbat was stronger and no longer feared the sun, its appearance was really no better than the Zubat's. It was on the same level as the chubby Shiny Dragonite.
"Golbat, congratulations. You can see the world now," Will said, but he still had to congratulate him on his evolution. However, he felt that something was not quite right. According to his predictions, the Zubat shouldn't have reached the level to evolve yet. Could he have been mistaken?
"Golbat-bat," the Golbat affectionately snuggled up and hugged Will. With its 3-meter size and nearly 6-meter wingspan, it easily enveloped Will's entire head in its embrace. Its large mouth, which couldn't fully close, was over two meters long. As it hugged Will, it looked like it was about to stuff his head in its mouth.
"Oh well," Will thought, looking at the healthy and happy Golbat, and decided not to think about it anymore. Although in theory, a Zubat should evolve at Lv. 22, that was just a theory. Evolving one or two levels early probably wasn't that strange.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter