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Kael replayed the battle with Pignite in his mind.
By all logic, he shouldn't have been able to win. Pignite outclassed him in every measurable way training, level, and raw stats.
But somehow, against all odds, he'd tapped into a desperate "overdrive" state, surging far beyond his normal limits and clinching victory.
He knew better than to count on that happening every fight.
Releasing all stored power at once and compressing it into his body was dangerous not to mention extremely difficult.
Even with the experience fresh in his mind, Kael couldn't guarantee success every time. If he failed, it could mean self-destruction in front of an enemy.
Still, the fight had given him something valuable: a new perspective. He had learned how to circulate electricity through his body to push his cells beyond their normal limits, massively boosting speed and power.
With training, maybe he could use that technique in short bursts without risking everything.
Then another thought hit him on his level.
Before fighting Pignite, he'd been on the verge of leveling up. An opponent like that had to have given a huge amount of experience.
He should have hit level 15 and evolved… yet he felt nothing different.
Frowning, Kael opened his system menu.
[Defeated Pokémon: Pignite]
[+125 Experience Points]
The battle rewards popped up, and he checked his stats.
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[Species: Mareep]
[Level: 14 (198/100 XP)]
[Moves: Tackle, Growl, Thunder Wave, Hidden Power (Dragon), Thunder Shock, Cotton Spore]
[Evaluation: A Mareep on the verge of evolution]
---
The XP hadn't been wasted it was stacked onto his previous total. But it seemed the system had some kind of evolution control. Beside his level bar was a new button:
[Evolve]
Kael's eyes widened. He resisted the urge to tap it immediately.
The realization struck him that this was basically a built-in Everstone he could turn on and off at will. He could delay evolution, stockpile experience, and evolve when the time was right. It was… huge.
Given his current situation, though, the decision was obvious. He wasn't in League territory. He was in some kind of dark organization, and here, value determined survival.
After what he'd seen in the Shadow Pit, he knew that useless Pokémon were discarded without hesitation.
Plus, after that brutal fight, he'd been healed someone important had noticed him. Surrounded by medical staff, this was the safest place to evolve.
Even if something went wrong, help was seconds away.
He made up his mind.
Kael's gaze locked onto the button.
---
In the observation room, Kaise studied the Mareep standing motionless before him.
"…Is it brain damage?" he muttered. "Medical said he was fine…"
Then, a faint yellow glow began to radiate from Kael's wool, quickly intensifying.
Kaise's eyes narrowed. Then they widened.
The light grew brighter, flooding the room like a miniature sun. Ancient genes buried deep within Kael's cells stirred awake.
A soft, resonant hum filled the air as Kael's form shifted within the glow. He felt waves of soothing warmth spread through every fiber of his being. It was as if invisible hands were reshaping him.
Less than a minute later, the hum faded, and the light began to scatter into drifting motes like a rain of tiny golden stars.
Bzzt!
A powerful electrical surge erupted outward. The equipment in the medical bay flickered and went dead in an instant.
When the light cleared, a new Pokémon stood where the Mareep had been.
Standing upright on hooved feet, Kael's wool was now concentrated in a plush mane around his neck and atop his head.
His once-blue skin was now sleek and pink, his limbs more muscular and agile. A long tail striped in black ended in a bright blue orb that sparked faintly with power.
Electricity flowed around him like it belonged there.
He flexed his short but sturdy arms, and the static in the air bent toward him before being drawn back into the insulating wool at his neck.
Opening his eyes, Kael pulled up his system.
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[Species: Flaaffy]
[Level: 15 (98/100 XP)]
[Moves: Tackle, Growl, Thunder Wave, Hidden Power (Dragon), Thunder Shock, Cotton Spore, Charge]
[Evaluation: A Flaaffy with massive potential]
---
Aside from the new move, the real changes couldn't be captured on a stat screen.
His strength, speed, and most importantly his control over electricity had skyrocketed. The same wool that once stored his charge now did so with far greater capacity, ready to unleash it with precision.
Kael clenched his fists, feeling power hum through every nerve.
The future had just opened up.
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~Support with 200 PowerStones = 1 Bonus Chapter
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