"Boom!"
Charmeleon spat out a stream of fire, like a blazing serpent lashing toward Alakazam.
But just as the flames were about to strike, a shimmering barrier appeared around Alakazam, blocking the attack completely.
Protect.
Unlike in the games, Protect in reality wasn't absolute. In the games, even a level 1 Pokémon could block an attack from a level 100 Moltres with Protect.
But here in the real world, it didn't work that way.
Protect consumed the user's own energy. If the Pokémon's energy could withstand the opponent's strike, the defense held. If not—it shattered.
This Alakazam, however, was at the very peak of the Lord-tier. Its strength and energy reserves were overwhelming, easily enough to withstand Charmeleon's flames.
"Alakazam, use Psychic!" Sabrina commanded sharply as soon as the barrier held.
"Clang!"
Alakazam struck its twin spoons together, releasing a surge of invisible psychic power that blasted toward Charmeleon.
In that instant, Charmeleon felt as if a truck had slammed into it. It roared, bracing itself against the crushing force of the Psychic.
But…
The attack was simply too strong. Charmeleon's claws sank into the ground as it was driven backward, plowing a deep trench in the earth.
The power difference was crushing.
Alakazam was a glass cannon by design—frail, but with frighteningly high attack and speed.
This one wasn't just any Alakazam. At Lord-tier peak, and wielding its psychic spoons, its power rivaled even Gym Leader–level Pokémon—perhaps greater still!
Charmeleon was already badly injured.
Though Psychic was an unseen force, its effects were real: Charmeleon's body was battered and scratched, its breathing ragged, its stamina plummeting fast.
If not for its grueling training and enhanced endurance, it would have already been knocked out on the spot!
"Rooaaar!"
Charmeleon bellowed, defiance igniting in its chest.
Pain coursed through its body, stamina draining away—but instead of despair, a savage determination flared within.
"Fwoosh!"
Blaze!
In an instant, Charmeleon's ability activated. The flame on its tail surged to five times its usual size.
At the same time, its aura skyrocketed. Its sheer presence now rivaled Alakazam's own.
…
For Charmeleon, fire was not just an attack—it was the very flame of its life, its driving core.
When Blaze activated, and its life fire burned at its fiercest, every part of its body—strength, speed, stamina, defense—was enhanced beyond its limits.
At this moment, Charmeleon's raw physical abilities had already reached the Lord-tier peak. And its flames burned even stronger still.
"Good, Charmeleon! One more time—Flamethrower!" Yozora shouted, his heart surging in sync with his partner.
This was the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
When one's spirit blazed, the other felt it too.
"Boom!"
Charmeleon unleashed a torrent of fire, like a roaring cannonball, hurling straight toward Alakazam.
"Protect!" Sabrina's eyes widened as she gave the urgent command.
Alakazam immediately raised another psychic barrier.
But this time—
"Crack… crack…"
Cracks spiderwebbed across the violet shield as the flames struck it.
Sabrina and Alakazam both froze, eyes widening in shock.
"Teleport!" Sabrina's thoughts flashed like lightning, her psychic voice connecting directly with Alakazam's mind.
Psychic communication was far swifter than speech.
"Shwoop!"
At the last instant, Alakazam teleported away.
The barrier shattered under the onslaught, bursting into glittering shards of psychic energy that dissolved into the air.
"Alakazam, use Psyshock!" Sabrina ordered coldly.
"Whshh!"
In a blink, Alakazam reappeared behind Charmeleon, its spoons clashing as it unleashed a violet shockwave that blasted forward.
Charmeleon spun, reacting at the last possible second—but the Psyshock slammed into it full force, hurling it backward again.
Even with Blaze boosting its endurance, the damage was brutal.
Once more, it just barely withstood the attack.
But after two consecutive psychic strikes far beyond its level, Charmeleon's body trembled on the edge of collapse, panting heavily, flames flickering weakly.
"Hmph. It's over. Alakazam—finish it with—" Sabrina sneered, but her words cut off mid-sentence.
"Shhhhk!"
At that very moment, a dazzling light erupted from Charmeleon's body.
The light of evolution.
Wrapped in radiance, Charmeleon's body expanded, growing taller and mightier. From its back unfurled a pair of powerful wings.
"Fwoooosh…"
As the light faded, the Charmeleon was gone.
In its place stood a Charizard.
Majestic. Fierce.
Yozora's eyes widened—the first thought striking him was how massive it looked.
His Charmeleon had always been unusually large and imposing compared to others of its kind. But now, as a Charizard, it was even more so.
With a quick estimate, Yozora realized—it stood nearly two meters tall.
A terrifying size, towering above most Charizard by half a head or more.
"It finally evolved!" Yozora's heart surged with joy.
Charmeleon had endured for so long, waiting for this moment. Now at last, it had ascended.
Unable to resist, Yozora pulled up its status panel, eager to see the results of this breakthrough.
[Pokémon]: Charizard
[Type]: Fire + Flying
[Ability]: Blaze + Blaze + Blaze + Water Absorb
[Level]: Lord-tier Peak
[Potential]: Tier 3 Legendary
[Moves]: Flamethrower, Fire Spin, Fire Blast, Flare Blitz, Fire Punch, Thunder Punch, Scary Face, Dragon Rage, Dragon Claw, Dragon Tail, Smokescreen, Wing Attack
[Description]: A Charizard with kingly potential, whose flames burn with overwhelming might.
…
Lord-tier peak!
This evolution had unleashed Charizard's latent potential, elevating it instantly to the very pinnacle of Lord-tier.
And with Blaze still active, its battle power surpassed even that.
Against ordinary Gym Leader–level Pokémon? It could crush them outright!
On top of that—
It had learned a new move: Wing Attack.
At the same time, it had shed some of its lesser techniques—Take Down, Slash, Flame Charge.
That was natural. Pokémon often discarded moves they rarely used, or ones they deemed unnecessary.
Yozora's Beedrill, for example, had once known countless moves throughout its career. But now, as an Elite Four–tier powerhouse, it relied only on its twin drills to sweep aside all foes.
Forgotten moves could always be relearned if a trainer insisted—but most of the time, there was no need.
For Charizard, Take Down, Slash, and Flame Charge were meaningless now.
Flamethrower, Fire Blast, Thunder Punch, Wing Attack—those were its true weapons.
If only it could learn Seismic Toss, then it would be perfect.
As for Dragon Claw and Dragon Tail—their power was only average for now.
Charizard wasn't truly a Dragon-type. Only by Mega Evolving into Charizard X would those dragon techniques reach their full destructive potential.
"To think it evolved at a time like this…" Sabrina's face darkened as her eyes fixed on the towering Charizard before her.
…
…
(End of Chapter)