🎆 Happy New Year! 🎆
Thank you all for the amazing support throughout this year. 💙To celebrate the arrival of the new year, here is a special New Year code:
🎁 Code:NewYear: F3B16
📅 Code validity:
Start: December 30, 2025 at 11:55 p.m.
End: January 2, 2026 at 11:00 p.m.
Enjoy it and let's start this new year strong. 🚀✨Here's to an amazing 2026! 🎉
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"So this is Slowking's evolutionary form."
"The Secret Kingdoms really are places full of wonders."
The Grand President Beckett sighed in amazement. Regarding Slowking, Ethan Black had already told him everything in detail.
Although he was surprised by the existence of this Pokémon, at that moment the research on dark energy was far more important.
Therefore, after a brief moment of admiration, the researchers of the Pokémon Researchers' Guild immediately got to work, searching for traces of dark energy inside the place.
While they were busy, Ethan Black finally had time to calmly observe the cave of the ruins.
"Slowking, come out."
Ethan Black thought for a moment and released his Slowking.
"That's Slowking?"
"So, with the King's Rock and a Shellder, a Slowpoke can evolve into this form."
"It seems your article 'New Directions in Pokémon Evolution' was correct. In this world, there truly exist countless miracles, and the potential of every Pokémon is infinite."
The Grand President Beckett, upon seeing Slowking appear, stepped forward to observe this new life form. He couldn't help but be moved.
"Pokémon have always been amazing creatures."
Ethan Black smiled faintly and stroked the Shellder on Slowking's head, causing it to close its eyes slightly in comfort.
"It really is incredible... If I had the time, I'd love to study this Slowking thoroughly right now."
"I can feel it... it's completely different from a Slowpoke or a Slowbro."
The Grand President Beckett let out a soft sigh, patted Ethan Black on the shoulder, and then joined the other researchers to continue investigating the dark energy in the cave.
"Yadon..."
At that moment, Slowking fixed his gaze on the murals carved into the wall and, together with Shellder, walked up to them.
"Yadon?"
Upon seeing the image of Slowpoke in the cave painting, Slowking tilted his head, brought his hand to his chin, and began to ponder.
An instant later, his eyes shone with an intense light, releasing psychic energy that began to seep into the wall.
Boom!
Suddenly, the mural before them emitted a silvery glow. Rays of light outlined the shapes of the figures, making it seem as if the wall had come alive.
It all happened as quickly as it vanished. By the time Ethan Black and the Grand President Beckett reacted, the light had already merged into Slowking's body.
The Pokémon stood still, eyes wide open, and upon receiving all that energy, his body trembled slightly before calmly closing his eyes.
"Slowking, are you alright?"
Ethan Black nervously asked him.
"Yadon!"
Slowking shook his head. Only, with his head tilted, he seemed to be reflecting on something.
"What happened?"
The Grand President Beckett came closer; that sudden silver light had surprised him.
"That... I don't know."
"But from Slowking's appearance, it looks like he's fine."
Ethan Black shook his head, though he furrowed his brow slightly: it seemed he had a hunch.
That silvery light...?
Could it have been some kind of inheritance for Slowking?
Thinking about it, instinctively, the image of Lugia appeared in his mind.
He remembered that in the second Pokémon movie, The Power of One, a Slowking had also appeared.
Could it be that the mural and his Slowking had some connection to Lugia?
Of course, that was nothing more than Ethan Black's speculation. No one could be sure.
"As long as he's fine."
The Grand President Beckett nodded and turned his gaze back toward the murals, his eyes narrowing. Evidently, his interest had been piqued.
After all, even if they hadn't shown such an extraordinary change, cave paintings inside Pokémon ruins already held immense research value.
...
The exploration of the Slowking ruins inside the Secret Kingdom continued in an orderly manner.
After completing the initial analyses, the Grand President Beckett left the work in the hands of other researchers and took Ethan Black back to the headquarters of the Pokémon Researchers' Guild in the Secret Kingdom of the Sky.
Upon returning, Ethan Black went through the laboratory to check on Absol. He found that he was still unconscious, but from what he could see, much of the dark energy inside his body had already dissipated.
Relieved, Ethan Black returned to his dormitory to rest. After all, that day had been exhausting.
"Ethan! You finally came to see me."
It wasn't long before his good friend Alex Baxter came looking for him.
"Of course I'd like to see you more often, but entering the Secret Kingdom of the Sky isn't something I can decide." Ethan Black shrugged with a smile. Having confirmed that Absol was stable, he was finally able to relax a little.
"I came as soon as I heard you were here."
"So? Did you find anything new this time?"
From the way Alex Baxter spoke, it was obvious he still didn't know anything about the existence of the Dark League nor Ethan Black's true reasons for entering there.
Remembering the Grand President Beckett's warning, Ethan Black decided to keep it a secret. He simply said that he had stumbled upon some ruins by chance and left out everything related to the organization.
"Slowking?"
"Did you really discover a new Pokémon?"
Alex Baxter's eyes lit up, and he immediately asked Ethan Black to show him.
"That's Slowking?"
"It seems to be a joint evolution of Slowpoke and Shellder."
"But this time, instead of biting the tail, Shellder is clinging to the head."
Seeing him, Alex Baxter couldn't stop examining him curiously, circling around him again and again.
"Shellder, do you remember me?"
He turned to speak directly to the Shellder on Slowking's head.
This one, with an almost human gesture, rolled his eyes and closed them to ignore him.
"Yes, that's my Shellder. He evolved together with Slowpoke when carrying the King's Rock."
Ethan Black gently tugged Alex Baxter, who wouldn't stop snooping, and explained with a smile the process of Slowking's evolution.
(End of chapter)