Hilona also understood the urgency of the situation and hurriedly looked into the nest.
Eevee was already completely enveloped in the white light of evolution, with some peculiar changes happening inside.
However.
The evolution was not yet complete.
The evolution of a Pokémon is like this; some proceed smoothly and can be completed in an instant, while for others, due to the amount of change required and the benefits gained, the time varies.
Eevee's dormant genetic fragments were awakened, so it took longer.
She nodded at Natsuhiko from afar.
"Let's head over first."
At Natsuhiko's signal, Yujira used Instant Movement to transport them, along with Snorlax, into the ice nest.
They were ready to leave immediately once Eevee's evolution was complete.
At the same time, the Pokémon were prepared to face Articuno's attack once more.
"Kaa-mu——"
Snorlax slowly awoke, patted its belly, and brushed off the ice crystals on it; having withstood several attacks from Articuno, aside from the faint pain lingering in its body, "Rest" had almost restored it to its optimal state.
However, as Articuno drew closer, Snorlax could feel the increasing threat posed by its attacks.
More importantly now.
Snorlax was hungry.
Did they really think using the "Rest" technique to recover didn't require any consumption?
The cost was that it accelerated the consumption of energy and nutrients that Snorlax absorbed through eating. If it slept for a long time and suffered extremely strong attacks without any energy replenishment, Snorlax's fat would burn.
One reason these Pokémon have such thick fat is to prevent being attacked while sleeping and then directly "sleeping to death."
"Snorlax, eat this."
Before Natsuhiko could move, Hilona proactively took out a box of exquisite Energy Blocks.
These were Special Level Energy Blocks for General Type Pokémon, prepared for Eevee. However, now that Eevee was evolving, it seemed they would no longer be needed.
Seeing these crystalline Energy Blocks, Snorlax's eyes immediately widened.
How fragrant!
Disregarding the box entirely, it directly swallowed them, not chewing much before gulping them down.
The energy contained in the Special Level Energy Blocks couldn't be compared to the Intermediate Energy Blocks it usually consumed. After swallowing, the consumed energy quickly saw quite a recovery.
Rrr!!
However, just as Snorlax was eating, Articuno's cry suddenly appeared in their ears.
So fast?!
Natsuhiko's face changed dramatically; had Articuno sped up at the last moment?
It arrived much quicker than expected!
Buzz——
"Zzz-bee!"
Instinctively, the first to react was Beedrill, appearing with a golden afterimage in front of Natsuhiko, staring intently at the terrifyingly oppressive Articuno, ready to fall at any moment to protect Natsuhiko.
At the same time.
"Buyi~~"
Within the converging light of evolution, a pale blue Pokémon, resembling an ice sculpture, let out a soft, ethereal sound.
Brilliant ice flowers blossomed around it one by one.
Glaceon!
It still had a shape similar to Eevee, but its originally brown and cream soft, long fur had become a short layer of pale blue. On closer inspection, its fur bore spikes.
Its inner ears, back, and tail had dark blue diamond-shaped spots, sharply contrasting with its pale blue body. Its forehead had a blue, bangs-like tuft of fur, and on either side were braids-like long extensions ending with dark blue diamonds.
Hilona's Eevee successfully evolved into Glaceon!
But before Glaceon could happily frolic a little, it met Articuno's cold gaze, and its expression immediately froze.
"Hmm?"
To Natsuhiko's surprise, Articuno had reached them, having bypassed Snorlax's massive body. It was the perfect chance to attack and defeat all these "thieves."
Yet it did not do so.
It merely spread its wings, its red eyes sweeping over them, pausing for a few seconds on Glaceon before finally settling on Beedrill!
Buzz Buzz Buzz——
Beedrill was mentally taut, not daring to relax in the slightest as its wings vibrated at high speed, tiny arcs of electricity jumping and flickering around it.
Articuno stared intently at Beedrill, its anger subsiding considerably, replaced with confusion, deep confusion.
Like this.
The quiet and silence persisted for nearly a minute, with neither Natsuhiko nor Hilona daring to move recklessly.
Articuno's unusual behavior puzzled them both, but a thought slowly surfaced in Natsuhiko's mind.
'Articuno has been refraining from attacking and is staring at Beedrill as if scrutinizing and confused; could it be because... back when Beedrill was just a Weedle, it consumed that "Pure Gold Feather" and took a hit from Zapdos?'
The only thing Natsuhiko could think of was this.
And it was also the most convincing explanation.
Although the Legendary Bird Trio—Articuno, Zapdos, and Moltres—were not harmonious amongst themselves, if the "Pure Gold Feather" Beedrill consumed was not from an ordinary Zapdos but from a Divine Beast Thunderbird, and perhaps even its crest feather, that would change everything.
The Legendary Bird Trio might not be harmonious internally, but externally, they were united.