The night sky was utterly silent, strewn with countless stars. Gazing upward, the faint glow of the Milky Way was breathtaking enough to make one's heart ache. This world placed great importance on protecting nature, and so every night, Kael could witness a star-filled sky far more magnificent than anything he had ever seen back on Earth.
The moon here seemed unusually large—so close it felt almost within reach. Like a massive pale-gold disk suspended in the heavens, it bathed the land below in a soft, enchanting glow.
If the sun was a forthright, fiery man, then the moon was a gentle, graceful woman.
A bonfire crackled atop the beach, flames roaring high. Above it hung a small clay pot, bubbling and simmering with heat.
Kael sat cross-legged on the sand and beckoned to Sneasel beside him.
"Come, Sneasel. Lie down."
"Snea~"
Sneasel tilted her head, curiosity flickering across her face. She didn't know what her Trainer was planning, but she obediently lay down on the soft mat in front of him.
"No matter what you feel later, don't move," Kael said, his voice turning serious.
"Do you understand?"
"Snea!"
Sneasel nodded vigorously and patted her chest, clearly confident she could handle it.
Kael placed both hands on her shoulders and began carefully massaging her body, helping her relax. Tonight, at exactly midnight, he planned to let Sneasel evolve.
She had already mastered Night Slash—a move normally learned only after evolution. That alone proved she had met the requirements. At the very least, she now possessed the right to evolve.
There were several reasons she had managed this feat.
First, her natural talent was exceptional.
Second, the rare medicinal treatment she had undergone a month earlier—combined with intensive rehabilitation training—had dramatically enhanced her physical foundation.
And finally, the past five days of brutal weighted training had pushed her body beyond its limits.
All of it together allowed Sneasel to break through.
Kael was a perfectionist. Since he had decided that tonight would be the night of her evolution, he intended to bring her physical condition to absolute peak.
He coated her entire body with specially prepared medicinal oil, then used professional massage techniques to fully loosen her muscles.
"Snea~ Snea~"
Sneasel closed her eyes comfortably. Warmth flowed through her body. Kael's hands felt almost magical, as if they had awakened every inch of her muscles.
Time passed quietly.
A glance at his watch—almost eleven o'clock.
Kael gently turned her over so she lay facedown, then took out a small cloth pouch. When he opened it, rows of pristine silver needles gleamed inside.
He had Lulu bring over a bowl of thick, bubbling black medicinal paste from the fire. One by one, Kael immersed the needles into the mixture, allowing them to absorb its potency.
Back in his previous life, Kael had been an extreme-sports enthusiast. Injuries were routine, and that had led him to study traditional massage, bone-setting, and acupuncture.
Still, Pokémon anatomy differed vastly from that of humans. Kael would never dare to perform acupuncture alone—Lulu's assistance was essential. One wrong placement could mean permanent damage.
With her immense psychic power, Lulu precisely located every pressure point.
Once the needles were fully prepared, Kael began.
"Here… here… and here…"
Lulu pointed steadily at each spot along Sneasel's back as Kael followed with intense focus. When it was finally over, his entire head was drenched in sweat.
This kind of meticulous work was even more exhausting than high-intensity training—mentally draining beyond measure.
Sneasel felt a burning sensation spread across her back. It hurt—but remembering Kael's earlier words, she clenched her teeth and remained perfectly still.
The medicinal paste greatly accelerated blood circulation, keeping her body in a heightened, excited state. It resembled a stimulant—but carried no side effects whatsoever.
...
"Hold this."
Kael placed the Razor Claw into Sneasel's hands and spoke softly.
"You are the finest Sneasel I've ever known—and the strongest. I'm honored to be your partner. Tonight will be the most important moment of your life. Go and embrace it."
"Snea…"
Sneasel clenched the Razor Claw tightly and lifted her gaze toward the moon hanging in the sky. The full moon reflected clearly within her crimson vertical pupils.
Beep. Beep.
The sharp alarm of the sports watch echoed across the silent beach.
Midnight had arrived.
At exactly 00:00, Dark-type energy reached its daily peak. The Razor Claw, acting as the crucial catalyst, began altering the dormant genetic structure within Sneasel's body.
Without it, her evolutionary genes would remain permanently stable—no matter how much she trained, she would never evolve.
Dark-type energy now gathered densely around her, forming visible black mist. Any ordinary person who approached would feel a fear that pierced straight into the soul.
Dark energy assaulted the central nervous system—it was one of the most dangerous natural forces to humans.
At last, brilliant white evolution light burst forth.
The glow intensified, completely enveloping Sneasel as the surrounding black mist was drawn inward—
Kael clenched his fists, trembling with excitement.
Once this evolution was complete, his fast-strike core attacker would be fully realized. With Weavile's speed and offensive power, she would remain his strongest mainstay for a long time to come.
The light slowly faded.
Standing upon the sand now was an entirely new Pokémon—one still unknown to the world.
Sneasel's sharp pointed ears were gone, replaced by wide, wind-catching ones. Her fan-shaped crimson crest gave her an exotic air, and most importantly—
Her two-clawed hands had become three-clawed.
Greater flexibility.
Greater lethality.
"Wraa—Weavile!"
Feeling the explosive power coursing through her body, Weavile examined herself excitedly. She tapped her claws—blades that felt capable of cutting steel—hopped lightly in place, then looked toward Kael with anticipation and longing in her eyes.
Kael laughed and crouched down, arms open wide.
"Weavile!"
With a burst of movement, she vanished from where she stood—reappearing an instant later in Kael's arms. She hugged him tightly.
For someone always so proud, a single tear slipped from the corner of her eye—whether from joy or something deeper, no one could say.
Watching from the side, Lulu smiled quietly.
Being able to meet Kael…
was the greatest fortune of her life.