What kind of potential Larvesta possessed, Xia Yan, as its trainer, naturally knew best.
Even before it was born, it had received the full gift of a dying Volcarona. Afterward, it had devoured and absorbed Ho-Oh's Life Flame.
Then it had grown under Xia Yan's highest-level training from beginning to end.
Though it was only Gym Leader-level now.
That was because Xia Yan had not been in such a hurry to raise Larvesta's strength.
He wanted it to build an even more solid foundation, preparing for the day it truly broke from its cocoon and became a butterfly.
It could be said.
Larvesta was, without exaggeration, one of the Pokémon in Xia Yan's team with the sturdiest foundations.
The reason this Volcarona in the Ancient Castle was so eager to meet Larvesta, this younger Pokémon of its own kind.
Was presumably because it had sensed Larvesta's profound accumulation and potential.
Only.
When Xia Yan looked at Volcarona again, a trace of sorrow flashed through his eyes.
Xia Yan did not know how long this Volcarona had remained here, but it had definitely been over twenty-five hundred years.
It had always existed alongside the Ancient Castle.
Though Volcarona had a remarkably long lifespan among all Bug-type Pokémon.
Twenty-five hundred years was still far too long for a Volcarona.
What was more.
Two pitch-black chains were bound around its body.
Even with this Volcarona's Champion-level strength, it could not break free of the chains' restraints.
That was because the two chains connected to the Nightfall Meteorite behind it, which contained terrifying energy.
Perhaps noticing Xia Yan's gaze, Volcarona lowered its head and glanced at the chains tightly binding its body.
But it seemed remarkably optimistic about them.
As it gently swayed, the chains clashed and scraped together, producing crisp, harsh sounds.
[How