Charmeleon immediately picked up the last item on the ground—the scarlet Fire Stone.
The instant it was activated, the Fire Stone transformed into a mass of liquid scarlet energy. Like ignited magma, it flowed up from Charmeleon's fingertips and merged perfectly with the power that had already been reconstructed within its body.
Boom—!!
Scarlet flames erupted from Charmeleon's body, intertwining with the white Evolution Light to form a storm of crimson and white flame.
Within the storm, Charmeleon's form underwent its final transformation—its neck grew longer, the two horn-like protrusions on the back of its head became more distinct, and its blue eyes opened amid the light, clear and sharp.
The light slowly faded, like seawater receding from the shore.
When the last trace of white radiance vanished from the center of the training room, a brand-new Pokémon stood quietly atop the gray stone slabs.
Charizard.
It stood over four meters tall, far exceeding an ordinary Charizard's height of 1.7 meters.
Its orange skin gleamed warmly beneath the lights, slightly lighter than it had been as a Charmeleon. Its belly, tail tip, and soles were cream-colored.
It had short, sturdy hind legs and comparatively smaller forelimbs. Each forelimb bore three sharp claws, and its feet were likewise tipped with three talons.
Most eye-catching of all was the enormous pair of wings on its back—fully spread, they spanned seven or eight meters. Their inner surfaces were a deep blue-green, while horn-like protrusions grew from the third joint.
Its wings drew in slightly before spreading again in the air. Every flap stirred a steady current, as though they had existed within this Novice body for a very long time.
Its blue eyes were clear and sharp, and the two horn-like protrusions on the back of its head resembled a crown.
Its long,