At first, Aerodactyl seemed to have fallen asleep, lying motionless on the floor.
If not for the faint sound of breathing that showed he was still alive, Yong would have suspected something had gone wrong.
Slowly, Aerodactyl's body began to tremble slightly. His limbs, in particular, seemed to draw inward, turning his prone posture into a curled-up position...
Pain appeared on Aerodactyl's face...
Yong frowned and was about to step forward, but Dr. Annu stopped him.
"Don't worry, child! This is his body reacting to repairs at the genetic level. It's also pain Aerodactyl must endure!"
Dr. Annu watched the dragon's expression grow increasingly contorted as a sweat-like liquid seeped from his entire body, and said softly,
"This is what a departed soul must go through to return to the world of the living..."
A departed soul...
Yong froze, then suddenly calmed down as he looked at his partner.
That's right. An Ancient Pokémon lost to the dust of history had been revived in the modern world, and now he wanted to reclaim his own power. How could that possibly come without a price?
The boy's gaze grew resolute as he watched Aerodactyl tremble all over. Despite his obvious agony, he never let out a single groan of pain...
This was Aerodactyl's pride. Even he understood the price he had to pay for power.
"Come on, Aerodactyl! You can do it! Think of Steelix and the others! They've proven themselves time and again, while you alone have kept shackling yourself! You've kept suppressing your desire to fight..."
The boy's voice filled the laboratory.
"Isn't this the very day we've been waiting for?! Aerodactyl! Hang in there! Take back your own power and return to your peak!"
"Raaah..."
Aerodactyl suddenly roared, and a savage draconic pressure radiated from his body...
Bang!