Chapter 19: Evolution and Shadows
[SWAMP TOAD TAHM KENCH — LVL 73]
Drake's eyes snapped wide open as he barked, "You three, back off! This guy's way too strong!"
Drawing Yoru, he charged forward, deliberately drawing the monster's aggro. The swamp toad growled deeply, its massive mouth opening wide. In a blur, its tongue shot out like a bullet, slamming into Drake's sword and pushing him back.
"Monferno, Gible, draw its attention! Pidgeot, Staraptor, close combat—take it down!" Drake shouted.
The two birds lunged, relentlessly beating the beast while Monferno scorched its feet, slowing its movements. Suddenly, Gible burst from the ground, slamming into the toad and knocking it off balance.
Seeing the opening, Drake surged forward, sprinting and lunging—Yoru piercing deep into the monster's eye. The beast let out a deafening roar before dissolving into a swirl of purple dust.
CONGRATULATIONS! YOU HAVE DEFEATED SWAMP TOAD — LVL 73
RALTS — LEVEL UP! 21
Drake glanced at the notification, but before he could react, Ralts on his shoulder was suddenly enveloped in a blinding light. Its form shimmered and changed.
When the light faded, a graceful, bipedal Pokémon stood where Ralts had been—a humanoid figure adorned with what looked like a delicate tutu. Its white body was accented by three ruffles on each hip. Thin green legs ended in pointed feet, and its slender arms each had two digits. Green hair framed its face in twin "ponytails," partially hiding two large red eyes. Two flat red horns, resembling hairpins, adorned its head.
RALTS HAS EVOLVED INTO KIRLIA
The newly evolved Kirlia began dancing around Drake's head, showing off its beauty and grace.
"Relax, Kirlia, I'm proud of you. Good job," Drake said, smiling.
Kirlia gleefully nodded, running in circles around the other Pokémon, all of whom joined the celebration—except Gible, who watched with unmistakable jealousy as the only one left un-evolved.
Bell, Welf, and Lili stood dumbfounded.
"Did you guys see that? How did that monster get destroyed so fast?" Bell asked, wide-eyed.
"And what happened to the little guy? How did he change?" Welf added, still processing.
Lili's eyes sparkled with admiration. "Drake-sama is so cool!"
Drake stored the giant crystal and called his companions to move on toward the stairway.
"Oh no! We should head back—Goddess Hestia will be worried," Bell said nervously.
"Yeah, we better get going," Welf agreed.
"I'm sorry, Drake, but we have to leave," Lili added, regret clear in her voice.
"It's okay. I'm glad we met. Bell, try not to get into too much trouble," Drake said with a grin.
As Drake and his Pokémon pressed onward, Bell's party began their ascent back to the surface.
Neither party noticed the silent observer.
At the top of Babel Tower, an exquisitely beautiful woman sipped wine while gazing into a glowing glass orb. Inside, the unusual meeting between Drake and Bell, along with the battle, played out.
"Hmm… a monster that can speak and fights with intelligence and training," she mused.
Her eyes widened as she saw the strange Pokémon evolved before them.
"Hehehe… the dungeon clearly hates him if it's unleashing such beasts to block his progress. This is getting interesting."
She turned to a hulking boar-like man beside her, his grin wide and savage.
"Ottar, dear, find that monster. I want those creatures he controls—and if you can kill him and steal them, all the better."
Ottar nodded and stalked away.
"With those creatures, the Freya Familia will be unstoppable. I almost feel sorry for that little prey," she said, smirking smugly.
Meanwhile, Drake and his companions reached the stairway and settled down to rest, unaware of the dark forces now converging on them, sparked by their meeting with Bell.