"Hmm..."
Natsuhiko slowly awoke, memories surged like tides.
Gradually he recalled that he and Weedle seemed to have been struck by Zapdos?
Right, where's Weedle?!
Natsuhiko was startled, hastily searching around, only to find himself at a shoal, seemingly having fallen into the Fengluo River when struck by Zapdos?
And then inexplicably drifted along the river for who knows how long?
Fortunately, Weedle was still there, and the Pokemon Egg in the backpack was undamaged. Natsuhiko checked his clothes and found the scorched Weedle.
With eyes closed, expression relaxed.
Looking very peaceful.
"Weedle." Natsuhiko called out nervously.
He didn't understand why they survived being struck by Zapdos, but he remembered that Weedle had to pass through the Electric Energy surrounding the Pure Gold Feather to destroy Tom Rokicki's device, and his entire body endured an electric bath.
Judging from the injuries, without timely treatment, Weedle might die.
Even Natsuhiko, who usually tries to stay calm, couldn't help but feel tense at this moment.
"Whew..."
As if hearing Natsuhiko's voice, Weedle slowly opened his eyes, appearing bewildered.
"Whew!"
Soon he came to, gently twisting his body.
Seeing Weedle wake up, Natsuhiko breathed a little easier and urgently asked, "Are you okay?"
But Weedle seemed to sense something, suddenly stiffening his expression, then his body began to exhibit irregular tremors, as if convulsing.
Under Natsuhiko's surprised gaze, Weedle's body started to collapse, fine cracks appeared, and a layer of scorched shells began to peel off slowly, like a withered tree struck by spring thunder, drawing out new buds in the gentle breeze.
Gradually revealing the dazzling new earthy yellow crystal shell beneath.
Faintly, arcs seemed to flicker.
Again....
Shed shell?
Was the final thunder from Zapdos not an attack?
When Weedle completely shed the pieces of shell shackling his movements, he stretched comfortably, accompanied by a groan and slight "snap" sounds emanating from his body.
"Whew?"
After doing this, he realized.
Seemed like... shed his shell again?
Doesn't that mean the evolution will be delayed again?
Thinking about the evolution that he had been longing for being delayed again, Weedle felt slightly disappointed, but knowing both he and Natsuhiko were fine, he quickly accepted the fact.
But before he could accept the fact, his body suddenly radiated a beam of white light.
Natsuhiko pondered over what could have triggered Weedle's transformation again, was it the Pure Gold Feather Weedle consumed? Or Zapdos's final lightning?
"Huh?"
"Whew?"
Both Natsuhiko and Weedle stared at each other blankly, took a few seconds to respond.
"It's evolving?"
Apparently, the last shed didn't interrupt Weedle's evolution pace. Already at the breakthrough point, Weedle, after leaving danger and completing the last shedding, officially stepped into the evolution process.
"Whew!" Weedle looked delighted.
It's evolving?
Weedle had anticipated evolution for a long time.
Meanwhile, it was Natsuhiko's first time witnessing a Pokémon evolve, seemingly slower than imagined.
Hurriedly, he took out an iron box from the backpack, filled with Advanced Energy Blocks that were left for Weedle during this time.
"Quick, eat them! Eat as much as you can!"
Natsuhiko researched Weedle's evolution thoroughly.
Weedle's evolved form is Kakuna, a cocoon Pokémon, and such Pokémon have one feature: evolution is to store energy for a later transformation, typically unable to eat or move much during it.
The more energy stored, the stronger they evolve.
So wild Weedles would choose secluded safe spots during evolution, hanging in dense woods, waiting silently for the transformation.
No doubt, absorbing a lot of energy before evolving while reducing consumption results definitely in a stronger form afterward.
Thus, now Natsuhiko urges Weedle to consume more Energy Blocks before evolution, even if it strains, the benefit post-evolution will be enormous.
Weedle, however, didn't think as much as Natsuhiko did; his favorite Advanced Energy Blocks right in front of him, indulging to his heart's content, what could make him happier?
He immediately plunged his head into the box, feasting greedily.
Oddly enough, despite not having a large appetite usually, merely able to eat a few Advanced Energy Blocks per meal, Weedle surprisingly finished all thirty remaining Advanced Energy Blocks shortly.
Seeming still unsatisfied.
Natsuhiko was taken aback for a moment.
Weedle's consumption capacity during evolution indeed exceeded his expectations.
"Luckily, I've prepared some Intermediate Energy Blocks, though not as effective as Advanced ones, but for Weedle needing power accumulation now, quantity matters most, quality can stack up from quantity."
He took out another box filled with Intermediate Energy Blocks, over a hundred pieces still remaining.
Natsuhiko sat silently watching Weedle, piece after piece, mouthful after mouthful, as if turning into a bottomless pit.
It's hard to imagine how such a small body could contain so many Energy Blocks.
When Weedle devoured the last Intermediate Energy Block, satisfied, he licked his lips, let out a belch.
Finally satiated.
Seeing Weedle satisfied, Natsuhiko too felt relieved.
Thankfully, almost delaying Weedle due to inadequate preparation.
After belching, the white light enveloping Weedle suddenly intensified, a milky aura entirely obscuring changes within.
One of the most mysterious existences in the Pokémon Realm is Pokémon evolution.
At this moment, Weedle was experiencing the most crucial evolution moment of its life.
Natsuhiko could only silently stay by its side, waiting for its transformation.
Uncertain how much time passed.
Even Natsuhiko's clothes nearly dried naturally, as Weedle's evolution finally reached its end.
As the white light gradually receded.
A brand new Pokémon finally emerged before their eyes.
The pale yellow cocoon shell faintly accompanied by a low hum, with a rounded crown and dark triangular eyes.
Like the most common chrysalis, only radiating a metallic sheen.
However, Kakuna isn't entirely devoid of movement or combat ability, amidst its body are scythe-shaped limbs for movement and to exhibit some fighting capacity.
But being as nimble in battle as Weedle was is impossible.
"Rustle rustle..."
Kakuna lightly swayed his body, somewhat puzzled by his current state.
"Congratulations on evolving."
Natsuhiko smiled and stepped forward, touching Kakuna's smooth surface, feeling a trace of warmth.
Kakuna's temperature would rise, indicating its internal evolution process is proceeding.
Speaking, Natsuhiko tried to lift Kakuna.
But with one exertion, he froze.
So heavy.
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Third update, more to come after, additional for monthly tickets. You all are truly awesome... impressive!
A group is at the end, feel free to join if interested,