A spark from Moltres' wing drifted onto a rock near Su Feng. Instantly, the stone ignited, burning fiercely until nothing remained—yet the flames lingered, defying logic.
[Did you see that?! The rock vaporized!]
[This breaks every law of physics!]
[How?! Rocks don't burn!]
[That spark would incinerate a human to ashes…]
Trapped in the inferno, Combusken crouched and leaped toward Moltres. Su Feng winced—it was a reckless move, but surrounded by flames, options were scarce.
WHAM!
Moltres swatted Combusken mid-air like a fly. He crashed back into the firestorm, battered but unyielding. Blood trickled from his beak as he staggered up. The gap between them was vast, but he refused to fall without landing a single hit.
Then—a surge of energy pulsed within him.
"Torchic…?"
His body began to glow—evolution!
[He's evolving!!! Record this!!!]
[Will he get cuter or cooler?!]
[Evolve and clap that bird!!!]
[Evolution isn't a power-up cheat code! Moltres is still—]
The light flickered, dimming abruptly. Combusken stood unchanged, bewildered.
[Evolution… failed?]
[How?! Pokémon don't just fail to evolve!]
[Nooo! Combusken, push harder!]
[The light's fading… It's over.]
Moltres' keen eyes saw the truth: Combusken's obsession with Fighting-type training had starved his Fire energy. His muscles suppressed his flame sac, stalling evolution.
Tch. Fixable.
With a graceful wing flick, Moltres separated a wisp of golden flame from her core—Sacred Fire—and let it merge into Combusken. Her aura dimmed imperceptibly, pride masking her fatigue.
The dying evolution reignited, erupting into a blinding pillar of light.
When the glow faded, Blaziken stood tall—crimson plumage, V-shaped crest, wrists and ankles ablaze with molten fire.
"Blaziken!!!"
A triumphant cry echoed as golden flames—identical to Moltres'—rippled across his body. For the first time, his Fire energy flowed freely.
[That's… Combusken?!]
[CHADKEN! MY GOAT!!!]
[From cute to DAMN. Evolution OP!]
[Wait, what's his name now?]
"Blaziken," Su Feng breathed, relieved. "The Blaze Pokémon. Fire/Fighting-type. Its wrists and ankles ignite in battle, enhancing its devastating kicks and punches."
Blaziken crouched, flames jetting from his heels—ready to strike.
But Moltres raised a wing. "Enough. My purpose is served."
"Blaziken? (What?)"
"The ember within you carries my eternal flame. Use it well." Moltres turned, her voice regal yet weary. "Farewell, Emissary. I require… rest."
With a final beat of her wings, she vanished into the volcano's heart.
Su Feng stared at the smoldering battlefield. "She… left?"
Blaziken's flames dimmed, confusion replacing battle fervor.
"Not just a 'good bird'," Su Feng murmured. "A legend."