Boom!
Monferno's fist slammed into Bagon's thick skull, producing a piercing crack.
Monferno hadn't expected Bagon to chain attacks like that. With no time to dodge, it reflexively used Mach Punch to block. Thanks to its Iron Fist ability, the power of its Mach Punch had a noticeable boost.
Even so, the hastily thrown move couldn't match the raw force of Bagon's Zen Headbutt. Monferno was sent flying.
Still, it recovered quickly, flipping midair and landing firmly on its feet without taking serious damage.
The impact had been so loud that it startled Yuli and Diancie, who had been inside making Pokéblocks. They stepped outside to investigate.
Seeing Monferno and Bagon facing off again, Yuli wasn't surprised. These two had been sparring regularly—and this spot had basically become their designated battlefield.
At first, she used to worry they'd get hurt and often asked Swellow to call Rex over to stop them. But after Rex explained the nature of their rivalry, she stopped intervening and let them continue.
"Let's take a break, Diancie."
With that, Yuli brought a chair outside, sitting down with interest to watch the match unfold.
"Dee…"
Diancie smiled as it walked over to the battlefield. It made no move to stop the fight; in fact, watching Bagon and Monferno duel had become a kind of entertainment.
The two Pokémon stood off for a moment—then lunged at each other simultaneously.
Monferno wrapped itself in flames, spinning into Flame Wheel as it barreled toward Bagon.
But Bagon didn't even try to dodge—it charged headfirst to meet it.
This time, neither gained the upper hand. They both reeled backward, singed and scuffed.
Bagon was visibly scorched, while Monferno stumbled and swayed for a bit before regaining balance.
Once Monferno got serious, however, Bagon couldn't keep up.
Monferno's fists flashed with alternating Fire Punch and Thunder Punch, raining blows on Bagon like a hailstorm.
Bagon, slower and less agile, could do little but absorb the onslaught. Any attempts to counterattack were swiftly dodged.
At this point, Bagon had become little more than a punching bag. It couldn't defend, and to make matters worse, it had been burned by the effects of Fire Punch.
Still, Bagon gritted through the pain. Tough as steel, it ignored the strikes, determined to land a blow.
But the hits added up. Its condition worsened, and the end of the match was clearly approaching.
"Raaah!"
Bagon, unwilling to lose again, felt a fiery pressure welling in its chest—an anger that refused to be buried.
It opened its mouth wide and unleashed a glowing ball of energy fueled by sheer rage.
Caught off guard, Monferno couldn't dodge in time and was blasted back.
The move was Dragon Rage—a Dragon-type attack whose power is directly tied to the user's emotional intensity. Fueled by frustration, it had landed perfectly.
The instant Bagon released the attack, all the pent-up tension in its chest seemed to vanish. It suddenly felt light, at peace.
"Raaah!"
Then its entire body began to glow—wrapped in white light from head to toe.
"Wait… Is Bagon evolving?" Yuli stared in awe.
"It sure is," said Rex, who had appeared silently behind her.
Startled, Yuli turned and saw his familiar smile. "Rex! When did you get here?"
"I've been watching for a while," he replied. "You were so focused on their match, I didn't want to interrupt."
As the glow faded, a new form stood before them—Bagon had evolved into Shelgon.
Its entire body was encased in a white, shell-like carapace, with only its limbs and eyes visible. The shell, divided into six bone-like plates with ridged patterns, resembled hardened armor.
In the wild, Shelgon often isolates itself in caves, not eating or drinking, simply waiting to evolve—dreaming of one day taking to the skies.
It endures hunger to grow stronger. No one knows why it doesn't die from starvation. Its shell is as tough as iron, able to repel enemy attacks.
Because of this weight, it moves slowly. But inside, its body is undergoing rapid transformation, preparing for its final evolution.
They say when it has used up all its stored energy, the shell falls away—and it becomes a Salamence, the dragon that finally realizes its dream of flight.
"Congratulations, Shelgon. You finally evolved."
Rex stepped forward and patted the newly evolved shell. Its eyes glimmered with satisfaction—its only way to show emotion now.
Shelgon itself was a little stunned. For so long, it had dreamed of catching up to Monferno. Now that it had evolved, it wasn't sure what to feel.
The Shelgon phase was a period of stillness and transformation. Unlike Bagon, it couldn't move freely. Much of its time would now be spent in a dormant, meditative state, building power for its final metamorphosis.
And when that moment came, the shell would crack open—and Salamence would be born, soaring at last through open skies.
Shelgon's personality also seemed to shift. Gone was the hot-headed pride. It now looked at Monferno not with rivalry, but with calm, friendly eyes.
Monferno was taken aback by the change, but couldn't help feeling happy for its longtime rival and companion.
(End of Chapter)