Just as Cain had supposed, Poliwhirl's evolution using the King's Rock could benefit from the presence of Pokémon of the same species or a closely related family.
The one who perceived this phenomenon most clearly was Slowking, who had undergone a similar evolutionary process.
In an almost mystical way, Slowking could sense a new energy emerging from Poliwhirl's body—an imposing presence that could be described as the "aura of royalty."
Without even trying, this aura also began to emanate from Slowking—not to compete with Poliwhirl, but to guide him, showing the way to what it meant to be a true king among Pokémon.
Under this influence, Poliwhirl's aura grew stronger and stronger. Enveloped in the white glow of evolution, his body began to transform visibly.
The clouds in the sky thickened, and the rain started to intensify.
In the lake, more and more Pokémon emerged to watch. Most were Poliwag and Poliwhirl, but other water Pokémon like Goldeen, Seaking, and Golduck also gathered, seemingly there just to witness the spectacle.
Among the crowd, Cain noticed a figure that caught his attention. Though intrigued, he had no time to be distracted—Poliwhirl was at a critical moment in his evolution.
Even though the system retained only its basic scanning function, Cain could sense the changes in Poliwhirl thanks to his refined psychic perception.
The light drizzle suddenly turned into a downpour, and the clouds thickened so much that the sky appeared as if it were night.
The Pokémon in the lake began making excited noises; their sensitivity allowed them to perceive Poliwhirl's transformation more intensely than Cain could.
"Croak!"
A resonant cry echoed from within the white light of evolution, which then shattered, revealing the newly evolved Pokémon.
The rain intensified even further, and the Poliwag, Poliwhirl, and other Pokémon began spinning joyfully in the water. For the Poliwag and Poliwhirl, their joy stemmed from Poliwhirl's evolution into Politoed; for the others, it was the pure happiness of a rainy day.
However, this rain was not a natural phenomenon. It was a gift from the newly evolved Politoed.
"Croak!" Politoed cried out again, and all the Poliwag and Poliwhirl immediately stopped their movements. Even the Tympole and Palpitoad present stood still, their gazes fixed on the imposing green Pokémon standing on the shore.
"Croak!"
The Poliwag and Poliwhirl began to sing in response—a tribute to celebrate their new king.
Cain even noticed the presence of some Tympole and Palpitoad among the crowd. All of them displayed the highest respect toward Politoed.
The rain continued to intensify, a reflection of Politoed's signature ability.
Politoed's ability to summon rain not only benefited the Poliwag and Poliwhirl but also other water-type Pokémon in the lake.
Cain, standing beside Politoed, observed the scene with a satisfied smile.
The system displayed Politoed's updated data:
Pokémon: Politoed (Quasi-Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 39
Type: Water
Ability: Drizzle
Held Item: Leadership
Egg Moves: Water Pulse, Refresh, Bubble Beam
Basic Moves: Water Sport, Water Gun, Hypnosis, Bubble, Double Slap, Rain Dance, Body Slam, Bubble Beam, Mud Shot, Belly Drum, Perish Song, Swagger, Bounce
Learned Moves: Snore, Ice Punch (taught by Weavile), Icy Wind (taught by Weavile)
TM Moves: Protect, Scald, Double Team
Before this evolution, Politoed had reached level 38 during intense battles, learning the move Belly Drum. After using the high-quality enhancement potion and the King's Rock, his level increased to 39, acquiring new moves such as Perish Song, Swagger, and Bounce.
Cain was surprised to see that Politoed's quality had reached the "Quasi-Purple" tier. Additionally, he noticed that, like Slowking, Politoed now possessed a special item: Leadership. This confirmed his status as a natural leader among his species.
Politoed's Drizzle ability was exceptional. Controlling the weather made him an invaluable ally—not just for Pokémon of his own species, but for all water-types.
The downpour that now fell was a testament to Politoed's power.
Cain observed his new companion, impressed by his physical transformation. Though his body remained mostly green, yellow details now adorned his palms, feet, and abdomen, with the characteristic blue spiral on his belly.
His cheeks had turned a soft pink, appearing to store water, and a spiral-shaped ornament had formed on his head during evolution with the King's Rock.
This ornament not only symbolized his status as a king but also amplified his Drizzle ability, enhancing his control over the weather.
Cain patted Politoed on the back.
"That's enough for now. Stop the rain, Politoed."
"Croak!" Politoed nodded obediently.
The rain began to subside, and the clouds gradually dispersed. Finally, the clear sky revealed a brilliant rainbow reflected on the lake, forming a perfect circle.
The Poliwag and Poliwhirl scattered, as did the other water-type Pokémon—except for one that had caught Cain's attention.
During the rain, he had seen a lone Pokémon playing in the water with surprising speed.
Following Cain's signal, Slowking used his psychic power to lift the Pokémon from the water, along with some of the liquid surrounding it.
(End of chapter)