"Thank you for your help, Red. I was too careless earlier."
The ultra-ancient Dragonite awkwardly scratched its head, not having expected the ultra-ancient Gengar in its half-defeated state to still be dishonest and restless, actually fantasizing about cooperating with the ultra-ancient Alakazam to defeat it together. Such reckless thinking.
"This isn't your fault. After all, that Gengar was too cunning," Red said, throwing a teasing glance at the thousand-year-old Gengar.
"I say, Boss, I'm the most 'honorable and upright' Ghost-type Pokémon there is, and I would 'absolutely never' use underhanded tricks against opponents!" the thousand-year-old Gengar solemnly declared, trying to cunningly explain itself.
"..."
The other Pokémon looked disdainfully at the thousand-year-old Gengar.
'Speaks as if it were true. We almost actually believed it.'
The crisis was finally resolved, and the previously darkened sky brightened, free from the gloomy black clouds that had once blocked the sunlight.
The brightening sky brought the joy of rebirth. The gentle breeze rustled the leaves, making everyone who had narrowly escaped death feel secretly pleased.
Seeing both ultra-ancient Pokémon fallen to the ground, Red couldn't help but glance at the bronze bell that remained sealed behind them.
The bronze bell was the sacred vessel for sealing the ultra-ancient Jigglypuff. The reason the ultra-ancient Jigglypuff was sealed between two antagonistic ultra-ancient Pokémon was probably to serve as a mediator, using its hypnotic song to forcibly stop the conflict between the ultra-ancient Gengar and ultra-ancient Alakazam, allowing them to fall back asleep in the depths underground.
If the ultra-ancient Dragonite hadn't arrived just in time, Red would have actively released the long-sleeping ultra-ancient Jigglypuff to quickly stop the battle between the two ultra-ancient Pokémon, letting this "power that calms everything" transform the battling creatures into orbs and return them underground.
This was a necessary measure that the ancient humans had prepared to prevent future generations from making terrible mistakes.
Seeing the incident finally settled, the archaeological team looked fearfully at the massive bodies of the defeated Pokémon. Although grateful for the ultra-ancient Dragonite's rescue, being weak humans, they inevitably felt afraid of such overwhelming power.
After all, fundamentally speaking, the ultra-ancient Dragonite was also an ultra-ancient species, essentially the same as the ultra-ancient Gengar and ultra-ancient Alakazam, just with a different alignment.
The archaeological team was filled with complex feelings about the ultra-ancient Dragonite's existence.
However, the ultra-ancient Dragonite paid no mind to the humans' opinions and focused instead on Red and the young Pokémon beside him.
"Red, this child is ready to grow stronger. Its talent no longer requires your cautious approach. Although you're doing this for the child's good, young dragons must eventually spread their wings and soar."
The ultra-ancient Dragonite spoke earnestly to Red but focused its gaze more on Dratini.
The ultra-ancient Dragonite's meaning was quite clear. It wanted Dratini to evolve into Dragonair.
Red nodded in agreement with the ultra-ancient Dragonite's suggestion. After all, Dratini indeed should evolve. Initially, Red had deliberately not given Dratini intensive training to prevent excessive evolution from affecting Dratini's talent and causing irreversible problems.
But the ultra-ancient Dragonite understood Dratini better than Red did, so seeing the ultra-ancient Dragonite speak up as a reminder, Red allowed it to intervene.
"..."
Charizard looked puzzledly at the tall, ultra-ancient Dragonite ahead. If it was simply for Dratini's evolution, then why bother calling it over as well?
"You possess half the bloodline power of our Dragonite clan. Technically speaking, you're also one of my subjects. Moreover, you were able to evolve by absorbing my power, so I should rightfully bestow a blessing upon you."
The ultra-ancient Dragonite explained to the puzzled Charizard.
'Oh well, whatever...'
Charizard waved its hand helplessly. Since it could gain more powerful strength anyway, Charizard had no reason to refuse the ultra-ancient Dragonite's blessing ceremony.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, a gray giant dragon silhouette appeared on the ultra-ancient Dragonite's body. Then the gray giant dragon opened its mouth and spat out two light orbs. The light orbs gradually fell downward and within moments merged into Charizard and Dratini's bodies.
After absorbing the blessing of the ultra-ancient Dragonite's power, Dratini was the first to change. Its purple skin burst with dazzling evolutionary light, and then Dratini's body began to undergo obvious changes.
After a moment, the dazzling evolutionary light faded, and the evolved Dragonair's figure gradually appeared in everyone's sight.
First, Dragonair's body was more elongated than Dratini's, reaching an amazing 6 meters, with its entire body covered in purple gem-colored scales and a bright white belly.
It had a pair of bright black eyes, a small white horn grew on its forehead, and two small wing-like appendages grew on both sides of its head.
Dragonair had three crystal-like golden orbs on its body: one at the lower end of its neck and two more at the end of its tail.
"What is this?!" Ash exclaimed excitedly, quickly taking out the Pokédex from his pocket to analyze Dragonair's data.
"Dragonair, the Dragon Pokémon, the evolved form of Dratini. It seems to be a sacred creature enveloped in an aura, and is said to have the power to change the weather."
Dragonair looked puzzledly at its transformed body, suddenly seeming to grasp some kind of completely new knowledge in its mind.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, the small wing-like appendages on both sides of Dragonair's head suddenly enlarged, and then the enlarged flapping wings carried Dragonair's entire body in flight.
Dragonair, now possessing flight capability, showed a joyful smile, flying back and forth above Red to perform, wanting to express its inner joy.
Of course, Dragonair didn't forget to look gratefully at the ultra-ancient Dragonite. After all, Dragonair also knew that its bloodline power had all been given to it by the ultra-ancient Dragonite. Otherwise, it would never have possessed such outstanding talent.
After seeing Dragonair finish evolving, everyone also focused their attention on Charizard, whose entire body was covered by a purple-gold giant dragon silhouette.
But Charizard, already being a final evolutionary form, didn't undergo obvious changes. Only its height clearly increased to 3 meters, the scales on its outer skin became harder, and the blazing flames at the end of its tail burned even more fiercely.
"Roar!" The newly strengthened Charizard couldn't help but roar excitedly. This intimidating dragon cry made the ultra-ancient Dragonite, as its senior, nod approvingly.
"Big brother's Charizard has gotten stronger again..." Ash murmured.
Speaking of this, Ash couldn't help but compare it with his own Charizard, but this thought was quickly completely erased.
Because in Ash's view, his own Charizard was the most worthy of his cherishment, a unique Charizard that didn't need to be deliberately compared with others' Charizard, especially when the other was his own older brother.
Currently, being able to handle his Charizard was already the most satisfying thing for Ash.