The moment was slow, like time itself paused to watch.
Scyther had taken the blow meant for Charmeleon.
One desperate leap.
One last slash.
And then—crashed into the wall and didn't move again.
"Scyther!!" Skylar's voice cracked as he sprinted across the broken stone. The battlefield burned around him, but he barely noticed.
He dropped to his knees beside the fallen mantis.
Blood dripped from Scyther's chest, his wings bent. He twitched weakly, one blade moving just enough to point at Charmeleon—still standing, stunned.
Skylar gritted his teeth and reached for the Poké Ball.
"You did more than enough. Rest now."
Flash of red. Scyther returned.
Skylar clenched the capsule in his fist.
He turned.
And saw Charmeleon.
Still motionless.
But not trembling.
Not scared.
Burning.
The flames around his tail flared white-hot.
His eyes narrowed.
His claws clenched.
And then it happened.
His body lit up in fire and light.
Misty's eyes widened.
"Skylar… he's evolving."
Charmeleon's form grew, stretching upward.
Wings burst from his back in a blaze of heat.
His tail roared to life like a miniature sun.
And when the light faded—
Charizard stood in his place.
Not red. Not orange.
But obsidian black, with blazing crimson underwings.
But no one commented on the color. They already knew.
It wasn't the shine that stunned them.
It was the timing.
The rage.
The power.
Skylar stared up at him in awe.
"You chose this moment… because of Scyther."
Charizard let out a slow, heavy growl—and turned toward the corrupted horde.
The Hive hissed.
The remaining corrupted Pokémon surged forward—more than a dozen still stood.
A warped Salamence.
A shadow-armored Electivire.
A Tyranitar whose eyes were replaced by swirling glyphs.
They all charged in unison.
Skylar raised his hand.
"Charizard—show them why you evolved."
The dragon let out a roar that shook the chamber.
And launched into battle.
He moved like lightning in a storm.
First—Wing Attack, clearing two Crobat mid-air with one swipe.
Then a barrel roll—straight into the Salamence, tackling it out of the sky.
He landed hard, digging claws into the ground, flames still swirling around his mouth.
"Now! Flamethrower!"
Charizard roared and released a spiraling cone of fire.
A corrupted Luxray, Electivire, and Braviary were engulfed—falling immediately, smoking and twitching.
Tyranitar swung its tail.
Charizard took the hit—and skidded backward—
But only for a second.
Then he charged, tail blazing behind him.
Skylar called it: "Dragon Claw!"
Charizard's claws burned blue as he lunged, slashing across Tyranitar's chest and knocking the beast to the floor.
The corrupted Pokémon began to falter.
Some retreated.
Some froze.
None could keep up.
"Skylar!" Misty shouted, watching in awe. "He's clearing the field!"
Milotic slowly raised her head.
Frogadier limped beside Starmie to form a defensive line.
But it was Charizard who led now.
He wasn't fighting for victory.
He was fighting for Scyther.
Within moments, the field of corrupted Pokémon was down.
Burning.
Broken.
All except one.
The Hive.
Still standing.
Still untouched.
Still watching.
Charizard landed with a thud beside Skylar, smoke trailing from his wings.
Skylar looked up, panting, sweat clinging to his face.
He placed a hand on Charizard's shoulder.
"You brought us this far."
He looked ahead.
"Let's end it."