Metagross transforming from Silver into Gold was simply far too obvious a change. Forget the audience—even the Master herself sensed the difference, as the aura radiating from Metagross gave her a very bad feeling.
Meanwhile, inside the livestream, the grief caused by Arcanine's death was somewhat overshadowed by Metagross' transformation, as countless people began discussing its new appearance.
---
> "A golden Metagross? Am I seeing things?"
> "Metagross was already a shiny Pokémon, but there has never been a recorded case of a shiny Pokémon changing its color again!"
> "This golden Metagross looks way stronger somehow!"
> "Silver Metagross, Golden Metagross... is this some kind of alternate form?"
> "Champion Walker is smiling; this fight should be in the bag now!"
---
On Drakoria's side, several Elders all turned to look at James, seemingly asking: 'since when did your Walker family's Metagross have the ability to change colors?'
Faced with their puzzled looks, James himself looked just as bewildered—did their family's Metagross have a color-changing ability?
"Come to think of it... don't you all feel that Metagross's color is exactly the same as Lilligant's?" a certain high-ranking official suddenly remarked.
The Lilligant he mentioned was the one Julian had brought out from the Primal Secret Realm, and was later temporarily entrusted to Ella, to help her learn about different forms of dance.
At his words, everyone paused, then looked again at the golden Metagross on the screen and mentally compared it to Lilligant. Sure enough, the colors were indeed exactly identical.
"Champion Walker previously mentioned that there are King Form Pokémon in the Primal Secret Realm, and their most distinguishing feature is a completely golden body, just like Lilligant's."
"Now that Metagross has also turned this color, could it have acquired the King Form?"
Soon, an Elder guessed this possibility.
"I'll call Ella and ask."
James took out his phone and dialed Ella's number, figuring that Lilligant should be by her side.
In her office, Ella looked at the golden Metagross in shock, then glanced at the Lilligant beside her. The color really did seem...
"Gant?!
Lilligant: "King Form?!"
When Lilligant saw Metagross suddenly change color, she also cried out in shock.
Ella possessed psychic abilities, so she could understand Lilligant's words. She quickly asked, "Are you saying that Metagross has obtained a King Form just like yours?"
Earlier, she had already learned from Lilligant just how terrifying the King Form could be.
Lilligant nodded at her question, but then quickly shook her head. "The color is the same, but through the screen, I can't sense Metagross' aura fluctuations."
"But even if it isn't the King Form, it's definitely not far behind. Haven't you noticed that all of Metagross' injuries were completely healed the moment it turned gold?"
Hearing that, Ella finally noticed that Metagross' previously battered and scar-covered body had indeed completely healed.
Earlier, because her attention had been focused on its color change, she hadn't paid attention to Metagross' injuries.
And most people were in the same boat as Ella.
It wasn't until some sharp-eyed viewers spotted that Metagross' wounds had healed and started mentioning it in the livestream.
Not only that, but some people also discovered that the previously dead Arcanine had actually begun emitting faint golden flames from its body.
---
> "Arcanine is on fire?!"
> "What's going on? First Metagross, and now even the dead Arcanine is bursting into flames—could it be... a revival?"
> "Has anyone noticed that Champion Walker's smile is growing wider and wider?"
> "Is Arcanine really about to come back to life?!"
---
Watching the pale golden flames rise from Arcanine, Julian couldn't hide the smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. He muttered under his breath, "This dumb dog really made me cry... I'm going to give him a good scolding once he comes back."
Soon, the pale golden flames completely enveloped Arcanine's body. Julian originally thought that the revival would take a long time, but after just a few seconds, the pale golden flames vanished, replaced by a somewhat bewildered Arcanine standing on its feet.
Arcanine looked utterly confused—hadn't it died? But the next second, it spotted Julian, and its dog eyes instantly widened.
Julian expected the dog to say something touching, but the next moment he heard it say, "Master... you died too?"
As it spoke, its tail and ears drooped. Since it itself had already died, yet could still see its trainer, then that must mean its trainer had died too.
To Arcanine, everyone else in the world could die, but not its own Trainer.
"I still couldn't protect you..."
Its mood instantly sank even lower.
Feeling that Arcanine truly couldn't say anything smart even after dying once, Julian looked at its expression, walked over to it, and gently hugged its neck while burying his face within its thick mane.
"You dumb dog. I didn't die—you came back to life."
---
Pokémon: Arcanine (Fire)
Level: 1 (91)
Potential: Gold
Ability: Flash Fire
Held Item: None
Gender: Male
Moves: Leer, Ember, Howl, Bite, Flame Wheel, Helping Hand, Agility, Extreme Speed, Reversal, Flamethrower, Crunch, Fire Fang, Roar, Retaliate, Play Rough, Take Down
TMs: Protect, Fire Spin, Hyper Beam, Dig, Sunny Day, Giga Impact, Heat Wave, Wild Charge, Psychic Fangs, Blast Burn, Burn Up, Incinerate, Thunder Fang, Flame Charge, Body Slam, Eruption, Heat Crash
Egg Moves: Flare Blitz, Overheat, Double-Edge, Outrage
Note: Fire-type moves are boosted by 20% due to the Fire Crystal.
Note: Possesses the Flame of Life, allowing one Rebirth—after revival, potential rises to Gold, but level resets. (Already used)
Note: Have used the Flintwood, increases the power of Fire-type moves by 30%, raises Burn chance by 70%, reduces damage taken from Fire-type moves by 50%, and reduces damage taken from Water-type moves by 20%.
Note: After soaking in the Terraflux Magma, its Fire-type essence has been purified—physical strength increased by 2 to 5×, Fire-type moves power increased by 50%, Burn chance raised to 100%, and Water-type damage is reduced by 40%.
---
The Flame of Life—that was what allowed Arcanine to come back to life.
Because of Arcanine's sudden death, Julian had nearly forgotten about the existence of this thing. It was only after Metagross gained its King Form that he remembered.
That was why a smile had appeared on his face back then.
Now, Julian felt incredibly fortunate that he had given the Flame of Life to Arcanine instead of Moltres, who was also a Fire-type. It wasn't that he didn't care whether Moltres lived or died—
It was just that, this time, it was Arcanine who died. And he had gambled correctly.
'So this is what it feels like to regain something once lost?' It was a wonderful feeling, but he never wanted to go through it again.
"Arf?"
Arcanine looked incredulous. It wasn't that its master had died—it was that it, itself, had come back to life?
Big head. Big eyes. Maximum confusion.
*****
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