Powerful energy surged forth, and the energy within the Energy Ball became increasingly concentrated until it solidified into a beam of green light that shot straight toward the Dusknoir!
In midair, facing the oncoming Energy Ball, the Dusknoir quickly gathered ghost energy in its hand and formed a Shadow Ball, hurling it forward in response.
The two attacks collided violently in the air, and a thunderous explosion erupted. The tremendous forces met head-on, canceling each other out as both were annihilated midair.
Thanks to the Grassy Terrain and the support of numerous Grass-type Pokémon, Petilil had already reached a level where she could directly confront a King-level opponent.
Absorbing the ambient Grass-type energy, her entire body was now wrapped in a radiant green glow, her life force and the power of nature washing through her repeatedly.
At the same time, the Life Orb hanging from her neck shimmered with a vivid violet-red light, surrounding her in its mysterious aura.
Up above, Petilil once again condensed energy between her hands, this time an Energy Ball intertwined with dark red currents, its destructive potential visibly growing stronger.
But this surge of power wouldn't last forever — as time passed, her strength would inevitably weaken. At this moment, all she could do was hope that Froslass would return as soon as possible.
Inside the fortress, the assembled knights had already prepared themselves for battle. Should Lord Aven be defeated, they were ready to step forward at once, even if it meant sacrificing their lives to buy precious time.
"Lil!"
Petilil's body pulsed with surging energy.
Around her, all the Grass-type Pokémon simultaneously used Absorb, channeling their gathered life force directly into her.
The power of nature rippled through the air, and Petilil's form began to merge completely with the surrounding environment — she became one with nature itself.
At that instant, she once again entered that wondrous, transcendent state. She could clearly feel her connection to the natural world, able to command every strand of nature's energy and transform it into her own strength.
"This is… the One with Nature state?" Aven's eyes suddenly lit up.
He remembered the last time Petilil had entered this state was during the battle against the Marina City Knights' invasion. Ever since then, despite numerous attempts, she had been unable to trigger it again.
Yet now, under the immense pressure from this King-level Dusknoir, she had once again awakened that miraculous condition!
Aven's gaze sharpened as he made up his mind. "Now's the time! Cherrims use Sunny Day!"
"Cheeer~!"
The battlefield was filled with countless Cherrim. Upon hearing Aven's command, all of them unleashed the sunlight energy they had been storing within their petals.
A moment later, a mass of soft white light gathered above the darkened land, condensing rapidly into a blazing fireball that shot upward into the sky.
As it rose higher, the darkness of night was torn apart as daylight burst forth as if a new sun had been born, its brilliant rays even dispelling the bitter chill of winter.
"That's… the sun?"
The knights and Pokémon below stared up in astonishment at the radiant orb. To them, this power that turned night into day seemed nothing short of divine.
"Cheeer~!"
Having successfully invoked Sunny Day, the Cherrims glowed again with gentle white light. Their Flower Gift ability activated in unison, their radiance completely enveloping Petilil.
"Waa~ Waa~"
At this moment, Petilil entered an extraordinary state. She could feel herself becoming one with the sunlight, her body wrapped in white brilliance. It was as if she herself had become the sun.
Gradually, that soft white glow merged into her body, the solar energy stimulating every inch of her being before converging into the trio of leaves on her head.
At the same time, her inner life energy and grass energy surged, infusing themselves into the remaining two leaves.
Each of the three leaves now bore a distinct energy of solar, life, and grass intertwining harmoniously in a delicate balance.
"Petilil! Now's the moment — evolve!!"
Aven's voice rang out across the battlefield.
And with his words, a dazzling burst of white light exploded from Petilil's body!
In an instant, the entire grassy terrain withered, all its energy rushing toward her in a swirling torrent.
"Lil!!!"
All around, the Cherrim, Vileplume, and Tangrowth instinctively unleashed their powers as well, channeling their strength toward Petilil.
Even the blazing sun above flared brighter, its radiance pouring down like a golden river, all of it fusing into Petilil's form.
At that moment, an energy storm erupted throughout the space — natural energy, mixed with countless other forces, spiraled violently before converging entirely upon her.
"Is Petilil… evolving?"
Everyone stared wide-eyed at the sight, utterly stunned.
In the midst of the spectacle, the Dusknoir hastily gathered another Shadow Ball and hurled it downward yet, mid-flight, the attack began to disintegrate on its own, its power dissolving harmlessly into the atmosphere!
It was as though an invisible barrier surrounded Petilil — an energy dead zone where no foreign force could exist. All energy was swept away, purified, and scattered outward.
"Li~ lli!"
Suddenly, a low yet clear cry resounded.
The next instant, the radiant white light shattered apart, revealing a newly transformed figure within it.
Atop her head bloomed a golden flower like a royal crown, beneath which hung deep green leaves, followed by lighter green ones cascading down like flowing hair.
Her arms were slender and leaf-shaped, a golden calyx encircled her neck, and below, her lower body was wrapped in tulip-like green petals forming a graceful skirt that enclosed her golden feet.
"Petilil… has evolved into Lilligant, the Flower Queen!"
Aven gazed upward, his eyes fixed on her, particularly on the golden flower that crowned her head.
Normally, a Petilil required a Sun Stone to evolve into Lilligant. But this time, she had transcended that requirement, achieving evolution through a perfect union of nature, solar, life, and grass energy, a true ascension of life itself!
Perhaps because it was an unconventional evolution, her flower wasn't the usual vivid red nor the rare violet of a shiny variant instead, it shone a brilliant golden hue.
The golden petals radiated nobility and grace, as if declaring her the true queen of all flowers unmatched and majestic.
"Lilli~!"
With a crisp, melodic voice, the newly evolved Lilligant now truly a Flower Queen descended lightly to the ground.
Where she landed, grass immediately sprouted anew, and countless flowers bloomed in an instant — a magnificent field of life bursting into color beneath her feet.
Her eyes lifted toward the Dusknoir hovering above. Gracefully raising her hand, she condensed a glowing Energy Ball that pulsed with immense power.
In the air, the Dusknoir was the first to strike, launching another Shadow Ball at lightning speed.
Lilligant responded in kind, hurling her own Energy Ball. It spun slowly through the air yet as it advanced, the very atmosphere thundered around it.
The two spheres collided midair and to everyone's astonishment, Petilil's attack overpowered the Dusknoir's, crushing the Shadow Ball into nothingness!
Gasps echoed across the battlefield. None could believe what they had just seen — the newly evolved Lilligant had displayed an overwhelming might that left even the bravest knights speechless.
Through her union with nature, absorbing solar energy, life force, grass essence, and the strength of every Grass-type ally present, she had stepped into the King-tier level!
And not merely an ordinary King-level — if that realm had its own hierarchy, this Petilil was certainly mid-to-high tier, perhaps only a step away from the rank of a Champion.
"Champion level?"
"No… perhaps not quite there yet, but far beyond the ordinary Master level."
A faint smile curved Aven's lips. All their efforts had finally borne fruit, Lilligant had transcended herself completely.
In this world, King-tier Pokémon were equivalent to the Master level, and above that stood the Champion level, the realm where even Legendary Pokémon resided.
"Lilli~"
Lilligant seemed astonished by her newfound strength, staring at her hands in wonder.
Closing her eyes, she felt the power flowing through her then the golden flower atop her head flared with white brilliance once more.
High above, with a thunderous explosion, Dusknoir reappeared, its eyes blazing gold as it unleashed a beam of shadowy energy!
Petilil's eyes snapped open. Tilting her head upward, she gathered sunlight and grass-type energy, merging them into a radiant golden beam.
"BOOM!"
The two beams collided in midair — golden light clashing against darkness.
Then, the golden brilliance surged forward, overwhelming the black energy and slamming straight into Dusknoir's chest!
The mighty ghost had no chance to resist — it was struck head-on and sent hurtling backward, crashing from the sky like a falling star!
For a moment, the entire battlefield fell into stunned silence.
No one had expected that after evolving, Petilil's strength would soar to such an unimaginable level.
(End of Chapter)