Starly #4

Time had become a distant concept for Rei. One year and eleven months had passed since he first found himself stranded in the wilderness, surviving against the odds, growing stronger with each battle, and forging a bond with the Pokémon he now considered his family.

But tonight was different.

Tonight, he and Staravia would take down Onix, the ruler of the cave, and claim its essence for their own.

It was an insane plan. A reckless one.

But it had to be done.

Rei crouched on a thick tree branch, his sharp eyes locked on the massive cave ahead. The entrance glowed faintly, lined with crystals brimming with energy.

Most of them contained Steel energy—hard, unyielding, and raw. Others held a different power. Rei could feel them, faint but undeniable. Flying energy.

The presence of these crystals had been a revelation. For nearly 1 year, Rei had been searching for ways to make Staravia stronger without rushing evolution. This was the answer.

If Staravia could absorb both the Flying and Steel energy, its evolution would be unlike anything seen before. Its wings would be sharper, its claws harder. It would be stronger than any other Staraptor.

But first, Onix had to die.

The cave was deep, stretching far beyond what Rei could see from the entrance. The walls shimmered with embedded crystals, casting an eerie glow over the massive serpentine form coiled in the center.

Onix.

It was even bigger up close—a mountain of solid rock and raw power.

Tropius had told him that Onix was on the verge of breaking into Gym Rank. A true beast, a ruler of this part of the forest. Yet, for all its power, it remained in its cave, protecting something that no other Pokémon in the area needed.

The Steel Crystals.

It had hoarded them for years, growing stronger, harder, tougher. Waiting for the moment it would finally break through.

Rei wouldn't let it.

He gripped the dagger he had carved from a Fearow's beak and signaled Staravia.

The battle had begun.

Staravia struck first, swooping down with Air Cutter. The wind pressure slammed into Onix's thick hide, sending a shower of dust and stone into the air.

A direct hit.

But Rei had expected this. Onix's defense was monstrous. Even Staravia's strongest attacks would barely scratch it. This would be a war of attrition.

The beast stirred. A deep, guttural rumble shook the cave as Onix's crimson eyes snapped open.

Then, it roared.

The cave walls trembled, loose rocks crashing down from the ceiling. The air itself vibrated with the sheer force of its presence.

Rei barely had time to react before Onix lunged.

It moved faster than he expected, its massive body whipping toward Staravia like a living boulder. The bird twisted mid-air, barely dodging the crushing force, but the shockwave still threw Rei off balance.

Too fast. Too strong.

If they didn't finish this quickly, they would die.

"Keep moving!" Rei yelled, dashing along the cave wall as Staravia shot through the air, dodging Onix's relentless strikes.

The beast was too tough to wound outright, but Rei had already accounted for that.

They had to break its balance.

"Staravia! Brave Bird!"

The bird dove, its body surrounded by a burning aura of raw Flying energy. The impact slammed into Onix's jaw, causing it to stagger.

Rei moved.

He sprinted across the uneven ground, his dagger gleaming in the dim light. He wasn't just a spectator in this battle—he had to fight too.

With Onix momentarily stunned, Rei aimed for its one weak spot. The eyes.

He leaped, the dagger in his grip plunging downward.

But Onix recovered faster than expected.

Its tail whipped around, catching Rei mid-air. Pain exploded through his ribs as he was sent flying across the cave, slamming into the ground hard enough to make his vision blur.

"Ugh…!" Blood dripped from his lip. His ribs burned with pain. He felt his power working in voerdrive to heal him.

Onix turned its attention back to Staravia, roaring in frustration. The bird was still flying, barely avoiding its furious attacks.

Rei forced himself to his feet. His ability was already working, his wounds healing faster than normal, his energy returning. But that wouldn't matter if he didn't finish this now.

He ripped a steel crystal from the cave wall.

It was small, sharp, glowing with the same energy Onix had been absorbing for years. If Rei could channel his power into it…

He dashed forward.

"Staravia!" he yelled. "One more time! Brave Bird!"

The bird soared upward, energy coiling around it like a second skin.

Onix reared back, preparing to strike—

Rei threw the steel crystal.

It struck Onix's eye.

The beast screamed.

In that moment, Staravia struck.

Brave Bird hit like a thunderclap, the energy tearing through Onix's wounded eye and crashing into its skull. The impact sent shockwaves through the cave, the ground itself splitting under the force.

For a moment, everything was still.

Then, with a final, thunderous crash, Onix collapsed.

It didn't move again.

Rei panted, his hands trembling as he stood over Onix's corpse. His body ached, his vision swayed, but they had won.

Now, it was time for the next step.

The Ritual.

Rei had been preparing for this. With the Steel and Flying crystals, he could refine Staravia's evolution—making it something stronger, sharper.

He began carving into Onix's corpse, extracting the purest essence of its power through a refining technique he developed with his powers.

Staravia stood nearby, watching. It had fought hard, pushed beyond its limits.

Rei reached out, placing his hand against Staravia's forehead.

"Absorb it," he said softly. "Take it all in."

Energy swirled, the cave humming with power. The Flying and Steel elements merged, flowing into Staravia's body.

And then—

A blinding light erupted.

Staravia evolved.

When the light faded, what stood before Rei was not just any Staraptor.

It was different.

Its feathers gleamed like polished steel, larger and more refined. Its claws were metallic, shimmering under the dim glow of the cave. Its control over the wind was absolute. It's body was now nearly three times bigger than Rei.

Rei grinned, despite the exhaustion weighing down his limbs.

He had done it. Now he can finally go home with Staraptor.