Chapter 286: Carp Leaping Over the Dragon Gate - Silver Gyarados!
The footage clearly showed the same laboratory, specifically the pond that Hikaru had just noticed earlier.
Inside the pond, the Magikarp were leisurely swimming around, appearing completely normal.
However, with his Aura powers, Hikaru instantly sensed that something was off.
Among the Magikarp, one stood out. Its gaze was not as dull as the others, and it did not swim aimlessly like the rest.
Instead, it moved agilely through the pond, which was about the size of a basketball court, as if measuring something.
It started by making a small jump, cautiously scanning the surroundings to check if anyone was nearby.
Once it seemed reassured that no one was around, it began using Splash, each jump higher than the last.
But that wasn't the most important part.
The key detail was that as it performed the Splash, mysterious energy began to gather above the pond.
The source of this energy was an S-Rank Fairy-type treasure placed in the laboratory for research purposes.
Eventually, the energy gathered in the air, forming a circular energy ring.
It was clear that this Magikarp was aiming for that ring.
However, the ring was positioned near the laboratory ceiling—nearly twenty meters high.
For a Magikarp's Splash, that height was practically unreachable.
Even the most gifted Magikarp could only jump around ten meters at best.
Watching this scene, Hikaru couldn't help but feel a strange sense of déjà vu.
Carp leaping over the dragon gate!
Before the appearance of the Pokémon world, there had long been legends in China about carps leaping over the dragon gate, transforming into dragons.
Reaching the "Dragon Gate" meant evolving into a dragon in one leap!
As the Magikarp continuously performed Splash, the surrounding Fairy-type energy gradually seeped into its body.
Its level also increased slightly, but it still faced great difficulty in reaching that energy ring.
The ring in the air grew more solid and defined, and the Magikarp seemed to realize that its usual approach wouldn't work.
On the surveillance footage, Hikaru noticed a glint of thoughtfulness in the Magikarp's eyes as it surfaced, as if it were contemplating a way to clear the "Dragon Gate."
But... it was just a Magikarp.
Hikaru found it hard to believe.
Magikarp had always been considered foolish and slow-witted, but now it looked almost clever.
The next moment in the video made Hikaru widen his eyes, though he quickly controlled his reaction.
He was starting to guess why Professor Ayame wanted him to watch this footage.
After absorbing a significant amount of Fairy-type energy, the Magikarp's lips moved, releasing a pink sound wave that rippled through the pond.
It was using Attract.
Hearing the sound, the surrounding Magikarp gathered around it and formed a cluster.
Then the Magikarp leader began to test jump angles, as if rehearsing for something.
Finally, the leader Magikarp began Splashing again.
As it reached the peak of its jump, another Magikarp leaped right after it, landing on the first one and bouncing even higher.
This coordinated leap happened repeatedly.
With several Magikarp joining in, they managed to stack themselves like a living ladder!
Taking advantage of the ladder, the gifted Magikarp leaped into the air one final time.
Although the height was still insufficient, it managed to step on the suspended Magikarp and, using all its strength, made one last desperate leap just as the "Dragon Gate" was about to dissipate.
---
In a burst of dazzling white light, the Magikarp's body elongated and transformed into a Gyarados nearly six meters long.
But that wasn't the most surprising part.
When the light faded, what appeared was not just any Gyarados, but a silver-colored Gyarados.
On its back, there was a pair of shimmering, ethereal wings—Fairy Wings!
Under the influence of the Fairy-type energy treasure and the Dragon Gate, this Gyarados had learned Fairy Wings!
Then, with a mighty roar, the silver Gyarados unleashed a Hyper Beam at the ceiling.
The first-time use caused a strong recoil, forcing the Gyarados backward and shattering the pond's rocky bottom.
A large hole appeared in the ceiling as the Gyarados spread its Fairy Wings and soared into the sky.
In less than five seconds, the alarm blared throughout the institute.
Ayame shut off the surveillance footage and looked intently at Hikaru.
"Did your Charizard also gain its Fairy Wings this way?"
A silver Gyarados that also knew Fairy Wings.
Hikaru hesitated for a moment before nodding, "Something like that. During that period, Charizard and Frogadier were battling a Gyarados in the secret realm. A similar phenomenon occurred behind them."
"Back then, many Magikarp were competing to leap through a similar energy ring."
"But none of them were as clever as this one..."
That particular Magikarp made Hikaru's eyelids twitch.
Who had ever seen a Magikarp that not only jumped high but also devised complex strategies?
Though he had a small trick up his sleeve, he deliberately mentioned Frogadier alongside Charizard.
That way, when Greninja used Fairy Wings in the future, it would make sense.
Ayame didn't question further and muttered to herself,
"It seems that Magikarp evolving into Gyarados might not just rely on emotional factors. This unusual method also appears to be effective."
Just as they were piecing together the clues about how Magikarp evolved into Gyarados, it turned out there were still hidden factors at play.
Looking around the lab, Ayame remembered why Hikaru had come.
"By the way, I still need your help with something. Let me see those energy cubes you mentioned."
Hikaru didn't waste time and opened his space backpack, pulling out a box of Stamina Energy Cubes.
The clear, emerald-green energy cubes immediately drew Ayame's attention.
Taking one from Hikaru, she examined it closely, sniffed it gently, and then gave Hikaru a look of disbelief.
These energy cubes...
Even though the craftsmanship wasn't the very best among master-level products, their effect on stamina enhancement was astonishingly powerful!
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