Inside the snowy mountain Secret Kingdom, the blizzard kept blowing nonstop.
"The magnetic field is intensifying!"
As they advanced, Professor Reynolds took out an instrument to measure magnetic strength.
The needle of the device could be seen spinning frantically.
"Zzzt!"
Meltan flew at the front of everyone, releasing its aura without holding anything back.
Boom, boom, boom!
Immediately, along the path it passed, a large number of wild Pokémon began to move aside.
In the wild, it was very rare to find Pokémon that reached the Quasi-Elite level.
After receiving Meltan's warning, not a single one dared to face it head-on.
Very soon, guided by Meltan, the three arrived before a valley.
Whoosh, whoosh.
At the same time, the instrument for measuring magnetic strength began to spin wildly, indicating that the magnetic field of that valley was probably the strongest in the entire Secret Kingdom.
Boom, boom, boom!
Just as Meltan approached the valley, a sudden change occurred.
Amid a rumble, a group of Nosepass appeared inside the valley, raising their eyes toward Ethan and the others, who were on the cliff.
"There are a lot of Nosepass!"
Seeing those Nosepass blocking their way, Ethan was not frightened; on the contrary, he was delighted.
Under normal circumstances, Nosepass were scattered throughout different parts of the Secret Kingdom.
The fact that they had now all gathered in that valley could only mean that an electromagnetic storm was about to occur there.
"It seems we arrived at just the right time. Although I had already heard that an electromagnetic storm would soon occur in the Secret Kingdom, I didn't expect to run into it precisely now."
Ethan smiled and, at the same time, took out Poké Balls to release Tyranitar and the others.
Although doing that was somewhat unfair to the Nosepass in the valley, Meltan's evolution was too important, so he had no choice but to drive them out.
"Tyran!"
With a flash of light, Tyranitar and the others appeared on the field, facing the Nosepass head-on.
"Cacturne, deploy the root domain!"
Hearing Ethan's order, Cacturne nodded and directly used the move Ingrain on the spot.
Immediately, countless roots sprouted from the ground and began to spread the root domain.
Feeling the threat, those Nosepass immediately became enraged. Although they all perceived that the Pokémon before them were very powerful, they also believed themselves numerous enough to stand against them, and that electromagnetic storm was related to their own evolution, so they could not give way.
The battle erupted instantly!
Ethan had not the slightest intention of holding back and ordered his Pokémon to attack with all their strength.
In barely an instant, all kinds of attacks began to sweep across the field, leaving those Nosepass completely unable to resist.
"Ethan, this sandstorm weather of yours can already be considered practically formed."
Watching the battle, Professor Harris nodded with satisfaction.
Very little time had passed since Ethan began researching the sandstorm until now, and yet his mastery of weather was already truly impressive.
Although it was hard for them to accept, under the powerful oppression of Ethan's Pokémon, the Nosepass had no choice but to retreat.
"Sandslash, Cacturne, Charizard, and Tyranitar, go guard the four directions of the valley and don't let any Pokémon approach."
"Lucario, activate the power of aura to watch the surroundings. Don't let any Pokémon that tries to approach pass through."
Ethan quickly gave the corresponding orders. At the same time, Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds also released their own Pokémon to stand guard around them.
Once the entire deployment was complete, Ethan, Professor Harris, and Professor Reynolds turned their attention back to the valley.
Meanwhile, Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds kept taking out all kinds of devices, placing them one after another, preparing the ground for the research.
"The intensity of the electromagnetic waves in this valley is still increasing. It seems that, in no more than two days, the electromagnetic force will reach the critical point and trigger an electromagnetic storm."
After carrying out several observations, Professor Reynolds, who had some knowledge of electromagnetism, gave her assessment.
"In two days?"
"Meltan, then we also have to start preparing."
Ethan nodded and spoke to Meltan, who was overflowing with excitement beside him.
Thus, an entire day passed very quickly.
"The energy fluctuation of the electromagnetic waves is about to reach the critical point!"
At noon on the second day, Professor Reynolds detected the change in the magnetic field and exclaimed joyfully.
"It's finally here."
Ethan took a deep breath and led Meltan to the edge of the valley, taking out all kinds of Steel-type resources from his spatial ring.
"Zzzt!"
Meltan was equally excited.
After receiving Ethan's confirmation, it began to enthusiastically absorb all those Steel-type resources.
Next, Meltan's liquid-mercury-like body began to stir, separating a Meltan clone from itself.
Due to the enormous amount of Steel-type resources it had absorbed, the Steel-type energy fluctuations inside Meltan's body had reached an extreme.
Thus, the clone created through the move Substitute emitted an energy level that was in no way inferior to that of the main body.
At the same time, electric flashes that represented life could be seen continuously shining on that clone, making it seem like a completely new being.
"What a powerful clone."
"With instruments alone, one can't even distinguish any difference between the clone and the original!"
"That Meltan clone also emits life waves!"
After recording that, both Professor Reynolds and Professor Harris were deeply surprised.
After carefully verifying it, both confirmed that, indeed, a true aura of life also existed within Meltan's clone.
"Life energy... electric current?"
Hearing the words of the two professors, Ethan also fell into thought.
But he only had time to reflect for an instant, because immediately he saw Meltan continue devouring Steel-type resources, separating one clone after another.
Thanks to the Steel-type resources, Meltan could continuously recover its energy and stamina, thus producing more and more copies.
In the blink of an eye, the valley was filled with Meltan clones, and only when the Steel-type resources on the ground were completely exhausted did Meltan finally stop using the move Substitute.
At that moment, in the hands of the original Meltan, only three Meltan nuts remained unabsorbed.
From there, it only needed to wait for the arrival of the electromagnetic storm to attempt evolution.
"The electromagnetic force has already reached the critical point!"
At that moment, Professor Reynolds suddenly shouted.
At the same time, a powerful electromagnetic wave violently surged from beneath the valley.
Those terrifying electromagnetic waves transformed into a natural electric field. The electromagnetic force covered the entire area, completely enveloping the valley and transforming it into a golden world.
"Zzzt!"
Seeing the changes in the environment, Meltan swallowed the nuts in one bite.
Then, together with all its clones, it rose above the valley and, under the enveloping electromagnetic waves, all of them took on a golden glow.
Immediately afterward, all the Meltan, wrapped in electromagnetic energy, converged toward the same point. Their mercury-like bodies began to stir and fuse with one another.
(End of chapter)