Dragon's Saliva.
The Dragon's Saliva, obtained from the Meteor People, can heal a Pokémon's normal injuries in a very short time and restore its stamina.
After witnessing the effect of Dragon's Saliva, Natsuhiko has always treasured this special potion. He doesn't have many left in his stock, only fifteen in total. This time, he used them on the Volcarona all at once, until he used the fifth one, barely showing a bit of effect.
Natsuhiko realized that even if he used all of the Dragon's Saliva, it couldn't heal the current Volcarona. What it lost in terms of body was actually a small part; what was truly important was its loss of Life Energy.
Life Energy must be replenished.
Natsuhiko had seen Life Energy before, having obtained a small amount of Life Crystal in Goldenrod City, extracted by Chandelure from some Pokémon.
He didn't have a Chandelure, but he also had a Pokémon capable of extracting Life Energy from other creatures.
"Doublade," Natsuhiko called.
"Jaa?"
Doublade immediately poked its head out from the shadows.
It also witnessed the battle just now, concluding that...
The world is so dangerous, I want to go home.
Dragapult seemed to understand Natsuhiko's intention, diving into the massive dust kicked up by Volcarona's "Fire Dance."
Coming out again.
Dragging two Pokémon that had completely lost their ability to battle.
These were a Golbat and a Mightyena of Campfire.
They were classic underground faction Pokémon, the first two to fall among Campfire's Pokémon.
They didn't endure the direct impact of Volcarona's "Fire Dance," so aside from losing their ability to battle, their condition was still okay.
Bang—Bang—
The two Pokémon were thrown to the ground by Dragapult.
"Doublade, extract the Life Energy from these two Pokémon and transfer it to Volcarona," Natsuhiko ordered.
"Jaa?" Doublade showed a puzzled look.
Natsuhiko had previously explicitly forbidden it from doing so, and for some special reason, Doublade didn't particularly covet Life Energy, usually never touching it.
"Hurry up."
Natsuhiko didn't have much time to explain, and Doublade was the only Pokémon that could conduct Life Energy.
"Be careful, don't absorb it yourself, just conduct," Natsuhiko repeatedly warned before Doublade acted.
"Jaa."
Doublade nodded.
Two strands of magenta silk danced, one winding around Mightyena, the other around Volcarona.
Even though it hadn't absorbed Life Energy much, it's one of Doublade's innate abilities, and Doublade quickly started extracting Life Energy from Mightyena.
A faint white glow emerged from the silk and rapidly spread, transmitting into Volcarona's body.
Just as Natsuhiko thought, Volcarona's rapidly weakening aura was immediately alleviated and faintly showed signs of recovery.
"Jaa~~"
Doublade moaned, appearing quite satisfied.
Although it didn't absorb, under Natsuhiko's direction, some Life Energy was inevitably absorbed as it flowed through Doublade.
Moreover, the degree of this absorption was increasing, either due to Doublade's inherent talent or because there was an endless void in Volcarona needing to be filled.
Soon, Mightyena was completely drained.
Doublade smoothly placed the silk on Golbat.
Campfire was powerful, so its Life Energy level and quality were high, and the quantity was ample, though Volcarona seemed never to be fully sated.
As Doublade began absorbing from Golbat, Natsuhiko finally noticed Doublade's anomaly.
Its eyes were becoming dazed, intoxicated, and its aura was gradually strengthening.
Natsuhiko's expression changed, unable to help but shout out loud.
"Doublade!"
He even used psychic power.
The deafening voice reached Doublade's ears, prompting it to immediately snap out of that peculiar state.
"Jaa?"
Natsuhiko stared at it closely, solemnly shaking his head.
Doublade's strength had progressed a small level.
Yet, for it, this might not be a good thing.
Power gained through external means is ultimately external. If the absorption enhances little, it's manageable, but if uncontrolled, it could be devastating to its potential and future.
Death God Coffins can grow stronger by absorbing and decomposing other Pokémon, yet this apparent strength ends up shackling their potential once their abilities reach a certain level, never progressing further.
So Doublade mustn't over-absorb.
Once it exceeds, it's irreversible.
Doublade struggled to shake off that feeling, blinked at Natsuhiko, indicating it understood.
Continue.
With one more Golbat, still insufficient.
"No, the root cause isn't here." Natsuhiko furrowed his brow.
Looking at the unconscious Volcarona.
Slowly, he finally understood where the root cause lay.
It stemmed from Volcarona itself.
It didn't want to live. Even if Natsuhiko and Doublade kept injecting Life Energy into it, it didn't want to live. Doing more wouldn't help.
How much sorrow and loneliness had it experienced over the years to make Volcarona so determined?