Cain stored away Leafeon and Meganium, both unconscious. The value of these two Grass-type Pokémon was immense; if Leafeon's research value were added, the profit could even double. It was a pity that he had failed to discover from Jacob the exact method of Leafeon's evolution.
According to Cain's knowledge, Eevee can evolve into Leafeon by leveling up in lush forests. For this, during evolution there must be an enormous concentration of Grass-type energy or natural vegetation, capable of influencing the highly variable cells and genes of its body.
On this continent, there were three major forests. Which one was the key to Leafeon's evolution was still a mystery.
Cain also recalled the rest of his Pokémon. As for Jacob's remaining Pokémon, he had no time to deal with them.
After returning many Pokémon to their Poké Balls, the range and power of the Red Sand Inferno suddenly diminished. Large amounts of scorching sand fell to the ground, instantly raising the desert's temperature by several degrees.
Cain did not have Tyranitar cancel its Mega Evolution, nor did he relax his control over the sandstorm. There was still one unresolved enemy.
It was then that Cain noticed the spatial rift in the air had grown enormous, as if something might emerge from it at any moment. To him, it was a countdown.
Temporarily abandoning the search for Steven and Irene, Cain led his Pokémon at full speed toward the area directly beneath the rift, determined to destroy everything.
This time, no one stopped him. Although the device was designed to be extremely durable, to a Champion-level Blaziken it was nothing more than a single blow.
Boom!
With a brutal punch, the artifact—whose material and operating principle were unknown—was reduced to rubble.
Without the full control of that device, the spatial rift trembled slightly and began to close little by little. The black energy, like electric currents tearing through space, dissipated into the air.
Seeing those energies disappear completely, Cain instinctively frowned.
He felt that this rift was not so simple. His sixth sense told him that those unknown black currents were the key and the most important part of the entire process.
The rift, which had opened slowly, closed with surprising speed and vanished from the sky.
Not only Cain saw this, but also Steven and Irene, who were fighting at some distance.
Steven's face filled with joy. He knew that Cain had resolved the problem and completely sealed the spatial rift; thus, there were no further worries.
Irene, always unflappable, was briefly surprised when she saw the rift disappear. But she reacted quickly: if Cain had already finished off Jacob, staying would mean meeting the same fate.
Taking advantage of the instant when Steven was stunned, Irene withdrew all her Pokémon, mounted her Skarmory, and vanished directly into the sky.
By the time Steven reacted, it was already too late. He could only watch as she disappeared from his sight.
There was nothing he could do. His strength was inferior to Irene's, and it was only thanks to his family's hidden cards, as well as the Mega Stones and Key Stones Cain had given him, that he had managed to hold her back and prevent her from interfering in Cain's battle.
Now that Irene had decided to flee, Steven had no means to stop her.
Cain arrived shortly afterward and saw Steven standing in the desert with his Pokémon, staring intently at the horizon, where a black dot was gradually fading away.
If Cain's Salamence had reached the Champion level, and with the help of Mega Evolution, supported by the fragment of the Sky Plate, perhaps he truly could have caught up to her and forced her to stay.
But that was only a supposition. At that moment, neither Cain nor Steven could reach her; they could only watch her disappear.
Steven noticed Cain's arrival and showed a somewhat awkward expression.
Cain had defeated an enemy who was clearly stronger, while he himself had almost been defeated. Without the help of Mega Evolution, he probably would have lost his combat capability before Jacob.
And now, when Cain had finally won, he had let Irene escape. The situation was quite awkward.
Cain, understanding, patted him on the shoulder.
In truth, Cain was deeply impressed by Steven's growth. Although Cain himself grew stronger through almost cheating methods, Steven had not lagged behind at all.
Cain could be certain that the current Steven was far stronger than the Steven of his past life at the same point in time.
That was Cain's butterfly effect.
Not only Steven; people like Phoebe, Wallace, Lance, and Cynthia had also become far stronger than Cain had anticipated, due to his influence.
That was the role of a leader.
In a long-distance race, everyone's performance is often determined by the runner at the front. The faster the leader runs, the faster the others run to catch up, until the overall result exceeds the norm.
Cain and Steven were exactly in that situation.
Previously, it was unclear who was leading, but Cain, who had joined midway, had run from the back to the front, and was now even setting the pace.
"Cain..." Steven had barely begun to speak when he was interrupted.
"That the problem has already been resolved is the best outcome. To be honest, we underestimated Irene's strength a bit. In fact, the Johto region probably planned for her to be the First Elite Four of the Johto League, to establish presence. She simply fell into the Sacred Church's trap," Cain said.
"You're still a bit short of reaching her level, but being able to hold her back already is extraordinary. Comparatively, at least you have the level to be the Second Elite Four of a region."
Cain valued Steven greatly. His growth limit was, quite literally, nonexistent; not even the Champion level was his ceiling.
With the support of the Stone family and his own talent, perhaps the sky was his only limit.
Hearing Cain's words, Steven's spirits lifted considerably.
"Without your help, I might not have been able to hold out," he admitted sincerely.
As he spoke, he took two Key Stones from his pocket and called his Pokémon, preparing to return the Mega Stones.
Just as he was about to remove Mawile's stone, Cain stopped him.
"No. I only have one Mega Stone for Aggron, so that one I can't give up, but I don't have Mawile. It's clear that this stone is the most suitable for you," Cain said.
He was unwilling to hand over Aggron's Mega Stone, but he could give Mawile's without any problem.
"This... is too valuable," Steven said, hesitating.
Only those who have used Mega Evolution can understand the qualitative boost it brings; it is a complete transformation.
Both Mega Aggron and Mega Mawile had left a deep impression on Steven.
Cain smiled faintly.
"Between us, there's no such thing as 'too valuable.' You gave me a Key Stone before, and thanks to it I was able to unravel the secret of Mega Evolution. So returning a Mega Stone and a Key Stone to you... I'm still coming out ahead."
(End of chapter)