"This is Mega Evolution. On the surface, it only seems like the external appearance has changed, but I'm sure all of you can feel that Mawile's aura right now has increased enormously, infinitely approaching the first threshold of the Champion level," Cain said, beginning to explain calmly.
After having shown it directly, explaining it became much easier.
Upon hearing Cain's words, everyone nodded unconsciously.
"I'm sure you've read Professor Oak's article on Pokémon species base stats. In it, according to each Pokémon's characteristics, detailed base values were defined and recorded in the Pokédex so that trainers could better understand and train their Pokémon."
"That theory was published by Professor Oak in the early years after he became a researcher, and it has now spread widely. So, if we analyze Mega Evolution from the perspective of base stats, it can be understood like this: every Pokémon that undergoes Mega Evolution increases its total base stat value by one hundred points, distributed among its various stats according to its individual situation."
"That's why such a huge increase in power occurs," Cain explained.
"One hundred points!?" Lance exclaimed in astonishment.
Professor Oak's article on base stats was mandatory reading for practically all strong trainers. That research analyzed Pokémon from every possible angle, explaining the origin and logic behind each racial statistic. Professor Oak had practically devoted his entire early period to that work.
Moreover, base stats and their distribution were adjusted to some extent every year, as part of the ongoing process of refining the theory.
Whenever a new Pokémon was discovered, Professor Oak would immediately publish an initial estimate of its base stats for trainers' reference.
According to Lance's recollection, Mawile had a total base stat value of 380 points and had no evolution.
As a Steel-type Pokémon, Mawile did not seem particularly outstanding in any aspect, until Cain discovered the Fairy type and researchers identified that attribute in Mawile, which made it popular for a time.
However, when people discovered that although the Fairy type countered the Dragon type, it could not crush it as easily as imagined, Mawile's popularity gradually declined.
In the end, its greatest appeal became its adorable appearance, turning it into one of the favorites among noble ladies.
An original base stat value of 380 points, plus an additional hundred... didn't that mean reaching 480 points? A direct increase of one quarter!
Even if actual power did not increase exactly in that proportion, it was enough for Lance and the others to understand how terrifying the boost granted by Mega Evolution was.
"And that's not all," Cain continued. "After mega-evolving, many Pokémon undergo changes in their abilities or even their attributes. For example, Mawile gains the ability Huge Power after mega-evolving."
"Huge Power!?" Lance reacted in shock. Everything Cain was explaining today made it impossible not to react like that.
In an instant, he felt as if the entire world had turned against him.
When the Fairy type first appeared, he had carefully researched its abilities and characteristics, and Mawile had been one of the Pokémon he discarded almost immediately.
Although the Steel + Fairy combination was good and Mawile had the move Swords Dance to compensate for certain weaknesses, it still did not pose too great a threat to Dragon-type Pokémon.
But now, with an extra hundred base stat points, the Huge Power ability, the boost from Swords Dance, and physical Fairy-type moves like Play Rough...
Lance's head started to hurt.
And he wasn't the only one thinking about it. The others were holding back their laughter—after all, there was only one Dragon-type Elite Four present.
Steven, very satisfied, patted Mega Mawile's head.
It wasn't directed at anyone in particular, but Steven could only think that he was in an excellent mood that day.
Cain patted Lance on the shoulder encouragingly and said in a serious tone, "Relax. As a Dragon-type Elite Four member, you actually don't have that many Dragon-type Pokémon."
Only then did Lance react. Thinking about it carefully, he didn't have that many Dragon-type Pokémon. Charizard, Aerodactyl, and Gyarados, for example, were not pure dragons. Those Pokémon had been captured before he officially returned to the Drako family, and although they weren't Dragon-type, they all had draconic blood in some sense.
And against those Pokémon, the Fairy type did not pose a great threat.
Thinking of it that way, Lance's mood improved considerably.
"Ahem... besides Pokémon like Mawile, whose abilities change after Mega Evolution, others also undergo changes in their attributes. For example, Aggron: after mega-evolving, its type changes from Steel + Rock to a pure Steel-type Pokémon."
"Although this reduces its offensive variety and power to some extent, its defense increases exponentially. It's simply terrifying!"
"I'm sure you, Steven, understood that well that day."
Steven nodded repeatedly as he recalled the battle against Irene. After mega-evolving, Aggron, thanks to its nearly impregnable defense, managed to drive its opponent out of the red sand hell created by Cain's Tyranitar.
"In summary, Mega Evolution is an extremely mysterious ability. I discovered it purely by chance, and all I know for now is this. If someone wanted to research it thoroughly, they would probably need to devote an entire lifetime to it... or even more," Cain sighed.
A trace of melancholy was reflected on his face. In contrast, Steven, Lance, and the others mostly felt anticipation, longing for the day when each of them could have their own Mega Evolution.
After that, Cain talked about several hidden details and precautions related to Mega Evolution. For example, he warned that one should not do what Steven had done, directly attempting a double Mega Evolution, since the body and will of an ordinary person could not withstand such an impact.
In the best case, one would lose consciousness; in the worst case, one could end up turned into an idiot.
Steven had really been very lucky.
However, once Mega Evolution was mastered and it could be maintained for a long time without pressure, then it was indeed possible to attempt a double Mega Evolution.
(End of chapter)