While Cain was healing his Pokémon, the others, having nothing better to do, began calling out theirs as well. Fortunately, the place was spacious enough to accommodate all the Pokémon present, with plenty of free space left over.
The incursion of the Sacred Church had placed tremendous pressure on them, but sometimes that pressure also turned into motivation. Everyone worked hard to adjust their Pokémon's condition to the best possible state, so they could better face the battles to come.
Because of this, Cain took out the last two unassigned Mega Stones he was carrying and decided to find their respective owners.
It had to be said that luck was truly good: those two Mega Stones had compatible Pokémon right there.
Upon hearing Cain's words, Steven and the others immediately gathered around.
After witnessing the brutal increase in speed of Cain's Salamence after megaevolving, and after seeing how Steven's Mawile, upon megaevolving, left Lance with a truly bitter expression, everyone was extremely curious to know which Pokémon could megaevolve with those two stones.
Cain smiled as he looked at everyone present and their Pokémon.
If this had happened earlier, Cain would never have taken out those two Mega Stones. Even with the good relationship he had with Lance, Cynthia, and the others, he would not have done so.
The value of those stones could not be measured simply in money.
Moreover, if Cain had publicly announced the existence of Mega Evolution in the Pokémon world, those two stones would have reached astronomical prices, and even then no one would have been able to buy them.
But at this critical moment, with the Sacred Church invading and them being at a clear disadvantage, any increase in power was an enormous help.
A single Mega Stone could mean a qualitative leap. For example, Cain's Gengar, after megaevolving, could temporarily reach enough power to surpass the first barrier of the Champion level.
Cain did not believe that all the members of the Sacred Church who had entered were that strong, so the explosive increase in power of any Pokémon was a gigantic improvement for them.
That said, Cain also felt immense pain in his heart—or rather, a great deal of pain. The value of those two stones was extremely high, even higher than the Mawile Mega Stone he had given to Steven. If he hadn't already commissioned Lysandre to collect a large number of Mega Stones in advance, he truly would not have wanted to part with them.
In the end, Cain's gaze settled on Lance and Cynthia.
Among everyone present, the Pokémon capable of megaevolving, aside from Cain's own, were as follows:
Steven: Shiny Metagross, Aggron, Steelix, Aerodactyl, and Mawile (which already had its own stone).
Wallace, an expert in Water-type Pokémon: only Gyarados.
Lance, the so-called Dragon-type Elite Four: Charizard, Aerodactyl, and Gyarados.
Phoebe, a Ghost-type specialist: Sableye and Gengar, though neither had yet reached the Champion level.
Cynthia had two Pokémon capable of megaevolving: her trump card, Garchomp, and a Lucario much stronger than Cain's.
Lastly, Diantha, who had two main Pokémon: her favorite Gardevoir and Kalos's pseudo-legendary, Goodra. Unfortunately, Goodra, like Kanto's Dragonite and Unova's Hydreigon, could not megaevolve.
Among the six people standing before Cain, there were only a few real options for Mega Evolution.
Finally, Cain placed the two Mega Stones in his palms and pushed them toward Lance and Cynthia.
Smiling, he said, "The luck of you two is really good. These two Mega Stones are for you... although, to be honest, it hurts quite a bit to part with them."
And he was not exaggerating at all, because those two stones corresponded to none other than Charizard and the pseudo-legendary Garchomp.
It was easy to imagine how much his heart hurt at that moment.
Even so, Cain firmly believed that these two stones of immeasurable value would bring an equivalent return.
Lance and Cynthia stared in astonishment at the stones glowing intensely in Cain's hands. They could clearly feel the enormous temptation emanating from them, especially after learning that they allowed such a miraculous evolution.
Cain continued, "The stone in front of you, Lance, belongs to Charizard. And the one before you, Cynthia, is Garchomp's."
"Charizard/Garchomp?" they exclaimed at the same time, with an unmistakable gleam in their eyes.
Off to the side, Steven and the others showed expressions of envy. Even Steven, who already possessed a Mawile Mega Stone, could not help feeling a bit envious.
They might not fully understand the value of Charizard's stone, but the value of Garchomp's stone was something everyone knew very well.
Anything related to a pseudo-legendary had a terrifying value.
Just because they did not understand the value of Charizard's stone did not mean that Cain did not.
Charizard was one of the very few Pokémon capable of having two different Mega Evolution forms, and in Cain's eyes, its value was no less than that of the Garchomp stone he had given to Cynthia.
One should not underestimate Charizard just because it was a starter Pokémon. The value of the three Kanto starters could not be measured solely by types or base stats.
Whether it was Charizard, Venusaur, or Blastoise, Cain had always felt a special fondness for Charizard. Not because it was necessarily stronger, but due to a matter of feelings—the nostalgia of someone who had once been a resident of Earth.
Especially after Charizard obtained two Mega forms.
Lance and Cynthia could also sense Cain's solemnity and the genuine pain he felt in parting with those stones.
These could become the world's first Charizard and the world's first Garchomp to megaevolve.
Lance, with a serious expression, slowly took the Charizard Mega Stone and, staring intently at Cain, said, "I know that the value of this stone cannot be measured with money. I can feel it clearly. That's why I promise you that, as long as it does not affect the fundamental interests of the Drako family or the League, whenever you need me, you only have to ask. I will not hesitate."
It was the greatest commitment Lance could offer at that moment: an almost unrestricted promise, of immeasurable value.
As the principal direct heir of the Drako family, Kanto's Dragon-type Elite Four, and a future regional Champion or even head of the Drako family, his favor was priceless.
Seeing this, Cynthia did not hesitate either and said solemnly, "I owe you a favor."
A simple sentence, but one heavy with meaning.
Cain sighed deeply inwardly. Obtaining the promises of two future Champions made the loss worth it.
Even so, watching those stones leave his hands left him with a fleeting sense of emptiness.
But he quickly recovered. What mattered most now was to increase everyone's strength and ensure their safety before responding to the Sacred Church's plans.
He took out two more Key Stones and handed them over.
"Steven has already shown you how Mega Evolution works. I trust that your synchronization with your Pokémon is sufficient, so I won't test you."
"Give the Mega Stone to your Pokémon, hold the Key Stone, and use your will and faith to connect with it. At the same time, your Pokémon will sense that intention, and you will perceive their most sincere thoughts."
"It's a feeling similar to a complete union between human and Pokémon. Who wants to start?"
"I'll go first," Lance said eagerly.
Charizard had been his starter Pokémon. Although many people only associated him with Dragonite, Charizard was the one who had accompanied him throughout his life. It might not have been the strongest, but it was undoubtedly the Pokémon he trusted the most.
"Feel my heart... megaevolve, Charizard!" Lance exclaimed with emotion.
(End of chapter)