Professor Augustine Sycamore's coffee spilled directly onto the computer, but he didn't even care. Instead, he stared intently at the images on the screen through the tiny droplets of coffee.
The MEGA evolved Blastoise was the result he had been pursuing in his research all along, but until now, the research was completely stuck, unable to progress because he didn't know how to proceed.
Clearly, he knew that some Pokémon had an even higher level of evolution, yet he couldn't find a way to reach that evolutionary realm, as if something was missing.
And Ash's MEGA evolution today struck Professor Augustine Sycamore's mind like a flash of lightning. He instantly understood what was missing—the connection between Pokémon and their Trainer.
The relationship between the two was the key to unlocking an even greater power in Pokémon!
"MEGA Evolution... MEGA Evolution... Super Evolution? This descriptor is great, amazing! I can't believe that the problem I've been trying to solve for so long has been successfully cracked by someone else!!"
"How on earth did he do it? How did he conquer the problem that researchers around the world couldn't solve? Could it be Professor Oak? No, if it was Professor Oak, he definitely wouldn't keep it from us."
"This evolution must have been researched by Ash alone, which is why Professor Oak hasn't told us about it. But how could this be possible..."
The challenge of further evolving Pokémon was not only his research focus. He had shared the theories with countless professors before; as a research professor, his priority was to complete his research.
For this kind of difficult, seemingly impossible research problem, he would naturally seek help from other professors, including Professor Oak. That's why Professor Oak knew some things about Pokémon's higher-level evolution.
However, despite sharing it with numerous professors, the problem of Pokémon's higher-level evolution, also known as Mega Evolution, had not been tackled, not even the slightest clue.
And then today, right in the competition arena, the research result he had been pursuing appeared out of nowhere!
Professor Augustine Sycamore had always been a composed individual, but the image on the computer made him spew coffee, showing the significant shock he felt inside. That scene plunged him into a severe phase of self-doubt about his life.
Because if Professor Oak had been involved in MEGA Evolution, he definitely would have told him.
This is based on their understanding of Professor Oak's character and integrity. Professor Oak is someone who, after inventing and researching something new, would immediately share with them and let them test it.
Not to mention that the source of MEGA Evolution was initiated by him; given Professor Oak's personality, it is impossible for him not to inform them after having results. Even if MEGA Evolution only involved Professor Oak, he would definitely leak some information to him.
The fact that Professor Oak gave no information means that this evolution was entirely developed by Ash himself! As long as Ash doesn't want to, Professor Oak's integrity wouldn't allow him to announce it publicly, nor would he say a word to them!
The situation of MEGA Evolution being first in the hands of a professor is entirely different from being in the hands of a trainer. If the former invented it first, the research outcome would certainly be announced immediately, and patents would be applied for, allowing access to any MEGA Evolution research materials in the future.
That would greatly benefit future research into MEGA Evolution.
But if the research appears in the trainer's hands, it is another matter entirely. For trainers, the enhancement of their Pokémon's power is more crucial than the results of the research.
Upon Ash's initial demonstration of MEGA Evolution, Professor Augustine Sycamore had already noticed the secrets contained in the evolution, and even Steven saw it; even if Ash didn't disclose any information, the details of MEGA Evolution would eventually be uncovered.
That way, trainers would lose the opportunity to be the first to monopolize the resources of the MEGA Evolution system.
The two major systems currently on the market are Dynamax and Z-Moves.
Dynamax is mastered by Professor Magnolia, and even though she doesn't deliberately collect and control resources, as the person who first invented the Dynamax Band, she possesses the acknowledged abundance of Dynamax Bands.
However, she only gifts her Dynamax Bands to those she acknowledges.
Meanwhile, the origin place for Z-Moves, the Alola Region, has entirely monopolized Z-Moves. People from outside regions generally cannot obtain Z-Crystals and Z-Rings unless they manage to explore Alola's core by participating in their Island Challenge, which grants them a chance to acquire them.
Professor Magnolia is a professor, and Z-Moves belong to the entire Alola region, and it's even said that they're connected to legendary Pokémon in the Alola Region, whereas MEGA Evolution's discoverer Ash... so far he only has Professor Oak as a support.
Additionally, his relationship with Professor Oak is merely about distributing Pokémon, at least that's the public perception.
Without much backup, after mastering such an advantageous system like MEGA Evolution, Ash would definitely first gather all the tools and materials related to MEGA Evolution and wait until he is sufficient before announcing it.
Now, Ash has showcased it publicly, firstly due to encountering a formidable foe, and secondly because he believes it's the right time to announce MEGA Evolution.