The next morning.
Inside the research institute at the camp outside Dragon Valley, a crowd had already gathered early.
Among them were a few familiar faces: Isobe Himeko, Miyazato Aisa, and Boo-kyōju.
Besides the three of them, there were two unfamiliar people as well.
One was a dark-skinned man with a neat buzz cut and a set of clean, straight white teeth. He wore a leather vest that showed off his solid chest and abs.
This man was another Elite Four from the Northern Military Division—
Fire-type Elite Four Shime Ukyo.
The Charizard Boo-kyōju had previously borrowed for experiments belonged to him.
This time, Ukyo happened to be free of official duties, so he came specifically to see Boo-kyōju's brand-new research results for himself.
The other unfamiliar person wore a crisp military uniform.
On his chest hung a gleaming badge engraved with the Great Axia Alliance's flag.
Judging by his vigor, he looked like a man in his fifties.
But the silver hair visible beneath his cap brim gave his age away.
In truth, he was already an elderly man in his seventies.
This was the current head of the Northern Military Division—
and also one of the Great Axia Alliance's only ten Champion-level Trainers.
He was Minister Iwai Kenjiro, known as one of the "pillars of the League."
Today, he had carved time out of an impossibly busy schedule to personally review Boo-kyōju's research results.
The entire Military placed enormous importance on Boo-kyōju's work.
Because ever since Ukyo's Charizard achieved Mega Evolution, the combat power it displayed had undergone a complete transformation.
It had already far surpassed ordinary Elite Four–level Pokémon.
Terrifyingly strong.
From that, the entire Military saw tremendous value.
Perhaps Mega Evolution was the only method—and the only hope—that could allow ordinary Pokémon in human hands to barely contend with third-tier Legendary Pokémon.
"Everyone's here. Boo-kyōju, we can start, right?"
Minister Kenjiro glanced around. After confirming everyone who needed to be here had arrived, he spoke.
Boo-kyōju nodded, then shifted his gaze to Himeko.
Today's main character wasn't him—
it was the two Pokémon in Himeko's hands.
Himeko unclipped a Poké Ball from her waist and tossed it toward the open space in the lab.
"Lopunny!"
A pink figure appeared before everyone's eyes.
"Shiny Pokémon?"
Seeing Lopunny's pink long fur, Ukyo blurted out in surprise.
"Indeed."
Even Minister Kenjiro couldn't help nodding in praise.
No wonder Aisa had strongly recommended this genius.
She really did have the skills.
On Lopunny's wrist was a bracelet inlaid with a smooth, round stone.
Boo-kyōju began explaining.
"These Mega Stones containing ancient genes—put simply—are Mega Stones that allow a Pokémon that has already reached the end of its evolution line to evolve again."
As he spoke, he handed Himeko another round stone, similar in size and color.
"Only when your burning emotions are transmitted through this blank Key Stone to your Pokémon, stimulating the gene energy inside the Mega Stone it holds…"
"Then it resonates—only then will the Pokémon evolve once more."
Boo-kyōju taught Himeko how to use the Key Stone.
Next, it would depend on how deep the bond was between Himeko and her Pokémon.
From Boo-kyōju's observations over the past three months, he wasn't worried about that at all.
He believed there was a one-hundred-percent chance Himeko could make her Lopunny achieve Mega Evolution.
Once everything had been explained, everyone's eyes fixed on Himeko and Lopunny.
Himeko clenched the Key Stone tightly and took a deep breath.
Even though, in her previous life, she had already used something like this—
completing this experiment under the gaze of so many important figures still put pressure on her.
After steadying herself, her breathing and heartbeat returned to normal.
"Let's go, Lopunny!"
"Lopunny!"
The two voices sounded one after the other.
The moment her words fell, dazzling light seeped from between Himeko's fingers as she clenched the Key Stone.
At that sight, everyone present held their breath, excitement rising.
Their eyes locked on Himeko's hand, not daring to look away for even an instant.
The next second, the Mega Stone on Lopunny's wrist began to shine as well.
Himeko's intense resolve and anticipation—
carried across the profound bond she and Lopunny had built—
were transmitted without loss.
That burning emotion resonated within Lopunny's heart.
The light flashing from the Mega Stone grew stronger and stronger.
In the blink of an eye, Lopunny's figure was completely swallowed by brilliant white radiance.
Within that dazzling light, Lopunny's silhouette could be seen undergoing subtle changes.
It started!
Mega Evolution had begun!
To witness this with their own eyes—
everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
A few seconds later, the white radiance gradually weakened.
Lopunny's figure slowly emerged from the fading glow.
At this moment—
she had advanced into Mega Lopunny.
Her appearance had changed noticeably.
From the pink, voluptuous "mature beauty" look she had as Lopunny—
to a vibrant, explosive, fighter-girl look overflowing with athletic energy.
Even the overall vibe felt different.
Those two long ears that used to hang down had become segmented and tied up like long braids, styled like twin-tails on either side of her head.
It gave her an energetic, youthful feeling.
Himeko looked at the newly transformed Lopunny, and Lopunny's status panel appeared before her eyes.
[Species: Mega Lopunny]
[Type: Normal / Fighting]
[Level: Gym Mid-tier (Lv. 45, 30/100 EXP)]
[Condition: Good. Just completed Mega Evolution and is still adjusting to her body.]
[Potential: Champion-level]
After Mega Evolution, Lopunny gained the Fighting type.
And her potential had jumped from Elite Four–level to Champion-level.
So Mega Evolution really was an evolution that broke limits—
it had forcibly raised Lopunny's potential by an entire tier.
That meant, in her hands now—
she had Mega Lopunny and Gardevoir, two Champion-level combatants.
Wait.
Not necessarily.
If Gardevoir succeeded at Mega Evolution later—
then, judging by Lopunny's case—
the already Champion-level Gardevoir should advance further…
rising to "Headmaster-level."
Headmaster-level!
That was a realm even she had never reached in her previous life!
"Test her combat capability."
Seeing Lopunny evolve successfully, Boo-kyōju's face lit up with joy and he spoke quickly.
After Mega Evolution, the Pokémon would be classified in the Pokédex as a new form.
For Boo-kyōju, it was necessary to run some basic data and attribute tests first.
Lopunny entered a sealed room.
Under Boo-kyōju's arrangements and instructions, she went through a series of tests.
Before long, a simple analysis report came out.
"As expected! Mega Evolution truly is a milestone discovery!"
Boo-kyōju stared at the report in amazement.
The preliminary data showed that after Mega Evolution, Lopunny's strength and speed had reached an astonishing level.
Originally, Himeko's Lopunny already far surpassed others of her species in strength and speed—
a genius within the Lopunny population.
But after Mega Evolution, the gap between her and ordinary Lopunny widened even further.
She was practically a god among Lopunny.
"Good, good! Very good!"
Boo-kyōju was delighted, smiling broadly and praising nonstop.
He was extremely satisfied with this result.
It once again proved the necessity of continuing this Mega Evolution research.
"Hurry up! Now it's your Gardevoir's turn!"
Boo-kyōju put away the data and couldn't help urging Himeko.
He knew that in terms of talent alone, Gardevoir's talent was even more outstanding than Lopunny's.
Mega Lopunny's gains and improvements were already that huge—
so if it were Gardevoir instead…
Would she ultimately become like GeoGreymon—
breaking through the limits of ordinary Pokémon?
Reaching talent infinitely close to a third-tier Legendary Pokémon?
Just thinking of it made Boo-kyōju excited.
Wasn't the ultimate goal of researching Mega Evolution precisely this—
to let humanity break free from the shackles and threats of Legendary Pokémon,
and truly possess power that could speak to them on equal footing?
Himeko nodded.
She, too, was looking forward to what kind of surprise Gardevoir would bring.
"Gardevoir!"
The Poké Ball landed, and a Gardevoir as regal as a noble princess appeared before everyone.
The moment she appeared, Ukyo and Minister Kenjiro praised her again.
That powerful Psychic energy, almost tangible, swirled around her.
This alone already showcased Gardevoir's strength and extraordinariness.
Next, Himeko repeated the same procedure.
Holding the blank Key Stone, just like before—
through the deep bond she had established with Gardevoir,
she transmitted her intense wish and expectation.
The Gardevoir Mega Stone on Gardevoir's wrist burst into intense white light.
In an instant, it engulfed her completely.
Seeing this, everyone's hearts tightened again with anticipation.
Here it comes!
Another Mega Evolution!
What would Gardevoir evolve into this time?
How much would her strength improve?
However, in the very next moment—
an outcome that left everyone stunned happened.
The dense white light lasted only an instant before it shattered.
Within the fading glow, Gardevoir's figure showed no change at all.
Not only did everyone present look shocked—
even Gardevoir herself wore a confused, puzzled expression.
She could feel it clearly:
the Mega Stone on her wrist had resonated with her and stirred the evolutionary factors within her body.
So why did the evolution fail in the end?
"This…"
The room fell silent for a long while before Boo-kyōju finally frowned and managed a single word.
"It shouldn't…"
Boo-kyōju muttered, his expression filled with confusion and disbelief.
He was certain his research had no problems.
Which meant—
the key reason for this failure wasn't the stones.
It lay with either Himeko or Gardevoir.
Since Himeko had successfully completed Mega Evolution with Lopunny earlier—
Boo-kyōju believed the most likely cause was something about Gardevoir herself.
He lowered his head and thought for a moment, then quickly arrived at a possibility.
"I need to give her a simple examination."
Boo-kyōju said to Himeko.
Himeko nodded.
She also wanted to understand why Gardevoir's Mega Evolution had failed.
Losing, for nothing, a combat power that might have reached Headmaster-level—
of course she felt extremely unwilling to accept that.
After a brief examination, Boo-kyōju finally figured out the reason for the failure.
Just as he had guessed—
the problem was indeed with Gardevoir herself.
The genes contained within Gardevoir's body were not purely those of her own species.
Mixed within them were gene sequences belonging to another Pokémon.
That was the reason the Mega Evolution failed.
As for which Pokémon those other genes belonged to—
Boo-kyōju couldn't analyze it at all.
This genetic sequence didn't belong to any of the ordinary Pokémon gene samples in their existing database.
So there was only one possibility left—
this irregular segment of genes inside Gardevoir
came from a Legendary Pokémon!
(End of Chapter)
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