The white light in the room flared violently, and the distortion of space grew more and more intense. The air churned and surged like boiling water, as if the entire space had been thrown into a seething cauldron.
In the next instant, three figures burst out from the light like fish leaping out of water, appearing out of thin air at the center of the glow.
As the dazzling white light slowly faded, the outlines of the three figures became clear.
It was Steven, along with his shiny Metagross and a Claydol with an earthy yellow body covered in strange, ancient patterns.
"Mr. Steven?!"
"You… you actually came here directly?"
The moment Theo had sensed the spatial fluctuation earlier, he had already formed a vague guess in his mind. However, he never expected Steven to appear in such a straightforward manner.
The so called "seeing it with your own eyes" turned out to be literally using Claydol's Teleport to cross an unknown distance and arrive directly in his hotel room.
It was simply too sudden.
Steven raised his hand and patted Claydol on the head, then pointed at it with a smile as he explained,
"How could talking through a screen compare to seeing it in person? And this kind of surprise needs to be witnessed firsthand to feel special."
Beside him, the shiny Metagross opened its eyes. When it saw Theo's shiny Metagross, a gentle glimmer flashed across its gaze. It lifted one of its metal limbs and gave a friendly wave, letting out a low hum.
Theo's Metagross also opened its eyes in response and returned the greeting. The two quickly moved closer, their massive forms radiating a quiet familiarity as they greeted each other.
Claydol hovered silently at the side.
The light flowing across its body had dimmed noticeably, clearly showing that the long distance Teleport had consumed a considerable amount of its energy.
Only then did Theo snap out of his astonishment. He quickly invited Steven to sit down, then rummaged through his backpack on the bed and handed Claydol a high grade pokéblock.
After all, it was the true contributor to this sudden arrival.
Claydol tilted its head slightly. Its gaze first fell on the energy cube, then shifted toward Steven, as if waiting for permission.
Steven smiled and nodded.
With approval granted, Claydol immediately floated forward happily, lifted the pokéblock with its psychic power, and began nibbling on it bit by bit, its expression filled with satisfaction.
"Mr. Steven, the surprise you mentioned is…"
Unable to suppress his curiosity, Theo fixed his gaze on Steven, his tone filled with anticipation.
Steven gave a mysterious smile. Instead of answering right away, he reached into his pocket and took out an object.
It was a snow white bracelet. The material looked like some kind of special alloy, smooth and cool to the touch.
At the center of the bracelet was embedded a multicolored orb. Inside the orb, faint streams of light flowed slowly, emitting a soft yet mysterious glow.
"This is…"
Theo's gaze was instantly drawn to the bracelet. A strong sense of familiarity surged within him.
The design was strikingly similar to the accessories he had seen in the murals at Meteor Falls, those worn by the ancient people of the meteor tribe.
Only this one was far more refined, filled with the ingenuity of modern craftsmanship.
"Looks familiar, doesn't it?"
Steven noticed his reaction and raised the bracelet as he explained,
"This is the result of the League's recent research. A Keystone Mega Evolution bracelet. It can already be mass produced."
Realization dawned on Theo.
"And that is not all. There is something else that was successfully developed just two days ago…"
Steven continued, the smile on his face growing even brighter. From another pocket, he carefully took out a gemstone.
It was a crystal about the size of a thumb, colored in a blend of blue and white, like a deep sea blanketed in ice and snow. At its center was a leaf shaped pattern of yellow and white.
A powerful wave of energy pulsed faintly from within the crystal, causing Theo's Metagross to step forward instinctively, its red eyes locking tightly onto the stone.
The moment Theo saw the crystal, his breathing halted.
His heart pounded violently, as if gripped by an invisible hand. Blood rushed through his veins, and a faint heat rose to his cheeks.
Because in his mind, the system interface had already displayed the information of the crystal.
[Metagrossite Mega Stone: When paired with a Key Stone, allows Metagross to Mega Evolve]
"Metagross's… Mega Stone?!"
Theo's voice trembled slightly. His eyes widened as he stared fixedly at the blue white crystal in Steven's hand, almost unable to believe what he was seeing.
He never imagined that he would encounter Metagross's Mega Stone so soon. The League had actually reached the point where they could produce Mega Stones already.
Previously, Steven only possessed Mega Stones for Aggron and Charizard.
But after a brief moment of thought, Theo found it reasonable.
It had been nearly two months since the secret of Mega Evolution had been uncovered.
Under Chairman Goodshow's coordination, researchers from the four major regions had devoted themselves fully to the project. By combining the clues from the Meteor Falls murals with modern technology, developing new Mega Stones was a natural progression.
"That's right. It is Metagross's Mega Stone."
Steven smiled with a hint of pride. He lifted the stone slightly, then pointed to the identical bracelet on his own wrist.
"Come on, let me show you the true power of Mega Evolution with your own eyes. Metagross, are you ready?"
His shiny Metagross let out a low roar, its red eyes blazing with excitement. It had clearly been waiting for this moment.
Steven put on the Mega Evolution bracelet and slowly brought the Mega Stone close to the Key Stone, chanting softly,
"Let the light of the stones become our bond. Metagross, Mega Evolve!"
"Meta—!"
The Mega Stone and Key Stone erupted with brilliant light at the same time, forming a dazzling torrent of energy that instantly engulfed the shiny Metagross.
The Pokémon in the room were all stunned by the overwhelming power.
Milotic's tail fin tensed slightly. Larvesta widened its eyes. The two little Vulpix hid behind Theo, only their fluffy heads peeking out as they watched the radiant light with a mix of curiosity and nervousness.
Meanwhile, Theo's Metagross stared fixedly at the pillar of light. The brilliance reflected in its eyes as its body trembled slightly, emitting a deep, resonant hum.
It was a longing that came from the depths of its soul.
The energy within the light grew more and more violent. The faint sound of metal grinding could be heard. As the glow shifted and pulsed, the shiny Metagross inside was undergoing a tremendous transformation.
Its body expanded and grew at a visible rate.
Its already massive frame became even more imposing. The cross shaped marking on its forehead shifted from golden to a deep, profound blue.
As the blue light surged through that cross, an overwhelming wave of psychic power burst outward like a tidal wave.
The very air in the room seemed to freeze under that force. Even the light itself appeared slightly distorted.
Under the influence of this terrifying psychic energy, Mega Metagross slowly rose into the air, completely freeing itself from its reliance on the ground.
What shocked everyone even more was that its four metal limbs were rapidly growing and thickening.
The original arms swelled until they resembled massive siege hammers, their length extending forward, while the sharp metallic claws at the ends gleamed with a cutting brilliance, as if they could tear through anything in their path.
Behind it, four smaller metal limbs slowly emerged, shorter in size yet arranged in a tight formation, circling its back like an impenetrable defensive barrier.
Counting the four massive arms in front, it now possessed a total of eight metallic limbs.
The white light gradually subsided, and a completely new Pokémon, like a moving steel fortress, appeared before Theo.
[Pokémon: Mega Metagross]
Type: Steel, Psychic
Category: Iron Leg Pokémon
Ability: Tough Claws (Possesses incredibly hard claws that greatly enhance the power of close range attacks.)
Moves: Thunder Punch, Ice Punch, Fire Punch, Hammer Arm, Meteor Mash, Focus Punch, Explosion, Hyper Beam, Giga Impact…
The system panel appeared clearly before Theo's eyes.
Its ability had changed from Clear Body to Tough Claws. Even from the name alone, one could feel the overwhelming offensive force it embodied.
Each of its eight metal arms had its own role. The front limbs were built for offense, the rear limbs for defense. Combined with its terrifying psychic power, Mega Metagross was undoubtedly a perfect combat machine.
Beside Theo, his own Metagross stared with shining eyes at Steven's shiny Mega Metagross. Its body emitted low, rumbling vibrations.
The floating posture, the majestic spread of eight arms, the overwhelming energy that seemed ready to overflow at any moment, all of it stirred something deep within it.
So this was what it could become.
Larvesta had already been completely stunned. Its small head tilted back slightly, its mouth wide open.
It had never imagined that Metagross could evolve further, and in such an unbelievably cool way. Eight metal arms, just how many decorations could those hold?
Staring at those eight metallic limbs, Larvesta gradually lost focus, completely captivated.
"Well? This is the power of Mega Evolution."
Steven's voice carried a trace of pride as he gently stroked Mega Metagross's body.
"After Mega Evolving, Metagross's psychic power increases exponentially. It can easily levitate itself, no longer fearing Ground type moves like Earthquake.
And with these two pairs of massive claws in front and the two pairs of smaller defensive arms in the back, it is practically unbeatable."
Mega Metagross lowered its head and gently rubbed against Steven, letting out a soft hum that was completely different from the overwhelming aura it had displayed moments ago.
Seeing the undisguised longing in Theo and his Metagross's eyes, the smile on Steven's lips deepened.
He reached into the inner pocket of his coat and took out another set of items. It was another blue and white Mega Stone, along with a snow white bracelet identical to the one before.
Clearly, he had prepared it in advance.
"Here, this is for you."
He handed the box to Theo, his gaze filled with encouragement.
"Do you want to try it too? The first time might be a bit difficult, but you can at least get a feel for it. I will have my Metagross guide you. It will pass on the techniques for controlling the evolution energy to your Metagross."
Theo took the box. The moment his fingers touched the Mega Stone, a familiar wave of energy flowed through him, resonating strongly with his Metagross.
His Metagross let out an excited hum, its red eyes locked tightly onto the stone. Its body leaned forward slightly, as if urging him to begin.
Steven's Mega Metagross slowly approached, floating before Theo's Metagross. Two streams of blue psychic energy radiated from the cross shaped marks on their foreheads, weaving together into an invisible network in the air.
Theo could clearly feel that the two Metagross were communicating through their psychic power.
Information about the flow of energy during Mega Evolution, the changes in the body, and how to synchronize with the trainer's will flowed like a stream from Steven's Mega Metagross into his own.
His Metagross closed its eyes, its body trembling slightly. The glow in its red eyes flickered as it rapidly processed the information.
Before long, it suddenly opened its eyes, nodded firmly at Theo, and let out a resolute hum, as if saying it was ready.
"Then let's begin."
Theo took a deep breath, gripping the Mega Stone in his hand as he put on the white bracelet.
Following Steven's example, he slowly brought the Mega Stone close to the Key Stone on the bracelet. His gaze locked firmly onto his Metagross as he focused on the bond between them.
The instant the Mega Stone touched the Key Stone, two brilliant lights erupted at the same time.
In that moment, a vague image of Metagross suddenly appeared in Theo's mind. The figure was tightly connected to his consciousness, radiating a warm yet powerful presence.
He could feel that it was the reflection of his Metagross's soul, its desire to grow stronger.
"Move closer…"
A voice echoed in his heart. He could not tell whether it was his own thought or Metagross's.
He followed that instinct, guiding his consciousness toward the shadow. At the same time, the shadow seemed to respond, slowly moving toward him.
The instant their consciousness touched, a surge of immense energy burst forth from the point of contact, flowing through the psychic link into Metagross's body.
"Meta!"
The light intensified, flooding the entire room in brilliant white.
Within the light, Theo's Metagross let out a thunderous roar as its body began to transform at a visible speed.
Its size expanded rapidly. Its four metal arms grew thick and powerful. The smaller arms on its back unfolded like blooming buds. The cross on its forehead turned into a deep blue.
The entire process was smooth and natural, without the slightest resistance, as if it had been practiced countless times.
As the light gradually faded, a steel behemoth nearly identical to Steven's Mega Metagross hovered in the center of the room.
Its eight metal arms spread slightly. Waves of psychic energy rippled outward like tides, causing the air itself to distort.
It lowered its head to look at Theo. In its red eyes were warmth and excitement, and it let out a gentle hum.
[Pokémon: Mega Metagross]
Type: Steel, Psychic
Category: Iron Leg Pokémon
Ability: Tough Claws (Possesses incredibly hard claws that greatly enhance the power of close range attacks.)
Moves: …
The system panel refreshed as expected.
Looking at the imposing Mega Metagross before him, Theo was so overwhelmed with excitement that he could not find the words to speak.
(End of Chapter)