Ariana didn't expect Li Yuan's first Pokémon to be the Shiny Gardevoir.
In her view, both the Shiny Gardevoir and the Meowscarada were likely just "trophy pets" kept for their looks. With his wealth, he could easily buy Pseudo-Elite combatants. Even if he couldn't find those, Gym Leader-level Pokémon were plentiful. Why use a Veteran-rank against her?
Although Li Yuan had "hacks" to fight above his level, the gap between Gym Leader and Veteran was much larger than Veteran and Elite. Did he really have that much confidence?
Just as Ariana wondered how he planned to fight, a scene she would never forget unfolded.
"Gardevoir, Eternal Evolution!"
As Li Yuan successfully communicated and fused all the powers, Gardevoir's body turned into light.
Blinding seven-colored brilliance erupted from her, nearly burning out the titanium dog eyes of the onlookers.
Ariana, accustomed to evolution, recognized this sight. Sham and the others in the stands stood up abruptly, shock filling their eyes.
Evolution? Gardevoir is evolving???
That's not right. Isn't Gardevoir the final stage? Why can she evolve again?
Even as hardened villains, their reaction was pure shock.
As trainers, what was more exciting than seeing a Pokémon evolve? Especially a new, undocumented evolution!
When the light faded, a humanoid Pokémon appeared. It looked similar to Gardevoir but was distinctly different—long-haired, breathtakingly beautiful, and radiating power.
"It really evolved..." Ariana stared at the stranger in disbelief. She was certain no such form had ever been recorded.
"Let's begin, Madam Ariana. If you have questions, you can ask them slowly in my bed after the battle~." Li Yuan looked at the successful evolution with a pleased smile.
The Gardevoir gene pool never disappointed. Whether Mega, Unbound, or Eternal, every form was stunning. None of them were "ugly."
I definitely need to 'play' with Eternal Gardevoir when we get back~.
"Young Master Li always surprises me. Looks like I've lost this match," Ariana smiled bitterly. Who could have predicted a mid-battle evolution?
Evolution meant a leap in life hierarchy and strength. Eternal Gardevoir's aura was now firmly Gym Leader-level, equal to Honchkrow.
And since the opponent was a "tier-skipper," fighting on equal levels meant certain defeat.
"You have self-awareness. But since I evolved, you aren't allowed to surrender immediately. Let me test Eternal Gardevoir's strength first," Li Yuan stopped her from quitting.
Only he and Gardevoir knew her true strength wasn't just "Gym Leader-level."
Through Aura analysis and Gardevoir's feedback, Li Yuan saw her stats:
[Species: Eternal Gardevoir]
[Base Stat Total: 618]
[Gender: ♀]
[Type: Fairy / Psychic]
[Ability: Eternal (Eternal Gardevoir's stats cannot be lowered; Fairy-type moves have double the effect.)]
[Signature Move: Light of Eternity (Power 150: Borrows power from the Eternal Flower to fire a powerful Fairy beam. Cannot be used consecutively.)]
Look at this panel! Are you scared yet?
618 BST: Standard for Mega Evolution (+100 stats).
Type: Fairy became primary, meaning she specialized in Fairy energy now.
Ability: The first part prevents stat drops—a solid utility ability. The second part is insane. "Fairy moves have double the effect" meant not only did secondary effects trigger twice, but damage doubled. It was essentially Huge Power for Fairy moves.
This meant 2x effectiveness became 4x. Neutral damage became 2x. Even resisted hits (0.5x) became neutral (1x).
Basically, unless you were Poison, Steel, or Fire, you had to run.
Dragons, Dark, and Fighting types? They had to kneel and call her Mommy!
Wait, isn't Honchkrow part Dark?
What a coincidence!
If I don't beat you, who do I beat?
Finally, the Signature Move: Light of Eternity. Similar to Light of Ruin, but stronger.
150 Power. Doubled by the Ability to 300. Plus STAB (50%), it reached 450 Power.
Without any combos or setup, a single move hit for 450.
Who in the same tier can tank that?
Who dares?
Especially since Honchkrow was weak to Fairy. That 450 became effectively 900.
When Honchkrow saw Gardevoir gathering a ball of terrifying Fairy energy, it sweated buckets. Every Pokémon knew its limits. Honchkrow sensed that ball contained enough energy to kill it twice over!
Fight? Are you kidding?
Dark types did bad things, but they weren't stupid. Their motto was "bully the weak, fear the strong." Rushing to die when you can't win is brain damage!
Its master wouldn't surrender? Fine.
You won't surrender? I will!
Honchkrow dove from the sky and slammed onto the ground... kneeling before Gardevoir.
"Honchkrow! (Big Sister, spare me! We're on the same side now!!!)"
Eternal Gardevoir: ???
That works?