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In the special spectator seats, after Gardevoir's MEGA Evolution, Steven's face was filled with emotion.
Gardevoir's MEGA Evolution was indeed beautiful and stunning, yet the other Elite Four members all widened their eyes, their faces showing expressions of disbelief.
This expression was the same as the one Steven had when Ash first performed a MEGA Evolution.
Steven noticed the commotion beside him, turned his head, and found Lorelei and the others gaping, looking incredulous.
This time, it was Steven's turn to be puzzled: "Are you all shocked by Gardevoir's MEGA Evolution? But you don't need to be so exaggerated, do you? Haven't you all known that Ash's Pokémon can undergo MEGA Evolution?"
"It's not the problem of Gardevoir's MEGA Evolution, but the problem that Ash made Gardevoir evolve after evolving Blastoise..." Lance slowly closed his mouth, a very strange expression on his face.
"That's right, Steven, you don't understand MEGA Evolution, so you don't know.
Actually, a MEGA Evolution in a single battle, just like Gigantamax, can only be done once.
After the evolution is complete, the gem called a key stone in the Trainer's hand will lose its luster and cannot be used for evolution again for a short period of time," Lorelei explained to Steven, having recovered from her shock.
Although only Lance among them had obtained a mega stone, they all already knew some common knowledge about MEGA Evolution.
Under normal circumstances, MEGA Evolution is actually like Gigantamax; it can only be performed once per battle.
The effect of a key stone is actually similar to a dynamax band; both provide one-time energy to a Pokémon.
A dynamax band infuses power into a Pokémon, allowing it to complete Gigantamax, and the moves used by the Pokémon during Gigantamax consume the power infused by the dynamax band, ultimately causing Gigantamax to last only a short three turns.
Although a key stone also infuses the life force within it into a Pokémon, the difference is that a key stone, just like its name, is merely a key to unlock the power within a Pokémon.
The energy it infuses into the Pokémon will enter the mega stone carried by the Pokémon.
The mega stone will activate the genes within the Pokémon, allowing it to enter a Mega Evolved state.
This state consumes the Pokémon's own strength, so its duration is related to the Pokémon's own stamina, and it does not consume Gigantamax energy like Gigantamax.
However, both systems have one commonality: whether it's a dynamax band or a key stone, after being used once, they both require a period of recharging before they can be used a second time.
Situations like Ash's, where he uses it twice consecutively in one battle, are basically impossible.
If MEGA Evolution were truly that overpowered, how would other systems even compete?
"So, this ability to consecutively MEGA Evolve is also a special case that only Ash can achieve?"
After listening to Lorelei and the others' explanation, Steven's expression also became strange.
Who exactly is this Ash?
He discovered MEGA Evolution, obtained so many rare Pokémon, and trained his Pokémon to Elite Four within half a year.
Now, he also has a unique MEGA Evolution privilege method; it's almost as if the whole world revolves around him.
Could it be that this is the legendary Child of Destiny?
"That's right, this should be an operation only Ash can do.
Anyway, after one MEGA Evolution, my key stone takes at least half a day to fully recharge over time," Lance nodded earnestly.
Hearing this, Steven suddenly remembered that he had also done some research on that thing called a key stone.
Previously, that item wasn't called a key stone; he called it a life stone.
The life energy within it could be restored after being extracted, which he found quite surprising.
Precisely because of this, he didn't give all the life stones to Professor Oak; he kept a small collection.
On the other hand, he basically only kept two or three mega stones...
Damn it, could Ash's key stone and mega stone all be his?
No, no, that shouldn't be possible.
The mega stone might be his, but the key stone probably isn't.
After all, if Ash didn't have a key stone, he wouldn't have been able to discover MEGA Evolution in Pokémon, so how would he have collected those items?
As for why Professor Oak would want so many key stones... if he had known about MEGA Evolution early on, he would have also collected some items and materials related to MEGA Evolution in advance.
On one hand, it was to prepare himself, and on the other hand, he could give them to his friends and family, so Professor Oak's behavior of collecting key stones and mega stones everywhere can be guessed without much explanation.
And he, Steven, was probably the biggest investor for Ash and Professor Oak.
Thinking about the mega stones and key stones he had given away, even with his temperament, he felt a faint pang of heartache...
On the field, as Gardevoir underwent MEGA Evolution, Conway's pressure doubled.
One Mega Blastoise had already completely defeated two of his Pokémon.
If it weren't for Trick Room, those two Pokémon probably wouldn't have been able to contend with Blastoise.
And activating the space was Dusknoir's doing, for which Dusknoir even took a Hydro Pump from Blastoise.
At that time, Blastoise had not undergone MEGA Evolution; otherwise, given Blastoise's performance after MEGA Evolution, that Hydro Pump would probably have made Dusknoir question life itself.
It wouldn't have lost its ability to battle, but it would definitely have been severely injured, instead of still having more than half its stamina as it does now.
Now, the situation is different from before; Gardevoir has already completed MEGA Evolution.
Without knowing Gardevoir's inherent strength, the sheer oppressive feeling this MEGA Evolution alone creates is already immense for him.
But no matter what, this space must be opened; otherwise, facing Ash's remaining Pokémon, he has no chance of winning.
A major disadvantage of space teams is that when you can't open your space, your Pokémon's speed is simply too slow.
The win rate directly drops by at least thirty percent or more.
"Dusknoir, don't be afraid, it's just a change in appearance.
First, use Shadow Sneak!" Conway loudly encouraged his Pokémon and chose to attack first.
Shadow Sneak is a priority move; even with inherently slow speed, it can still strike quickly.
Now, without knowing the strength of MEGA Gardevoir, he couldn't just open the space unprotected; otherwise, he would be a standing target.
If it were at full health, he might try, but in this current state, some preliminary preparation work is necessary.
Dusknoir gathered its hands in front of its body, and a black shadow formed in its hands, then it violently launched it.
The black energy formed a shadow that rapidly rushed from the ground towards Gardevoir.
Gardevoir did not dodge or evade, merely raising its dark arm, and a brilliant blue light bloomed—Confusion.
"Bang!"
The Shadow Sneak, which appeared extremely fast in everyone's eyes, was precisely caught by Gardevoir's Confusion, then crushed!
With this single move, Gardevoir's level was also fully revealed—Gym Peak!!
After discerning Gardevoir's level, Conway's already gloomy face became even uglier, as if he had eaten excrement.
What the hell is Gym Peak?!
If you had this Pokémon, why didn't you bring it out earlier?!
This is not on the same level as the previous Blastoise at all!
Blastoise was only Professional Peak, and after MEGA Evolution, it easily defeated two of his Pokémon within Trick Room.
So, Conway couldn't even imagine how brutal this Gym Peak Gardevoir's methods would be after MEGA Evolution!
"Gym Peak it is, then; we still have to fight Gym Peak! Use Shadow Ball!" Conway gritted his teeth, then once again commanded Dusknoir to attack.
Because of his fear of Gardevoir, he dared not use Dusknoir's best physical attack, and could only use ranged attacks for harassment.
"Gardevoir, Moonblast."
Since the opponent wasn't engaging in close combat, Ash wouldn't let Gardevoir approach either.
Ranged attacks were Gardevoir's comfort zone, though his Gardevoir was a mixed attacker.
Both sides gathered their respective energies in front of them; one formed a dark Shadow Ball, while the other formed a Moonblast imbued with moonlight.
Then, both sides launched their moves almost simultaneously.
"Bang!"
Moonblast and Shadow Ball collided, but in just an instant, the latter shattered immediately, without even a hint of resistance.
Gardevoir, at Gym Peak, after undergoing MEGA Evolution, already possessed battle power comparable to an Elite Four Class!
In a direct confrontation, ten Dusknoir would not be a match for Gardevoir.
"Now! Use Destiny Bond!!" Conway shouted the command he had prepared the moment Shadow Ball was blasted away.
I'll take you down with me!
Even if he couldn't open the space, he had to take out Gardevoir!
Perhaps he had misjudged earlier; Blastoise was indeed not one of Ash's absolute main forces, and MEGA Evolution was not something only Blastoise could do, but this Gardevoir was definitely one of Ash's strongest Pokémon!
If a Gym Peak Pokémon wasn't a main force, that would be too unreasonable.
So, as long as he used Destiny Bond to take her out, even if he lost a space setter, he would still profit immensely!
His ace hadn't even been brought out yet!
A dark shadow flashed from Dusknoir's body, and the shadow, like a phantom, rushed wildly from the ground towards Gardevoir.
Conway seized the moment when Gardevoir was still using Moonblast; at this time, it was very difficult to dodge moves.
"Hit her!!" Amidst Conway's roar, Destiny Bond... missed.
Gardevoir's figure vanished from its original spot and reappeared behind Dusknoir.
On its dark palm, a Moonblast had already been single-handedly condensed.
There was a Moonblast coming from the front, and a Gardevoir that had Teleported behind it with a single-handed Moonblast.
"Boom!!"
The unavoidable Dusknoir was directly hit by a double Moonblast, exploding into a thick cloud of black smoke on the field.
A visible shockwave spread out, kicking up a huge cloud of dust.
Conway, as well as the people in the surrounding spectator seats, all put their hands in front of them to shield against the spreading storm of dust.
The powerful impact even nearly sent Conway and the referee flying.
Ash and Pikachu at his feet, however, were as steady as Mount Tai, unmoving no matter how big the storm.
The storm gradually subsided, and the dust on the field slowly dispersed, revealing the true scene within the arena.
Dusknoir had already fallen to the ground.
Gardevoir stood not far from Dusknoir, her skirt fluttering in the wind, her beautiful face filled with an expression of ease and contentment.
A Gym Beginner Dusknoir indeed posed no difficulty for Gardevoir; making Gardevoir gasp for breath would be considered a success.
"Dusknoir is unable to battle, Gardevoir wins!" The referee lowered the hand shielding his eyes, and after seeing the situation on the field, he waved his flag, declaring Gardevoir's victory.
At this point, Conway's three Pokémon had already lost their ability to battle, while Ash's side only had Blastoise unable to battle.
In fact, one could even say Blastoise hadn't lost its ability to battle, it just couldn't be sent out.
For Conway, the current situation was very grim.
His desperate Destiny Bond failed to hit, and his space setter was knocked out.
This was not good news for the Pokémon he would send out next.
"It seems this Gardevoir is your true ace, Ash.
Although your Pikachu is powerful, it's just a distraction to cover for this Gardevoir, isn't it?
Her power truly far exceeds my imagination.
In that case, I'll let you witness my ace as well." Conway recalled Dusknoir, took a deep breath, and calmly said to Ash.
He then took out a new Poké Ball and threw it directly onto the field.
With a flash of light, a pink Pokémon with a crown-like head appeared on the field.
Upon closer inspection, one could see that the crown was actually a shell, and behind the shell were two eyes, while the front of the shell featured a sparkling red ruby.
The pink Pokémon also had umbrella-like decorations around its neck, and its eyes were filled with a wise expression, making it look like an old scholar.
"This is... the evolution of Slowpoke, Slowking!" After a couple of glances, Ash finally confirmed the Pokémon's identity.
This Pokémon was Slowking, another evolutionary form of the famously dim-witted Slowpoke.
Unlike the dullness of Slowpoke and Slowbro, Slowking's brain, after being bitten by a Shellder and empowered by a King's Rock, successfully awakened with super intelligence.
It is said that the wisdom possessed by Slowking even surpasses that of today's top human scholars.
Some researchers would even raise a Slowking to conduct research and experiments with them, which could actually lead to significant achievements in the research world.
Slowking's overall image also matched Conway quite well, no wonder Conway considered it his ace.
Conway had never used this Slowking before, but now, forced into a desperate situation by Ash, he finally brought out his ultimate ace, whose level reached—Gym Advanced!