Gengar's body immediately burst with brilliant rainbow light, intertwined with bright white evolutionary light.
Its appearance rapidly changed within the radiance.
When the light quickly faded, Gengar had transformed into Mega Gengar!
"This..." Cynthia looked at Johan and Mega Gengar, shock intertwining with flowing light in her eyes.
She seemed to understand what had happened between Johan and Gengar.
Ultimately, the essence of Mega Evolution was still the materialization of the bond power between trainer and Pokémon.
It was just that bonds were invisible and intangible, requiring Key Stones and Mega Stones to materialize this invisible, intangible thing, thus transforming it into physical changes and strength improvements.
But since it existed, then under certain special circumstances, perhaps this power could transform without relying on Key Stones and Mega Stones?
Cynthia somewhat understood what Johan had meant earlier by "special methods."
Perhaps this was it!
"Ka-kaah!!"
Mega Gengar, riding on Spectrier's back, excitedly shouted. It knew it could do it!
Actually, whether it was Gengar or Johan, when using Key Stones and Mega Stones before, they'd vaguely felt that even without Key Stones and Mega Stones, they seemed able to trigger some kind of power.
Gengar could grasp it itself, and Johan, possessing aura power, was much more sensitive to emotions compared to ordinary people.
Moreover, Johan was originally a Pokémon psychologist, studying the "arts" of "stand up," "dodge quickly," and "hang in there."
His perception of bond power was also clearer.
This was it.
When Johan and Gengar, at a certain moment and place, had their thoughts and intentions completely align on the same frequency, this power appeared!
This change in Gengar shouldn't actually be called Mega Evolution, but rather—
Bond Evolution!
And compared to Mega Evolution using Key Stones and Mega Stones, bond evolution—whether for Gengar or Johan—felt... much clearer than using Key Stones and Mega Stones, with a much clearer spiritual connection between them.
It was as if... Johan could directly control and influence Gengar's body.
But similarly, if Gengar suffered any attacks or injuries, Johan could clearly feel them, even experience them physically.
If Gengar suffered heavy damage, Johan would probably collapse directly.
And as a Pokémon, Gengar's recovery speed was much faster than Johan's as a human.
In this situation where they were being "hunted" by Eternamax Eternatus, Johan and Gengar performing bond evolution was almost equivalent to completely binding Johan's safety with Gengar's.
Especially under Eternatus's Dynamax Cannon.
If Gengar took this blast head-on, Johan... might faint on the spot.
But at a time like this, he wouldn't consider so much.
In fact, the first thought that popped into Johan's mind after bond evolving with Gengar was—
If Gengar didn't need to carry a Mega Stone in the future, wouldn't that free up an item slot?
Maybe he could give opponents a little surprise in the "Pokémon World Championships."
"Neigh—"
Spectrier reared up on its hind legs, neighing loudly.
Run!
The overwhelming energy completely sealed off space—they couldn't enter shadows or open doors to the "Distortion World."
Running was definitely impossible.
Eternatus was determined to eliminate Gengar, this "natural enemy."
So they had to fight back!
Speed was Gengar's advantage, but it was hard to utilize now. Defense was Gengar's absolute weakness—tanking was definitely impossible.
Only counterattack!
The best defense was offense!
Johan clenched his fist, and Mega Gengar also grinned fiercely as it pulled the reins, turning to face Eternatus's massive claw-like head swinging toward them, facing the terrifying dark red glow flashing above it.
"Ninetales, Tinkaton, Victini!" Johan called out softly.
"Oowoo!!"
Ninetales erected ice walls in front of Gengar, lowering a transparent aurora veil.
After Earth Power, Ninetales' strength had also increased dramatically, plus with the "Fairy Plate's" power—except for being unable to use exclusive Z-moves, Ninetales' strength had already reached its peak.
"Absolute defense" maxed out!
"Cha!"
Tinkaton suddenly gripped its hammer tightly.
The hammer again burst with pink light comparable to sword and shield, its size seemingly changing in a trance.
"Vii~"
Victini's expression was serious. It knew this was a very crucial moment, so it unreservedly bestowed the "Victory Star" of the "Victory Pokémon" upon Gengar.
"Gengar!"
At this moment, Johan was of one mind with Gengar—no words were needed. He raised his hand and clenched his fist.
"Ka-kaah!"
Mega Gengar's body immediately filled with extremely rich black mist—some belonging to it, some to Spectrier.
Hum—
In an instant, the spreading black mist seemed to become a pitch-black night sky, with light points sporadically appearing, then shining brilliantly like a vast starry sky.
The next moment, those star-like light points gathered on Gengar's fist.
Bond evolution plus man-horse fusion plus Victini's "Helping Hand"—the instant explosive power Mega Gengar displayed at this moment was even stronger than what ordinary legendary Pokémon could unleash!
Come on!
Head-to-head!
Whoever backs down is a puppy!
Gengar's eyes sparkled with starlight, mind and will unified, delivering the strongest attack of its life so far!
Stars filled the sky, gathered in one body.
Star Crash!
In the instant when the ice wall and aurora veil shattered, brilliant radiance quietly struck out.
Black light and dark red waves collided head-on, like two massive waves crashing violently together.
Rumble!!!
Calyrex, Zacian, and Zamazenta couldn't help but turn their attention here, watching the stellar brilliance Gengar had unleashed.
[This Star Crash move... Gengar is no weaker than I was back then...] Calyrex said with some satisfaction.
Zacian and Zamazenta looked at each other and nodded in agreement.
However, unlike Calyrex whose attention was completely on Gengar, besides watching Gengar, they also noticed Tinkaton carrying its iron hammer and swaying its twin tails.
Although it was still somewhat "naive," it had the potential to become a true hero!
Crack! Crack!
Eternamax Eternatus's slender body immediately made crisp cracking sounds under this impact, countless dark red Dynamax energies escaping from its body and scattering throughout the entire Galar region.
A fierce crack also appeared in Eternamax Eternatus's energy core.
How was this possible?!
This was the only thought in Eternatus's mind.
That Gengar looked annoying, but it was clearly just annoying—how could it burst with such powerful force?
Not only did its Dynamax Cannon barely hurt it, but this opposing force...
If Johan knew Eternatus's thoughts, he would definitely scoff.
Ridiculous—your Dynamax Cannon, a move for dealing with Dynamax Pokémon, used against bond evolution?
Using a Ming Dynasty sword to execute a Qing Dynasty official?
Such arrogance?
Moreover, Eternatus only had eyes for Gengar—had it forgotten about Ninetales' Fairy Aura?
As a Dragon-type move, how much power could the Dynamax Cannon retain after being weakened by Fairy Aura, ice walls, and aurora veil?
So—we're targeting you specifically!
"Now!!" Johan shouted loudly.
Calyrex raised its hand in the air, and ice spears materialized again.
Dragonite flapped its wings, catching the leaping Tinkaton and charging straight toward the sky, instantly covered in a dragon aura.
Garchomp's feet shattered the ground beneath, similarly clad in a fierce dragon aura, charging toward Eternatus's energy core like an unstoppable force.
Boom!!!
Since Eternatus was determined to deal with Gengar, it had to be prepared for the consequences of failing to take down Gengar and being counterattacked.
Its massive energy core again let out a cracking "wail."
"Cha!"
Tinkaton stepped on Dragonite's head, leaping high into the air and swinging its massive hammer with both hands toward Eternatus's core.
Behold! Take my hammer!
Zacian and Zamazenta's eyes met, looking at Tinkaton about to strike with its hammer. From it, they saw the shadow of a young hero, saw... their former selves.
Then—
"Awooo—"
An azure sword and a crimson shield flew into the sky, circling around Tinkaton's blurred hammer that had enlarged several times.
Sword, hammer, shield!
Behemoth Hammer!
Rumble—
The brilliant energy core completely shattered.
Countless streams of Dynamax energy shot out.
Everyone in Wyndon looked up in shock at the scene in the sky.
"Eternatus—!!"
Eternatus let out an earth-shaking roar, but still couldn't prevent the energy core's collapse, couldn't prevent the gradual dimming of the black-red vortex behind it, couldn't prevent its body's collapse.
Bang!!
Its struggling five-clawed heads finally crashed heavily into Wyndon Stadium.
Was it finally over?
Cynthia secretly breathed a sigh of relief, looking toward Johan.
Johan shook his head with disgust.
I'm not capturing it!
Too ugly!
Eternatus: "..."
Thud.
Tinkaton shouldered its hammer and walked with Gengar to the motionless Eternatus.
"Cha?"
Still not unconscious?
"Ka-kaah?"
Should we add another hammer blow?
"Cha!" Tinkaton's eyes lit up.
Good point!
[Quickly seal it, Johan.] Calyrex, riding Glastrier, came to Johan's side.
"Seal... do you think I know such advanced stuff? Shouldn't you do it?"
One person and one Pokémon stared at each other.
[This king... cough cough, this king only excels at horse training and knows a bit about fighting. I don't know sealing techniques.]
[Don't humans have something... called Poké Balls?] Zacian asked.
"Emmm..."
Johan was considering how to explain when he suddenly noticed Charizard flying from the horizon, his eyes lighting up.
"Here he comes. The guy who'll capture it is here."
"Roar—"
Charizard quickly flew over, and Leon in his cape landed.
"Teacher Johan! Miss Cynthia!"
Leon, who had rushed here urgently, hadn't seen Eternatus fall.
However, on the way here, due to Eternatus's scattered Dynamax energy, he'd seen many Pokémon continuously losing control due to Dynamax energy.
This made Leon's heart extremely heavy.
Fortunately, because Eternamax Eternatus's vortex was too distinctive, Leon didn't get lost this time.
But now it seemed... everything was already over?
"That's the culprit—Eternatus, revived by your Chairman Rose..."
After Johan briefly explained, he said: "Alright, Leon, while it's still unconscious, as Galar's Champion, you should capture it."
"Me?"
Leon was stunned.
Good grief, I came all this way just to capture this thing?
"As Champion of the Galar region, I think this responsibility is yours to bear," Johan said seriously.
Just kidding.
Eternatus wasn't something you could successfully capture with just any Poké Ball. Even a high-quality Ultra Ball could at most temporarily restrain it when Eternatus was weakened.
Once Eternatus fully recovered, if it wasn't willing, a mere Ultra Ball couldn't possibly contain it.
Unless they used a Master Ball.
That might keep Eternatus in a captured state.
This was only "might"—not a 100% guarantee.
Johan did have a Master Ball, but using it to capture Eternatus...
Wasn't Groudon more appealing, or Giratina more fun, or wasn't Mewtwo's "resentment" enough?
So this was destined to be a guy that would cause trouble again. Johan chose to respectfully decline.
Moreover, Eternatus was related to Galar's Dynamax. If he took Eternatus away, the Galar region would probably gradually lose its Dynamax abilities.
For the rapidly developing Galar region now, this would definitely be an enormous blow.
Rose's vision was somewhat unrealistic, but the Galar region couldn't do without Eternatus, just like the West couldn't do without Jerusalem.
This trouble—let Leon have the headache.
At least, whether in games or anime, Leon had handled the relationship between Eternatus and the Galar region well.
Most importantly—Eternatus and his Pokémon's "art style" were too different.
In the "Johan family," which Pokémon wasn't both cute and powerful?
Elegant Ninetales, craftsman Tinkaton, Gengar, Tyranitar, and... elegant Ninetales!
Seeing Johan invoke the "Champion" title, Leon showed helplessness.
Honestly, after hearing Johan's explanation, Leon also realized the Galar region couldn't lose Eternatus.
But Chairman Rose's method of capturing Eternatus and treating it as a "tool" or something like a power plant—he didn't approve or agree with that.
But...
"It wasn't me who defeated it. I didn't even fight it. It definitely won't respect me..." Leon said.
Johan smiled and patted Leon's shoulder: "Don't worry about that. Its temper toward you will definitely be much better than when facing me."
Eternatus had been "tormented" by Gengar to the point of losing its wits. Facing the unfamiliar Leon, it would definitely be much more "well-behaved" than facing Johan.
"If..." Leon paused, "if it goes berserk again later..."
"I could beat it once, I can beat it a second time," Johan said confidently.
Bond evolution that ignored Dynamax energy suppression, the "Fairy Plate" unaffected by Dynamax energy, and Tinkaton's gradually "awakening" Behemoth Hammer...
It wasn't an exaggeration to say—we're specifically targeting Eternatus!
And Johan also sensed something.
Compared to Necrozma from the Alola region, Eternatus—aside from being bigger in size and stature—had much less oppressive presence.
Maybe it really had been "tormented" by Gengar.
But more likely, it was because Zacian and Zamazenta, who countered Eternatus even more severely, existed, not to mention the recovered Calyrex.
Eternatus was also the only one in Johan's memory... that was countered to death by two legendary Pokémon from the same region.
Like Hoenn's weather duo and Rayquaza, Unova's truth and ideals dragons with Kyurem, Alola's Solgaleo, Lunala with Necrozma—which one wasn't a one-versus-two existence?
Only Galar's Eternatus, Zacian, and Zamazenta were the reverse.
"With your word, I'm relieved," Leon breathed out lightly.
Although Eternatus was unconscious, that oppressive presence was still strong...
Against such an Eternatus, Leon admitted he was still lacking.
As he spoke, Leon rotated his Dynamax Band. With Eternatus unconscious, Dynamax power could finally be used again.
The Ultra Ball in his hand rapidly expanded in the rich Dynamax particles.
Leon hefted the enlarged Ultra Ball and threw it forcefully.
The massive Ultra Ball opened, drawing the unconscious Eternatus inside, then crashed to the ground with a "bang" and began shaking.
Everyone's gazes fell nervously on the Ultra Ball.
Until the Ultra Ball shook three times and "clicked" shut, then quickly shrank back to its original size.
Leon immediately breathed a long sigh of relief.
Johan also secretly relaxed—at least he'd managed to pass off this "hot potato."
"Well, Leon, I still suggest you go find your teacher Master Mustard. Two people have more strength..."
"Good point!" Leon nodded.
Next, he'd probably be very busy.
Chairman Rose's actions meant he could no longer continue as Galar League Chairman. He would report this matter truthfully to the main League.
And having just become Champion, he might shoulder even greater responsibilities because of this.
However, Johan suggested he could talk with Peony.
Additionally, the "Pokémon World Championships" still had to proceed as scheduled, and he definitely had to participate.
A pile of things suddenly came flooding in.
Even Leon felt overwhelmed.
"Teacher Johan, Miss Cynthia, and everyone... thank you again for your help!" Leon bowed ninety degrees, solemnly expressing gratitude on behalf of the Galar region.
"Since there are still many things to handle, I'll leave first. We'll keep in touch by phone!"
With that, Leon swished his cape and mounted Charizard.
"Charizard, let's go to the Isle of Armor first to find Master!"
Master Mustard might have ways to make Eternatus more docile—after all, he had "captured" legendary Pokémon like Urshifu and granted them even stronger power.
Master Mustard: Don't come over here!!
"Roar—"
Charizard spread its wings, bathed in the pure white moonlight that fell after the clouds dispersed.
"Leon, the Isle of Armor is that way!" Johan reminded, seeing Leon's flight direction.
"Oh, oh..."
Watching their departing figures, Johan estimated Leon would probably reach the Isle of Armor... next week.
Plus dealing with Eternatus and settling a pile of Galar League messes... he definitely wouldn't have time to climb ranks!
"Master Ball Tier bottom—that's definitely him!" Johan muttered happily to himself.
"Bottom?"
Cynthia glanced at him: "Don't you know Leon has participated in the most matches? Even if he doesn't fight anymore later, he's stable for top three in 'Master Ball Tier'?"
"Huh?"
Johan was stunned.
Leon fought many matches—didn't I fight many too?
Why don't League Conferences count for points!
"What about you?" Johan asked quietly.
Cynthia smiled gracefully: "I haven't fought as much as Leon."
"So..."
"So I'm currently ranked third."
Johan: "..."
His suspended heart finally died.
"First is Leon, third is you, so second... wouldn't be Lance, would it?"
"That's right."
Johan looked up to the sky.
When exactly did you all fight these matches?
You couldn't have been secretly climbing ranks while I was having "friendly" exchanges with legendary Pokémon, could you?
"Johan." Cynthia tugged at his clothes, nodding toward the three legendary Pokémon still present.
"Oh."
Johan snapped back to attention.
Right, Zacian, Zamazenta, and Calyrex were still here.
But before talking with them, Johan had one more thing to handle first.
"Where's Gengar?"
Looking around, he saw Gengar, having reverted from its Mega state, leading Spectrier and tiptoeing hunched over, sneaking toward nearby shadows.
Hearing Johan's call, it suddenly froze.
Turning around, scratching its head, it showed an embarrassed smile.
"Ka-kaah~ (=ω=)"
If I said I was going to the bathroom, would you believe me?
"Stop fooling around." Johan didn't want to argue with this purple fatty. When their minds were connected earlier, he understood Gengar's thoughts perfectly.
"Take out that meteorite."
The meteorite!
Hearing this, Zacian, Zamazenta, and Calyrex all reacted.
Right, that meteorite that nearly let Eternatus absorb it and greatly increase its power!
"Ka-kaah?"
Meteorite? What meteorite? I don't know anything~
Gengar was still struggling, but Johan just crossed his arms, smiling as he watched it.
"Ka-kaah..."
Seeing it couldn't fool its way out, Gengar's ears immediately drooped. It reached out and swiped through the air beside it, and a dark red stone about the size of two washbasins fell out.
Thud—
Probably because it no longer had Eternatus's power to activate it, this meteorite's glow had obviously dimmed, showing a blackish dark color with faint red tints.
With this meteorite's appearance, the surrounding Dynamax particles that had dispersed became rich again.
More importantly...
"This is... 'cosmic energy'?" Johan said somewhat uncertainly.
"'Cosmic energy'?" Cynthia looked puzzled.
"Mm... I don't know how to explain this energy either. If I had to say, I've actually encountered it on another Pokémon before."
"Another Pokémon?"
"Jirachi."
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Powerstones?
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