"?"
"You understood? Understood what?"
Alain tilted his head with a faint question mark in his expression. But he quickly steadied himself and issued a challenge:
"When there's time, please battle me. I need to keep improving myself through battle, to prove myself—until I become the strongest."
Why not now? Because Lysandre's sudden appearance meant something important was about to happen.
Even his match against Steven Stone had been cut short. There was no way there would be time now for a battle with Paul.
"I'll accept."
Paul agreed without hesitation.
Alain had once battled that person, meaning there had to be something special about him.
Besides, the fight just now had been spectacular. To exchange so many moves against Steven, the Hoenn Champion… Alain's strength was not to be underestimated.
"Alain, who are that boy and the red-haired girl?"
Only after a brief conversation with Steven did Lysandre turn his attention toward the purple-haired youth and the little girl with green clothes and bright red hair.
"My name's Mairin! And this here is the best partner in all of Kalos—Chespin! We're giving it our all alongside Alain in our Mega Evolution journey!"
"You have quite a young girlfriend."
Lysandre bent down with a sly smile.
"Eh?!"
"N-no! She's not my girlfriend! I—I want to Mega Evolve too!"
"As I've said, it's the Pokémon that Mega Evolves, not you."
Alain pressed his hand to his forehead, sighing. "Alright, go play for a while, okay? We have important matters to discuss."
"Hmph! Always treating me like a kid… ahhh!"
Arms crossed, Mairin turned away in a huff—only to slip and tumble down the slope after two steps.
"Not again…"
Alain rushed down after her, pulling her to her feet.
At this point, Lysandre and Steven shifted their focus to Paul.
"I'm Paul, from the Sinnoh region. I'm currently traveling through Hoenn. I came here to challenge Mr. Steven."
Paul laid out his purpose plainly.
That man had once appeared and effortlessly defeated Reggie. The second time, he had crushed Cynthia as if it were nothing. He had even defeated Alain without Paul realizing it, and subdued Hoopa, a Pokémon capable of summoning Legends.
From the intelligence Paul had gathered, that man's next target was a Champion. By that logic, his strength had to be at least on par with, or greater than a typical Champion's.
If he could so easily topple Cynthia, then defeating Steven shouldn't have been an issue for him either.
Thus, if Paul fought Steven himself, he would be able to measure his own progress—and gauge the gap between himself, that man, and the Champion tier.
By his estimation, his strength was now no weaker than that of an Elite Four.
After all, before coming to Hoenn, he had used Ursaluna, Torterra, and Garchomp to defeat a full-powered Volkner. Since arriving in Hoenn, he had used Electivire, Aggron, and Metagross to overcome the Ice-type Elite Four member Glacia.
"A challenge, huh? Unfortunately, I'm quite busy. I don't think I'll have time to battle you in the near future."
Steven spread his hands helplessly.
Between urgent matters like excavations and ruin exploration, and what Lysandre had just told him about his "investigation," there was little room to spare.
Foreign regions… unknown power… investigations… those three words together were never reassuring. As Champion, it was his responsibility to understand what was happening—to prevent anything that might endanger the people of Hoenn.
"At Lysandre Labs, we've been studying the immense energy released during Mega Evolution. We're gathering data on it."
Lysandre's tone was grave and deliberate.
"Our hope is to find a way to channel that energy… for peaceful use."
"Peaceful use?"
Steven frowned. Something about the phrasing didn't sit right with him, though he couldn't pinpoint why.
'Peaceful use? The world wasn't peaceful enough already?'
"Are you familiar with this?"
Without waiting for Steven's reply, Lysandre produced a device. A holographic projection shimmered into view, a fragment of an ancient tablet. Steven's eyes widened as Lysandre deftly drew him into the discovery.
"This Trainer," Lysandre turned toward Paul, "would you like to come along as well?"
Paul wasn't the easiest to get along with, but it was precisely this "uncompromising honesty" that made Trainers like him the most useful allies without even realizing it.
"…I'll take a look."
Paul followed without protest.
A journey was meant to be training, no matter the place. If the Champion had pressing business, he could wait. There would be time later for their battle.
Soon, the group reached a ruin where Aron were busily hauling stones under the workers' direction.
"Thank you for waiting."
Steven emerged from a tent, carrying fragments of a wooden tablet. "I've traveled far and wide to seek out rare stones, but ever since discovering Mega Evolution, I've been pursuing its origins."
"Origins?"
The word caught Paul's attention.
After all, the first time Mega Evolution had been broken was through that man's Garchomp, which had Mega Evolved on its own. Later, in Kalos, Paul had obtained two Mega Stones, allowing two of his Pokémon to Mega Evolve.
One major reason he had chosen Hoenn over other regions was precisely to search for Mega Stones, to give all his eligible Pokémon the power of Mega Evolution.
If he could uncover the root of Mega Evolution, perhaps his own Garchomp could achieve autonomous Mega Evolution, just like that man's.
Steven explained: "From what I've deciphered, the ancients spoke of a 'Legendary Giant Rock.' Its inscription reads: Through the path of the Giant Rock, its beginning is the gate."
Lysandre added: "On my fragment, it says: The key to the gate lies in the brilliance of twin stones. When the stones unite as one, the path shall appear."
"A Key Stone… so that's it! Come with me."
Realization dawned on Steven. He ascended the stone steps of the ruin, the others following close behind.
At the summit, a strange stone platform awaited—carved with runes, flanked by twin pillars.
"Yes… I believe this is the gate. Alain, over there."
When the two placed their hands upon the stone pillars, the Key Stones they held burst with radiance. Light and power raced through the runes etched across the platform.
A shining stairway extended into the mist, reaching toward distant peaks.
Climbing the "Sky Stair," the group emerged at the ruins atop the mountain.
"On these two altars, place your Key Stones… Yes, it must be here. The Giant Rock lies within."
In the central chamber, Steven discovered another inscription. He quickly instructed: "Alain, take the opposite altar."
"Got it."
As the two brought their Key Stones close to the orbs upon the altars, a light akin to Mega Evolution filled the ruins.
When the radiance reached its peak, the altars sank, and from the center rose a vast stone pulsing with rainbow light.
"The origin of Mega Evolution."
"We've found it… the Legendary Giant Rock."
"The Key Stones are resonating."
"Fascinating…"
Even as the others marveled, Lysandre calmly pulled out his communicator. "It's me. We've found the Giant Rock."
"The coordinates are locked. We'll arrive shortly."
Within minutes, an airship descended from the skies. Researchers poured out, hauling equipment to study the colossal stone.
At that moment, Paul quietly released Garchomp.
"Do you feel that power?"
"Gaaa~"
Garchomp nodded firmly.
"Can you use it to Mega Evolve directly?"
"Gaaa?"
Garchomp shook its head.
It could sense the energy, but not harness it. To Mega Evolve, it would need to consume the power directly.
If only it could bite into the Giant Rock itself, devouring its energy, then perhaps it could attempt autonomous Mega Evolution.
Paul understood instantly, though hesitation flickered in his eyes. With so many people around, was this really the right time to try?
As for danger, Paul hardly cared. Training without risk was meaningless.
But before he could act, the heavens shifted.
The clear blue sky turned black in an instant. Thunder and lightning danced through thick, roiling clouds, as if heralding a calamity yet to come.
"Rooooooar!"
At that moment, a pair of eyes snapped open. A long, slender green figure plunged from the heavens, circling and coiling above the ruins like the very god of the sky—Rayquaza.
"Leader, the energy inside the Giant Rock is rising rapidly." A researcher reported to Lysandre below.
The massive stone radiated an even brighter light. Above, Rayquaza's body seemed to resonate with it, both shining in golden brilliance.
Within the light, Rayquaza's form shifted at astonishing speed. Its body grew fiercer, more majestic, more terrifying. Four new tendrils unfurled, shimmering with golden energy.
"Rooooar!"
With a thunderous cry, Mega Rayquaza descended!
Steven Stone: "Rayquaza… Mega Evolved?!"
Alain: "That's impossible…"
Lysandre: "And yet, it happened."
"Things just got interesting."
While others stood shaken—confused, fearful, solemn—Paul's eyes glittered with burning curiosity.
Unseen by them, in the depths of a distant volcano and far below the sea, two other ancient beings stirred awake.
"Rooooar!"
Rayquaza paid them no heed. It gazed down upon the humans below who sought to seize the Giant Rock, then unleashed a devastating Dragon Pulse in a sweeping blast.
"Everyone, run!" Alain shouted.
No one hesitated—they scattered in panic.
But Rayquaza's first strike was no wild outburst. Its Dragon Pulse precisely annihilated the scanning equipment around the Giant Rock and even obliterated the airship stationed outside the ruins.
When the barrage ended, black smoke cloaked the entire ruin.
Lysandre: "Did we provoke it?"
"Fall back!"
Seeing Rayquaza's fury was far from spent, Alain called out, throwing a Poké Ball.
"Charizard, let's go!"
"Metagross, battle stance!" Steven commanded.
"Garchomp, prepare for battle!" Paul declared.
Three Poké Balls burst open. At once, Mega Evolution energy enveloped Alain's Charizard, Steven's Metagross, and Paul's Garchomp.
The three Pokémon raised their heads toward the sky, eyes burning with fire as they faced the godlike dragon above.
"Charizard, Flamethrower!"
Charizard soared upward, unleashing a jet of ghostly blue fire.
But Rayquaza cut straight through the flames, slamming into Charizard and scattering its attack with ease.
"Careful, Charizard—!"
Before Alain could finish, Rayquaza twisted midair and dove. A streak of emerald light flashed—Charizard was struck down instantly.
Dragon Ascent!
"Catch it, Metagross!"
Metagross surged forward, catching Charizard in its four arms—only for Rayquaza to crash into them again, forcing the two apart.
Hovering once more in the sky, Rayquaza summoned a vast surge of power. A blazing sphere launched forward—detonating into countless blazing meteors.
Draco Meteor!
As the heavens rained fire, the battlefield dissolved into chaos. Some fled, others shielded allies, some simply froze in terror.
Only Paul stood firm, his voice cutting through the din:
"Garchomp—use Crunch!"
Amidst smoke and falling stars, Garchomp roared defiantly. Its body, blood surging with battle-lust, darted forward.
In a blink, the dragon reached the Giant Rock, jaws snapping down with earth-shattering force.
"BOOM!"
A corner of the legendary Giant Rock cracked under the bite of Mega Garchomp.
But before it could strike again, a meteor crashed squarely onto the stone. The explosion was cataclysmic.
When the smoke cleared, Garchomp staggered, barely standing. And the Giant Rock… was gone.
High above, sensing the disappearance, Mega Rayquaza wheeled away without hesitation, vanishing into the distance.
The disaster had passed. Survivors regrouped.
Alain: "That energy fluctuation…?"
Lysandre: "Yes. Off the coast of Rustboro City. It's faint, but it matches the signature we detected earlier."
Steven: "So we know where the Giant Rock went?"
Lysandre: "Most likely. We'll continue scanning here. Alain, head to Rustboro to investigate."
"I'll arrange transport." Steven nodded, departing with Mairin.
Alain turned to follow, but Lysandre caught his arm.
As for Paul…
"No need for arrangements. I'll go on my own."
Outside the ruins, Paul released his Shiny Metagross. Under Steven's astonished gaze, he mounted and soared down the mountainside.
Normally, Paul was rational. He wanted the Giant Rock, yes, but he knew his limits. He hadn't even defeated Hoopa's summoned Lugia. Against Mega Rayquaza? Impossible.
Better to focus on what he could claim, the fragment Garchomp had bitten off.
A few kilometers from the ruins, Paul had Metagross land in a secluded valley. He released Garchomp.
"Well? Do you feel anything?"
Garchomp grinned, a rare expression. It had just finished consuming the shard. Inside, it felt the slumbering force of Mega Evolution—restless, waiting to awaken.
It tried to trigger it. Again and again, straining with all its might. At best, its body flickered faintly with light. But true Mega Evolution? Out of reach.
Frustration boiled. Power in reach, yet unusable.
Paul frowned. "Why could that man's Garchomp Mega Evolve on its own…? Wait—"
He remembered that moment: the savage fury before that autonomous Mega Evolution.
"Activate Bloodline Mode!"
At once, Garchomp obeyed. Crimson light flared in its eyes, its body cloaked in blood-red aura.
Using Bloodline Mode as a Key Stone, its draconic lineage and the fragment's energy resonated—
"ROOOAR!"
Brilliant light engulfed it. Garchomp's form shifted, dragon claws sharpened into crimson scythes, its body bulked, its visage turned more brutal.
Mega Garchomp—success!
"Good. Get used to this power. Master it completely. That fragment's energy won't last forever. Unless you grasp it yourself, this autonomous Mega Evolution will vanish with it."
"ROOOAR!"
Thrilled, Garchomp charged to the riverbank, staring at its reflection, practicing the transformation again and again.
"Grrooo…"
Beside it, Shiny Metagross watched enviously.
It hadn't even found its own Mega Stone—yet here was Garchomp, evolving without one.
So unfair. So enviable.
(To be continued...)
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