A moment later, Roserade, almost roasted by the flames, lay face down on the ground with spirals in its eyes. Thin wisps of black smoke rose from its flower-like hands.
Already prepared, Cynthia let out a soft sigh and took out her Poké Ball to recall it. At the same time, Shiro returned Growlithe, who was still running around the field and excitedly spitting flames.
The researchers, having watched most of the battle, could no longer stay silent and began discussing it among themselves.
"My god, Miss Cynthia got completely crushed…"
"The gap between a Champion and an Elite Four is really this big? That doesn't seem right. Is it because she's only a candidate?"
"No way! Don't you know how weak our current Sinnoh Elite Four are? She definitely has Elite Four-level strength!"
"Then it must be that Dr. Corviknight is just too strong. The Galar Champion really is terrifying!"
The researchers kept talking, but Cynthia did not pay much attention. She walked over, brushed her blonde hair aside, and spoke with a hint of frustration.
"I didn't expect the gap between me and a Champion to be this large…"
Her goal was not just to become an Elite Four member. She wanted to step directly into the Champion position and then carry out major reforms in Sinnoh.
But her current strength was only at this level. Forget defeating the Elite Four and the Champion in succession. She might not even beat two of Sinnoh's Elite Four members in a row.
"Level, training, move proficiency, a trainer's experience, and of course the bond with Pokémon…" Shiro listed the factors calmly. "In the end, it's just these things. If you bring all of them to the highest level, you'll naturally become stronger."
"A trainer's experience…" Cynthia repeated the words, pressing her thumb against her chin as she thought about it, still a bit confused.
"You come from wild battles, right?" Carolina walked over from the referee area and asked.
"Yes." Shiro gave a nod.
In the Galar region, without some experience in wild battles, it was impossible to survive in the wilderness.
"I noticed your reactions in battle are extremely fast. Every time, you were one step ahead in giving commands. And…"
Carolina paused there and did not mention the most important point. He could use telepathy to give orders without speaking. In rotation battles, that would put immense pressure on the opponent.
"So that's what you mean by a trainer's experience?" Cynthia interrupted curiously.
She was considered a standard League-trained trainer. Aside from not receiving a starter Pokémon from the League, her growth path had followed the usual route: get a starter, travel, battle, challenge Gyms, and compete in tournaments.
Whether it was random trainers during her journey or wild Pokémon, her Gible, later Garchomp, had always won with ease. Even in Gym battles and tournaments, she had passed everything in one try and even won the championship.
Cynthia had always believed she already had plenty of experience as a trainer.
"Hehe…" Carolina nodded with a smile. "Cynthia, a true trainer is only forged through adventures filled with life-and-death danger. Experience gained between life and death, that is real experience."
In the wild, being even a moment too slow could mean death. There was no time to think things through.
Under that kind of pressure, both Pokémon and trainer could build a deeper understanding. They would also develop their own unique battle style.
"I see…" Cynthia nodded lightly and fell into thought.
Not far away, Rowan jogged over and patted Shiro on the shoulder. He then turned to Carolina and said, "So this is the strength of a Champion. And he hasn't even used his full power yet, right?"
Hearing this, Cynthia looked up and replied before her grandmother could say anything, "That's right. I originally wanted to try battling that Champion-level Corviknight."
Several nearby researchers could not help but exclaim.
"Wait, Growlithe and the others aren't even his main team, and they're already this strong?"
"Not even his main team? I thought he won easily!"
"So this is what a Champion is like…"
Shiro twitched the corner of his mouth. He wanted to deny it, but what they said was not wrong.
Growlithe and the others were indeed not his main force. His core team had always been just Corviknight and Drakloak. Of course, Unown A, Unown G, and that temporary Mesprit could also be counted.
He changed the topic.
"By the way, the simplified evolutionary magnetic field device should be finished by now, right? Let's go take a look."
Before he could say more, Rowan eagerly pulled him toward the lab.
Left behind, Cynthia grabbed Carolina's arm as she was about to follow.
"Grandma!"
"What is it?" Carolina asked.
After a brief pause, Cynthia spoke firmly, "I want to stay at Professor Rowan's lab and train."
Right now, she still lacked battle experience. In Sinnoh, the only one who could completely outmatch her in command was Shiro.
She wanted to use this time to improve her command skills and learn proper battle techniques.
"Alright." Carolina shrugged slightly. "I was planning to stay here and observe their research anyway. We'll head to Pallet Town together in about half a month."
"Okay." Cynthia nodded.
* * *
Soon, everyone gathered in the research lab. Rowan excitedly introduced their latest result, the simplified evolutionary magnetic field device.
This device was very different from the exchange machines of later times. It was about the size of a large upright freezer. The upper part had a glass cover. Once opened, a Poké Ball could be placed into a slot inside. After that, activating the device would release the magnetic field.
Shiro hesitated for a moment, then proposed another research direction.
"Professor Rowan, I think this magnetic field might not only allow Pokémon to evolve…"
"What do you mean?" Rowan looked confused.
Not only evolution? Could it also cause mutations?
Shiro knew that this magnetic field actually originated from the Pokémon trading system. In the original world, this evolution method was discovered because Pokémon evolved during trades.
"What I mean is…" he gestured as if outlining two machines, "build two of these devices, then connect them through electricity and a network. After that, activate them together. It might produce unexpected results."
"Unexpected results!"
Rowan's voice rose in excitement.
At this point, he trusted Shiro completely. If Shiro said there might be unexpected results, then there was a high chance there would be meaningful outcomes.
No matter what, it was worth trying.
"Dr. Corviknight, did you discover this by accident during experiments in Galar?" Dale could not help but ask.
"Of course."
Shiro's expression was perfectly sincere.
**
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