Seeing this scene, Evelyn couldn't help but open her mouth slightly in surprise.
As the heiress of the Mist family, she had encountered countless trainers.
Among them were masters of all different styles!
But it was the first time she had ever seen someone like Nathan, who could so easily predict the course of a match!
And it wasn't just empty words either!
"How on earth did you train like this?"
Her lively, beautiful eyes fixed on Nathan, Evelyn hesitated a little before asking, "You're not... some ancient monster reborn, are you?"
"Pfft!"
Hearing that, Nathan immediately spit out the drink he had just taken a sip of.
"So even rich heiresses like reading novels?"
Wiping his mouth, Nathan asked curiously.
That's right — this world had novels too.
There was even a time when Nathan considered becoming a "plagiarist writer," copying ideas from his previous life.
Unfortunately, the novel industry in this world was still stuck in old, dull tropes.
Since writing success here depended heavily on writing skills and life experience, Nathan decided it wasn't worth the time.
A faint blush rose on Evelyn's pretty face, and she said in a slightly coquettish tone, "Why can't rich girls read novels?"
"I don't believe you don't have any entertainment hobbies!"
As she spoke, Evelyn puffed her cheeks slightly, completely different from the cold and aloof image she had before.
But that was normal.
A person has a thousand faces, and all of them are real.
Just like Lily and Nathan — they were the same.
Lily leaned more toward being aloof, while Nathan was more approachable.
"Me? My entertainment back then... probably consisted of telling stories to Volcarona."
Subconsciously touching the Pokéball at his neck, Nathan's lips curled into a soft smile.
Inside it was pure tenderness.
He still remembered how, back then, when he was exploring the wild, he had accidentally provoked a swarm of Beedrill.
At that critical moment, it was his Larvesta — the young Volcarona — who forced its evolution to save him.
Since then, Nathan had never seen this world as just a game.
He started to communicate with Pokémon sincerely, heart to heart.
If the bond with Kroxus symbolized strength and stability,
then the bond with Volcarona symbolized life and death — an inseparable connection.
From the moment of its evolution, Nathan and Volcarona were destined never to part ways.
"So... so envious..."
Looking at Nathan's expression, Evelyn didn't know why, but she genuinely felt a deep sense of admiration.
…
After the match ended, Nathan retrieved Zeraora from the Pokémon Center and returned to the lounge to prepare Pokéblocks for his Pokémon.
Meanwhile, Evelyn, carrying a dazed yet enlightened look, headed straight into a training room and threw herself into practice.
"Flyy~ Gon~ Flyy~ Gon~"
While munching on its Pokéblock, Flygon trotted over to Nathan and called out softly.
The meaning was obvious — it also wanted to battle for Nathan.
Mimikyu peeked over sneakily, seemingly tempted as well.
"No problem. It was my oversight. How about letting you two battle next?"
Gently stroking Flygon's neck, Nathan smiled warmly.
When it came to his own Pokémon, Nathan was always generous.
As long as the conditions weren't too excessive, he would do his best to meet their wishes.
" Flyy!"
Upon hearing Nathan's reply, Flygon immediately rubbed against him, full of affection.
Mimikyu also rubbed against Nathan's pants, clearly being playful and affectionate too.
At that moment, Zeraora finished eating its Pokéblock and walked up to Nathan, letting out two short calls.
[Then I won't battle today. How about we train that kind of evolution instead?]
As it spoke, Zeraora's eyes seemed to shine with excitement.
Although the aftermath of bond evolution left them both exhausted and disheveled, the process itself had felt amazing!
Even now, Zeraora couldn't forget that powerful sensation.
"Sounds good!"
After thinking for a moment, Nathan nodded and agreed with a smile.
Without having to fight, synchronizing wouldn't take a huge toll on stamina and energy.
Actually, that was the reason why Nathan had once overused synchronization to the point of nearly dying on the spot.
He quickly found a nearby training room, paid, and entered.
"Zeraora, ready?"
Swallowing nervously, Nathan couldn't help but feel a little tense too.
This was bond evolution, after all!
In the anime, only Ash and his Greninja had achieved it — it was practically a protagonist-exclusive move!
Though sadly, they lost to a Water Absorb Greninja in the finals, which almost made Nathan smash his computer back then.
"Zoar!"
Zeraora nodded firmly, standing across from a training dummy.
"Then let's display it here — the embodiment of our bond, a power beyond evolution!"
Entering synchronization, Nathan's golden eyes shone brightly as he shouted.
Ahem, this wasn't him being cringey —
It was a kind of self-hypnosis technique, or something close to it.
After all, Nathan and Zeraora had only managed bond evolution once so far.
Whatever method increased the success rate, he would try.
Cringe?
No problem!
There was no one else around anyway!
Unfortunately, even after shouting out the dramatic lines, Zeraora didn't undergo bond evolution.
"Feels like... something's missing."
Frowning, Nathan stroked his smooth chin thoughtfully.
His approach was correct — saying cool, emotional lines did help a little.
But it wasn't enough.
"Let's try again, Zeraora!"
Clenching his fists, Nathan suddenly called out to Zeraora.
If once wasn't enough, then twice.
If twice wasn't enough, then three times.
Failure might be failure,
but even if he kept failing, he would figure out the reason!
"...The embodiment of our bond, a power beyond evolution!"
Once again, dramatic lines filled the room, but disappointing as it was, Zeraora's body remained unchanged.
Only Nathan's golden eyes grew even more dazzling and captivating.
"Again!"
"Again!"
"Again, Zeraora!"
Ten minutes, half an hour, an hour…
Until about two hours passed, and it was almost dinner time.
Finally, Nathan and Zeraora collapsed on the floor together.
"Every time it felt like we were just one step away... it clearly felt like it could happen!"
Slapping his cheeks to stay focused, Nathan racked his brains but couldn't find the missing piece.
Why hadn't Ash and Greninja run into this kind of problem?
Wait a second...
Synchronizing the body... and also...
Realizing something, Nathan suddenly sprang to his feet and said, "Zeraora, let's try one more time!"
"Zoar!"
Without hesitation, Zeraora also stood up, growling low with excitement.
When it came to getting stronger, Zeraora was always all in.
"Now, Zeraora, let's recall together every moment worth remembering!"
"And then link our bodies and hearts as one!"
Entering synchronization, Nathan's golden eyes glowed even more brightly as he murmured continuously.
Actually, this morning, when he synchronized with Metagross, he had already vaguely sensed it —
Using the heart's connection as a bridge,
then linking body to body!
"...Let's show it here — the power beyond evolution! Zeraora, evolve!"
After reciting the dramatic line, Nathan suddenly shouted.
In that moment, both trainer and Pokémon recalled every unforgettable memory together.
It was as if their bodies and hearts became perfectly unified!
Under that connection, a white light once again enveloped Zeraora's body.
When the light faded, Zeraora's figure was leaner, more balanced,
with black lightning patterns on its limbs containing immense thunder power!
Its original claws were now wrapped in tough gauntlets —
the strongest weapon of Zeraora's bond form!
Unlike yesterday, where they had to rush the battle—