Chapter 286: The Arrival of Mega Alakazam
"Blastoise!"
After successfully blocking the Energy Ball, Blastoise emerged from its shell and glared at Alakazam in irritation. It shot out its right fist, unleashing Ice Punch.
Blastoise's frost-laced punch cut toward Alakazam's cheek, but it struck nothing but air. Alakazam had already anticipated the attack a second earlier and used Teleport to evade with ease.
"As expected, Psychic-type Pokémon are troublesome…" Gary said cautiously, trying to track Alakazam's movement by eye so he could relay anything useful to Blastoise.
But Teleport wasn't something Gary could simply read. In moments, Alakazam had repositioned and was now hovering not far from Red, as if preparing to begin a new phase of offense with him.
"Gary, precisely because it's you, I won't hide Alakazam's true strength," Red said evenly.
"What?" Gary frowned, not understanding Red's meaning.
"Is Red planning to Mega Evolve Alakazam?!" Professor Oak guessed, watching the posture shared by Red and Alakazam.
"Break the shackles, return to the prime. Answer my call—Alakazam, Mega Evolve!"
As Gary stared in shock, Red slowly raised his left hand. A mysterious Key Stone pattern appeared on the back of his hand, then erupted in a dazzling rainbow light.
In the next instant, the light formed a bond linking Red and Alakazam together. A powerful, mysterious force of kinship and resolve burst forth completely.
"This is… Alakazam's Mega Evolution?!" Gary said in disbelief, staring at Alakazam with a mix of nerves and anticipation.
(What will Alakazam look like after Mega Evolution…)
Under the stunned gazes of the crowd, Alakazam's entire form changed within the radiance of the bond.
"An astonishing development! It appears Lord Red and his Alakazam have activated some kind of power, causing Alakazam to evolve once again! This overturns everything previously understood about Pokémon!" the announcer shouted excitedly.
"Strange. Red and Alakazam aren't wearing a Key Stone or a Mega Stone. How did they achieve Mega Evolution?" Professor Oak wondered aloud from the stands, then shook his head. "Well, it's Red. What's even surprising at this point?"
With that thought, Professor Oak stopped overthinking and instead quietly hoped Gary could weather this storm. In his view, only by enduring this defeat could Gary's mentality improve and his strength grow.
Just then, the dazzling light faded, and the form of Mega Alakazam appeared before everyone's eyes.
After Mega Evolution, Alakazam's golden armor had become a golden robe. A purple crystal now gleamed on its forehead, a pointed horn had sprouted atop its head, and its former mustache had grown into a long, silver beard hanging to its waist, drifting gently in the breeze.
Now it truly looked like a hermit sage. The imposing presence alone made Blastoise feel the pressure, because it could clearly sense that Alakazam's power had advanced even further.
In contrast, due to its heightened psychic development, Mega Alakazam's leg muscles had gradually atrophied. Its legs were held together, and it floated using pure psychic power. Meanwhile, its spoons had increased in number, no longer held in its hands but suspended in the air by telekinesis.
Gulp.
Gary and Blastoise swallowed at the same time, unable to fully grasp Mega Alakazam's power. Even the faint aura it released was enough to weigh on Blastoise's chest.
"Blastoise, use Ice Beam!"
Despite his shock, Gary immediately issued a command. Blastoise opened its mouth and fired a freezing beam, sending the frigid attack directly at Alakazam.
Red said nothing, but his eyes gave Alakazam a subtle signal.
Alakazam nodded silently and slowly raised its index finger. Using its tremendous psychic power, it seized the incoming Ice Beam, strengthened it, then twisted it back toward Blastoise.
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise had no time to react and was struck by its own Ice Beam. Frost began to creep along its body, sealing parts of its shell and limbs.
"Blastoise, Rapid Spin to shatter the ice."
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise pulled into its shell and spun with force, breaking the ice free and using the momentum to charge at Alakazam.
"Blastoise, follow through with Skull Bash!" Gary shouted excitedly.
Still spinning, Blastoise thrust out its head and launched a fierce slam toward Alakazam.
Just as Gary thought the attack would land, he noticed confident smiles appear simultaneously on Red and Alakazam's faces.
Under Blastoise's stunned gaze, Alakazam slowly moved one of its spoons. A majestic aura of psychic force burst outward, and it seized Blastoise in midair, stopping the charge cold.
"How is that possible?!" Gary blurted out.
As Blastoise's Trainer, he knew full well how strong its raw power was. Yet Alakazam had effortlessly restrained it with Psychic.
"Psychic Shock."
At Red's command, Alakazam fired a massive circular pulse at point-blank range that hammered Blastoise's body with brutal force.
"Blastoise…"
Blastoise panted heavily, faint blue streams of energy rising from its body—Torrent was activating as its stamina dropped.
"Blastoise, fire one last Hydro Pump!"
Seeing the struggle in Gary's eyes, Red quietly instructed Alakazam to meet the attack head-on with Psychic instead of avoiding it via Teleport.
For a few tense seconds, Hydro Pump crashed against Alakazam's psychic force. Then Alakazam's Psychic overwhelmed the torrent, breaking it apart into harmless rain that fell to the ground.
"It's over. Alakazam, use Energy Ball," Red said calmly, adjusting the brim of his red cap.
At his command, Alakazam gathered an Energy Ball between its spoons, then sent it forward with terrifying speed.
"Blastoise, dodge it now! You can't withstand that!" Gary shouted, trying to pull his stubborn partner away.
"Blastoise!"
Blastoise roared and refused to retreat. It didn't want to disappoint Gary. It would not take a step back.
"A warrior worthy of respect."
Hearing this, Alakazam raised its Psychic once more. The Energy Ball met the psychic surge and dissolved. Then, under Blastoise's confused gaze, a final telekinetic blast slammed it to the ground.