Cain's Mega Evolution and the infusion of divine power from the Sacred Church were completely different things. That half-baked Mega Evolution of the Sacred Church, although outwardly indistinguishable from a true one, was still nothing more than an imitation.
It was already impressive enough that it looked the same; if it also increased power to the same extent, wouldn't they then be invincible?
Jacob had seen that ability in Irene, so deep in his subconscious he believed the two were the same. It was precisely because of this that Tyranitar and Aggron were able to seize the opportunity.
There were far too many things he didn't understand.
He didn't know why Aggron, after Mega Evolving, could ignore Grass-type moves, nor how its defense could be so terrifying.
He didn't know why Tyranitar was capable of using the move Precipice Blades, an attack he had never seen before and yet possessed such overwhelming power.
He didn't know why the flames of the Mega Evolved Blaziken were so dreadful, capable of defeating Torterra with a single kick.
It could only be said that Cain had given him too many shocks and jolts. If he had known from the beginning that Cain's Pokémon possessed such capabilities, he wouldn't have fallen into such a passive situation nor been cornered so easily.
It couldn't be said that Cain was wrong to order Tyranitar to attack the trainer directly, nor that it was incorrect to suddenly summon Blaziken as an assault force.
If he himself had been in such a situation, he wouldn't have been able to resist seizing the opportunity to attack either.
The difference was that Cain held a much greater advantage in terms of information: that was what it meant to know oneself and know the enemy.
At that moment, Jacob was floating in the air thanks to his powerful psychic ability. Around him floated six Poké Balls, ready to release Pokémon and counterattack at any instant.
That was precisely why Cain didn't order Tyranitar and Aggron to attack together; he was guarding against a surprise attack. In war, anything goes, and the opponent could very well try to take advantage of the moment Cain relaxed after defeating two of his Pokémon.
However, seeing how cautious Cain was, Jacob found no suitable opportunity.
Even so, for someone so confident in himself, who believed that after staying there for twenty-five years he could sweep everything aside once he emerged, it was unbearable to discover that against a newcomer, much younger than him, he was the one to lose two Pokémon first.
It was as if more than twenty years of perseverance, willpower, and confidence had collapsed all at once.
It wasn't just about losing two Pokémon, but a bitter mockery of his betrayal of the League, his decision to join another organization, and those twenty-five years of hiding his strength and enduring.
But now was not the time for regret. As long as he could defeat Cain right there, all those doubts would dissipate on their own.
Six Poké Balls were thrown at the same time.
Six Pokémon appeared around him, and their presence helped to some extent to block the interference of the red sand.
All of them were Grass-type, absolutely all of them. Six Pokémon, but only of three different species.
Two Venusaur that Cain knew very well, three Meganium, the Johto starters, and the Pokémon standing at the center was the one that surprised Cain the most.
He even thought that, for the time being, that Pokémon did not yet have a recorded evolutionary form in the Pokémon world.
It was a small Pokémon, with an appearance similar to that of a puppy, and at first glance it was extremely adorable.
Anyone else might not have been able to recognize what Pokémon it was, but Cain identified it instantly.
Leafeon!
A special evolution of Eevee, and moreover, one of the most peculiar.
Currently, the Eevee evolutions recorded in the Pokédex were Jolteon, Vaporeon, Flareon, Espeon, and Umbreon.
Many scholars speculated that Eevee must have even more evolutions, but attempts to use different evolutionary stones yielded no results; only the Fire Stone, Water Stone, and Thunder Stone reacted.
Even Espeon and Umbreon did not evolve through stones, but rather through special conditions.
Because of this, it was believed that Eevee's remaining evolutions also required special conditions, although no one knew what they were.
Cain, however, knew many more evolutions of Eevee. Although he didn't know if they were all of them, he certainly knew far more than most in the Pokémon world.
In addition to Leafeon, there were Glaceon, and even the Fairy type, Sylveon.
Eevee was an extremely special Pokémon, with numerous evolutionary forms. Its cells and genes possessed the ability to alter its form according to external energy and internal spiritual strength.
As far as Cain knew, even at present Team Rocket was still researching Eevee's genes. How far they had progressed in those investigations was something Cain didn't know.
But the Eevee before him was, very likely, the first of its kind in the Pokémon world. Its appearance would undoubtedly cause an enormous impact throughout the world.
"Your Pokémon..." Cain looked at Jacob's Leafeon and couldn't help but ask.
Perhaps due to Leafeon's appearance, Jacob regained his confidence, and that expression of self-satisfaction returned to his face, though much more restrained than before.
However, he didn't answer Cain's question.
Earlier, he had been caught off guard by a lack of information, but now, with a Grass-type army centered around Leafeon, even if Cain possessed formidable strength, in the face of a never-before-seen Grass-type Pokémon like Leafeon, Jacob was confident he could maintain a certain advantage.
Pokémon: Leafeon (Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 87
Type: Grass
Ability: Chlorophyll
Held Item: Miracle Seed
Egg Moves: Charm, Yawn, Synchronoise, Captivate
Basic Moves: Razor Leaf, Helping Hand, Tackle, Tail Whip, Sand Attack, Baby-Doll Eyes, Quick Attack, Grass Whistle, Magical Leaf, Giga Drain, Swords Dance, Synthesis, Sunny Day, Last Resort, Leaf Blade
Learned Moves: Snore, Covet, Iron Tail, Laser Focus, Hyper Voice, Heal Bell, Seed Bomb, Knock Off, Worry Seed
TM Moves: Protect, Solar Beam, Shadow Ball, Double Team, Aerial Ace, Energy Ball
Its body was brown in color, with claws of a dark brown tone, similar to the color between its eyes and ears.
It had some leaves on its body, giving it a vegetal appearance. At the center of its forehead grew a long leaf, which was the core of its Grass-type energy; many of its attacks of this type were released from there.
Leafeon's ears and tail also looked like green leaves.
This type of Pokémon, more than an animal, had a cellular structure very similar to that of a plant. As long as it could perform photosynthesis, even without eating, it could obtain a certain amount of energy, showing great similarities with other Pokémon of a vegetal nature.
And it is also said that the younger a Leafeon is, the more it emits from its body a pungent aroma of fresh grass; but as it ages, that grassy smell gradually transforms into the aroma of fallen leaves. Therefore, to judge the age of a Leafeon, one can start with the scent emanating from its body.
(End of chapter)