"However, although Pidgeot and I successfully achieved Mega Evolution for the first time, Pidgeot lost control and went berserk after evolving. It completely stopped listening to my commands."
"Not only that, but although Pidgeot's strength increased dramatically after Mega Evolution, it was clearly in tremendous pain. It was as if the enormous surge of power inside its body was affecting and controlling it."
"The situation frightened me quite badly at the time. The joy I had felt from successfully achieving Mega Evolution for the first time was greatly diminished."
"Even now, when I think back on what happened, I still remember it vividly, and I can't help feeling a lingering sense of fear."
"That was the first time I realized that Mega Evolution wasn't something that was entirely positive. Mega Evolution also carried risks."
"Afterward, however, I carefully studied and analyzed what had happened, and I discovered something."
"When Pidgeot went berserk after Mega Evolving, although it had entered its Mega-Evolved state, it simply wasn't capable of properly controlling that power."
"Moreover, while in its Mega-Evolved state, whether during battle or even while carrying out ordinary movements, the amount of energy being consumed and wasted was extremely obvious."
"After studying and analyzing the situation, I eventually reached a conclusion."
"At that time, Pidgeot was indeed capable of Mega Evolution, but its physical constitution simply wasn't strong enough to withstand the tremendous power brought about by Mega Evolution."
"And its willpower was also far too weak to control the enormous increase in power within its body."
"In other words, although Pidgeot had met the requirements for Mega Evolution at that time, it had only barely reached the minimum threshold necessary to Mega Evolve."
"If it wanted to truly master the power of Mega Evolution, it still needed much more training, and there was still a very long road ahead."
"After that, Pidgeot and I once again embarked on the road of training and becoming stronger."
"Every time our strength increased by another two or three levels, Pidgeot and I would attempt Mega Evolution again."
"Through observation, I discovered that as Pidgeot's strength increased, its control over Mega Evolution really did continue to improve."
"As its strength grew, Pidgeot became increasingly proficient at controlling the power brought about by Mega Evolution."
"The kind of loss-of-control situation we experienced during the first Mega Evolution happened less and less frequently."
"Its body gradually stopped feeling overwhelmed by the sudden surge of power, and its control over that power became increasingly precise."
"At the same time, the amount of energy it wasted while using that power continued to decrease."
"The third stage came after Pidgeot's strength continued to rise and eventually reached the Gym Leader level."
"At that point, Pidgeot was finally able to perfectly control the power of Mega Evolution."
Ash had watched the original Pokémon anime and knew about Korrina's example.
After obtaining a Key Stone and a compatible Mega Stone, he had deliberately refrained from immediately attempting Mega Evolution with Pidgeot.
The reason was simple.
He was worried that Pidgeot would be unable to control the enormous power, causing it to go berserk and potentially suffer irreversible physical damage.
Only after Pidgeot's strength had reached a sufficient level did Ash finally allow it to attempt Mega Evolution.
And when it did, Pidgeot was able to perfectly control the power of Mega Evolution from its very first attempt.
The story Ash was now telling Professor Sycamore about his experiences with Pidgeot was, in reality, largely constructed from what he had learned from Korrina's example.
He had taken the three key stages from that experience and incorporated them into his own account.
The story itself was fabricated.
But for Professor Sycamore and the researchers around him, the information it provided was even more valuable from a research perspective.
"I see..."
After listening to Ash's account, a look of sudden realization appeared on Professor Sycamore's face.
Ash's detailed explanation of how he and Pidgeot had repeatedly attempted Mega Evolution and ultimately learned to control its power had given Sycamore's research into Mega Evolution several new avenues to explore.
Although Sycamore had been studying Mega Evolution for a long time, he himself did not possess the power of Mega Evolution.
Many of the data points and research materials he had accumulated had been obtained through observation and analysis.
He had also interviewed quite a few Trainers who possessed the power of Mega Evolution.
However, those Trainers generally fell into one of two categories.
Either they themselves only had a vague understanding of Mega Evolution and could not explain it clearly...
Or they deliberately guarded their knowledge and refused to reveal too many of the secrets behind their Mega Evolution.
A Trainer like Ash, who was willing to speak openly and who had also conducted such detailed personal observations and experiments regarding the process of attempting and mastering Mega Evolution, was exceedingly rare.
And precisely because of that, the information Ash had just provided was extraordinarily valuable.
It had given Professor Sycamore a tremendous amount of new data for his research into Mega Evolution.
"So, Ash..."
"As a Trainer who went through so much effort and so many attempts before finally mastering the power of Mega Evolution, how do you view Mega Evolution?"
Having watched Ash explain everything in such an organized and analytical manner, almost like a researcher himself, Professor Sycamore had unconsciously begun speaking to him less like an ordinary young Trainer and more like an accomplished researcher his own age.
"Hmm..."
"I believe Mega Evolution is an extremely advanced and incredibly powerful force within professional Pokémon battling."
"But precisely because this power is so formidable, mastering it is extremely difficult."
"And if a Pokémon attempts Mega Evolution recklessly before it has reached a sufficient level of strength, it may very well end up like my Pidgeot during its first Mega Evolution and lose control of itself."
"As for my overall view of Mega Evolution..."
Ash thought for a moment before giving his answer.
"I would describe it as powerful and dangerous."
"Powerful and dangerous?"
Hearing Ash's words, Professor Sycamore fell into deep thought.
Whether it was the researchers who studied Mega Evolution or the Trainers in the Kalos Pokémon community who pursued greater strength, almost everyone focused solely on the overwhelming power of Mega Evolution.
Yet they had overlooked one crucial point.
Hidden behind that immense power was an equally significant risk.
Ash was still very young, yet he was already capable of seeing beyond the surface of a phenomenon and recognizing the deeper issues concealed beneath it.
This caused Professor Sycamore's perception of Ash to change once again.
He realized that he had seriously underestimated the young Trainer.
"Ash, then what do you think Mega Evolution actually is?"
"And what do you think about the source and nature of this power?"
Once this thought occurred to him, Sycamore immediately followed up with another question.
After all, a Trainer like Ash—someone who had clearly developed his own ideas and insights regarding Mega Evolution—was extraordinarily difficult to encounter.
"The source and nature of Mega Evolution?"
Ash pondered for a moment.
"Hmm..."
"When it comes to that question, I actually do have some personal theories."
"Oh?!"
Professor Sycamore's eyes immediately lit up.
He was instantly fascinated.
"To be honest, at first, my understanding of Mega Evolution was that its power came from the Key Stone and the Mega Stone."
"But gradually, I began to realize that the truth might not be quite that simple."
Ash's words immediately caused Professor Sycamore's interest to intensify.
After all, the belief that the power of Mega Evolution originated from the Key Stone and Mega Stone was precisely the mainstream academic theory regarding Mega Evolution at present.
Yet Ash had opened his mouth and directly challenged that established understanding.
How could Professor Sycamore not be curious?
"I'm someone who likes to think and investigate things."
"When I encounter something I don't understand—especially something involving an unknown phenomenon related to Pokémon—I naturally want to think about it and study it."
"Besides, I believe you already know this, Professor."
"I'm also a Psychic."
"My ability to perceive energy is much more sensitive than that of an ordinary person."