Mega Evolution was a big deal.
But Li Xiang had never imagined that his first time evolving a Pokémon would be using someone else's Key Stone.
If anything, this would only make him want his own Key Stone even more.
Li Xiang grumbled to himself as he arrived at a training room surrounded by milky-white padded walls.
This was the most reinforced room in the training hall. Not even a Champion's Pokémon—let alone a student's—could tear it apart.
In short, it could take a beating.
Mega Evolution had prerequisites: the trainer and Pokémon had to hold a Key Stone and a Mega Stone, respectively, and they had to resonate with each other. Additionally, there had to be a deep bond between trainer and Pokémon.
In the games, it could be used without issue from the start.
The anime was similar, but it was prone to the Pokémon going berserk after Mega Evolution due to the immense energy. Even a Pokémon raised from birth, like a Lucario capable of empathizing with its trainer, couldn't avoid this.
In the manga, it was also usable from the start. The protagonist, X, could easily evolve Pokémon like Manectric after picking up their Mega Stones. Fladari could also use a Key Stone stolen from Korrina.
However, according to Gurkinn—the master of the Tower of Mastery—under normal circumstances, one had to go through an inheritance ritual to learn it.
"Did you succeed on your first try, Senior?"
After releasing Metagross, Li Xiang turned to ask.
Chao smiled helplessly. "I told you, don't call me Senior... just my name is fine. And yes, I succeeded on the first try."
Scizor was his ace and also one of his earliest Pokémon, sharing an incredibly deep bond with him.
But Metagross had only been with Li Xiang for two years...
Li Xiang shook his head. There was no point hesitating.
Bonds weren't measured by time. How long had Ash had Greninja before they achieved their bond?
Overthinking it would only affect Metagross.
For safety, Chao and Su Qian stood outside the room, watching Li Xiang and Metagross through a pane of high-strength glass.
Incineroar and Lucario stood on either side of Li Xiang, while Greninja vanished into the air.
Aegislash was positioned behind Li Xiang.
Mega Evolution had a higher chance of changing a Pokémon's personality than normal evolution—in fact, it was almost guaranteed.
Unfortunately, there wasn't much information about Mega Evolution online. Most of it was obviously fake, and the few that sounded convincing had Li Xiang believing them at first—only to find they got even the abilities wrong. He felt like he'd been wasting his time.
As expected, some things had to be experienced firsthand to truly understand.
"Hiss—are you ready?"
Li Xiang looked at Metagross, who was facing him not far away.
"Meta!"
Metagross nodded, holding its long-awaited Mega Stone. It didn't feel any change in its body.
Hmm... it seemed that evolving without a Key Stone was indeed wishful thinking. It would have to rely on Li Xiang after all.
Metagross looked at its trainer, not seeing anything wrong with that.
And so, the test began.
What was the key to Mega Evolution?
Li Xiang didn't know.
He simply put on the wristband and looked at Metagross, which was holding its Mega Stone.
"Mega Evolve!"
Following the method he'd seen others use, Li Xiang pressed his finger to the Key Stone and shouted out the evolution command.
Moved by the stirring tone, Metagross couldn't help letting out a long cry.
"Meta—!!"
The Pokémon on standby tensed up, recalling the imposing and overwhelmingly powerful Scizor they had faced before.
Chao and Su Qian outside looked on expectantly. They had only seen photos and videos of Mega Metagross and were eager to witness it in person.
And then—
Nothing happened.
As if it were only natural, yet completely unexpected for both the participants and the onlookers.
Li Xiang: "?"
Metagross: "?"
Both were dumbfounded.
"It... didn't work?"
He blinked. The much-anticipated first Mega Evolution had failed!
Why?
Was their bond not strong enough? Was the Key Stone bound to a specific person? Were there prerequisites?
He recalled that in the anime, there was some incantation like "Respond to my heart, Key Stone, beyond evolution..." and other chant-like nonsense.
But Mo Ye and Chao hadn't chanted anything, so it probably wasn't necessary.
Li Xiang looked around, wondering if having so many eyes on them was making either him or Metagross nervous and hesitant.
Or was it that they were both being too cautious, holding back?
After thinking it over, he recalled all the standby Pokémon, including Greninja.
"Relax. Let's try again."
Li Xiang waved to Chao and Su Qian, who seemed about to say something through the window, signaling that it was fine.
You have to give something up to gain something. If they couldn't let go and kept hesitating, how could Metagross focus on evolving?
As for the danger, they'd deal with that after a successful evolution. He had already practiced quick recall on Mirage Island and was fairly proficient at it.
"Metan!"
Metagross nodded.
Both entered the state of the Three-Blind Perception Method, ensuring their focus was at its peak.
Then, once again, they spoke.
"Mega Evolve."
The tone was deep, calm, and brimming with confidence. Metagross's dark gold eyes were cold, like a calculating machine.
As if responding to their expectations, the change began.
First came two brilliant flashes of light.
Originating from the Mega Stone and the Key Stone, they released several dazzling bolts of lightning that converged and connected in midair.
Then, a kaleidoscope of evolution light shone from Metagross's body as astonishing changes began to take place.
Its flat body suddenly swelled. Four openings appeared on the lower sides, and four arms emerged, growing at a visible speed.
The X on its face shifted upward, like two long horns. A conical spike appeared beneath its chin, and four triangular metal plates appeared on each side of its body.
Perhaps because it was the first time evolving, the process was slightly slower than usual.
Li Xiang kept taking deep breaths, intending to release Incineroar and the others.
But he found his entire mind was wrapped around the rapidly evolving Metagross. A heavy weight pressed down on his heart, making it hard to breathe.
Did Mega Evolution place a burden on the trainer too?
He'd never heard of that!
In the anime, the trainers always seemed full of energy. In the manga, X even evolved six Pokémon in a row.
Why did it have to be different for him?
Li Xiang was baffled. By now, Metagross had completed its evolution.
Its body remained a shining silver. The gold X on its face had turned blue. Its claws, originally arranged in a triangular pattern, now looked like bear claws, arranged horizontally with the middle one being the most prominent.
The biggest difference between Metagross and Mega Metagross was that its four pile-driver-like arms had become eight.
And instead of pointing downward, they pointed forward.
Its body was no longer supported by its arms but floated in midair, even without using Magnet Rise.
At first glance, it looked like an alien, futuristic bullet train.
"Meta..."
Mega Metagross let out a low, deep growl.
Li Xiang felt a slight relief as the suffocating sensation eased somewhat, but immediately, a wave of exhaustion washed over his mind.
It felt like he'd just practiced the Three-Blind Perception Method for ten minutes straight.
Wait, did Mega Evolution also drain the trainer's mental energy?
Li Xiang was stunned. He looked at Mega Metagross, which stared back with cold, dark gold eyes.
It didn't look at him like a trainer, but like a target detected by a computer.
This guy could very well swing a fist at his head at any moment. The only reason it hadn't attacked was that it was deciding where to strike for a one-hit kill.
Li Xiang felt this thought creep into his mind, a nerve twitching in his head.
—It went berserk right after evolving!?
His pupils shrank. He quickly reached into his pocket, pulled out four Poké Balls, and released them.
Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!
Four flashes of light.
The Pokémon, already on standby, immediately took battle stances the moment they landed.
Mega Metagross, as if having finally decided where to strike, became enveloped in golden energy.
In an instant, it transformed into a dazzling golden meteor!
It crashed toward Li Xiang with a deafening roar!
Damn it, this guy really wants to kill me!
You useless simpleton!
Li Xiang clutched Aegislash, which retreated frantically, spreading out a silver honeycomb shield!
But before Mega Metagross could get close, Incineroar and Lucario leaped up from both sides!
Incineroar took the lead, with Lucario supporting, and together they managed to stop the high-speed train!
Thud!
An explosion-like shockwave rang out!
The ground trembled as if hit by an earthquake, shockwaves spreading out like a cloud of smoke!
As the ones absorbing the impact, Incineroar and Lucario left two deep furrows in the ground, pushed back over three meters!
"RO—AR!!"
You—snap out of it!
Incineroar growled low, flames erupting from its belt and blasting toward Mega Metagross!
Lucario leaped from the ground, pulling a bone staff from its palm, spinning it like a windmill and swinging it down!
Greninja stood behind Mega Metagross, firing beams of dark rings at its back!
The three aces attacked in unison!
Li Xiang stood far away, wanting to cancel the Mega Evolution, but it seemed that wasn't something he could just deactivate at will.
Moreover, as time passed, his mental energy was being drained further, exhaustion growing.
In the center of the field, facing attacks from three directions at almost point-blank range, Mega Metagross neither dodged nor blocked. It simply absorbed part of the damage while using Protect to keep the rest at bay!
A shield that couldn't withstand the combined attacks of the three aces before now held firm after Mega Evolution!
Was the boost from Mega Evolution that significant!?
Li Xiang was astonished. He saw Mega Metagross suddenly shoot upward as if trying to break through the ceiling.
But the moment it got close, a purple barrier appeared on the ceiling, blocking it firmly.
—It's truly lost its mind. Did it forget what this room is made of?
Li Xiang watched the three aces continue their pursuit as Mega Metagross, after its collision with the ceiling, began looking for another escape route.