Chapter 843: Skitty's Half-Year Transformation
"That is the Colress Machine I developed in the past. As the name suggests, it's used to stimulate a Pokémon's unawakened potential."
Colress introduced it.
As if he were introducing something not worth mentioning.
"For example?"
Kazuya blinked, not feeling surprised.
Colress's research focused on unearthing the hidden power and talents of Pokémon, so it wasn't strange that he could create such a machine.
For instance.
Genesect's Drives.
Belonged to this type of technology.
"Hmm... Through stimulating potential, it can allow a Weedle to gain the strength and talent a Beedrill should have."
Colress considered for two seconds, then spoke.
Kazuya understood immediately.
In game terms, it was...
Allowing a first-stage Pokémon to possess the base stats of a conventional final stage.
"A very impressive machine."
Kazuya praised sincerely.
This machine created by Colress was indeed powerful.
For Pokémon unwilling to evolve, the effect of this thing was no less than that of a Mega Evolution injection.
In fact.
If only stat changes were considered.
The increase in strength and potential from a conventional first stage jumping to a third stage.
Was absolutely greater than breaking through from the third stage to a Mega form.
Of course.
The vast majority of Pokémon wouldn't refuse natural growth and evolution.
So for most Pokémon.
This machine was useless.
Unless...
It was a Pokémon unwilling to evolve, like Dawn's Piplup.
Or one unable to evolve, like Kazuya in his fourth life.
Only then would they particularly need the help of this machine.
"Then this thing should be the most useful for Skitty, right?"
Dragonite reached out and rubbed Skitty's head.
The latter wagged her tail happily, seeming not to have thought that far ahead at all.
Skitty was still in her first form.
The other Pokémon were all already in their final forms or even Mega forms.
"Mm, according to my estimation, this machine will likely be of no use to the five of you, but it can greatly increase that Skitty's strength."
Colress nodded in agreement.
The Skitty line only has two forms.
The second form is Delcatty, which requires a Moon Stone to evolve.
The base stat total changes from 260 to 400, an increase of 140.
Which means Skitty's total base stats would increase by over 50%.
A very exaggerated ratio.
You must know that even Kazuya's Bond Phenomenon with Cynthia couldn't increase his stats by that much; he would need the Alpha mark on top of that to barely compare.
Skitty's level right now was only Lv. 86.
There might not be a level gap.
But compared to a typical Mythical Pokémon, her base stats were inevitably a bit lacking.
After all, her past talent was just that.
For her to catch up to a Mythical Pokémon in a certain aspect, she would have to put in three, or even four or five times the effort.
But after using the device.
Skitty's stats would absolutely be able to surpass the vast majority of Mythical Pokémon at the same level.
It wasn't impossible.
For her to instantly possess the stats that a normal Skitty would only have upon reaching Lv. 88 or Lv. 89.
By then.
Skitty's combat power might be able to compete with the current Mewtwo and Dragonite.
Colress was right.
It could indeed greatly increase Skitty's strength!
"How long does this device need to run?"
Kazuya smiled slightly, turning his head to look at Colress.
"Hmm, it might take much longer than you anticipate. For this Skitty, it might be a bit faster, but... at least half a year."
Colress pinched his chin and estimated.
"Half a year!" x 6
The six Pokémon were shocked.
This timeframe truly exceeded their imaginations.
They originally thought it would be like a surgery, taking less than a day.
They never expected it would actually take half a year.
This time was multiplied by more than ten or a hundred times.
"Stimulating a Pokémon's inner potential across stages without side effects is no easy task. It naturally requires a longer time."
"If it were really that easy, this device of mine would have been world-famous a century ago, and I wouldn't have just given up on its research."
"And this is just for Skitty. If it were one of you, the time required would be measured in years, and the effect might not even be that great."
Colress shrugged and spread his hands, looking helpless.
His words were indeed not unreasonable.
Such a powerful device.
For it not to have caused a sensation back then, it must have had some unavoidable, massive flaw.
Looking at it now.
This flaw was "time."
The lengthy time required made this machine unwanted by the world.
At the very least, it couldn't capture the mainstream market.
After all.
Even an ordinary Skitty required this much time.
If it were pseudo-Legendary Pokémon like Gible or Larvitar.
Or starter Pokémon like Charmander or Treecko.
It might take three to five years.
With that much time.
A Trainer taking them out on a journey would have evolved them to their third stage long ago.
Why would they still need this kind of machine?
Therefore.
The target audience for this machine was truly very narrow.
It could only be used for Pokémon unable or unwilling to evolve.
"This... how do we solve her nutrition problem for these six months?"
Kazuya hugged the Skitty in his arms tighter, asking with some concern.
Immediately after, he asked many more small questions.
Colress didn't find it annoying at all, patiently answering them one by one.
Of course he didn't find it annoying.
He hadn't communicated with anyone for decades.
Now that someone was discussing these things with him, he was so happy he wanted to dance ballet with the Porygon-Z beside him.
"Meow..."
Skitty raised her head to take a look, unable to help but lower her head and snicker.
The Kazuya of today.
Was completely different from the fierce Treecko she first met.
She felt the Kazuya today was very much like Granny Sora.
After a long discussion.
Kazuya finally had no choice but to agree to send Skitty to 'kindergarten'.
"We can't stay here for half a year, at least Mewtwo and I can't."
Kazuya said.
If they stayed in one place for three days.
They might attract a Demon God.
Not to mention half a year.
Probably all the Demon Gods in the world would come swarming.
"I know. Even if you wanted to stay, I would drive you away. Your leaving is the safest thing for her."
Colress didn't deny this, then waved his hand, "You can rest assured, Aether Paradise's defensive measures are enough to resist most magical beasts. She will be very safe here."
As his voice fell.
Kazuya immediately sensed the entire Aether Paradise begin to operate like a machine.
Countless weapons emerged from various parts of Aether Paradise.
Walls, corridors, ceilings, even seemingly inconspicuous oil paintings, fake plants, and security cameras...
Even firearms from League Calendar Year 229.
Couldn't be underestimated.
One must know that as early as League Calendar Year 200.
Major evil organizations could already produce black tech capable of threatening first-tier gods.
The defensive measures of Aether Paradise were indeed formidable.
Colress wasn't bragging.
Even if Dragonite and Mewtwo took a stroll through it.
They would probably suffer some minor injuries.
However...
"Scizor, Lucario, Dragonite, you stay behind."
Kazuya still spoke, leaving behind three of his top fighters.
Two Masters, one at the peak of Champion tier.
Only by leaving behind such combat power.
Could Kazuya feel a little more at ease leaving this place.
The three Pokémon nodded one after another.
They understood very clearly what Skitty meant to Kazuya.
She was true family.
And before finding Meowscarada, Kazuya's last family in this world.
It could be said.
Among the reasons Kazuya had to save this world.
Skitty occupied a significant proportion.
Therefore.
They didn't find it strange at all that Kazuya was so worried about Skitty's safety.
"Skitty."
Kazuya placed the kitten from his arms into the machine, "See you in half a year."
"Meow!"
Skitty was still full of vitality, bouncing and wagging her tail at Kazuya.
Clack~
The glass slowly closed.
The space instantly became enclosed.
Only then did a hint of fear appear in Skitty's eyes.
But seeing that everyone was still outside the glass.
Skitty relaxed again, obediently lying down, tucking her two paws, and waiting.
A faint white mist gradually filled the entire hibernation pod.
Not long after.
"...Meow."
Skitty already felt drowsy.
Her eyelids were fighting each other.
She struggled to lift her head and take a look outside.
Kazuya was leaning against the glass, quietly staring at her, waving his hand.
Skitty pursed her lips into a smile and closed her eyes.
Feeling Skitty's breathing gradually steady.
Only then did Kazuya breathe a heavy sigh of relief.
It seemed Skitty wouldn't feel any discomfort.
Although.
Colress had already told Kazuya this.
But without seeing it with his own eyes, he couldn't completely set his mind at ease.
After all.
Doctors say it doesn't hurt.
Do you really think it doesn't hurt?
That just means you haven't been to the hospital enough.
If they didn't say that, how could they coax you into getting the injection?
"You can just put your heart back in your stomach. As long as you two don't stay here, I guarantee I'll return a healthy Skitty to you in half a year."
Seeing Kazuya like this, Colress couldn't help but laugh.
The him in the past who was still in Unova.
Might not have understood this scene, thinking it was a waste of time and emotion.
But after Team Plasma disbanded.
He learned a lot from those young Trainers.
He no longer disliked seeing this; instead, he found it quite interesting and heartwarming.
"In that case, Mewtwo and I will leave first. We'll come back often to check on her."
Kazuya nodded.
He leaned against the glass for a while, his palm gently stroking it.
Then, from the backpack he carried, he pulled out a small Piplup wooden doll and placed it nearby.
Turning around.
He left with Mewtwo.
"It's better to visit as little as possible, to avoid leaving your scent here."
Colress advised.
"Understood."
Kazuya and Mewtwo nodded.
Originally.
Kazuya planned to visit once a week.
Since Colress said so.
Then he would visit once every 8 days.
"..."
Colress watched the retreating back of that Darkrai, couldn't help but frown, scratch his head, and mutter, "Did that guy really listen?"
Facts proved.
Kazuya actually did listen.
For the sake of Skitty's safety.
He was able to restrain his desires.
During these six months, they only came once.
~~~
Get early access to 30+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Hollowborn
~~~
Every 5 new reviews = 1 extra chapters
Every 150 Power Stones = 1 extra chapter