"KREEEAAAH!"
The surviving Shadow Fearow shrieked as they watched their companions fall through the clouds.
Their eyes burned crimson.
White energy gathered around their long, spear-like beaks as the entire flock launched into Drill Peck, diving toward Aaron and Charizard from every direction.
They tore through the sky like a volley of black arrows tipped with light.
Inside the aircraft, the passengers watched the flock converge on Aaron.
The hope that had only just begun to return vanished almost immediately.
"Look out!"
"There are too many of them!"
"Please, you have to survive!"
The little girl pressed both hands against the window.
"Mr. Superhero, don't die! I still have to marry you when I grow up!"
Some passengers shouted encouragement Aaron could never hear through the reinforced windows and roaring wind. Others fell silent and prayed as the Fearow closed in.
...
Outside, Aaron stood braced between Charizard's shoulders.
He showed no fear as the incoming flock filled his vision.
Instead, he closed one hand around the Key Stone.
The Combined Charizardite responded at once, glowing against Charizard's body.
"Charizard."
Aaron's voice remained steady.
"Let's break through our limits."
He raised the Key Stone.
"Mega Evolve!"
Rainbow-colored light burst from both stones.
"ZAAARD!"
Charizard threw back his head and roared as the energy of Mega Evolution enveloped him.
The bond between Trainer and Pokémon became a brilliant strand of light, connecting the Key Stone to the Combined Charizardite.
A pillar of radiance pierced the dark clouds and illuminated the entire sky.
Charizard's silhouette expanded within it.
His wings stretched wider. The horns sweeping back from his head grew longer and sharper, while the scales covering his body became denser and more defined.
The transformed dragon spread his wings with a thunderous snap.
The rainbow light shattered around him.
Mega Charizard Y emerged from the transformation nearly four meters tall, his hardened red scales gleaming beneath the scattered sunlight. His wings spanned more than ten meters, and the flame burning at the end of his tail blazed with furnace-like intensity.
"GRAAAZARD!"
His roar rolled across the clouds.
Heat surged outward from his body, distorting the air around him and forcing the closest Shadow Fearow to break formation.
Mega Charizard Y.
Aaron's System immediately displayed the transformed Pokémon's updated information.
[Name: Mega Charizard Y]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Docile]
[Type: Fire/Dragon]
[Ability: Crown of the Fire Dragon King — Mega Charizard Y is protected by exceptionally durable dragon scales, reducing damage taken from all attacks by 50%. The power of his Fire-type moves is increased by 50%.]
[Base Stats Total: 634]
[Level: Gym (Late Stage) — Temporarily elevated through Mega Evolution.]
[Potential: Master]
[Known Moves: Omitted...]
[Special Art: Enhanced Fire Dragon Slayer Magic]
[Technique 1: Fire Dragon Slayer — Passive. Increases the power of Fire-type moves by 50%. Fire-type attacks ignore Dragon-type resistance, and Dragon Slayer techniques deal twice their normal damage against Dragon-type Pokémon. Mega Charizard Y can also absorb hostile Fire-type attacks to restore stamina and heal injuries.]
[Technique 2: Enhanced Dragon Physiology — Passive. Greatly enhances physical vitality and raises Attack, Defense, Special Attack, Special Defense, and Speed by three stages.]
[Technique 3: Fire Dragon King's Roar — Fire/Special, Power 180.]
[Technique 4: Fire Dragon King's Iron Fist — Fire/Physical, Power 150.]
[Technique 5: Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade — Fire/Mixed, Power 220.]
[Special Form: Enhanced Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode]
[Effect 1: Lightning-Flame Dragon — Doubles the power of Fire- and Electric-type moves, raises Attack and Special Attack by four stages, and raises Speed by two stages.]
[Effect 2: Lightning-Flame Fusion — Fire- and Electric-type moves can convert freely into one another without losing their existing bonuses. After conversion, the move's power is increased by a further 50%.]
...
Aaron stared at the panel.
Mega Evolution had increased Charizard's base stats by a full hundred points and temporarily pushed him from Gym (Early Stage) to Gym (Late Stage).
But the raw increase in level was only part of the transformation.
Crown of the Fire Dragon King preserved the defensive power of Charizard's original scales while dramatically strengthening his Fire-type attacks.
His Fire Dragon Slayer Magic had also evolved.
Every technique had become stronger, his physical abilities had risen across the board, and the already formidable Lightning-Flame Dragon Mode had received an enormous upgrade.
This was not a minor improvement.
Mega Evolution had strengthened nearly every part of Charizard's combat style.
Aaron had previously noticed that Charizard's long-term ceiling was beginning to look less exceptional beside some of his newer Pokémon.
That concern was gone now.
With Mega Charizard X and Y available—and the mysterious Z form still waiting beyond them—Charizard's potential had risen to an entirely different level.
And Mega Charizard Y was only the beginning.
What kind of monster would Charizard become after mastering both Mega forms and unlocking Mega Charizard Z?
Excitement surged through Aaron.
He looked up at the Shadow Fearow still diving toward them, their glowing beaks only moments away.
His grip tightened around the Key Stone.
"Charizard, let's show the Inner World what we can do."
Mega Charizard Y opened his jaws as blazing energy gathered deep within his throat.
"Fire Dragon King's Roar!"
...