Within the golden flash of the lightning, Magnemite appeared tiny and insignificant. Facing the raw power of nature with only its individual strength, its consciousness nearly flickered out into darkness.
In an instant, the falling lightning began to dim—not uniformly, but in a rhythmic, staggered pattern. The thick bolt transformed into a string of pearl-like bright spots, hanging suspended from the black canopy of the sky!
Rumble!!
Magnemite forced itself to stay awake, enduring the immense burden. The electricity stored within its body hit its maximum capacity at a staggering speed.
However, it had to keep absorbing. Only by breaking through this limit could it take the next step!
Owen estimated that this occurrence of Bead Lightning produced about thirty "pearls," each several meters in diameter.
It was a breathtaking sight, looking like a series of massive electrical orbs strung together. Once Magnemite had endured the initial force, it retaliated, pushing back with its own Thunderbolt.
Bathed in lightning, swallowing it, and releasing it—Magnemite's internal biological functions accelerated to a frenzied pace. As the Thunderbolt pushed back, the pearls grew smaller, their shapes distorted, and their brightness began to fade.
One... two... as the Thunderbolt overwhelmed half of the lightning beads, Magnemite's body, though scarred and battered by the tempering process, finally erupted into the Light of Evolution.
After three days of high-intensity training and the baptism of increasingly powerful lightning, Magnemite finally completed its transition to a higher stage of life.
Evolution!
The light came and went in a flash, swallowed by the final dissipating sparks of the storm. During that brief window, Magnemite's molecular structure split rapidly. What was once a single body gradually became a union of three.
As it became a Magneton, its new form looked like three Magnemites linked together, though the positions of its magnets had shifted. The two magnets on the lower center body extended forward like arms, creating a more harmonious and stable structure.
"We did it." Owen clenched his fist.
BOOM!!
Another bolt of lightning struck down, but this time, Magneton was no longer like its predecessor, struggling just to resist. It looked up slightly, and a bolt far more powerful than its previous Thunderbolt surged upward instantly.
The two forces collided and canceled each other out in a deafening roar. As countless electric snakes flickered and danced in the air, Owen broke into a wide grin.
Thunder.
Upon evolving, Magneton had immediately mastered the move Thunder.
Compared to its time as a Magnemite, Magneton's magnetic and electrical intensity had undergone a qualitative leap.
The electromagnetic waves it emitted were now strong enough to raise the temperature within a one-kilometer radius.
A large group of Magneton could even trigger a full-scale electromagnetic storm!
From any perspective, it was exponentially stronger.
Seeing the power of that Thunder, Owen knew that the three days of training had paid off. Combined with the solid physical foundation built by long-term consumption of Gray Pokéblocks, all of Magnemite's accumulated potential had exploded at the moment of evolution.
"Vee!!" Eevee chirped, sounding impressed. Magnemite really did get a lot stronger after evolving...
Good thing I evolved first, Eevee thought. Otherwise, it wouldn't be so easy to tease it anymore.
"Vee-vee~" Still, Eevee cheered for its teammate's success.
"Congratulations." Mr. Lee looked at Owen. With both Eevee and Magneton, Owen had achieved a level of "completion" rarely seen in the rookie stage.
Eevee's new form, capable of short bursts of professional-level power, closed the gap between Owen and those elite peers who had been groomed with resources since childhood.
And for Magneton—who had evolved through such extreme methods—its strength would see another massive surge if Owen continued to invest heavily over the summer. Its potential had been maximized.
Because of this, Mr. Lee felt that Owen's future limit might be much higher than just becoming a "Professional Trainer."
Two days later, the group returned to Pingcheng.
Mr. Lee stayed true to his word, keeping the secret of Eevee's transformation even from the Trainer Association.
As for Owen, although he still wanted that discovery bounty, he was in no rush to write the paper or expose the secret.
He wasn't short on cash now and had found other ways to earn a living; the need for money wasn't as desperate as it was at the very start.
Before fully revealing Espeon or the effects of the R-drug, Owen felt he needed to understand more.
"I'll wait until I enter Magic University. For now, I'll focus on figuring out Eevee's changes and getting a solid grasp on its status."
"Then, I'll try to contact Senior Cynthia..."
was the only person Owen knew at the university. As the current Fairy-type Elite Four member, she held a high position in the Association. Using that connection would make things much easier.
But before any of that, Owen planned to become an official Pokémon Researcher as soon as possible.
June 20th.
The College Entrance Exam results were released. Every student now knew their score. Whether high or low, everyone became busy filling out their university applications.
Lynnea was as steady as a Growlithe. Her cultural scores alone were well above the top-tier line, and with the bonus points from Pokémon battles and her performance in the High School League, she had her pick of Magic University or Imperial University.
However, since she had long ago decided to attend the Police Academy, she didn't choose a conventional school.
She might follow in her father's footsteps to become a professional trainer and a local criminal investigator, or perhaps she would excel and join the International Police under the Pokémon League.
Regardless, the members of the Rising Star Project would likely see less of each other, as the Police Academy was rumored to be strict with very few holidays.
As for Leo, he looked like he was at a funeral. Even with the battle bonuses, he had only just grazed the top-tier line. Without the score-reduction policies, he wouldn't even have made it into Nanjiang University, let alone the elite schools in Shanghai or Beijing. His family hadn't decided where to send him yet.
Other classmates had made their choices too. While most students were out traveling and celebrating, Owen was a bit depressed. His "karma" had finally arrived. While everyone else was studying, he had been out adventuring; now he faced his own exams.
Clutching the study materials sent by Mr. Lee, Owen scribbled furiously, preparing for the independent exam for Intern Researchers in mid-September.
Under the light of his study, Owen spun his pen and let out a long sigh.
Even after crossing over and getting stronger, I still can't escape the books...
🌟 The story is already written… waiting to be unleashed. Claim early access on Patreon: [email protected]/Master_Studios677
🔓 You hold the keys to bonus chapters:💬 10 reviews ignite 1 bonus chapter🔷 100 Power Stones summon another
🔥 Your power determines how fast the tale unfolds.