At the Sycamore Pokémon Lab,
on the backyard battlefield,
the battle between Diancie and Mega Greninja was still raging.
Although this was Steven's first time commanding Diancie, he and Princess Diancie displayed remarkable coordination.
"Diancie, Dazzling Gleam!"
As Greninja tried to close in again, Steven seized the opening. Dazzling Gleam scored a direct hit!
At that moment, Mega Greninja's evolution energy became extremely unstable!
Ash cried out, "Oh no!"
A second later, the white light of evolution receded like the tide.
Greninja was forced out of its Mega Evolution, dropping to one knee and panting heavily. Its stamina had clearly hit rock bottom.
Yet, unusually, Greninja had not fainted.
Professor Sycamore clearly noticed this.
"Huh?"
Normally, a Pokémon only reverted from Mega Evolution when it could no longer battle.
"Looks like this is where..."
Before Steven could finish, something unexpected happened!
Ash felt Greninja's desire to win.
"Greninja!"
At that very instant, an indescribable resonance erupted between Ash and Greninja, far more intense than anything they had experienced during Mega Evolution!
Li Wei said softly, "Here it comes."
Standing opposite Greninja, Steven could feel its growing strength even more keenly.
His interest was piqued.
Professor Sycamore, meanwhile, rose to his feet in excitement.
Clemont exclaimed excitedly, "That's it! That's what we saw that day!"
No Key Stone, no Evolution Stone!
A tremendous surge of blue energy, like a deep-sea whirlpool, burst from Greninja's body and gathered into a waterspout.
Everyone present, human and Pokémon alike, looked up at the waterspout.
"Vian, run an energy analysis right away!"
Professor Sycamore hurriedly picked up his radio.
"Yes, Professor!"
Inside the waterspout, Greninja's form changed.
The enormous Water Shuriken was no longer beneath its feet, but floated behind its back.
A red cross-shaped mark resembling a war marking appeared on its forehead, making