"Have Garchomp and Lucario changed at all?" Cynthia asked softly, lightly brushing the Poké Balls at her waist.
Her gaze settled on Chen Shi, her eyes shining with anticipation and curiosity.
A strange expression crossed Chen Shi's face when he heard the question.
He fell silent for a moment, then slowly said, "They... well, they certainly have undergone some changes."
Seeing his expression, Cynthia's heart jumped. Could something be wrong with Garchomp and Lucario?
She stared anxiously at Chen Shi, trying to find an answer in his face.
Meanwhile, Steven, Pheobe, and the two quiet little kids all turned their eyes toward him.
After another brief silence, Chen Shi spread his hands and said casually, "I don't have either of those Pokémon. How would I know?"
Cynthia's expression instantly darkened, and her hand, which had been resting on her leg, unconsciously curled into a fist.
She had a feeling that Chen Shi definitely knew the answer but simply refused to tell her.
Steven and Pheobe sensed trouble brewing and hurriedly turned to look elsewhere.
Gary didn't understand any of that. His eyes still wide, he asked curiously, "Uncle, how exactly do you use Mega Evolution?"
Chen Shi patted his little head. "It takes practice. First, you have to understand your Pokémon's heart, then use the Key Stone to connect your bond. Only then can you activate the Mega Stone's power and complete Mega Evolution."
"And it's hard to adjust during the first few Mega Evolutions. You have to use it repeatedly before you can fully master that power."
Those words weren't just meant for Gary. More importantly, they were meant for Steven and Cynthia, to keep them from forcing Mega Evolution during the Pokémon World Championships and hurting themselves.
Cynthia stood straight up and walked out of the lounge, leaving