"Regi..."
Regirock picked up another green stone, its surface marked with leaflike patterns. It was clearly a Leaf Stone.
After a moment's consideration, Regirock handed it to Meownei instead of absorbing it.
Since she was a Pokémon who could defeat Regirock, something suited to her ought to go to her. Even Regirock, at heart, respected strength.
Evolution stones were concentrations of elemental energy. Besides allowing certain Pokémon to evolve, they could also help Pokémon of the corresponding type grow.
As a Pokémon made of rock and created by Regigigas, Regirock was special even by nature, able to absorb power from any kind of stone.
For a Pokémon like Meownei, though, stones of a specific type were better.
"Meow? (Is it okay for me to take this stone?)"
"Go ahead. This whole box was meant for Regirock anyway, so there's nothing wrong with Regirock giving you one."
These stones had passed through other hands before reaching Xin Mu. The school had collected the admission fees on Regirock's behalf, and might well have taken its cut beforehand.
Besides, as long as Regirock cooperated, it didn't matter who used the stones.
"Meow~"
Although they looked like rocks, evolution stones were crystals formed from various kinds of condensed energy. They were hard to humans, but to certain Pokémon, they were much like hard candy.
Meownei bit off half the Leaf Stone, then ate it with a series of crunches.
Having finished absorbing the stones, Regirock now ranked the nameplates.
The winner was Steven Stone.
It was difficult to distinguish differences in the quality of evolution stones. Even when differences existed, they were negligible.
Steven had won because he was rich.
As the son of the Devon Corporation's owner, he had more funding available than the other professors, while his strength as a Champion gave