Mega Gardevoir

In the stands, Ash and his companions watched the clash between Kings at close range. The scorching atmosphere made Ash's blood boil.

"What an intense battle! It's got me fired up, but quite a few of the Pokémon appearing don't seem to be recorded in the Pokédex."

Professor Oak, who was watching alongside Ash, laughed heartily. "The Pokémon here include species from the Johto, Hoenn, and Sinnoh Regions. I also remember that Gongping was born in the Unova Region. Every region has its own unique Pokémon. You still have a lot more traveling to do, Ash."

Hearing the names of so many regions, Ash's eyes lit up. He gazed at the burning Sacred Fire before him, seemingly considering the next stage of his journey.

In the main arena, beneath the dazzling, multicolored light Will had produced, Gardevoir's entire body underwent a unique transformation as the whole audience watched.

"Mega Evolution... Will really has been hiding something incredible."

Mega Gardevoir and its Mega Evolution were clearly intended to counter Dragon-type King Lance's army of Dragon-types. Now that its opponent was Scizor, however, it was probably the one at a type disadvantage instead.

Mega Evolution transcended the current limits of Pokémon evolution, belonging to a higher level of evolution. Pokémon that underwent Mega Evolution temporarily released their hidden power, displaying capabilities unavailable through ordinary evolution.

Ordinarily, Mega Evolution required the Trainer to possess a Key Stone and the Pokémon to hold the correct Mega Stone. This evolution also required a deep bond; otherwise, the Pokémon would very likely be unable to restrain its power after Mega Evolving and rampage out of control.

After Mega Gardevoir appeared, a vast, sacred radiance spilled over the earth. Scizor watched its opponent's holy entrance with cold eyes, then a Bullet Punch flashed out, slamming into Mega Gardevoir with lightning speed.

In an instant, Mega Gardevoir appeared behind Scizor, its eyes shining with powerful light. The moment their gazes met, Scizor suddenly noticed a slight alteration in its own power.

The Psychic-type status move, Skill Swap!

The destructive force of the red Bullet Punch made Mega Gardevoir give a soft grunt, but it crossed its hands, and magnificent, sacred light appeared around it.

The Mega Gardevoir Scizor had struck earlier vanished without a trace, as though it had been an illusion. By the time Scizor realized something was wrong, its opponent had already appeared in another direction. From the very start of the battle, Mega Gardevoir had used its psychic powers to create a unique illusion.

Mega Gardevoir gave a sharp cry, and countless ghostly flames appeared around it, drifting eerily downward. Seeing this, Scizor unleashed a blast of air with a twin-bladed Swords Dance, forcefully driving back the Will-O-Wisp. At some point, however, Mega Gardevoir had appeared behind it, surrounded by countless floating balls of energy.

Under Mega Gardevoir's control, the countless energy balls became scorching fireballs, sweeping furiously toward Scizor like falling meteors.

From its entrance to its string of attacks, Mega Gardevoir gave Scizor no chance to catch its breath, suppressing it with savage power.

Was that Fire-type Hidden Power?

Having never expected Mega Gardevoir to use Fire-type Hidden Power, Gongping quickly adjusted his strategy and ordered Scizor to prepare to evade. With a bang, the fiery Hidden Power energy balls exploded in midair, forming a terrifying web of flames under Mega Gardevoir's telekinetic control.

Facing the terrifying web of flames, Scizor flashed into motion. Countless red streaks shot out, its Bullet Punch shattering the fiery web as swiftly as meteors. Yet after losing Technician to Skill Swap, the power of its Bullet Punch was limited, and it unexpectedly discovered a purple Will-O-Wisp mark on its right shoulder.

The Will-O-Wisp mark flickered with eerie light. Scizor seemed surrounded by terrifyingly scorching flames, and its body began showing signs of being unable to move. Mega Gardevoir slowly descended before it.

With an indifferent gaze, Mega Gardevoir used telekinesis to lift Scizor, then brought forth countless fireballs once more under its control.

"Fury Cutter!"

Suddenly, Scizor's gaze turned cold. Its huge pincer came crashing down, instantly slashing Mega Gardevoir. Even after losing Technician and being afflicted with the Will-O-Wisp mark, Scizor's will drove its Fury Cutter to inflict damage on Mega Gardevoir.

The slash landed, but the burning Hidden Power fireballs around it blazed furiously. Moments later, Scizor was charred all over and slowly sank to one knee.

Scizor was defeated. Gongping recalled it, his expression still as cool and blank as ever as he faced the heavily oppressive presence of Mega Gardevoir. He adjusted the Poké Ball in his hand and quickly sent out Hippowdon.

The moment Hippowdon appeared, sand sprayed from its nostrils, plunging the field into sandy air once again. Still asleep, however, it began to falter after taking a Psychic from Mega Gardevoir.

Its consciousness returned little by little, and Hippowdon struggled to open its eyes. Upon seeing Mega Gardevoir before it, Hippowdon reacted quickly and lunged forward. Before it could touch Mega Gardevoir, however, an invisible telekinetic force lashed it away, smashing it to the ground and knocking it out.

"Although the sandy air has returned, Gongping seems to have lost his means of dealing with Mega Gardevoir."

On the Presidential Platform, Bruno was deeply worried about Gongping's situation. He had only two Pokémon left that had yet to fight, while Will still had three. Though Mega Gardevoir had sustained some injuries, it remained in extremely strong form.

"I never expected Will to have a trick like this hidden away. I'm afraid only Lance can put up a fight against him now."

Agatha disagreed with Lorelei and Bruno's pessimistic views. She waved a hand. "It's too early to draw conclusions. Keep watching."

Pryce cast Agatha a cold glance. He seemingly had not expected the old woman to be as stubborn as ever. Once Will used Mega Gardevoir to defeat four Pokémon in a row, there would still be time for him to mock her.

"That poser Gongping is finished! Once a Mega-Evolved Pokémon makes its move, it'll sweep all four and crush him!"

In the stands, hearing several of Gongping's haters cheering excitedly behind her, Twin-Tailed Girl turned and glared at them in irritation. "Aren't you Trainers from the Kanto Region? Why are you cheering for Will?"

"This guy isn't a Trainer from the Kanto Region either. Besides, we just hate him. All he ever does is show off!"

Ignoring the people behind her, Twin-Tailed Girl watched the boy below with a worried expression.

Gongping, you mustn't give up.

On the battlefield, as Gongping looked at the Sandstorm Hippowdon had produced at the end, a trace of spirited determination appeared in his eyes.

The true power of the sandstorm starts now!

In an instant, Gongping's gaze sharpened. His eyes were like a keen sword as he stared coldly at Mega Gardevoir on the field. The moment he quickly threw his fifth Poké Ball, a petite figure appeared on the battlefield.

The raging sand filling the air cheered fiercely at its appearance, and the earth beneath its feet began to dry out and crack. These astonishing changes seemed to have all been caused by this small, tentacled Pokémon.

This Pokémon was Lileep!

An ancient Pokémon that had lived since prehistoric times, Lileep was Cradily's pre-evolved form. Yet it had been exceptionally gifted since that ancient era, possessing Water Absorb, an Ability completely different from that of ordinary Lileep, as though it had been born to exist for sandstorms.

The earth grew drier and drier. Under the control of its Water Absorb Ability, the sandy air became even more savage and fierce. Though this Pokémon looked very small, no one dared underestimate its strength now.

For this Lileep to appear as Gongping's trump card on a stage like this, it was probably anything but ordinary.

In a shadowed spot in the stands, a figure watched Lileep appear and gritted their teeth. "That's the Lileep, all right. So you really were the one who framed Rosa..."

Battered by the windblown sand, Gardevoir looked at the opponent before it. Just as it was about to activate its telekinesis, countless water droplets flashed past. With a series of bangs, countless holes pierced Mega Gardevoir's body.

"Lileep, let the show begin."