It has been less than a month since the last Alola Friendship Tournant, yet dia from all over the world are once again flocking to Alola.
At tomorrow's press conference, Alola League Champion and the league's top scientific genius, Stephen, will announce a new form of evolution.
This news imdiately beca the hottest topic across the entire league.
Not only dia reporters, but representatives from various regions have also arrived in Alola once again.
Stephen, who was sleeping with Karen and Mary, was woken up early in the morning by a phone call.
Seeing the caller ID, Stephen answered, "Uncle?"
["Did I wake you up too early? Sorry, Stephen-kun, but I had no choice. Goodshow is eager to boost Lance's battle strength,"] said Giovanni helplessly on the other end of the line.
After hearing that Steven's tagross had returned to peak condition, even surpassing its forr state with the help of Xerneas, Goodshow couldn't sit still.
Although they successfully pushed Lance to the Champion's throne of the Indigo League, without his ace Dragonite, Goodshow honestly doubted that Lance could hold off Team Rocket lurking in the shadows.
Upon learning that Stephen had discovered a thod to rapidly enhance Pokémon's strength in the short term, Goodshow imdiately rushed over with his people.
["I ca along as well, claiming I'm interested in this GA Evolution and taking the opportunity to retrieve Beedrill,"] Giovanni added.
During the last Alola Friendship Tournant, after Stephen temporarily stabilized Pryce with information about Sheena and Dialga, Giovanni handed Beedrill over to Stephen.
Now that the GA Evolution stone for Beedrill had been acquired, it was ti for Giovanni to take it back.
"Where are you guys?" Stephen asked, stretching as he got up.
["At your doorstep,"] Giovanni replied.
"Huh?"
Stephen opened a small gap in the curtains and, sure enough, saw several familiar figures disembarking from a cruise ship at the Aether Paradise harbor.
"Has the League arrived?" Karen asked, yawning as she stretched.
"Steven's tagross and Lance's Dragonite were the two Pokémon most heavily injured in the previous Indigo League battles. Now that Steven's tagross has returned to peak condition, Lance must be feeling the pressure," Stephen said while putting on clothes.
"What a pity. Xerneas' power grants vitality, but it probably does not affect Aptx4869, right?"
Karen didn't have any particular opinion about Lance.
"Don't worry; you can keep sleeping. I'll go handle this," Stephen said.
As expected, other regions' representatives would likely arrive as well.
After all, GA Evolution significantly enhances Pokémon strength.
Not to ntion, Team Rocket has been putting considerable pressure on the League lately.
The League's strongest trainers were also looking for ways to enhance their powers.
As soon as Stephen went downstairs, Goodshow greeted him warmly. "Stephen-kun, long ti no see!"
"Didn't we just et last month?" Stephen asked with a smile.
"Hehe, this old man is just being polite," Goodshow chuckled mischievously.
"Welco, welco. Oh, Mr. Giovanni, this is the first ti we're eting face-to-face, isn't it?"
"Haha, I'm a little interested in GA Evolution, so I shalessly ca along," Giovanni said with a smile.
The two sly foxes exchanged knowing grins.
"Everyone, don't just stand at the door. Please co in," Stephen said, inviting them in.
Goodshow and the Indigo Elite Four were the first to enter the pristine white mansion. As Giovanni passed by Stephen, he discreetly took a Pokéball from Stephen's hand without saying a word.
Just as Stephen was about to head inside, he suddenly heard the sound of another cruise ship engine coming from the harbor.
"Hey! Dr. Stephen!"
Steven enthusiastically walked up to him and gave him a bear hug. With tagross back at its peak, Steven's mood was through the roof.
Behind him, Wallace's expression was oddly complicated.
His girlfriend was gone, and now it seed like his friend might be gone too.
"And this is...?"
Stephen released Steven and was imdiately drawn to a middle-aged man with a prominent belly standing behind him.
"Haha! Nice to et you, Dr. Stephen. I'm Professor Birch," the man said with a kind smile, shaking Stephen's hand. Beside him was a tomboyish girl who had a slightly mischievous aura.
"Oh, this is my daughter, May. Co on, girl, say hello!"
"Hello!"
A girl around Ash's age shouted energetically.
Stephen scratched his head.
He thought to himself, Does Haruka not exist in this world?
What a pity—he had a pretty good impression of Haruka.
Of course, not in a romantic sense, but purely in admiration of her as a Trainer.
After all, Haruka was one of the most capable female companions in the ani.
And she didn't inherit Ash's bad habit of refusing to evolve his Pokémon.
Her Torchic, Bulbasaur, and other Pokémon all evolved to their final forms.
Even her Squirtle eventually evolved into Wartortle—it seed only a matter of ti before it beca a Blastoise.
anwhile, Ash's Kanto starters—except for Charizard—were still unevolved babies even when he beca champion.
"There's an inflatable castle in the reserve. Let the kid go play there," Stephen suggested.
Not long after, Professor Oak also arrived with Gary.
Gary's starter Pokémon was a shiny Stufful and a Swablu.
They were practically the tagalongs of Stephen's Bewear and Altaria.
Whenever the two senior Pokémon trained, the little ones followed suit.
But rather than ntoring disciples, Bewear seed more like babysitting—always holding the shiny Stufful in her arms and cuddling it.
The GA Altaria also had a good temper and would occasionally guide the Swablu.
Lance, who wasn't very familiar with Steven, proactively struck up a conversation with him.
Steven, still troubled, said, "I can't guarantee that the thod used on tagross will work on Dragonite. After all, Mr. Lance, your Dragonite's condition is different. Strictly speaking, Dragonite's situation isn't even an injury."
"Xerneas should be wandering around Kalos right now. If we locate her, we'll notify you," Steven added.
At that mont, Diantha arrived.
Compared to their last eting, a gemstone pendant now adorned her snow-white neck. The embedded stone was none other than a Key Stone!
anwhile, Steven had fashioned his Key Stone into a lapel pin, which he wore on the upper pocket of his suit.
"Dr. Stephen, Steven, Miss Diantha, and Elite Four Drasna," Wallace mused, stroking his chin. "These four are currently the ones on the continent who have mastered GA Evolution, right?"
"No, Morgan has it too," Stephen replied with a smile. "I left in such a rush last ti that I accidentally swapped her Poké Balls with mine. It turned out to be a blessing in disguise—Morgan's Houndoom gained the power of GA Evolution as well."
"So, the Pokémon with GA Evolution potential include tagross, Gardevoir, Altaria, and Houndoom?" Professor Oak asked curiously.
"With just these clues, it's hard to deduce which other Pokémon have GA Evolution potential. It seems like we'll have to research one step at a ti."
"Dragonite definitely has it!" Lance growled through gritted teeth.
Representatives from other leagues began to arrive.
When the private jet bearing the Macro Cosmos logo landed on the artificial island's airstrip, it wasn't Chairman Rose or Champion Leon who stepped out first.
Instead, Macro Cosmos employees in work uniforms disembarked, unloading crates of fine wine and gourt food.
In an instant, the plaza on the artificial island took on the lively atmosphere of a festival.
"To celebrate Dr. Stephen's groundbreaking accomplishnts in the scientific community, please accept this humble gesture," Rose announced as he finally stepped off the plane.
The atmosphere reached a fever pitch.
Many couldn't help but share a common thought: What a sycophant.
Will, who hadn't obtained GA Evolution for his Pokémon, drank quite a bit. He jumped onto a table, crying and shouting, "Stephen, you traitor! You care more about won than your bros!"
In Sonia's arms, w found Stephen's Zoroark also disguised as Pikachu by his feet. Taking out Sonia's second-generation Pokédex, it telepathically declared:
["Rookie! I caught a new Pokémon! You're finished this ti!"]
Stephen's Zoroark-disguised Pikachu wasn't intimidated. It grabbed Stephen's second-generation Pokédex and retorted:
["Bring it on! My Toxtricity is raring to go!"]
["Toxtricity? Does that look like a hero to you? Evolve it one more ti before you co at !"]
...
...
The next day, at the Manalo Stadium next to the artificial island, even though this was just a press conference, the thousands of seats in the arena were filled.
Not only ordinary spectators, but dia from all regions also filled the stands, their caras and equipnt lined up like an army.
Amid Stephen's wave of greeting, a thunderous cheer erupted from the crowd.
As they saw Stephen's gesture, Diantha, the new Champion of Kalos, and Steven, heir to the Devon Corporation, erged from the players' tunnels on either side.
"Huh? Is it Champion Diantha and Steven doing the exhibition match? I thought it would be Brother Stephen and Miss Diantha—two regional champions."
In the audience, Gary was a little surprised.
Yesterday, while playing at Aether Paradise, he overheard the adults saying there would be an exhibition match during today's press conference. Stephen had a permanent GA-evolved Altaria, and Gary had even brought his own Swablu to the event, hoping to learn a thing or two.
"Well, according to Dr. Stephen's research, Key Stones and GA Evolution Stones can only be found in Kalos and Hoenn. This is probably a way to show goodwill and promote those two regions. Plus, Miss Diantha can use this opportunity to prove her strength, and Mr. Steven ntioned he wanted to showcase the full resurgence and next-level power of tagross on this grand stage," said Leon, smiling from a row above.
"Makes sense. After all, a lot of people online question whether Miss Diantha is at champion level. She probably wants to use this chance to silence them," added Shauntal, the Unova Elite Four mber, who had a good relationship with Diantha thanks to Cynthia.
"Using GA evolution to prove herself? That power was gifted to her by Stephen, not sothing she trained for herself. What's there to be proud of?" Lorelei coldly.
In her view, relying on external items instead of personal training to force a breakthrough was essentially cheating.
In the stands, elite trainers from all regions and representatives from various league high commands were watching with rapt attention, their eyes dazzled by the spectacle.
Television comntators rattled off the nas of each powerful trainer in attendance like reading off a nu, though even a trainer of Leon's caliber only received less than a second of screen ti.
All eyes were now focused on the arena.
Whether it was Steven in his sharp suit or Diantha in her signature winged gown, the two trainers themselves were already captivating enough.
But now, the world's attention was entirely drawn to the Key Stone pendant and chest pin each wore prominently on their necklines.
Diantha smiled politely: "Speaking of which, I haven't thanked Mr. Steven yet. Thank you for buying us so ti during the Yveltal incident."
Steven waved it off, indicating it wasn't a big deal. "Not at all. I benefited from it in the end, didn't I? If we're going to thank anyone, let's thank Dr. Stephen together."
After a brief exchange of pleasantries, the two turned and walked back to their respective command platforms.
"Let's show them the strength of our bond, Gardevoir!"
"Your first opponent after your coback will surely be worthy of you, tagross!"
Both trainers simultaneously sent out their ace Pokémon.
Just like their trainers, Gardevoir and tagross now sported new accessories—Gardevoir wore a pendant, and tagross had a leg guard strapped to its right foreleg.
Each was embedded with a dazzling gemstone, significantly larger than the trainers' Key Stones, which were only the size of a fingernail.
"So those are the Key Stones and Evolution Stones required for GA evolution?" Lance asked with interest.
All around the world, audiences craned their necks in anticipation.
"Gardevoir, GA evolve!"
"tagross, GA evolve!"
Diantha extended her right hand, her finger lightly touching the GA pendant, while Steven removed his chest pin and brought it to his lips as if to kiss it.
"Is Steven turning feminine after spending too much ti with Wallace?" Winona teased with a raised eyebrow.
The next mont, the Key Stones on the trainers and the Evolution Stones on their Pokémon began to emit dazzling multicolored light.
The lights connected and converged, growing brighter and brighter.
Under the close-up footage of the drones, the world could faintly see tagross and Gardevoir inside, expanding and transforming.
"Hoooh!"
"Ka-h!"
The rainbow light symbolizing GA evolution finally dissipated.
Gardevoir and tagross reappeared in their new forms.
Gardevoir now looked as if it were wearing an even more elegant princess gown, exuding an aura of grace and nobility.
tagross, on the other hand, had bulkier arms, hovered mid-air in an "X" shape, and had four short legs folded like thrusters on its back.
"They evolved again?!" Alder exclaid in astonishnt.
"To make Pokémon that have already reached their final form evolve further... is this what GA evolution is?" murmured Cynthia in awe.
"Their presence is completely different. How much stronger have they beco? It's exciting to think about," said Bruno, eyes gleaming with anticipation.
At that mont, countless trainers from Galar and Alola instinctively reached for their Pokédexes and pointed them at their television screens.
Of course, there were also exceptions—like a certain group from Pallet Town in Kanto.
"GA Gardevoir: After freeing its heart, it can unleash even more powerful psychic energy."
"GA tagross: Upon GA evolving, its brain becos stimulated, and it adopts a cold, ruthless personality, doing whatever it takes to achieve victory."
Hearing the freshly updated entries from the Aether Foundation, Ash muttered softly: "So this... is GA evolution."
...
...
"I'm going to step in without holding back, Champion Diantha."
Steven's lips curved into a faint smile.
Right now, he was utterly thrilled. Not only had his partner recovered its health, but it had also gained even greater power.
And to top it off, they could showcase this newfound power on such a grand stage.
He was as exhilarated as he could be.
"Cot Punch!"
ga tagross's four massive fists simultaneously glead with dazzling starlight.
In the next instant, it shot forward like a rocket.
"So fast!"
Caitlin, who had a Gothitelle, suddenly looked alard.
Although her Gothitelle had not yet evolved into a tagross, she knew very well that tagross was not known for its speed. It was often considered sowhat sluggish. But this level of speed...
"It's already faster than my Garchomp, isn't it?" Cynthia murmured.
"Hey, hey, do you think Gardevoir can even stand after taking that hit? This is just an exhibition match! Isn't Steven going way overboard?" Raihan from Galar exclaid, his mouth wide open.
He often participated in exhibition matches with Leon and understood that the outco of such matches didn't matter. The point was to entertain the audience, right?
Yet Steven was about to knock his opponent out right at the start—what kind of exhibition was this supposed to be?
Boom!
ga tagross's Cot Punch landed, but it didn't hit ga Gardevoir. Instead, it struck a transparent energy barrier far in the back.
On the other side of the barrier, people like Gary and Lana, who saw the thin cracks forming on it, couldn't help but widen their eyes.
What imnse power!
"That was... teleportation just now."
Noticing ga Gardevoir now standing behind ga tagross, many elite trainers imdiately figured out what had happened.
"Diantha's Gardevoir has beco even sharper," Cynthia, Diantha's close friend, muttered in amazent.
"Mystical Fire!"
Following Diantha's command, ga Gardevoir teleported again, this ti appearing directly above ga tagross. Its hands ford a pose resembling a Kahaha.
In an instant, a column of flas burst forth from between its palms, blooming and exploding like a fiery flower.
"Champion level!"
At that mont, not just the elite trainers present, but even many casual viewers watching on TV, couldn't help but exclaim those words in unison.
Previously, many had doubted Diantha's strength, thinking she was rely a trainer at the peak of the Elite Four level who didn't truly deserve her Champion title.
But with just those two moves from ga Gardevoir, it was undeniable—this was Champion-level battling!
Was it just the boost from ga Evolution?
"Psychic!"
Steven spread his palms outward, mimicking a signature pose.
ga tagross's eyes glowed with a faint purple light. Shortly after, translucent, purple, wave-like light burst from its entire body, clashing with the Mystical Fire in midair.
In that instant—
The scorching flas and the pale purple psychic waves battled fiercely, refusing to give an inch to the other.
Ultimately, the collision erupted into a massive spectacle, blanketing the sky over the Manalo Stadium.
"This is incredible! Truly a battle between Champions!"
In the comntary booth, Mary, acting as the audience's voice, shouted excitedly.
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