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Lian, unaware of others' thoughts, held the glowing Mega Stone and felt its power coursing through him. It seemed as if there was an energy within his body yearning to be unleashed, yet he also sensed a restraint preventing its release.
This force is known as Mega Energy, essentially a higher level of latent bloodline power hidden within Pokemon. However, not every Pokemon possesses this ability; it's exclusive to specific species.
These exceptional Pokemon inherently have remarkable strength, making their capability for Mega Evolution dependent on their inherent excellence and possession of such concealed power.
Mega Energy cannot be sustained indefinitely, so after a period of time, the Pokemon will swiftly revert to their original form following Mega Evolution.
Currently, Lian needed Kalia's assistance to achieve Mega Evolution. With the three Trainers now focusing on Celebi after Lian's departure, time was running out.
The mid-level trainers found themselves somewhat awkwardly positioned. Their initial goal had been to stop Charizard, but since it fled on its own, they were unsure what to do next. After all, Charizard was no longer engaged in battle.
"This..." The three Trainers exchanged glances, feeling bewildered and unsure of their next move. With Charizard having fled voluntarily, they were rendered useless, and Noras likely wouldn't honor his promise to pay them the 100,000 Alliance Coins.
Even attacking Celebi now would be futile, as it appeared already overwhelmed. Noras wouldn't care much about their intervention at this point.
"Rrrah!" Lian let out a roar and soared back into the sky. He needed to achieve Mega Evolution, but crucially, he relied on Kalia's assistance for this process. However, Kalia was uncertain what to do since she had no prior experience with such transformations.
Lian had to guide her through it. Holding the Mega Evolution Stone, he focused on sensing its power, attempting to trigger the resonating force within himself to surge forth.
"Hmm?" Suddenly, Kalia felt something akin to Lian's sensation - a surge of energy welling up from deep within her heart. This mirrored Lian's experience closely.
In essence, this was the manifestation of the bond between Trainer and Pokemon. However, explaining or grasping the concept of Bonding Power is challenging, and very few individuals can truly harness it effectively.
Lian's ability to intentionally enhance his bond with Kalia was due to the system, leading their connection to reach its highest level.
At this moment, Lian and Kalia achieved a certain resonance without needing a Key Stone.
Lian felt the hidden power gradually surfacing, as if an external force was assisting him in unleashing it.
He glanced at Kalia, noticing her determined expression.
"We're almost there," Lian exclaimed, exhilarated. He poured all his energy into triggering the latent power, causing the Mega Stone in his hand to emit increasingly radiant light.
Kalia's Z-Ring on her wrist also began to glow faintly, with the Z-crystal seemingly taking the role of a Key Stone as the conduit for resonance. However, perhaps due to not being a genuine Key Stone, it appeared strained by the intensity.
Crack!
The Z-crystal on the bracelet seemed unable to withstand the resonating power, developing cracks. Simultaneously, the glow reached its peak, unable to become any brighter.
"What's happening?"
Many spectators noticed the unusual phenomena occurring with Charizard and Kalia, particularly the intense glow emanating from Charizard's claws. Even during daylight, it was strikingly bright, as if preparing to unleash another Z-Move.
However, everyone knew that Charizard couldn't possibly perform a second Z-Move since it requires Trainer coordination. Given Kalia's young age, attempting another Z-Move would likely render her unconscious.
Even the three high-level trainers were momentarily captivated by Charizard, questioning whether it truly fled due to being overpowered or not.
It didn't seem plausible; instead, Charizard appeared intentional in its approach towards the Trainers, leading to this peculiar scene that left them puzzled.
"Ignore that, focus your attack on Celebi!" Noras shouted urgently. For some reason, he felt uneasy, suspecting that Charizard might rejoin the battle soon. He feared Kalia might have provided something to restore Charizard's strength.
Therefore, they needed to swiftly defeat Celebi while Charizard was recovering. This way, even if Charizard regained its power, it would be futile because Noras could simply withdraw with the incapacitated Celebi, leaving the battlefield immediately.
Noras's intuition was correct, albeit his assumption was flawed. Lian's transformation at this moment would mark a historic event, potentially the first-ever Mega Evolution in this world.
In ancient times, Kyogre and Groudon might have undergone Primal Reversion, similar to Mega Evolution but not quite the same.
"Mega Evolve now!" Lian mentally roared as he soared into the sky, fully unleashing the latent power within him.
Snap!
Simultaneously, Kalia's Z-Ring shattered due to the overwhelming force of Mega Evolution resonance, which exceeded its capacity. This power far surpassed that of Z-Moves.
Z-Moves merely altered the Pokemon's moves, while Mega Evolution transformed the Pokemon itself, achieving a higher level of evolution with significant increases in base stats.
This was incomparable to Z-Moves; thus, without adequate support, the Z-crystal couldn't withstand the immense energy and shattered.
"Is this what Professor Evergreen referred to as unlocking a Pokemon's hidden potential?" Kalia was astounded, barely noticing the Z-crystal breaking amidst the brilliant glow enveloping Charizard, signaling some extraordinary transformation underway.
However, Lian felt somewhat awkward as he realized that the Mega Evolution seemed to have been interrupted. The latent power indeed emerged, with his Mega Stone glowing brightly and enveloping him.
His body was undergoing transformation, but it remained incomplete due to the sudden disappearance of resonance. This occurred because the Z-crystal, which facilitated the resonance, had shattered.
The Z-crystal is made from elements found within meteorites, serving as a substitute for Key Stones. Its fragmentation under such strain was entirely expected.
As a result, Lian's Mega Evolution was not fully achieved. Normally, during a complete Mega Evolution, a long horn would appear at the back of his head, his wings would elongate, his tail would extend, and the flames would intensify significantly.
But currently, only Lian's wings lengthened, and the flame on his tail became more intense; there were no changes around his head.
Feeling frustrated by this abrupt halt midway through the Mega Evolution process, Lian suspected it might be due to the absence of a Key Stone.
Despite the disappointment, achieving half of a Mega Evolution was still commendable. Lian could already sense an increase in his strength. Although slightly regretful, having regained and enhanced his power, it was time for him to return to the battlefield.