Chapter 785: They Can Never Go Back
The impact of Mega Evolution on combat power needs no further elaboration.
Kazuya had illustrated it through his experiences in more than one lifetime.
In his current life, he hadn't not tried to Mega Evolve by linking his power with Cynthia, but he completely failed.
Failed to the point where even Kazuya didn't know where the problem lay.
Was it that a Pokémon like Darkrai couldn't Mega Evolve again?
Or was it because the first world and the second world were too far apart, causing the power of their hearts to fail to connect?
Unable to find the source of the problem.
Kazuya could only look for solutions himself.
If Darkrai truly could achieve Mega Evolution...
Then his combat power would undoubtedly be significantly enhanced, which would aid their continued actions in this dark world.
And Chloe, as the former Champion of the Hoenn League and holding many important positions, might have kept some Mega Evolution potions.
Kazuya's group might be able to complete a commission with their power in exchange for a few vials.
"I don't have any."
Chloe shook her head.
It wasn't that she was deliberately hiding them; she truly didn't have any.
"I see."
Kazuya nodded, not feeling too much regret.
He hadn't held out much hope to begin with.
"The amount produced by the Pokémon League back then wasn't much. After all, those things weren't easy to make; both the material collection and the success rate were unsatisfactory. The potions the Hoenn League possessed were all used up during the Great Darkness event."
Chloe sighed.
This was the same logic as their experiments.
If cost were no object.
They could even apply the immortality experiment to every survivor, continuously growing the survivor population, and eventually defeating the shadow energy with numbers, thus saving the world indirectly.
But the problem was, they couldn't.
Every experiment was incredibly taxing.
In this day and age, all materials were obtained by people risking their lives. If a material gathering operation for an experiment lost more people than it benefited, how could they possibly continue?
Therefore.
That was why there were only three immortal beings in this world.
"It's fine. I plan to visit the Kalos region later; perhaps I'll find something there."
"Kalos... it's definitely worth checking out. That's the birthplace of the potion. The Kalos League might have some stock left, and AZ is also there."
Hearing this, Chloe nodded in agreement.
Although cross-regional travel was incredibly difficult now.
Especially traveling from the Northern Hemisphere all the way to the Kalos region in the Southern Hemisphere; it was far from easy.
But it also depended on who was doing the traveling.
In Chloe's view.
Crossing the ocean would indeed pose some difficulty for Kazuya's group of Pokémon, but it would be very limited.
"Where is AZ?"
Thinking of that small giant, Kazuya asked.
He remembered during his third life, he had met the other party in the Kalos region, where AZ told them about Shadow Lugia.
Among the three leaders of the world-saving organizations.
Kazuya understood AZ the most.
After all, he had become friends with him in the second world.
Although the fates of the AZs in the two worlds differed greatly.
Some things were definitely the same.
For example...
Talent.
Silver, Chloe, AZ.
In terms of relationships, Kazuya's relationship with Chloe was definitely the closest.
But she was also the one he had the least confidence in.
In this extreme era, extreme people were needed, and Chloe was clearly still a "normal person."
Chloe's abilities and temperament...
Were more than enough to guard the embers, but insufficient to save the world.
Kazuya still looked forward more to the methods of Silver and AZ.
After so many years.
He wouldn't believe it if AZ didn't have some formidable things in his hands.
He planned to go over and see if he could dig up some treasures.
"It's hard to say where AZ is at the moment. I can only confirm he's definitely within the Kalos region. However, Team Flare's base is beneath Prism Tower in Lumiose City."
"It's actually there?"
Kazuya's expression became somewhat strained.
In League Calendar Year 200.
Lumiose City was the known city with the highest population in the world, its population far exceeding even the second-placed Wyndon and the third-placed Nimbasa City.
And by League Calendar Year 250, the "Urban Redevelopment Plan" mentioned in the Legends Z-A version was successfully implemented. Lumiose City experienced leapfrog development, and its population more than doubled.
It was said that at that time, the number of humans alone in Lumiose City was close to twenty million.
If you included Pokémon.
It was simply unimaginable.
And now, in this New Magical Beast Era.
Lumiose City would absolutely be one of the most dangerous places in the world.
It was definitely a place overrun by magical beasts.
Yet AZ actually hid Team Flare underground right in the center of Lumiose City. This was simply digging a rabbit hole inside a dragon's den.
Kazuya believed Team Flare definitely had some underground passage leading directly out of the city.
But they didn't know about it.
If they wanted to find Team Flare, they could only travel on the surface, pushing all the way into the very center; the risk was not small.
"Yes. Also, if you want to achieve Mega Evolution... I wouldn't recommend pinning your hopes on the evolution potions left by the League."
"Why?"
"Because those things are specific, just like Mega Stones. Each vial of potion can only be used by its corresponding Pokémon. After all, the raw material is the Mega Stone, and Darkrai's Mega Stone wasn't discovered even by League Calendar Year 270."
"...I see."
Hearing this, Kazuya sighed heavily.
It seemed his Mega Evolution was still a long way off.
However.
Kazuya wouldn't give up.
He turned and left.
Preparing to go find his companions.
Chloe raised her hand, hesitating to speak.
She wanted to invite Kazuya to sit down at her home, to explore where that sense of affinity came from.
However...
Sootopolis City had just suffered a major disaster.
There were still many matters waiting for her to handle.
Personal matters had to be put aside for now.
Thinking of this.
Chloe stepped forward quickly, reached out and tugged at the floating tattered cloth on Kazuya's body, and asked with some anticipation: "Darkrai, on the day you leave, can I invite you to my home as a guest? You give me a familiar feeling."
A woman over a hundred years old.
Rarely showing such a little-girl demeanor.
If other members of the People of Sootopolis saw this, their jaws would probably drop in shock.
But in Kazuya's eyes, it didn't feel out of place.
Whether in terms of seniority or actual age, Chloe was just a child in Kazuya's eyes.
"...Alright."
After hesitating, Kazuya nodded gently.
He would go take a look in a couple of days.
Chloe's home...
Or rather, Lorelei and Wallace's home, was located on the mountain path not far behind the Sootopolis Gym.
As Lorelei's partner.
Kazuya had naturally been there, and more than once.
Brought over by Lorelei, accompanying Lorelei's parents...
Every time he came, Wallace would stick to him like a creep, shouting things in his ear like "How beautiful," "Noble and gorgeous," "Emperor of the Sea."
Anyway, it was very annoying and wordy.
So Kazuya had a pretty deep impression of the location of this house.
"Mm! Then I'll come find you the day after tomorrow."
"No need, I'll come myself."
Kazuya waved his hand casually.
Chloe watched him leave, momentarily stunned.
Come himself? Oh, is he going to ask the other survivors in Sootopolis City and find his way there?
She didn't overthink it.
After all, she still had a lot on her plate.
Coming outside.
Kazuya rubbed his hands together.
With Chloe's help, the remaining pain wasn't enough to affect his actions and mindset; presumably, everyone wouldn't notice anything amiss.
After a brief perception scan.
Ten minutes later.
Kazuya found his companions wandering together around Sootopolis City.
Because of Mewtwo and the two Mega Pokémon.
Their group was quite conspicuous in Sootopolis City.
Those survivors who had escaped from underground were all standing not far away looking at them, many unable to hide their curious gazes.
Just like those people from the Dragon Clan.
Many of them were probably children born in Sootopolis City who had never stepped outside, so it was normal for them to pay attention to Kazuya's group of rare Pokémon.
"Hm, has their movement been restricted?"
Kazuya's gaze swept over.
He noticed people wearing white uniforms among the survivors.
Probably members of the People of Sootopolis or the local guard force, they were maintaining order while simultaneously forbidding other survivors from approaching those foreign Pokémon.
More accurately.
They were forbidding survivors from approaching Mewtwo.
Perhaps worried that picking up the scent of a Legendary Pokémon would attract Demon Gods or something similar.
Kazuya didn't pay much attention.
Not being disturbed was fine too.
They could enjoy themselves without interruption.
At this moment, Scizor and the other Pokémon were gathered outside a gift shop in Sootopolis City.
Seeing Kazuya arrive, they all raised their hands in greeting.
"Master, look quickly!"
Scizor excitedly pointed inside the gift shop's glass window.
Kazuya turned his head to look.
The first things that caught his eye were two giant plush toys.
One was a Milotic.
Next to it was a poster of Wallace and Milotic.
And the other wasn't Empoleon.
It was Piplup.
"Is this the photo from when the Elite Four were selected?"
Lucario pointed to the photo next to the Piplup plushie and asked with a smile.
Kazuya stared quietly at that photo.
At that time, he and Lorelei had defeated Lance, securing their position as the Elite Four, becoming the "Water Elite Four" of the Indigo League.
Although they eventually lost to Agatha in the semifinals.
They were still immensely glorious.
Everyone believed that among their generation, the combination of Lorelei and Piplup was already invincible.
In the future, the only question would be whether the two of them wanted to become the Indigo League Champion, not whether they could.
The Water Elite Four and Piplup thus became globally renowned.
Especially in the two regions under the Indigo League's jurisdiction, and the Hoenn region where Water-type Pokémon dominated.
"Mm."
Kazuya smiled and nodded, taking a deep, somewhat dazed breath. "At that time, she and I were in our youth, full of vigor, fearing nothing in heaven or earth."
He raised his hand and slowly reached towards that photo.
But his hand was blocked by the glass.
Kazuya's pupils trembled slightly, his eyelids lowered, and ultimately, he let his hand drop.
They could never go back, after all.
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