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"What do you mean the method used to defeat Koga cannot be replicated?" Blaine caught the information in Ash's words.
"It means exactly what it says, Blaine. Didn't you watch the recording of that match? At the time, it was because of the power of the Victory Pokémon Victini that Bulbasaur had a burst of power. I don't have that ability normally," Ash said with a shrug.
"The Victory Pokémon Victini... I really didn't notice. I only watched the recording of your battle with Koga. I didn't watch what happened after the battle ended," Blaine shook his head, indicating he only watched the battle footage.
At the time, he wondered why Ash's Bulbasaur was so fierce, whether he used some special method to boost it. Not just Bulbasaur, but Pikachu and Charizard were also like that, with an unbelievably strong increase in power!
But Bulbasaur's increase was the most exaggerated. He racked his brain but couldn't figure out what happened. Was the answer in the footage after the battle?
It seemed he needed to change his habit of turning off the video immediately after watching the battle footage, as this resulted in incomplete information gathering.
After silently making a note, Blaine looked at Ash with a serious expression and said, "I understand the situation, but I still insist on a three-on-three Elite battle with me, and it must be a full-power battle. Because only then can you prove that you have the strength to protect Gardevoir."
"Protect what Gardevoir? Your Gardevoir, Ash? Did something happen to her? Why do you need to protect her?" Gary, who had just arrived, immediately blurted out a hundred thousand questions. He knew nothing about the intricacies of the situation.
This included Blaine's true hidden reasons and the so-called Mewtwo. He only knew that Ash repeatedly told him not to reveal Blaine's location and to come alone.
Although he found it strange, out of trust in Ash, Gary still came alone. If it were anyone else, he definitely wouldn't have come so unguarded.
"Oak's grandson, you don't need to know about this. The fewer people who know about this, the better. Listen if you understand, otherwise, shut your mouth and watch from the side," Blaine's nonchalant words dealt a heavy blow to Gary!
"What do you mean Oak's grandson? I have a name, I'm Gary Oak!!"
"I know, Oak's grandson."
Gary: ...
"The protection of Gardevoir you mentioned is something to be done when Gardevoir is in danger. At that time, I will not consider any Pokémon battle rules and will go all out to protect her. You don't need to worry about that aspect," Ash explained to Blaine after understanding the true reason for his request for an Elite battle.
However, this explanation left Blaine confused: "What do you mean you won't consider the rules? Do you have some means that cannot be used in a regular battle?"
"Hmm, I forgot to tell you, Blaine, I'm a special ability user. Although I'm human, my combat power is currently the highest in the team," Ash said with his head held high, a hint of pride in his voice.
To reach this level as a human, he indeed had reason to be proud, because this was a realm that even the Pokémon of the strongest Trainers in the Pokémon World might not be able to achieve, even though he relied on 'cheats' to get there. But existence is reasonable, so just say whether he has the strength or not!
"Special ability user? Highest combat power in the team?"
Hearing this, Blaine's face showed an interested expression, then he continued: "Since you say so, then this battle will be a bit special. A three-on-three Elite battle, allowing the Trainer to participate, what do you think?"
Upon hearing this, Ash's face showed a strange expression.
Let him participate? Seriously? He wasn't boasting, but all of Blaine's Pokémon combined might not be enough for one of his Aura Spheres.
Do you understand what it means for a mortal body to rival the Aura Power of gods!
Blaine didn't know what his words implied. He continued, "In a true life-and-death battle, how a Trainer protects themselves is also a very crucial part. If your special ability can truly reach the Elite Four Class, then even if you lose this battle, I will grant you the conditions of a win."
This basically meant that if Ash himself possessed Elite Four Class combat power, then even if Ash's Pokémon were somewhat lacking in strength, Blaine would still agree to let Ash continue carrying Gardevoir.
Because if Ash were truly ambushed, he himself would be the biggest weakness. Although Gardevoir's strength is currently low, she is a Psychic-type Pokémon!
If she wanted to escape, unless there were prior defensive arrangements, she really couldn't be stopped. Even if Mewtwo was also a Psychic-type Pokémon, it would still be very difficult to stop her.
So, as long as Ash could withstand the pressure, then even if his Pokémon's strength was a little lacking, it wouldn't be impossible to make an exception.
"Alright, then let's do it, Elite three-on-three." Ash cracked his knuckles, a bright smile on his face, while Pikachu at his feet had already started shaking its head and sighing.
Another victim was about to appear. You simply don't know what it means to let Ash personally participate... Blaine came to the other side of the battle arena, then took out his first Poké Ball and began to explain the full rules: "The battle rules are three-on-three, with no restrictions on Pokémon levels. Trainers can participate themselves, but it will take up one of their Pokémon slots."
"Also, this is a semi-unrestricted match, so even I, as a Gym Leader, can switch Pokémon. Any objections?"
Besides lifting the level restriction, even the switching restriction was to be lifted. Blaine was truly planning to go all out. For this, what was face? He just gave it up!
A big reason Ash was able to defeat Koga, besides his 'cheating' at the end, was because Koga couldn't switch Pokémon. If Koga could switch Pokémon, Charizard wouldn't have been able to handle Toxicroak; he just needed to switch in Arbok.
Blaine had obviously studied that recording and knew that Ash's Pokémon, after their power boost, couldn't sustain long battles. Switching, for Ash, was the biggest tactical blow.
That's why he would lift the switching restriction here.
However, Ash didn't really care. You're letting me participate, so go ahead and switch. Let's have a fair and just battle, okay?
"No problem."
"Good, then as the Gym Leader, I'll send out my Pokémon first. Consider this a courtesy to you."
Ash's mouth twitched: "Blaine, you don't have to say such things just to save face. If it's really not possible, I can go first."
Hearing this, Blaine awkwardly coughed, then threw out the Poké Ball in his hand.
With a flash of light, a brilliant golden Pokémon appeared on the field—Ninetales!
Ninetales, the evolved form of Vulpix, a Pokémon with a fox-like appearance, covered in brilliant golden fur, with crimson eyes. It looked elegant and noble overall. It is said that Ninetales can live for thousands of years, but in reality, no Ninetales that has lived that long has ever been seen.
Ash glanced at Ninetales' information: Elite Four Class, mid-tier, and all ability values had reached A-rank, almost identical to the Pokémon Koga trained.
This was an Elite Trainer. Besides far surpassing ordinary Trainers in level, they were also meticulous in training ability values.
Along his journey, Ash had seen many Pokémon that were high level but had very low ability values, at most reaching B-rank. Only Elites, while increasing in level, also ensured their ability values didn't fall behind.
This might even be related to the Elite promotion.
If the first Pokémon sent out was Elite Four Class, mid-tier, then the second would be Elite Four Class, high-tier, and the last would be Elite Four Class, peak.
It seemed Blaine also wanted to gradually test his strength, not sending out his strongest Pokémon from the start. At the same time, it also showed, from the side, that Blaine's mastery as an Elite might be even better than Koga's.
"The first one is Ninetales, huh... Then for my side, it's decided, Gardevoir!" Ash threw out a Poké Ball, and an elegant queen with blue hair appeared on the field.
"You're sending out Gardevoir already? But your Gardevoir is only Professional Level. From my understanding of your power-boosting move, you should only be able to boost Gardevoir to Gym level, right? Unless Gardevoir is Professional Level, peak, otherwise you won't be able to make her level up to Elite," Blaine stated with great confidence.
All of Ash's information was already firmly in his grasp. Although that strange boosting method was absurd, limited by Ash's Pokémon's levels, it ultimately couldn't raise them to the Elite level.
In that match, Charizard was able to defeat Toxicroak mostly by relying on that special flame, while Pikachu was able to defeat Arbok with its bizarre moves.
He also knew Gardevoir's special quality: the thousand transformations inherited from Mew's genes, allowing her to learn any move. But the prerequisite for this was having powerful moves for Gardevoir to learn.
Having more moves doesn't necessarily mean being stronger. Having many moves only means your coverage is wide. To defeat a strong enemy, you still need a decisive move, so Gardevoir's numerous moves would be useless against Ninetales.
"That's not necessarily true!"
Ash took out a rainbow-colored gem from his pocket and held it high in the air: "Gardevoir, show your true form, MEGA Evolution!!"
Blaine: ???
What is that? What evolution?
Before Blaine could ask, Gardevoir had already spread her arms. A large gem emerged from within her body, then glowed with brilliant light. The light enveloped Gardevoir's entire body, and Gardevoir began to change!
The brilliant light didn't last long. A moment later, Gardevoir's new form appeared before everyone.
Her originally pure white long dress turned pure black, and her hands also seemed to be wearing two black gloves, giving her a deep and mysterious feeling.
The new form of Gardevoir had an elegant yet eerie overall appearance, like a Pokémon floating in the snow, giving off a cold, mysterious Aura.
This was Gardevoir's next level of evolution, MEGA Gardevoir!
The MEGA Stone obtained in the Mysterious Garden was Gardevoir's Stone. After evolving, Gardevoir looked even more like a queen than her original form, carrying a queen's majesty, giving off an inviolable feeling.
Blaine, and Misty and others below, were completely stunned. What is this, guys?! Why can Gardevoir evolve even further? This is a bit too much, isn't it!
Normally, you hide some moves, hide some special abilities, hide some strength, and we don't say anything. But what does it mean to hide an evolution like this?
"Why can an already fully evolved Gardevoir evolve again?" Gary was the first to lose his composure and shouted, his voice full of disbelief.
It wasn't Gary's fault. Anyone in the Pokémon World who knew Gardevoir and saw this scene would want to ask, 'Why?! How?!'
Blaine even took off his sunglasses and carefully rubbed his eyes, thinking he was hallucinating, but the black and white Gardevoir stood right in front of him, proving that it was not his hallucination.
Gardevoir really evolved! And it was a never-before-seen form!
While everyone was in shock, Ash didn't take the opportunity to attack the opponent.
What kind of international joke was this? The first appearance of MEGA Evolution, he had to thoroughly blind them. If he started fighting immediately, there wouldn't even be time for them to be shocked, and how would he see the expressions of Misty and Blaine?
He, Ash, fifteen years old, was at the age where he loved to show off!
Even after being taught by the big shots in the group and becoming much calmer, the true nature of this age is hard to change: they love to show off! It's a sin not to show off when given the chance!
"MEGA Evolution... allowing a fully evolved Pokémon to evolve to an even higher stage again. Is this the effect of those two orbs you mentioned, Ash?" After a full tens of seconds, Blaine finally calmed down, suppressing the shock in his heart as he spoke to Ash.
He had seen the orb that appeared in front of Gardevoir in an instant, and it looked very similar to the two orbs in his hand!
Recalling what Ash had said earlier about knowing the effect of those two orbs, it could basically be confirmed that Gardevoir's further evolution relied on that item.
"More or less. I've named that item the MEGA Stone, and this evolution of Gardevoir I call MEGA Evolution! It means 'Super Evolution,' because it allows a Pokémon in its final form to evolve to an even higher stage, giving it another qualitative leap in its already formidable abilities," Ash said in a calm voice.
Hmm, outwardly calm, but internally, seeing everyone's expressions, he was already practically soaring. This was the advantage of having information and foreknowledge!
Even the name of the evolution was given by him. This felt so good he was practically in heaven!
Blaine didn't pay attention to Ash's forced calm expression but instead began to ponder deeply.
If this evolution could allow a Pokémon in its final evolution to evolve to an even higher stage, then its significance was absolutely extraordinary.
Why are pseudo-legendaries powerful?
Why are they called pseudo-legendaries?
It's because after their final evolution, they possess species base stats far exceeding other Pokémon. In the same level and ability value, pseudo-legendaries are basically one tier higher in strength than other Pokémon.
But if a Pokémon can undergo a four-stage evolution, then the situation changes...