"Electabuzz, Thunder!"
"Swellow, dodge!"
Swellow couldn't dodge in time. Electabuzz's Thunder perfectly struck Swellow, blasting it to the ground, scorched black and unable to battle.
"Go, my ace, Sceptile."
A handsome Sceptile appeared on the field.
Since the Breeding House was located along the necessary route from Twinleaf Town to Sandgem Town, Trainers from other regions who heard rumors about the Breeding House and the Breeding Road in Twinleaf Town would usually challenge the Breeding House when passing by.
At this moment, Paul was battling a Trainer who had come from the Hoenn region.
Lucas was watching with the Breeding House's Pokémon, surrounded by onlookers.
Lucas stared blankly for a moment at the Mega Stone worn on Sceptile's wrist.
This might be a bit tricky.
Just as Paul followed up with Thunder, the Trainer from Hoenn revealed the key stone on his own wrist.
"Sceptile, Mega Evolve!"
Two beams of light converged, and Sceptile's form gradually changed within the radiance.
A green, armor-like growth appeared on its chest. The leaves all over its body became sharper, with red tips. The large leaf on its tail gained sharp points. A pair of orange and a pair of red orbs appeared on its back, and the patterns and colors on its tail also changed.
Mega Sceptile made its entrance.
Its Lightning Rod Ability absorbed the Electric-type move, boosting its Special Attack.
Mega Sceptile allowed Electabuzz's Thunder to strike its body, its aura beginning to surge continuously.
"Frenzy Plant!"
Giant plants erupted from the ground, lashing Electabuzz, which fainted.
Paul had lost.
Paul recalled Electabuzz into its Poké Ball, saying, "Good work."
He then looked at the Sceptile, which had reverted to its normal form.
What was that just now?
Why did Sceptile's form change?
Lucas's voice sounded behind him.
"Mega Evolution, commonly known as super evolution, is a phenomenon where a Trainer and Pokémon, using the power of a key stone and a Mega Stone, transform their bond into power, achieving a super evolution."
Paul turned to look at Lucas.
Transforming bonds into power————
Paul thought to himself.
Seeing Paul lost in thought, Lucas was somewhat surprised.
Could this be Paul's first time seeing Mega Evolution?
Just as Lucas was about to speak, he was interrupted by Sceptile's Trainer.
"Lucas, according to the rules, I won. So, can I challenge you now?"
Looking at the man with the elegant hat before him, Lucas nodded.
"Alright."
Lucas looked at the Sceptile behind him.
"Your Pokémon just finished a battle and are nearly exhausted. How about we battle with just one Pokémon each? If you win, I'll give you the Breeding House's symbolic item."
It was actually just a carving.
The man with the elegant hat exchanged a glance with his Sceptile. He then took off his hat, placed it over his chest, and performed an elegant bow.
"As the Lucas arranges."
Lucas handed the Vulpix in his arms to Paul and called out without turning his head.
"Gengar."
Gengar emerged from his shadow the next second.
Its referee costume had already been taken off.
A Trainer volunteered to act as the referee.
The atmosphere on-site became extremely heated.
"Then I'll still choose to use Sceptile."
The Trainer from Hoenn spoke, and Lucas nodded.
Feeling the intensely heated atmosphere, Lucas also began to feel a slight thrill of excitement.
"Crunch!"
The elegant man chose to attack with the doubly super-effective Crunch.
"Protect."
A barrier appeared in front of Gengar. Crunch bit into it, sizzling.
"Will-O-Wisp."
Several eerie flames ignited in Gengar's hands, blasting Sceptile away.
Sceptile grimaced, now burned.
"Hex."
Sceptile couldn't dodge in time and was directly blasted away.
"Sludge Bomb."
The elegant man's heart tightened. Lucas's attack sequence left him unable to cope. In the end, he could only activate the key stone on his wrist once more.
"Sceptile."
Sceptile, sensing his intent, dodged the Sludge Bomb. The Mega Stone on its wrist glowed once more.
Seeing this, Lucas was speechless.
Alright, alright, using Mega Evolution as an invincibility frame, is that it?
Looking at the Mega Sceptile that appeared on the field again.
The surroundings erupted in fervent cheers.
Seeing this, Lucas curled the corner of his mouth.
"Gengar."
Gengar, sensing his intent, rolled its tongue and revealed a shining stone, spitting it towards Lucas, who caught the key stone.
His gaze became extremely sharp.
"We are in sync."
"Gen Gengar"
An even more intense light erupted. With Gothitelle absent, the surrounding leaves were swept up by the shockwave from this light, landing on everyone present.
The surrounding crowd was also forced back a distance by the shockwave.
The elegant man was dumbfounded.
Why is my Mega different from yours?!
The light faded. Gengar landed on all fours.
Paul was equally astonished.
The Lucas————can do it too?
Some spectators got up from the ground, dusting off their bottoms, their expressions incredibly excited.
This battle is too amazing!
"Frenzy Plant!"
The elegant man struck first to gain the upper hand.
"Sludge Bomb!"
The aftermath dissipated. Sceptile reverted to its normal form, lying on the ground, unable to battle.
Seeing this, the elegant man couldn't help but inhale sharply in surprise.
What terrifying power.
Compared to the elegant man, Lucas looked around and felt a headache coming on.
Many spectators were caught in the aftermath, suffering minor injuries, and the battlefield was left pitted and scarred.
It's really not possible without Gothitelle here.
Lucas now missed Gothitelle immensely.
The elegant man recalled Sceptile and approached Lucas.
"Thank you for the lesson."
Lucas also said it was nothing, then asked Mr. and Mrs. Fujino to take Dash and the others to check on the injured bystanders, treat them, and provide compensation.
Then he had Gengar and the others repair the entire battlefield.
Gengar reverted to its original two-legged purple chubby form and, along with Dash and the others, began bringing in soil to patch up the ground.
Meanwhile, Lucas returned to the Breeding House's counter drawer, took out a small wooden Gengar pendant, looked at it, and was quite satisfied with his own handiwork.
He went to the rest area and handed it to the elegant man, who was resting there.
"This is our Breeding House's symbol, the Breeding House's wooden pendant. It can't compare to a Gym badge, so please don't mind."
The elegant man was taken aback. He then put down his water, stood up, and accepted the wooden pendant with both hands.
It was a Gengar grinning and making a peace sign.
"But didn't I lose?"
The elegant man asked.
Lucas smiled, "Consider it as my recognition of your strength, and the bond between you and your Pokémon. That's the reason I'm giving you this pendant."
Gyms assess a Trainer's strength. At the Breeding House, Lucas assesses the bond with Pokémon and their strength.
Lucas had already accepted that his Breeding House was being widely promoted by the people of Twinleaf Town and Sandgem Town, and he had accepted the life of his Breeding House being challenged from time to time.
The elegant man smiled, put away the pendant, and said thank you.
"By the way, out of all the challengers so far, you are the first to receive a pendant."
The elegant man glanced at the pendant, finding it hard to believe.
Is it that difficult to obtain? This pendant.
Remembering the strength displayed by Lucas and Gengar just now.
The elegant man internally expressed understanding. After all, in his perception, Lucas's strength was already considerably stronger than that of an average Gym.
However, holding this pendant in his hand, he felt his bond with his Pokémon deepen.
A bit strange.
Lucas watched as he handed the pendant to Sceptile, his hands continuously stroking Vulpix.
When he had picked up the pendant earlier, the text description of the pendant had appeared before his eyes.
[Breeding House's Wooden Pendant: The Breeding House has been regarded by many Trainers as one of the places to challenge, similar to Gyms. Here, the emphasis is on your bond with your Pokémon, with strength coming second. As a symbol of a successful challenge, the pendant seems to have been granted an even more beneficial effect by Grandma.]
[Original Effect: When given to a Pokémon, it slightly increases the Pokémon's affection and happiness.]
[Breeding House Symbol Additional Effect: When you obtain this symbol, the bond between you and your Pokémon deepens by one level.]
[I will definitely defeat the Breeding House! Definitely! —Lian]
[You've managed the Breeding House better and better, Grandma]
[Isn't the bond with Pokémon the most wonderful thing in the world? —Grandma]
[The deeper the bond, the greater the miracle —Lucas]
[Note: The additional effect only triggers when Lucas personally recognizes and awards it. Pendants given away or sold at other times will not trigger the additional effect.]
He hadn't expected the wooden pendant he carved to have such a powerful effect.
No, it should be said, the pendant that Grandma had granted the additional effect to.
Deepening the bond by one level, that's a very powerful effect.
For example, Ash calling out to Sceptile in a dream, landing a Night Slash on Darkrai, and the final eruption of Super Saiyan-Blaze from the senior brother, among many others.
As long as the bond with Pokémon is deep enough, miracles are more likely to be triggered.
"Vuu?"
Vulpix's voice pulled Lucas's thoughts back. Lucas looked at Vulpix, which was looking up at him curiously.
"Vuu?"
Why did you stop?
Sensing the feeling transmitted from his heart, Lucas smiled and continued stroking Vulpix's body.
The moltres feather hanging around its neck was growing increasingly dim. The fire energy within it had been almost entirely absorbed by Vulpix.
Vulpix's fur became even more soft and warm.
Its entire little body was warm, and a red light occasionally flashed in its eyes.
It seemed Vulpix needed to release the fire energy within its body.
Lucas checked Vulpix over.
Moltres's feather had transformed Vulpix remarkably well.
Although Vulpix hadn't evolved yet, its current strength within the Breeding House was probably not to be underestimated.
After all, it was a descendant of Ninetales and had been nourished by the moltres feather.
"Getting stronger and stronger, little Vulpix."
Scratching Vulpix under its chin, Lucas said with a smile.
Vulpix also happily narrowed its eyes.
"Vuu~"
Vulpix can also help Lucas fight now.
Sensing Vulpix's thoughts, Lucas couldn't help but burst into laughter.
My little Vulpix is really both adorable and sensible.
How can there be such an adorable Pokémon～
The laughter startled Paul, who was nearby asking the elegant man for advice.
Seeing his bond with Vulpix, a trace of————gentleness?——actually appeared in Paul's dead-fish eyes.
۞۞۞۞
p-atreon.com/PokeFicLord
20+ Chapters in p-atreon.com.
(Just remove the hyphen to access Patreon normally.)