Gardevoir, Mega Evolve!
"Necklace?"
Colin's face froze upon hearing this; he didn't understand why the topic suddenly shifted to a collar.
Seeing this, Bruce paused for a moment before explaining:
"Uncle Bishop, feel it carefully. There's a magical energy contained in these two stones."
Colin was momentarily stunned. Then, using Psychic powers to sense them, he discovered an aura of magical energy within.
"According to the record, it's necessary to use a transport device to hold this energy so it can be used independently," Bruce explained.
The main reason Bruce couldn't share all the details about Mega Evolution yet was because this phenomenon had never occurred in this world before.
But now that the Key Stone and Mega Evolution stone had been found, there was only one step left to complete Mega Evolution.
As long as Bruce could successfully demonstrate a Mega Evolution before them, all doubts would naturally be resolved.
After Bruce's explanation, Colin seemed to grasp the concept. Frowning slightly, he said, "I understand what you're saying."
Although Colin didn't fully understand what Bruce intended to do with the stones, he had unwavering support for Bruce's exploration of the unknown.
"Alright, I'll take these two stones and try to make what you're asking for. I should have it ready by this afternoon," he said calmly.
"Uncle Bishop, you can do this too?" Bruce asked in surprise.
Colin smiled modestly and replied, "I dabble a little, just a little."
With that, Colin took the Key Stone and Gardevoirite and began working on crafting the collars.
Meanwhile, Bruce explored the entirety of Vortex Base, guided by Benjamin.
"King John Bayne gave special orders for the Young Master Bayne to familiarize himself with the base today. Starting tomorrow, he will join the patrol team," Benjamin explained.
The Vortex Base was massive. Touring every corner would take at least half a day.
To save time, Benjamin drove Bruce around, pointing out key areas like the training ground, battlefield, and dining hall.
"Our security guards primarily operate in the southern part of the base, while the border guards are active in the north. The two groups rarely overlap unless there's a special incident requiring joint action," Benjamin said.
Thus, the southern section remained quiet, while bursts of enthusiastic shouts could occasionally be heard from the north.
After lunch at the dining hall, Bruce headed to the nearest training ground.
Training was like rowing against the current—if you didn't advance, you would fall behind. Perseverance was key, day and night.
Shortly after beginning his training, Benjamin hurried over with news:
"Young Master Bayne, Commander Bishop asked me to tell you that the items are ready."
"That fast?"
Bruce was secretly amazed, but he nodded at Benjamin and said, "Alright, take me there."
Soon, Bruce was standing before Colin.
"Let's see if these meet your expectations," Colin said as he presented two collars.
One collar held the Key Stone, while the other displayed the Gardevoirite.
Bruce carefully took them, inspected them thoroughly, and smiled in satisfaction.
"Uncle Bishop, they're perfect. Your craftsmanship is beyond words."
Colin smiled faintly, waved dismissively, and said, "When you're older, you might do even better."
Then, staring directly at Bruce, Colin asked, "So, what do you say? Would you like me to witness your experiment?"
Under Colin's curious gaze, Bruce's eyes flickered briefly before he declared, "Not just you—I hope Grandfather can also witness this firsthand."
"Oh?"
As dusk approached, thick clouds and mist blanketed the sky. The setting sun barely pierced through, casting streaks of crimson light like fish swimming in deep waters, occasionally flashing golden phosphorescence.
John Bayne arched an eyebrow as he noticed the fading daylight through his window.
Removing his glasses, he carefully cleaned them with a cloth, then took a deep breath and stood up.
The chair creaked as it slid back across the floor. Agatha, who had been waiting outside, opened the door.
"Chief, done with work?" she asked loudly.
"Yes," John Bayne murmured lightly, then asked, "Did he find the stone he was looking for?"
"He did," Colin answered, "and now he wants to demonstrate the experiment to us at the training ground."
"Us?" Hearing this, John Bayne smiled faintly, then said, "Well, let's see what he's come up with."
Despite his busy schedule handling countless responsibilities, John Bayne managed to spare time for Bruce's experiment—an impressive gesture in itself.
"It's good for young people to have a spirit of exploration," Colin remarked with a smile.
As the three made their way to the training ground, they conversed in low tones.
"I recently had an idea," John Bayne suddenly said.
Both Colin and Agatha slowed their pace, listening intently.
"What if we ask those groups to create a protective shield that can cover the entire Diamond Forest?"
"If outsiders try to invade, we can be warned in time," John Bayne said slowly.
Colin pondered for a moment, nodded slightly, and replied, "That's a good suggestion."
After a brief pause, he added, "But creating a shield that covers the entire Diamond Forest would be astronomically expensive. The subsequent maintenance costs would also be significant. The cost-to-benefit ratio might not be favorable."
John Bayne remained silent, seemingly understanding that the Bayne family, not particularly wealthy, could hardly afford such an endeavor.
"Think it over slowly," John Bayne sighed lightly.
"Chief, don't worry. Where there's a will, there's a way," Agatha comforted him.
By the time their conversation ended, the trio had reached the training ground, where Bruce had been waiting.
Seeing Bruce, John Bayne smiled and said, "Bruce, let's begin your presentation."
Bruce nodded slightly, taking a deep breath as he stood in the center of the training ground.
He was about to conduct an experiment that could change the world.
Colin noticed a small detail—Bruce wore a collar around his neck with the Key Stone embedded in it.
Bruce retrieved a Poke Ball from his waist and threw it into the air.
White light flared, revealing Gardevoir. Her elegant white gown swayed, her crystal-clear red pupils calm as she stood firmly on the ground.
The three onlookers had seen Gardevoir during the freshman exchange match live broadcast, so they weren't overly surprised.
Bruce then carefully removed the collar with the Gardevoirite and walked over to Gardevoir.
"Put this on," Bruce said.
Gardevoir didn't hesitate, taking the collar from Bruce. Almost instantly, she felt a strange energy emanating from it, faintly calling to her.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Gardevoir placed the collar around her neck.
Bruce nodded slightly and stepped back, steadying his slightly excited emotions.
The next moment, his gaze sharpened as he locked eyes with Gardevoir.
Gardevoir gave a slight nod as the blue orb around her neck began to glow.
A powerful surge of energy erupted from both Bruce and Gardevoir, sending waves rippling outward and shaking the hearts of Agatha and the others.
"What is this?" Agatha asked, her voice hoarse with astonishment.
Invisible waves of Psychic energy radiated from Bruce, his clothes billowing in the breeze.
Raising his right hand, Bruce touched the glowing Key Stone embedded in his collar, which emitted a dazzling rainbow light.
"Gardevoir..."
"Ready!"
Gardevoir's voice rang out as she extended her arms, her penetrating gaze fixed ahead.
A cocoon-like white light linked the Gardevoirite and the Key Stone embedded in the collar.
The three spectators held their breath simultaneously.
Bruce raised his right hand high, his eyes blazing as his voice echoed across the training ground.
"Mega Evolve!"
In an instant, brilliant light flooded the area.
The Key Stone emitted a radiant yellow glow that intertwined with the blue light emanating from the heart-shaped gem on Gardevoir's chest. The two lights connected like chains, forming a radiant field around them.
Gardevoir's aura surged continuously until it shot upward in a burst of brilliance.
Gardevoir, Mega Evolution!
At that moment, Bruce and Gardevoir seemed to harmonize completely. The rapidly expanding energy rippled outward in every direction.
The three observers stood firm against the gusting wind, their expressions filled with shock as they watched Bruce and Gardevoir, now enveloped in light.
"What is this?"
"What just happened?"
"What exactly did Bruce do?"
As the light gradually faded, a red mark glowed symbolically on Gardevoir's forehead.
Her appearance had changed.
Mega Gardevoir's dress was now fuller, predominantly black, transforming from a simple gown into an elegant evening dress—noble and graceful. The heart-shaped gem on her chest had also split in two.
Agatha stared at the Mega Gardevoir in shock, unable to believe her eyes. Colin's mouth hung open in disbelief. John Bayne's pupils contracted as his expression grew complicated.
Even Roy, who had been lurking in the shadows, gaped at Mega Gardevoir.
Why?
Why did it turn out this way?
Why did Gardevoir suddenly evolve from a Professional-level Pokemon to... an Ace-level Pokemon?