"A problem?" Cain was puzzled.
Steven nodded, hesitated for a moment, and then directly threw a Poké Ball.
Steven's Aerodactyl appeared before them.
"Roar~!" Aerodactyl let out a soft roar upon being released from the Poké Ball.
As soon as Aerodactyl appeared, Cain immediately scanned its data.
Pokémon: Aerodactyl (Light Purple)
Gender: Male
Level: 59
Types: Rock + Flying
Ability: Rock Head
Held Item: None
Egg Moves: Steel Wing, Dragon Breath, Roost, Tailwind
Basic Moves: Iron Head, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Thunder Fang, Wing Attack, Supersonic, Bite, Scary Face, Roar, Agility, Ancient Power, Crunch, Take Down, Sky Drop
Learned Moves: Heat Wave, Earth Power, Dragon Pulse, Stealth Rock, Sky Attack
TM Moves: Protect, Dragon Claw, Hyper Beam, Earthquake, Flamethrower, Rest, Stone Edge, Rock Slide, Sleep Talk, Substitute
Aerodactyl's basic information didn't exceed Cain's expectations.
Being Steven's star Pokémon, its Light Purple quality perfectly matched his status as the heir of the Stone family. However, Cain couldn't understand why, despite Aerodactyl having already reached level 59, he had never seen Steven use it before.
The system only had a basic scanning function, so Cain couldn't identify the problem with Aerodactyl. But soon, he noticed something unusual.
"This is...?"
When Cain reached out toward Aerodactyl, Steven quickly reassured him. Aerodactyl had never interacted with anyone besides its trainer.
With a look of surprise, Cain touched Aerodactyl's wings.
Normally, even though Aerodactyl is a Rock-type Pokémon, its skin feels relatively soft to the touch, though with a slightly rough texture.
However, upon closer inspection, Cain noticed something surprising: there were small black rocky formations, sharp like a pinky finger, distributed in the muscles around its wings. These structures seemed to add an offensive aspect to the wings.
"These sharp rocks weren't originally there," Steven explained as he stroked Aerodactyl's head. "But at some point, they started forming. At first, they could only be felt by touch, but now they're visible to the naked eye up close."
With the system in standby mode, Cain couldn't access detailed information or determine the reason behind this change in Aerodactyl. However, even without the system, Cain managed to draw a few conclusions.
Could this be a phenomenon related to Aerodactyl's Mega Evolution? A case of atavism or bond-induced evolution?
Cain wasn't sure. However, what was clear was that Aerodactyl showed no signs of pain or discomfort from these changes. In fact, it seemed to be in perfect condition.
Steven had avoided showcasing Aerodactyl due to its abnormality, but not out of fear that someone might try to take it—rather, as a measure of protection.
In this Sinnoh tournament, Steven decided to use Aerodactyl because he couldn't gather six fully prepared Pokémon. To both of their surprise, the changes in Aerodactyl didn't cause much of a stir, and its performance in battle was normal.
"It doesn't seem to be a problem. It might be a case of atavism," said Cain as he examined Aerodactyl's wings.
"Atavism?" Steven nodded. "That's possible." However, he didn't dwell on the topic much further.
After all, whether the change in Aerodactyl was positive or negative, no one could take it away from him.
It was after the event in which they witnessed the sacrifice of Volcarona deep within ancient ruins that Steven decided to bring Aerodactyl out of retirement. With so much power, should it be confined to a corner of the Stone family?
The vast world was Aerodactyl's true stage.
After helping Steven with the recovery of his team, Cain returned to his room. However, he couldn't fall asleep.
With the newly announced Fairy type, was the topic of Mega Evolution already beginning to emerge? Fortunately, Aerodactyl's case only showed faint signs. Cain thought that to complete a Mega Evolution, a key item would be needed: the Mega Stone.
It was clear he needed to speed up the search for those stones.
The next day marked the final day of the Sinnoh tournament.
All participants who had made it to the top 64 were present. In addition to the finals, prizes would also be awarded to the finalists, though the nature of the rewards had yet to be revealed.
Without long introductions, the final battle began immediately after Steven and Cynthia entered the stage.
The battle was even more thrilling than the previous day's. Both had studied their opponent carefully and adjusted their strategies. Cynthia, with her well-balanced team, took the lead for much of the match.
But when Steven's Shiny Metagross showed its true potential, the tide turned.
The final showdown was between Garchomp and Shiny Metagross, two pseudo-legendary Pokémon. While Metagross's Steel type resisted Garchomp's Dragon-type moves, it was also vulnerable to Garchomp's Ground-type attacks.
However, thanks to the effect of the move Magnet Rise, Metagross avoided several critical hits, which allowed it to emerge victorious.
Though Metagross could barely stay standing after the win, its final endurance made all the difference.
With that, Steven was crowned champion of the Sinnoh tournament. Although Cynthia had more experience and a home-field advantage, Steven's strategy and the surprise factor of his Shiny Metagross were decisive.
The tournament highlighted the importance of full six-on-six battles—a format the League began considering as essential for high-level matches, including those involving Elite Four members and Champions.
After the final battle came the most anticipated moment: the awards ceremony.
(End of chapter)