Before, Slowking had awakened the characteristics of the Shiny Pokémon once, allowing him to learn the move Miracle Eye, which he could not have learned under normal circumstances.
This time, the Shiny trigger did not grant Slowking any new moves. However, his physical endurance and the explosive power of his psychic abilities were significantly enhanced—more accurately, the improvement was monumental. While a standard level breakthrough might contribute to such growth, the scale of this transformation suggested something far beyond ordinary progression. After thorough analysis by the system, the conclusion pointed to the unique properties of Shiny Pokémon.
To this day, Aoki still lacked a definitive understanding of what precisely distinguished Shiny Pokémon from their ordinary counterparts. The phenomenon remained shrouded in mystery, with Slowking serving as his only reliable reference. Further study would be necessary to unravel its secrets.
Aside from Shakira (Pupitar) and Slowking, who had undergone substantial growth, the rest of Aoki's team had also seen moderate improvements, gaining a level or two. While this might seem incremental, achieving such progress in just four days was remarkable.
Gengar had reached level 64. Factoring in Mega Evolution, Gengar now stood as Aoki's most formidable Pokémon. However, this power remained a last-resort trump card. Revealing Mega Evolution prematurely would disrupt the delicate balance of the Pokémon world, inviting scrutiny from the League, Team Rocket, and other factions. Aoki preferred the current stability—it allowed him to develop his team without unnecessary interference.
Through concentrated energy absorption, Honchkrow and Weavile had both ascended to level 62. Drapion, meanwhile, had reached level 63. Florges, like Gengar, now stood at level 64—the threshold before Champion-level status. With sufficient time and resources, she, too, would break through, just as Slowking had.
Aoki's financial reserves, bolstered by his earnings from Team Rocket's underground trade conference, would ensure Florges and Gengar had the necessary materials for their eventual ascension.
The secondary team had also seen dramatic growth. Swampert and Blaziken had reached level 55, while Politoed and Aggron were now at level 54. Shakira (Pupitar), having fully immersed himself in the energy pool, had also surged to level 54. These Pokémon were now realizing their latent potential, and once they reached Champion-level strength, their combat prowess would rival that of Aoki's primary team.
Mismagius and Altaria, however, presented mixed results.
Mismagius remained stagnant at level 64, showing no signs of progression. This was likely a lingering consequence of her previous, unstable power surge to Champion-tier strength. Under Aoki's guidance, she had refined her battle instincts and technique, but full recovery would take time. Once her foundations solidified, her level would rise accordingly.
Altaria, on the other hand, had reached level 62. As a late addition to Aoki's roster, her growth had slowed compared to his long-term partners. This was inevitable—either she would fully integrate into his strategies, allowing her strength to flourish, or she would gradually fall behind.
The youngest members of the team—Bagon and Horsea—had each gained four levels, reaching level 28. Such rapid advancement demanded a period of stabilization. Aoki's training philosophy emphasized maximizing a Pokémon's capabilities at each stage before evolution, ensuring no weaknesses carried forward.
Kirlia, having recovered from the aptitude-enhancing serum, had climbed to level 24. As a species with a swift evolution cycle, Kirlia was nearing the point of becoming Gardevoir. Aoki deliberately restrained further leveling, opting instead for battle experience to solidify her foundations. Evolving prematurely would leave her vulnerable in high-stakes fights.
Finally, there was Carbink.
Aside from Shakira and Slowking, Carbink had benefited the most from the energy pool—not in levels, but in physiological transformation. Prior to entering this space, only the gem on its forehead had taken on a pink hue. Now, the rest of its crystalline body shimmered with the same rosy tint, its stout frame subtly elongating. Even its behavior had shifted, though it remained utterly obedient to Aoki's commands. The energy had accelerated its mutation, though the full implications were still unclear.
With his team's strength significantly bolstered, Aoki felt confident in resuming his exploration of the central ancient tree. Few adversaries in this space could threaten him now—perhaps only Drake of the Elite Four, the top executives of Team Magma and Team Aqua, or the Hunter Guild's expedition leader.
Moreover, Slowking's enhanced psychic abilities had made teleportation even more reliable. Only a Champion-level psychic-type could disrupt it now, granting Aoki unparalleled mobility. He could engage or disengage at will.
As for the energy pool itself, attempts to bottle the energy had failed—it dissipated almost immediately. The energy was spatial in nature, leaking from dimensional rifts, and conventional containers couldn't contain it.
It pained Aoki to leave such a valuable resource behind, but after four days of relentless absorption, the pool was nearly depleted. Had it been possible, he would have stayed longer, but the diminishing returns made further delay pointless.
The energy's origin remained a mystery. It had likely accumulated over centuries, potent enough to elevate a Pokémon to Champion-tier strength. The two Venusaur guarding the area had grown powerful by consuming vegetation saturated with trace amounts of this energy—far less efficient than direct exposure. Over time, the pool's natural recovery had balanced their consumption, leaving it full when Aoki discovered it.