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Scyther's decision was exactly what Liam had anticipated. He knew that with Scyther's serious and competitive personality, there was no way it would pass up a chance to grow stronger. Scyther also understood perfectly well that its strength was not particularly outstanding within Liam's team—it was time to change that.
"Good, a wise choice, Scyther. You'll never regret the decision you made today."
"Scyther!"
"Mm, I know. Take this Metal Coat with you, and return to your PokeBall for now. Leave the rest to me."
"Scyy!"
After a brief exchange, Liam smiled and recalled Scyther into its PokeBall, Metal Coat in tow.
"All right, Delia, no need to hide anymore—I saw you the whole time…"
Liam suddenly turned his gaze toward a bench behind him, a PokeBall in hand and a smile on his face.
"Hmph! No fun! You found me so quickly—it's boring!"
As soon as his words fell, the shadows behind the bench rippled, and Delia popped out, pouting unhappily.
"Haha, it was your footsteps—they're too heavy. You eat so much, yet don't complain about dieting later."
Liam chuckled helplessly at the sight of her sulking expression.
"Hmph, that'll never happen! I'm the type who can eat all I want and never gain weight. Jealous, aren't you~?"
Delia smirked proudly, hands on her hips, basking in her "advantage."
"…Ugh, fine, you win. I'm not arguing. Anyway, you came just in time, Delia—I need your help with something."
Rolling his eyes, Liam quickly changed the subject. He held out the PokeBall in his hand to her.
"Hmm? What's this? Why are you giving me a PokeBall? Is it… for me?"
Delia looked down at the PokeBall with a puzzled expression.
"Hehe, just follow me. You'll see soon enough. But when the time comes, stay calm, all right? It's late at night—we don't want to disturb anyone."
Without answering her directly, Liam grabbed Delia's hand, pulling her toward the Pokémon Center with a mysterious look.
"Hmph, let's see what could possibly surprise me."
Though she shot him a glare, Delia couldn't suppress the smile tugging at her lips as she let herself be dragged along.
....
"Okay, the transfer addresses are linked. We can begin the 'exchange' now…"
Inside the Pokémon Center, by a row of transfer machines, Liam had carefully adjusted, calibrated, and confirmed the setup. He successfully linked two Pokémon transfer devices together—the exchange could start at any moment.
At this point in time, only standard Pokémon transfer machines had been widely developed; specialized exchange devices hadn't yet been invented.
But that didn't mean exchange evolutions couldn't happen. As Liam had prepared, so long as two transfer machines were linked and operated simultaneously, the PokeBalls would swap. Even if the trainers themselves weren't swapped like with the official machines, the evolution effect would still trigger.
"All right, Delia—ready?"
Having set everything up, Liam felt a twinge of nerves. He pulled out the PokeBall containing the Heracross he'd caught in the Nature Park earlier, gently placed it into the transfer slot, and turned to Delia.
"Mm! Ready!"
Delia mirrored his actions, her expression unusually solemn.
"Good! On the count of three, we'll activate together. One, two, three!"
At Liam's signal, both pressed their buttons. Sparks of electricity danced across the machines, and the PokeBalls vanished from their slots. Moments later, with another burst of static, both reappeared quietly on opposite ends of the transfer channel.
"…That's it? Is it over? Wasn't this supposed to shock me?"
Delia blinked in surprise, then turned to Liam, disappointment written all over her face.
"Uh… it should've worked. Let's head back to the room and check. We'll see then…"
Though he hesitated for a moment, Liam quickly grabbed both PokeBalls, tugged Delia along, and hurried to their rented room.
....
Inside the temporary guestroom, the door shut and curtains drawn, Liam's anticipation reached its peak. He pulled out Scyther's PokeBall and opened it.
"Come out, Scyther!"
Clink!
With the familiar sound, Scyther's dark green figure emerged. It stood motionless with eyes shut tight.
"Uh… huh? What's going on?"
There was no change at all. Liam's chest tightened, anxiety rising.
"Why isn't anything happening? Did I mess something up? Scyther! Can you hear me? Wake up—!"
Liam's voice carried growing urgency. Just as he reached out to shake Scyther—
Its eyes snapped open! A low growl rumbled in its throat, and in the next instant, a blinding white light engulfed its body!
"…Seriously, don't scare me like that."
Relieved at last, Liam took a step back, watching with shining eyes as the glow intensified.
"Saa!!"
The brilliance lasted only a handful of seconds. A sharp cry rang out, and then the light receded in a flash. Standing proudly in its place was not Scyther—but a majestic Scizor, its gleaming pincers snapping with power.
"Scizor…"
The newly evolved Scizor stretched its transformed claws, testing the strength coursing through its body, stunned by the sensation.
"That's Scyther?! Oh my gosh—it's beautiful!"
Delia gasped, eyes wide with awe.
Beautiful—that was the only word that fit.
Scyther had always been a rare shiny. Now, evolved into Scizor, it remained shiny—but unlike the dull greenish-gold shiny Scizors most had seen, this one gleamed with a deep metallic crimson. Its polished armor reflected light like a mirror, faint streaks of golden radiance rippling across its body, making it look like a sculpture of living glass.
"…Scizor, how do you feel?"
Though stunned by its dazzling form, Liam's concern was for its condition. Had his improvised method harmed it somehow?
"Saa? Scizor!"
Scizor moved fluidly, slicing the air with its pincers, darting around the room with incredible speed. Finally, it calmed and turned back to Liam, nodding firmly. It was fine.
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear. Oh—and this belongs to you now. Take it, Scizor. Let's aim for an even greater evolution together!"
Relieved, Liam produced the gleaming Scizorite.
"Scizor!!"
The moment Scizor touched the Mega Stone, a resonance surged between them, calling out with irresistible power.
"Saa!!"
Without hesitation, Scizor clamped the stone in its pincers, eyes locking with Liam's—ready.
"Perfect! Then let's do it!"
Liam's excitement grew. He pulled out the Key Stone, raising it to his chest, entirely missing the sudden shadow that crossed Delia's face.
He closed his eyes, feeling the connection ripple between himself, the Key Stone, the Scizorite, and Scizor. At that moment of perfect synchrony, his eyes snapped open.
"Respond to our bond! Show the true power within! Transcend, Scizor—Mega Evolve!"
"Scizor!!!"