Beedrill* (Huge Power + Sniper + Tinted Lens): Peak Commander-tier, Pseudo-Legendary Potential
Golduck* (Drizzle + Swift Swim + Volt Absorb + Adaptability): Mid Commander-tier, Tier 3 Legendary potential
Doublade (No Guard + Huge Power + Light Metal): Mid Commander-tier, Pseudo-Legendary Potential
Pidgeot (Keen Eye + Volt Absorb + Adaptability): Elite Peak, Champion potential
Machop (No Guard + Huge Power + Adaptability): Early Elite, Elite Four potential
Geodude (Rock Head + Water Absorb + Sap Sipper): Early Elite, Champion potential
Magikarp (Rattled + Volt Absorb + Adaptability): Senior-level, Champion potential…
In just a month, Yozora's Pokémon had all made remarkable progress.
Golduck and Doublade reached Mid Commander-tier, while Pidgeot achieved Elite Peak.
Machop and Geodude both ascended to Early Elite, establishing themselves as solid fighters.
But the biggest transformation was Magikarp.
A month ago, it had just left its juvenile phase; now, it had evolved into a Senior-level Pokémon. Its physique was already far sturdier than a typical Magikarp.
In the original lore, there was a case where a dark-skinned Nurse Joy fed a Magikarp calcium supplements, causing it to grow tremendously, reaching an exaggerated three-meter length.
The lore never explained why, and even after evolving into Gyarados, it was still just a normal Gyarados—not a Giant Gyarados.
Yozora speculated that because a Magikarp's body is all bone, calcium supplements accelerated its growth, but could not change its genes. Its evolution into Gyarados would follow its natural course.
Only a true "Dominant Magikarp" would evolve into a Dominant Gyarados.
Studies show that Dominant Pokémon have unusually large eggs even before hatching—a gift of genetics, innate talent, something nearly impossible to change post-birth.
Still, calcium supplements could accelerate Magikarp's growth, boosting its combat power—already a significant advantage.
Over the past month, Yozora fed his Golden Magikarp calcium every day. It now measured 1.5 meters, looked enormous, and kept growing rapidly.
…
As for Golduck, ever since Yozora had synced his mind with it, its growth had skyrocketed. It had now reached Mid Commander-tier.
Previously, Golduck had been lazy when it was still Psyduck. Recently, something had changed. Perhaps the mind link made it want to live up to Yozora's expectations, or maybe it felt pressure itself. In any case, it had become unusually diligent.
Even a small effort brought huge progress.
Such rapid improvement in a short time was directly tied to its enormous potential. The greater the potential, the faster the growth—an inevitable law in the Pokémon world.
…
At present, among Yozora's Pokémon, Beedrill, Charmander, and Golduck had all reached the level of mind link. They were, without a doubt, Yozora's most trusted partners.
Doublade was no exception. With innate Champion-tier potential, it was naturally formidable. Moreover, Yozora had personally selected it, so Doublade's natural affinity for him made bonding and coordination easier.
"Almost ready…" Yozora glanced at Doublade and took out a prepared Mid-grade Dusk Stone, planning to evolve it.
Unlike Nidorino, Doublade had long been an adult Pokémon with solid strength and depth of experience. Coupled with a month of intense training, its foundation was rock-solid, fully ready for evolution.
So Yozora didn't hesitate—he would let it evolve into its final form! After all, this was Doublade's strongest state, and it had been yearning for this transformation.
He chose a Mid-grade Dusk Stone instead of a Superior one, and the reason was nuanced.
It wasn't that Yozora doubted Doublade or was unwilling to invest.
Doublade's potential was already sky-high, near-God level. Using a Superior Dusk Stone would barely enhance it. Superior Stones could dramatically improve a Pokémon's stats and potential, but their effect was limited.
The weaker the Pokémon, the better the stone worked; the stronger the Pokémon, the less effect it had.
…
Yozora recalled a report by one of Kanto's Elite Four, the Ice Queen Lorelei.
Lorelei experimented on a Seel with Elite-level potential. She gave it a mysterious drop worth thirty million, and the Seel instantly gained Elite Four potential. A second drop elevated it to Champion potential. A third drop… a fourth…
Eventually, five drops—still Champion. It had no further effect.
It wasn't that the method didn't work, but the gap between each level became too vast. To cross it, massive investment was required—hundreds of millions in cost.
Doublade's near-God potential was already formidable. Yozora reasoned that focusing on realizing that potential and raising combat power was wiser than blindly trying to push limits.
Potential's limits? Unknown. Chasing it blindly was meaningless.
Doublade had only three ability slots now; there were more to unlock later. Yozora wasn't in a rush. If needed, he could invest in maxing out its potential later.
Special materials designed for Ghost Pokémon, like the Dusk Stone, could enhance potential. Superior materials for Doublade, like the Dusk Stone, cost roughly thirty million each. But Yozora had no need to rush—his immediate goal was earning one hundred million and acquiring Beedrill's Mega Stone.
"Come on, Doublade, get ready to evolve!" Yozora handed over the Mid-grade Dusk Stone.
"Shiii~~~"
The moment Doublade touched the stone, a blinding evolution light erupted, forcing Yozora to step back. Doublade began to evolve, shedding its old form…
When the light faded, Doublade had become Aegislash!
Aegislash's sword body was massive and thick, with a golden sword spine and hilt. The scabbard had fused with a circular shield. Its sword edge was wider than the center, jagged. Two ribbon-like arms extended from its hilt, and its eyes and arms glowed deep purple.
It had a Form Change ability: in Shield Form, the circular shield is held in front while its arms are behind; in Blade Form, it wields the sword with one hand while exposing the blade.
Pokémon: Aegislash
Type: Steel + Ghost
Ability: Battle Switch + Huge Power + Light Metal
Level: High Commander-tier
Potential: Pseudo-Legendary
Moves: Shadow Sneak, Roost, Night Slash, Sacred Sword, Swords Dance, Autotomize, Iron Defense, Metal Sound, King's Shield, Power Trick
Description: A King-class Pokémon capable of swiftly switching between Blade Form and Shield Form.
…
"Congratulations, Aegislash!" Yozora patted the circular shield in front of Aegislash, which resonated with a solid thump thump.
It was clear how formidable its defense was in Shield Form.
Typically, Aegislash remained in Shield Form. When attacking, it switched to Blade Form.
When using King's Shield, Aegislash returned to Shield Form. This unique move not only strengthened defense but also reflected contact damage back to opponents, significantly lowering their defense.
This worked only for physical, close-range attacks. Electric or Fire-type ranged moves could be blocked, but wouldn't trigger counter damage or debuffs.
Against melee attackers like Machamp, King's Shield could effectively put them into a "defense broken" state—prime for a lethal Sacred Sword strike.
In short, against Aegislash, ranged specialists still had a fighting chance, but close-combat specialists were essentially crushed.
"Kenken!" After evolving, Aegislash seemed delighted, eyes crescent-shaped, grabbing Yozora's hands and spinning him in a dance.
"Haha, I don't know how to dance…" Yozora laughed. Golduck, Pidgeot, Machop, and Geodude all joined, dancing together along the dusk-lit coast in a final celebration.
Nearby, a massive golden Magikarp leapt high from the ocean, soaring through the air.
Beedrill, meanwhile, lay lazily to the side, indifferent and aloof as always.
…
…
(End of Chapter)