"This little guy really kept me in the dark, couldn't he at least have secretly told me? I can keep secrets just like everyone else... Wait a minute, haven't I seen those two stones somewhere before?"
Professor Augustine Sycamore was wiping his computer screen, trying to remember when he had seen Ash reveal those two stones. Finally, he clapped his hands suddenly, his face lighting up with a sudden realization.
He remembered, not too long ago, one of the Elite Four of Kanto, Lance, came to ask if there were any places rich in gemstones in the Kalos Region, or where he could purchase some. The picture Lance showed him was the very same gemstone Ash held.
Because of Blastoise's MEGA Evolution, the image had given a special close-up, so Professor Augustine Sycamore saw it very clearly and wouldn't mistake it.
Besides that, Lance also showed another photo, which was the gemstone on the surface of Blastoise, although this photo was slightly different from the gemstone on Blastoise's surface.
Regarding this, Professor Augustine Sycamore had a rough guess in mind, and with that thought, his expression changed from realization to a bitter smile.
The essence of MEGA Evolution had appeared right in front of him long ago, but he just hadn't recognized it.
The feeling of having such research results appear before him without him realizing it really made Professor Augustine Sycamore feel a deep sense of regret.
If he had paid more attention to the gemstone Lance mentioned back then, he might have found the key information about MEGA Evolution.
But that's just hindsight; in reality, without seeing the gemstones displayed by Ash and Blastoise during MEGA Evolution, Professor Augustine Sycamore couldn't have thought along those lines.
He wondered why Lance would suddenly come to the Kalos Region and ask him about gemstones. Wouldn't it make more sense to seek out a gemstone expert?
It turns out that gemstone is actually related to MEGA Evolution...
Quickly, Professor Augustine Sycamore collected his emotions, sat back in his original position, and looked at the image of MEGA Blastoise with great anticipation. Even though this wasn't a result of his own research, he was still excited to see the effects of MEGA Evolution.
Since it is evolution, there should be improvements in all aspects. Besides changes in appearance, the strength should also change, and even the Ability might alter. Whether MEGA Evolution has a duration and how long it can last is also a focal point of attention.
After the match ends, he planned to contact Professor Oak to possibly gather a lot of information about MEGA Evolution from Ash. For now, he was satisfied just watching and recording the research results in advance.
...
Kanto, Quartz Conference Arena——
With Blastoise's MEGA Evolution, waves of shock and cheers erupted from the crowd. Facing Ash, Conway was completely dumbfounded.
No way, what on earth is this?! In his data intel, there was no mention of such a thing!
He knew Ash had been holding back, but he never expected Ash to hide something this big!
This isn't just your average concealment, it's hiding a whole world!
To evolve once more after the final evolution, even a fool would know what this means. And for him, a data-driven Trainer, Blastoise's data was unknown. Even in Ash's past battles, there were very few glimpses of Blastoise in action.
Not to mention now that Blastoise has gone through an unknown evolution, who can possibly play against that!
"What do you think, Conway? This is my secret trump card, MEGA Evolution, surprised?" Amidst the surrounding shouts of shock and awe, Ash's face also showed excitement and joy.
Despite being taught and tempered by the experts in the group, ultimately, he was just a boy. A boy loves being cheered for, and he had imagined such a scene many times, but experiencing it for real was a hundred times better than he'd imagined!
"Surprised... How on earth could you even ask that?" Conway's mouth twitched as he spoke, somewhat annoyed.
Surprised? More like terrified!
Darn it, suddenly allowing Blastoise to evolve to a higher level might be a worthy spectacle of amazement and admiration for the audience, but for him, it was just a shock!
This just made it even harder to win!
"Hehe, then I won't hold back. Blastoise, Water Pulse!" Ash chuckled, then decisively launched an attack.
Trick Room is time-limited, and while he could stall more time by shocking Conway with Blastoise's feat, he was always an upfront fighter who wouldn't resort to such off-field tactics.
Moreover, Ash felt there was no need for such delays. It was only their Speed that swapped, not their strength. A slower attack would only lose if the opponent was overwhelmingly powerful.
Conway's Shuckle was at the same Level as Blastoise, peaking at the Professional Peak, but in terms of Speed, it would definitely outpace Blastoise—within this Trick Room.
However, if hit once by Blastoise, the Rock Type would pretty much be announcing the end of the battle, even with Shuckle's high Special Defense, the result would be the same.
"Blastoise!" Blastoise readied an attacking stance, its twin cannon arms aimed at Shuckle, then two streams of water along with the huge cannon on its back erupted with surging force!
The three streams of water twisted and combined in the air, ultimately forming an incredibly thick torrent, with ripple-like textures wrapped around its exterior.
"Dodge it, Shuckle!!" Conway, breaking into a cold sweat, commanded Shuckle.
Upon hearing this, Shuckle scurried away, moving its small limbs rapidly. Originally slow, its Speed turned incredibly fast under the Trick Room's rules!
Blastoise didn't even see how Shuckle moved before it was already over ten meters away, while the Water Pulse tardily struck the spot where Shuckle originally stood, punching a large hole through the sturdy floor!
Dirt and splashes of water scattered around, the stormy water rolled across the ground, but by the time it reached Shuckle, it had lost much of its force, so even as a Rock Type Pokemon, Shuckle wouldn't fear regular water flows.
"Now, use Gyro Ball!" Seeing Blastoise's Water Pulse miss, Conway swiftly commanded his Shuckle to launch an attack.
Gyro Ball is an attack that increases in power the greater the Speed difference between the user and the opponent. Although under Trick Room Shuckle's Speed was faster than Blastoise's, inherently, its Speed was much slower than Blastoise's.
In terms of Speed, Shuckle usually ranks at the lowest tier, and Conway had even trained it to be slower. However, Ash's Blastoise wasn't particularly fast either, ranking at the bottom amongst his lineup.
Thus, the Gyro Ball would not be too powerful, but since Shuckle had already boosted its attack by two stages, if the opponent's Gyro Ball hit, it would still be quite troublesome.
"Use Protect!" Naturally, Ash couldn't just watch Blastoise take a hit, and as the spinning Shuckle was about to strike Blastoise, he decisively ordered Blastoise to use Protect.
A vivid green barrier spread around Blastoise, and the rotating Shuckle crashed into it, only to be immediately repelled.
At equal Levels, Protect offers absolute Defense!
"Now, use Aura Sphere!"
Conway: ???
Are you kidding me?! Blastoise can use Aura Sphere? Do you think your Blastoise is Lucario or something?
Yet, when a round, azure energy ball appeared on Blastoise's dual cannons, Conway was dumbstruck.
No way, buddy, you are crazy!