"Chiyaa~"
Drakloak fluttered down from Chen Shi's shoulders and proudly showed off its new form to the others.
Only then did Chen Shi notice a tiny Dreepy curled on top of Drakloak's head — identical to how it had looked right after hatching.
A newly split-off partner.
"Alright, Drakloak, come with me for a moment."
Chen Shi led the excited Drakloak before Garchomp and said:
"Shark-bro, could you help train this one for me? It's a pure Dragon-type after all."
Garchomp almost refused at first —
"Teach it? Me?"
Why bother when it could nap with its mate?
But the moment Chen Shi added four magical words — "Plenty of booze later" — Garchomp straightened its back instantly.
"Garchomp—!"
(Bro, leave it to me!)
Chen Shi's mouth twitched. Then he turned to Salamence.
"Dragon-sis, please keep an eye on it too."
Salamence glanced at Drakloak, felt the potent Dragon bloodline coursing inside, and nodded with approval.
Chen Shi relaxed. Salamence was always the reliable one.
"Roar!!"
Salamence spread her wings and shot into the sky.
Garchomp exchanged a glance with Chen Shi and followed.
They usually lived in the back mountain — homecoming had woken everyone up.
Drakloak looked back at Chen Shi.
On his nod, it immediately raced after the two elder Dragons.
"Gengaaar~"
Gengar floated up, patted its round belly, and let out an extremely loud "feed me" noise.
Chen Shi chuckled.
"Yeah, I know you're strong too. Later you'll help instruct Drakloak."
Gengar nodded in smug satisfaction.
Next, Chen Shi walked over to his loyal Swampert, standing obediently beside its parents.
Pokémon: Swampert
Level: 49 (Elite Peak)
Potential:Champion
Ability:Torrent
Moves:Water Gun, Mud Shot, Rock Throw, Protect, Water Pulse, Rock Slide, Superpower, Hydro Pump, Arm Thrust, Earthquake, Heavy Slam, Rock Wrecker, Rain Dance, Dig, Brick Break, Bulk Up, Ice Punch, Waterfall, Liquidation.
Chen Shi tapped the big one's arm.
"You've got to step it up too. The little dragon you used to protect… is stronger than you now."
"Raa-chii~"
Swampert thumped its chest solemnly.
Just then, another Elite Swampert — its mother — stepped forward, reached somewhere behind her back, and pulled out a stone with swirling blue-and-orange patterns.
She placed it gently into her child's hands.
Chen Shi froze.
"Wh—where did this come from?" he blurted, pointing at the glowing stone.
The mother Swampert scratched her head, confused by his reaction.
Grandpa Chen strolled over, examined the stone, and said calmly:
"I collected that when I was younger. It looked nice, and Swampert liked it, so I didn't think too much. Never studied it properly."
Chen Shi's eyes went wide.
Data appeared before him:
SwampertMEGAStone—appearstounlockSwampert'shiddenpotential.Swampert MEGA Stone — appears to unlock Swampert's hidden potential.SwampertMEGAStone—appearstounlockSwampert'shiddenpotential.
He nearly screamed.
Mega Evolution — still almost unheard of in this era.
Professor Bratanow hadn't even begun his research.
Only a handful of people in the world even suspected such power existed.
If this stone was real…
"Grandpa, do you still have more of these? Get them out — this is important."
Grandpa nodded.
"There are a few more. Have Gardevoir fetch them."
In a blink, Gardevoir Teleported away.
Chen Shi steadied his breathing and explained to Grandma:
"This thing is extremely important. You two need to collect anything similar — quietly.
In the future, these could be strategic assets."
The elders' faces turned serious immediately.
If Shi'er said it mattered, it mattered.
Moments later, Gardevoir returned with a wooden box.
Grandpa opened it, nostalgia in his eyes.
Inside were trinkets they'd collected across decades of travel.
Chen Shi dove in — and nearly blinded himself.
Key Stones. Mega Stones. Strange relics.
He pulled out all the Key Stones and Mega Stones.
There were:
3 Key Stones
5 Mega Stones
The Mega Stones corresponded to:
Blaziken
Alakazam
Gengar
Beedrill
And one belonging to a pseudo-legendary Tyranitar-line species
Right now, though, the only relevant ones were Swampert's and Gengar's.
Grandpa cleared his throat.
"Shi'er… you should tell us what these stones do."
Chen Shi smiled mysteriously and walked over to Swampert.
He handed it one of the Key Stones.
"Here, Swampert — take this."
Swampert scratched its head but obeyed, holding both the Mega Stone and Key Stone.
Chen Shi took the Key Stone in his own hand.
A soft blue psychic glow wrapped it.
"Look me in the eyes, Swampert."
Swampert grew serious and locked gaze with its Trainer.
Around them, everyone grew silent, sensing the weight of the moment.
Chen Shi's mind drifted back—
To their very first meeting.
Grandpa had found a young Mudkip, freshly evolved from its baby stage, struggling and abandoned.
Chen Shi had approached, holding out a special energy block.
"Mudkip, will you be my partner and travel with me?"
"I'll make you strong. I'll help you reach the highest stages and make people cheer your name.
No matter the danger, I won't abandon you.
Do you agree?"
The little Mudkip had remembered its mother's final words.
It nodded firmly.
Chen Shi had smiled and bumped fists with it.
"Then the contract is sealed!"
"Kah-guh!"(The pact is made.)
Now, in the present—
"Raa-chii!"
Swampert thrust the Mega Stone forward like a fist.
Chen Shi laughed.
The Key Stone in his hand ignited with seven-colored light.
He pressed his palm against Swampert's massive fist.
Their hearts connected through the luminous Key Stone.
"Swampert — MEGA EVOLVE!"
"Raa-chiiii!!"
A surge of Mega Energy burst from the Mega Stone, swirling upward, wrapping around Swampert's body, sinking into every muscle and fiber.
The elders stared, stunned.
When the light faded—
A new colossus stood before them.
Muscles bulged like coiled springs.
Fins sharpened into bladed ridges.
The black head-fin extended into twin crests like war-spear horns.
Mega Swampert had arrived.
"Raa-chii!!"
It bellowed — proud, powerful, unstoppable.