The brilliant light of Mega Evolution enveloped Barbaracle, bathing its body in a dazzling radiance for several long seconds. When the glow finally faded, an entirely new Pokémon stood where the original had been.
"Mega Barbaracle?!"
Silas's eyes widened in surprise. Even he had not expected Siebold to prepare such an astonishing trump card for this battle.
He was far from the only one shocked.
The spectators lining both sides of the battlefield erupted into excited discussion.
"Big Sister Diantha, I've never seen that Pokémon before!" Serena exclaimed in surprise.
"Neither have I," Diantha replied, keeping her composure. "This is a Mega Evolution. Even I haven't seen Siebold's Mega Barbaracle before."
Suppressing the concern hidden in her heart, Diantha gently rubbed Serena's head and smiled.
"This is a brand new Mega Evolved Pokémon. In another year or two, it'll probably appear in the updated Pokédex sections of your school textbooks."
"Nooo!" the two girls cried out together.
Their miserable protests echoed through the stands.
Every year they were in school, their textbooks were revised again and again. Now there was going to be yet another edition they would have to study.
Serena immediately changed targets and cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Big Brother, you can do it! Beat it!"
She shouted at the top of her lungs, wholeheartedly cheering for Silas to give that strange new Pokémon a proper beating.
Compared to an ordinary Barbaracle, Mega Barbaracle's appearance had changed dramatically.
Its body had become taller and far slimmer.
Instead of possessing four arms above and four below arranged separately, it now wielded eight long, evenly proportioned arms extending around its body.
In the center of every arm was a single eye.
Together, those eight eyes granted it a complete three hundred and sixty degree field of vision.
"Mega Barbaracle versus Registeel!"
"This is the very first recorded battle involving a brand new Mega Evolution! Sophie, Gina, get the cameras ready immediately! Don't miss a single detail!" Professor Sycamore ordered excitedly.
The two assistants immediately adjusted their equipment.
Every camera lens focused tightly on Mega Barbaracle below.
"Let's give Silas a taste of our brand new battle cuisine."
Siebold raised a hand with complete confidence.
"Mega Barbaracle... Cross Chop!"
All eight arms moved simultaneously like the Thousand-Armed Bodhisattva.
Pairs of arms crossed together into giant glowing crosses as Fighting-type energy condensed around their blade-like edges.
They sliced across the surface of the water with frightening momentum.
Mega Barbaracle's speed had increased to an astonishing level.
Four separate Cross Chops attacked simultaneously from different directions, seeking to shred the steel giant standing ahead.
"So fast!"
Silas's pupils contracted.
This Mega Barbaracle had clearly been preparing for this moment for a very long time.
A disguise could fool appearances.
Statistics could be hidden.
Strategies could be concealed.
But move proficiency could never be faked.
Mastering attacks to this level required years of relentless practice.
"Block them... then counter with Thunderbolt."
The lights on Registeel's face flashed rhythmically.
Its massive metallic arms swung left and right with incredible precision, predicting every incoming strike before they landed.
Clang!
Clang!
Clang!
The arena was instantly filled with the deafening sound of steel colliding against sharpened limbs.
The two Pokémon exchanged blow after blow in rapid succession.
Their attacks became so fast that countless afterimages filled the battlefield.
Mega Barbaracle's eight arms seemed completely tireless.
Whenever one Cross Chop was blocked, another immediately followed from an impossible angle.
Sometimes it descended diagonally from above toward Registeel's shoulders.
Other times it skimmed just above the water before sweeping toward its back.
The additional arms granted Mega Barbaracle an incredible amount of offensive flexibility.
"What incredible follow-up attacks..."
Even Silas couldn't help admiring it.
Siebold had definitely discovered Barbaracle's Mega Stone long ago.
Looks like working for the League still left him with enough free time to secretly prepare something like this just to catch me off guard.
Boom!
A thunderous impact echoed throughout the stadium.
The enormous steel titan staggered backward several meters.
A cross-shaped slash had been carved across its chest.
Fortunately, the wound wasn't particularly deep.
It hadn't struck any vital area.
Given Registeel's incredible recovery abilities, it would not take long for the injury to heal completely.
The several-meter retreat had also been intentional on Registeel's part.
As soon as it widened the distance, Registeel spread both arms.
Golden electricity erupted around its body.
The next instant...
Thunderbolt exploded forward.
Against Barbaracle's naturally poor Special Defense, a super effective Thunderbolt should have been more than enough to inflict devastating damage.
Got you!
Siebold couldn't help smiling inwardly.
He had been waiting for exactly this moment.
Mega Barbaracle was no longer weak to Electric-type attacks.
"Take the hit... then use Shell Smash!"
The raging Thunderbolt swallowed Mega Barbaracle whole.
Golden currents raced wildly across every inch of its body.
Yet despite enduring the entire attack head-on, Mega Barbaracle showed not the slightest sign of weakening.
Standing firmly in place, it grabbed a cracked shell covering its body.
With tremendous force...
It tore the shell apart.
Shell Smash.
The shell shattered into countless fragments.
In exchange for accepting a tiny amount of self-inflicted damage and lowering both its Defense and Special Defense by one stage, its Attack, Special Attack, and Speed all rose dramatically by two stages.
An incredibly worthwhile trade.
"This shouldn't be possible..." Leon frowned deeply.
"A Water and Rock-type Barbaracle shouldn't be able to tank a Thunderbolt like that without suffering any visible damage..."
"Unless..."
"Unless Mega Barbaracle's typing has changed," Steven immediately finished.
"It's the same phenomenon seen in Mega Aggron, Mega Altaria, and Mega Gyarados. Certain Mega Evolutions alter their original typings."
Attribute changes after Mega Evolution were extremely rare.
Only a handful of Mega Evolved Pokémon possessed this characteristic.
Overall, the changes came with both advantages and disadvantages.
Mega Aggron eliminated two of its most dangerous weaknesses.
Mega Altaria gained a tremendous advantage in battles against Dragon-types.
Mega Gyarados traded defensive utility for overwhelming offensive pressure.
So what typing had Mega Barbaracle gained?
No one could determine the answer immediately.
One thing, however, seemed certain.
Its Rock typing had almost certainly remained.
Whether it had become a pure Rock type or retained a secondary type was still unclear.
On the battlefield...
After connecting everything he had observed, Silas had already reached his conclusion.
Mega Barbaracle's new typing...
...was almost certainly Rock/Fighting.
Siebold had predicted that Silas would send out Registeel.
Otherwise, Mega Blastoise would have been the far superior choice.
On a water battlefield, combined with the Mega Launcher Ability, Mega Blastoise's Hydro Pump and Water Pulse possessed terrifying destructive power.
There would have been absolutely no reason to abandon such an overwhelming advantage.
But a Rock/Fighting-type Mega Barbaracle with its Attack boosted by two stages actually had a realistic chance of defeating Registeel.
Meanwhile, Mega Blastoise would most likely be instantly knocked out by Registeel's Lock-On followed by Zap Cannon combination.
Once he understood Siebold's entire tactical layout, Silas could only sigh in admiration.
When it came to fighting one of his own friends...
Siebold really didn't hold back at all.
This battle had taught him a valuable lesson.
Any Trainer capable of standing on this stage had earned that right.
There wasn't a single weak opponent here.
The trace of underestimation he had unconsciously harbored disappeared completely.
"Registeel, come back."
Remaining on the field while at a disadvantage served no purpose.
There were still several difficult battles waiting ahead.
He couldn't afford to waste Registeel here.
As for sweeping six Pokémon with one...
Well...
Sometimes you simply had to lower your expectations and make the practical decision.
"Greninja... I'm counting on you."
Within a single second, Silas completed the switch.
The Dive Ball opened.
Greninja landed silently on the battlefield.
"Water Shuriken!"
"Nin!"
Having mastered techniques akin to ninja body flicker movements, Greninja stepped forward once.
Its figure vanished without warning.
"Wha..."
The audience gasped collectively.
Siebold immediately raised his Poké Ball, intending to recall Mega Barbaracle.
However, the beam of red light released from the Poké Ball was intercepted by the spinning Water Shuriken that Greninja had thrown.
The recall failed.
At the same time, Mega Barbaracle sensed Greninja's position.
The four arms behind its body lashed backward like enormous steel whips.
Yet this time...
Greninja vanished once more like a phantom.
Its speed was so overwhelming that it seemed to be deliberately toying with Mega Barbaracle.
"What incredible pressure..."
Even Siebold hadn't expected Silas to switch Pokémon so decisively.
Based on everything he knew about him, although Silas got along well with almost everyone and always wore an easygoing smile, deep down he was an exceptionally proud person.
Normally, he preferred facing an opponent head-on instead of switching out.
His gaze remained fixed on Mega Barbaracle, which continued missing attack after attack as Greninja effortlessly danced around it.
"This can't continue."
"We have to take the initiative."
If they continued reacting passively, Mega Barbaracle would inevitably expose an opening.
They had to seize control of the battle.
With its Attack already boosted by two stages, even a neutral attack would deal devastating damage to Greninja if it landed.
At this moment...
The roles of hunter and hunted had quietly reversed.
(End of Chapter)