Aoki held a Key Stone in his hand.
This was the first time he had used the Key Stone given to him by Steven.
As Aoki called for Mega Evolution, a strange energy emerged from the Key Stone in his grasp.
The energy traveled through his hand at incredible speed before projecting an invisible wave toward the Mega Stone embedded in his Altaria's feathers.
Upon sensing the vibrations from the Key Stone, a brilliant light erupted from the Mega Stone, enveloping the Altaria in a radiant glow.
At that moment, Altaria faintly sensed Aoki's thoughts, and its own emotions reached his mind as well.
Yet, there remained a thin barrier between them—an incomplete connection that prevented Aoki from fully understanding Altaria's heart.
Because of this, the Mega Evolution energy surrounding Altaria gradually dissipated, returning the Pokémon to its normal form.
The other Pokémon watched in confusion as the light faded, unsure of what had just occurred.
Even Altaria itself was puzzled.
It had only vaguely sensed that if their bond had been stronger, a profound transformation might have taken place.
While bathed in the colorful energy, Altaria had also detected a strange new power—one that felt different from its usual Dragon and Flying energies.
At first, the energy felt foreign, almost uncomfortable, but as the light surrounded it, the sensation shifted to something warm and familiar.
It was a peculiar experience.
Now, the energy had fully receded, leaving only the dormant Mega Stone behind.
"Is Mega Evolution truly impossible for us?" Aoki murmured, disappointed but unsurprised.
He had anticipated this outcome.
After all, Altaria was a Pokémon he had captured relatively recently.
Their bond wasn't yet strong enough to trigger Mega Evolution.
Still, Aoki recorded every detail of the phenomenon in his system, analyzing the energy required for Mega Evolution and why some Pokémon, like Ash's Greninja, could achieve a similar transformation through sheer bond strength alone.
Mega Evolution had existed in Kalos for centuries, but it had never been properly studied until Professor Sycamore compiled the data and formally introduced the concept.
Even if Aoki had succeeded, he wouldn't have used Mega Evolution outside of life-or-death situations.
For now, his best strategy was to collect as many Mega Stones as possible before the phenomenon became widely known.
Once Mega Evolution was officially recognized, it would revolutionize the Pokémon world—just as the Fairy-type had.
The Fairy-type's introduction months ago was still causing ripples, and its full impact had yet to be seen.
Aoki's mentor, Matsuda, had remained at the Hoenn League headquarters since the Sinnoh Tournament, attending endless meetings about the Fairy-type's implications.
If Mega Evolution were revealed, the upheaval would be even greater.
After all, even Giovanni's Beedrill—already a formidable Pokémon—could become even more powerful through Mega Evolution.
At the highest levels of battle, the ability to Mega Evolve would create an insurmountable gap between trainers.
Lance, for example, relied on his Dragonite, a Pokémon incapable of Mega Evolution.
If Giovanni mastered Mega Evolution before Lance did, the balance of power would shift dramatically.
Aoki exhaled slowly, pushing aside his frustration.
Though Altaria hadn't Mega Evolved, he knew their bond would strengthen in time.
For now, securing two usable Mega Stones was a significant advantage.
As night fell, Aoki and his Pokémon rested on the island's beach, gazing at the moon.
Nearly a year had passed since his rebirth, and in that time, he had grown stronger than he ever had in his previous life.
He had assembled a team of exceptionally talented Pokémon and forged unbreakable bonds with them.
His goal was to keep growing—to gain enough strength and influence to stand unchallenged, whether facing the League or underground factions.
There was so much more to the world than what most people saw.
Only by reaching greater heights could he glimpse the full picture.
His Pokémon cherished these quiet moments with him.
No training, no battles—just peace.
Tomorrow, renovations would begin on the island.
The process would take time, but once complete, it would become a sanctuary for Aoki and his team.
---
Deep beneath the island's waters, a pair of eyes glowed in the darkness.
The creature had seen the strange light from above and sensed its unusual power.
Now, drawn by curiosity, it swam closer, its massive wings propelling it toward the shore.