Pokemon: Becoming A Pokemon Master

c18: The Power of Mega Evolution Shocks Everyone

Lorelei took out a Poké Ball and said calmly, "Go, Regice!"

The icy flash burst forth as the Legendary Pokémon Regice appeared. Alex hadn't expected Lorelei a member of the Kanto Elite Four and a renowned Ice-type specialist to wield a Legendary Pokémon of the Hoenn region.

Regice's entire body was composed of supercooled Antarctic ice, harder than any known substance, glittering like crystalline spears. Its face was marked by a '+' formation of seven glowing yellow dots Regice's unique sensory pattern. It hovered slightly as its tapered conical legs and three-pronged cylindrical arms glinted in the cold light.

The moment Regice emerged, the temperature in the arena dropped drastically. Frost crawled across the floor tiles, and an overwhelming icy aura radiated from its body, sending chills even to the spectators. Regice's mere presence was awe-inspiring.

"Alex, can you still win?" Lorelei asked with a smirk, her voice as crisp as the air around her.

A serious expression overtook Alex's face. He clenched his fists. A Legendary Pokémon wasn't something to be taken lightly, especially in the hands of an Elite Four member. But retreat wasn't an option. He had come too far to back down now.

On the sidelines, Ash, Misty, and Brock watched nervously.

"What do we do?" Misty whispered, her brow furrowed. "Alex is facing a Legendary Pokémon… and Lorelei is one of the strongest trainers in Kanto."

"It's not looking good," Brock muttered, analyzing the match like a seasoned tactician.

The battle began. Alex's Garchomp soared into the sky, its blade-like arms slicing through the air like a predator in flight. A powerful Dragon Dive aimed squarely at Regice.

"Regice, brace and catch it!" Lorelei ordered.

Regice raised its icy arms. With surprising dexterity, it caught the charging Garchomp midair. The impact of Dragon Rush was absorbed with barely a flinch Legendary resilience on full display.

"Sheer Cold!" Lorelei commanded next.

A devastating wave of frost surged from Regice's core, engulfing the battlefield. Within moments, Garchomp was frozen solid, encased in ice, trapped mid-roar like a sculpture of agony.

"Garchomp!" Alex cried out, eyes wide with panic.

Lorelei's voice was gentle but firm. "Alex, concede. There's no shame in losing to a member of the Elite Four. Think about Garchomp do you want him to suffer in that ice any longer?"

Alex stared at his partner, fists trembling. Was this really it? Was he going to fall short after coming this far?

But then—Garchomp stirred within the ice. The frozen aura cracked.

"No way…" Brock gasped. "Garchomp's resisting Sheer Cold?!"

Alex's eyes lit up. Garchomp was still fighting.

"Garchomp… Mega Evolve!!"

Alex held up his Key Stone, embedded in a custom wristband. It resonated with the Garchompite around Garchomp's neck. A brilliant swirl of rainbow-colored light enveloped the battlefield as the connection was forged.

The ice around Garchomp exploded as Mega Evolution took hold. His body expanded, his arms transformed into monstrous scythes, and his entire presence grew more fearsome. Mega Garchomp stood nearly two meters tall, its aura distorting the air around it.

Gasps echoed from the crowd.

Lorelei stepped back, stunned. "That light… Could it be? Mega Evolution?!"

She murmured in disbelief. "But that's just a theory Professor Sycamore from Kalos only proposed its existence recently… Even he's never succeeded in achieving it. And yet this rookie… Alex…"

Ash and his friends were slack-jawed. First a Legendary Pokémon, now Mega Evolution?

"Mega Evolution...!" Brock exclaimed. "That's what some researchers were talking about. I heard Professor Sycamore's lab in Lumiose City was investigating it… I can't believe we're seeing it live!"

"Garchomp, now! Dragon Dive!"

The newly evolved Garchomp launched with terrifying speed. His outline blurred into a massive dragon shadow that engulfed the arena. Regice braced itself but couldn't withstand the assault—Garchomp's strike tore through Regice's defense and slammed it into the arena wall, forming a crater of shattered ice and stone.

The audience was stunned.

"Is that the same Garchomp…?" Misty whispered.

Ash clenched his fists, eyes shining. "Mega Evolution… incredible…"

Even Alex was speechless. He stared at his partner—no, his evolved partner glowing with primal energy. The bond between them had triggered something beyond normal evolution.

"I didn't know Garchomp had this much power," Alex whispered.

But now, the world did.

Regice slowly stood up again after all, as a second-tier Legendary Pokémon, its resilience was impressive. Though clearly battered, it still had strength left to fight.

"Regice, use Sheer Cold!" Lorelei commanded. It was one of the most fearsome Ice-type moves an instant knockout if it connected.

"Garchomp, counter with Dragon Rage!" Alex called, thrusting his arm upward with conviction.

Garchomp roared. Flames gathered in its maw, and a violent blast of Dragon Rage surged forward. Regice, who had just attempted Sheer Cold, was struck at point-blank range, its zero-absolute zone destabilized. Then, another surge of Dragon Rage followed up instantly, hammering it again.

After taking two direct hits, Regice's structure began to falter. The seven golden dots on its face—the visual manifestation of its sensory core dimmed simultaneously. With a mechanical groan, Regice collapsed. It had lost the ability to battle.

"We did it, Garchomp!" Alex yelled, running toward his partner. He embraced Garchomp excitedly, his heart pounding with pride and disbelief.

Garchomp gave a triumphant growl, then calmly released its Mega Evolution form. Its body shimmered, scales returning to their regular form as it nuzzled Alex with appreciation.

Ash, Misty, and Brock were just as thrilled.

"That was incredible!" Ash said, eyes shining with admiration. "Mega Evolution really turned the tide!"

After the match, Lorelei and Ash approached Alex. Lorelei folded her arms, smiling. "Alex, that was remarkable. Your battle sense, timing, and bond with Garchomp are top-tier. Have you considered joining the Pokémon League Alliance?"

"Join the Alliance?" Alex asked, surprised. "But I'm still in the middle of my journey."

"You can join as a Pokémon Prosecutor," Lorelei explained. "With your current strength and the fact that you just helped us intercept Team Rocket, I can get your application approved. With official League status, Team Rocket won't dare pursue you for revenge. Prosecutors don't need to stay at the Alliance HQ full-time just check in annually. It won't interfere with your journey."

Alex considered the offer. The salary, the security against Rocket retaliation, and the prestige… it was all reasonable. And more than that, Team Rocket was a threat he couldn't ignore.

"I'll do it," Alex said with resolve. "I accept your offer."

"Pokémon Prosecutor?" Ash echoed enviously. "That's the most admired role in the League aside from Champion…"

"True," Brock added. "But it's a tough role. Prosecutors need to be strong, and act quickly to protect civilians."

Lorelei nodded. She soon said her farewells and returned to the League with Regice.

Exhausted after a long day, everyone returned to their rooms for rest.

Once inside, Alex summoned the system panel to begin a new lottery draw. "System, start the draw," he ordered.

The digital lottery machine spun rapidly, colors flashing across the screen.

Congratulations, host! You have obtained:

Articuno (Blood Purity: 100%)

Charizardite X (Mega Evolution Stone)

Aptitude Enhancement Liquid (1 bottle)

"Epic-tier lottery tickets really are amazing," Alex thought to himself. "Even Legendary Pokémon can appear! If this is just epic-level… could high-tier ones yield top-tier Legendaries or even primal gods?"

Then a question popped up in his mind. "What does blood purity mean?"

The system answered in its usual mechanical tone:

"Reporting to host: Articuno, like all Legendary Pokémon species, exists in bloodline classes. The higher the purity, the more powerful the potential. The one obtained has 100% purity pinnacle strength within its species."

Alex was overjoyed. A perfect-blood Articuno would greatly enhance his overall combat power.

He retrieved the Aptitude Enhancement Liquid next, thinking of a Pokémon that had been reliable and tireless in recent battles.

"This is for Gyarados," Alex murmured, stepping outside discreetly under the moonlight. In the grassy clearing, he summoned Gyarados from its Poké Ball.

Gyarados blinked, groggy from rest. "Why'd you call me out now?" it seemed to ask with its eyes.

Alex held up the enhancement bottle. "You've been amazing lately. This will take your strength to another level."

Without hesitation, Gyarados opened its massive jaws and drank the potion in one gulp.

Alex immediately activated the system's scan mode.

Name: Gyarados

Qualification: Champion

Ability: Rampage

Moves: Aqua Tail, Water Pledge, Flamethrower, Hyper Beam, Ice Fang

Seeing Gyarados's potential leap to Champion-level qualification, Alex was thrilled. He returned Gyarados to its ball, satisfied.

Now it was time for the real prize.

He held out the system-issued Master Ball containing Articuno. "Let's meet, Articuno," he whispered.

With a brilliant flash, a majestic blue bird soared from the ball. Snowflakes sparkled in its wake. The air dropped several degrees. Even Alex shivered under its chilly aura.

"Okay, okay, too cold," he said with a laugh. "Come down, partner."

Articuno gracefully descended and perched beside him. Its gaze was intelligent, piercing but gentle.

"We'll be working together from now on," Alex said softly. "Let's get stronger together."

"Awwww~" Articuno cooed in reply, nuzzling Alex. The bond was already forming.

Alex smiled warmly and returned Articuno to the Master Ball.

He headed back inside and lay in bed, a warm grin on his face despite the chill left in the air.

Tonight, Alex had the sweetest dream.

—