The afternoon sun filtered through the gaps in the sycamore leaves, casting dappled light and shadow onto the paths of the Capital Botanical Garden.
Chen Kai and his grandfather strolled leisurely, with Xiao Mei and the other Pokemon obediently following behind, though Seadra was still reluctant to come out.
Swablu struggled to flap its wings, landing at the back of the group, grumbling about why Grandpa had brought it so far.
"Xiao Kai, when will I get to see Mega Evolution?" As soon as they finished eating, Grandpa was impatient; after all, he had only heard Bai Zhaoxing mention it but had never witnessed it himself.
This never-before-seen Dragon-type Pokemon had captivated Grandpa's mind.
"Soon, soon," Chen Kai explained, "Xiao Mei needs to enter a battle state for it to evolve more easily."
"Is that so?" Grandpa had never heard that before.
Just then, a surprised voice came from around the corner: "Chen Kai?"
Chen Kai looked up to see a boy in a red tracksuit running and exercising.
Behind him followed a group of Pokemon, including Venusaur, Poliwrath, Pikachu, and many others.
Even in winter, the boy's neat short hair was damp with sweat, his tanned skin glowed healthily in the sun, and the muscles in his arms and legs were clearly defined, indicating he was an athletic youth who exercised regularly.
"Senior Lu Yang?" Chen Kai exclaimed in surprise, "What a coincidence, you're here too."
"No classes today, so I came to the Botanical Garden to exercise," Lu Yang said, casually taking the towel from his neck to wipe off sweat. "How is it, did you find that pink plant?"
Chen Kai nodded, "Thanks to the information you provided, I found it."
"So you're here to find the professor today?" Lu Yang guessed with a smile, "Too bad the professor went to a meeting; he's not at the Botanical Garden right now."
Chen Kai waved his hand and said, "But it's not a big problem, since you're here."
"Oh!?" Lu Yang was slightly surprised.
"Let's have a practice battle!" Chen Kai suggested with a smile.
Lu Yang grinned, "That sounds great! I originally came to spar with the professor, but since he's not here, I can only run by myself."
So the three of them went to the battle arena specially set up within the Botanical Garden.
"Xiao Mei, prepare for battle!" Chen Kai patted his partner's shoulder.
Xiao Mei walked forward with high spirits, the Mega Stone around her neck already beginning to shimmer.
Lu Yang coolly said to the Pokemon behind him: "Then you're the one, Espeon!"
The elegant Espeon lightly leaped onto the battle arena.
It shook its ribbon-like purple fur, and the ruby on its forehead glittered in the sunlight.
Chen Kai couldn't help but be surprised; during the summer, this Espeon was particularly scrawny, probably around level 20.
Now, its fur was so vibrant in color, and Chen Kai could feel that this Espeon seemed to have reached Senior-level (around level 40+).
Moreover, the other Pokemon behind Senior Lu Yang should have also improved significantly.
Senior Lu Yang's Pokemon training skills are truly impressive...
However, since Senior Lu Yang sent out the Espeon, which had a relatively lower level, Chen Kai smiled and said, "Senior Lu Yang, are you going easy on me?"
Lu Yang replied, "Haha, isn't your Ampharos also only Senior-level? I'm not going easy.
And my Espeon chose its own evolution form, you know; it's really powerful, so you should be careful."
Chen Kai still smiled, "Senior Lu Yang, you're the one who needs to be careful."
Xiao Mei clapped her hands, and a surge of powerful electricity immediately erupted around her.
Both sides of the battle were full of confidence.
Grandpa volunteered to be the referee: "Battle rules: 1-on-1, until one side loses the ability to fight! Begin!"
"Xiao Mei, Electric Terrain!" Chen Kai commanded loudly.
Xiao Mei responded with a low growl, and a dazzling circle of golden electric arcs exploded around her.
This current seemed to have a life of its own, rapidly spreading and climbing along the ground, instantly weaving into a crackling, glowing, massive Electric Net across the entire Botanical Garden's sky.
The air instantly tightened, and every breath carried a slightly tingling sensation.
In this domain of lightning, every Thunderbolt Xiao Mei unleashed would gain the enhancement of thunderous power.
At the same time, Senior Lu Yang also knew that he should stack a buff at the start: "Espeon, Calm Mind."
The Radiance of this elegant Espeon's ruby-like organ on its forehead slightly swelled, and it gracefully lowered its body. A violet halo, like a tangible mist, rippled out from its body in layers, enveloping its entire form.
That Radiance carried a quiet sense of oppression, making it clear that Espeon's Psychic power was rapidly condensing and rising within this tranquil halo – achieving a double boost in Special Attack and Special Defense!
Chen Kai certainly couldn't let it continue to power up!
Chen Kai's arm swung down sharply, "Xiao Mei, interrupt it! Thunderbolt!"
"Long—!" (Leave it to me!)
Ampharos Xiao Mei's golden fur stood on end, and a blinding orb of raging electricity gathered on the jewel of its tail, then transformed into a thick golden bolt of lightning that tore through the air, roaring as it slammed towards the still Espeon, carrying the extra might granted by the Electric Terrain!
Where the electric light passed, even the air emitted a burnt smell.
Lu Yang waved his hands: "Psychic."
Espeon didn't even fully stand up, only slightly raised its head, and its calm purple eyes instantly glowed astonishingly!
A powerful Psychic surged out in front of it, not directly colliding head-on, but forming a viscous, stagnant, invisible force field.
The thick golden electric snake crashed into this purple force field, like a raging dragon caught in a swamp, twisting and tearing frantically, emitting a grating sizzling sound. The golden electric light and purple Psychic rubbed intensely, splashing energy Sparks, but ultimately it was tightly entangled and worn down by the layers of Psychic barrier, finally dissipating unwillingly into scattered, free-floating electric Sparks, futilely illuminating Espeon's calm eyes.
At the edge of the arena, Grandpa's brows were tightly furrowed, his fingers unconsciously tapping his knee; he was waiting in anticipation.
"It's about time..." At this moment, Chen Kai's gaze became even sharper.
He suddenly raised his right hand, revealing the circular keystone on the back of his hand.
A fervent and surging will, mixed with the resolve of battle, roared from the depths of his heart and surged to his fingertips.
"Long—!!!"
Xiao Mei felt Chen Kai's fighting spirit, and it too was filled with battle fervor. The ite hanging from its neck instantly burst forth with dazzling, multicolored Radiance!
That Radiance, like a living bond, instantly connected with the multicolored light stream shot from the keystone in Chen Kai's hand!
The dazzling light of evolution exploded, completely engulfing Xiao Mei's figure!
Within the light, long white fur grew on top of Xiao Mei's head, and the originally smooth fur at the end of its tail rapidly extended, transforming into a fluffy white long tail adorned with several crimson beads, each containing astonishing electrical power!
A surge of aura, mixed with wild lightning and draconic majesty, swept through the entire Botanical Garden like a storm!
"Oh—!" Grandpa's hands trembled with excitement, his eyes bursting with joyful light as he softly murmured, "Dragon! It really is a Dragon-type aura! So cool!"
He excitedly slapped his thigh, as if he were commanding the battle on the field himself.
On the other side of the arena, Senior Lu Yang's face was also full of astonishment and solemnity, but soon a smile appeared at the corner of his mouth: "Mega Evolution... Is this the power of legend?"
He had only heard his classmates talk about it before; this was his first time truly witnessing Mega Evolution.
But the more so, the more excited Lu Yang became.
He happily exclaimed loudly, "Interesting, interesting! This is what makes a battle fun!
Espeon, let's not be overwhelmed by their aura! Counterattack with Power Gem!"
Espeon's fighting spirit was also ignited by its trainer; the ruby on its forehead shone brightly, and a massive gem, formed from pure, hard rock energy and shimmering with iridescent facets, instantly materialized in front of it, striking the newly evolved Mega Ampharos with a sharp whooshing sound!
"Xiao Mei, let it witness the power of evolution! Thunderbolt—blast it back!"
Chen Kai waved both hands in sync with Xiao Mei, his voice filled with an unprecedented sense of power.
The white fur on Mega Ampharos's head stood on end, and the red jewels on its tail suddenly glowed with blinding golden light!
A bolt of lightning, nearly twice as thick as before, violently blasted out!
"Boom—!"
As soon as the multicolored Power Gem made contact, it shattered into countless fragments with a cracking sound after only a short moment!
The remaining lightning continued unabated, fiercely biting into Espeon!
"Ugh!"
Espeon was blasted, tumbling several times, its fur slightly blackened where it was hit, and its overall aura became listless.