"Now, release your own energy and try to touch these two stones. If you feel something, then that is your Mega Evolution stone," Aoki said.
With so many Pokémon present, testing them one by one would be too time-consuming. It was much simpler to let all of them extend their energy toward the two Mega Evolution stones simultaneously.
Upon hearing Aoki's words, most of the Pokémon closed their eyes and reached out with their energy. Suddenly, Aoki felt his hand lighten as one of the Mega Evolution stones lifted into the air, hovering on its own.
Aoki's expression brightened with excitement.
A Pokémon capable of directly suspending a Mega Evolution stone like this must have reached its final evolutionary stage and be capable of Mega Evolution. Currently, the only Pokémon in Aoki's team that could Mega Evolve, aside from Swampert, was Gengar.
One of the two stones responded!
The Mega Evolution stone drifted slowly toward Gengar, who blinked in surprise, his usual mischievous grin faltering for a moment. He had merely sensed a faint connection when he extended his energy toward the stone, and now it was floating toward him as if drawn by an invisible force.
Staring at the stone in disbelief, Gengar finally snapped out of his daze, his red eyes gleaming with excitement.
Of the two Mega Evolution stones, one had chosen Gengar, while the other remained inert in Aoki's palm, unresponsive to the energies of the other Pokémon.
So, one stone was for Gengar, and the other had no match among Aoki's current team.
Gengar carefully grasped the Mega Evolution stone in his clawed hand, his grin widening as the other Pokémon watched with envy.
Aoki smiled and retrieved a Key Stone from his bag, holding it out toward Gengar. "Try it, Gengar."
"Hehehe!" Gengar cackled, locking eyes with Aoki before nodding firmly.
He had seen Blaziken undergo Mega Evolution before—how its form had shifted, how its power had surged. Now, he wondered how much stronger he would become.
And whether he could even achieve it.
Gengar had been with Aoki since the early days on Trial Island, serving as both a protector and a partner. Though not the closest to Aoki emotionally, their bond was unshakable, forged through countless battles.
"Mega Evolve, Gengar!" Aoki commanded, his voice ringing with authority.
The other Pokémon stepped back, giving Gengar space as dark energy began to swirl around him.
"Jie!!!"
Gengar let out a sharp cry as a flood of Mega Evolution energy erupted from the stone in his grasp, surging into his body. But instead of immediately reshaping his form, the energy coiled around a lingering strand of black energy deep within him—a remnant of the strange black crystal the elders had used to aid his evolution at Mt. Coronet.
Aoki, connected to Gengar through their bond, sensed the presence of that foreign energy.
As the Mega Evolution energy fed into it, the black energy swelled violently, expanding until it had consumed every last drop of power from the stone.
Just as Aoki feared the process had failed, the pulsating mass of energy suddenly shuddered, then began to throb rhythmically—like a heartbeat.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
With each pulse, Gengar's body trembled in sync, his form flickering between states. Then—
BOOM!
The energy exploded outward, flooding Gengar's body once more, now infused with traces of the black energy. As the last remnants dissolved into his being, his transformation began in earnest.
A sphere of dark energy encased him completely.
Freed from the interference of the foreign energy, Gengar's Mega Evolution now progressed smoothly.
His fists elongated, spikes jutting from the knuckles like jagged blades. His legs melted into the ground, merging with the shadows beneath him. A fissure split his forehead, a third eye-like orb glowing yellow within the crack.
Thin, needle-like barbs sprouted along his body, and the spines on his back grew longer and sharper.
"Hehehe—"
BANG!
The energy shield shattered, a kaleidoscopic Mega Evolution symbol flashing briefly before dissipating.
Mega Gengar stood before them, complete.
Aoki studied him carefully. Gengar, in turn, stared back, his grin unsettlingly wide.
Though slightly shorter now—his legs sunken into the ground—his body had broadened, his presence more imposing than ever.
Aoki activated his system, scanning Gengar's updated data.
This was his first Champion-level Pokémon to undergo Mega Evolution. Just how much stronger had he become?
Pokémon: Gengar (Mega) (Light Blue)
Gender: Male
Level: 60 (+4)
Type: Ghost/Poison
Ability: Shadow Tag
Held Item: Toxic Orb
Egg Moves: Fire Punch, Shadow Sneak, Haze
Basic Moves: Shadow Punch, Hypnosis, Lick, Spite, Mean Look, Curse, Night Shade, Confuse Ray, Sucker Punch, Payback, Shadow Ball, Dream Eater, Dark Pulse, Destiny Bond, Hex
Learnt Moves: Sleep Talk, Shadow Ball, Psychic, Trick Room, Snore, Perish Song, Ice Punch, Thunder Punch, Role Play
TM Moves: Protect, Grass Knot, Dream Eater, Sludge Bomb, Taunt, Poison Jab, Venoshock, Thunderbolt
Light Blue Potential!
The first thing Aoki noticed was Gengar's potential—now Light Blue. However, recalling Blaziken's Mega Evolution, he suspected this wasn't due to the transformation itself, but rather the lingering black energy finally being fully absorbed, pushing Gengar's limits further.
"That black crystal from the elders… its power was far greater than I thought," Aoki mused.
Putting that aside for now, he focused on the level increase—four levels.
At Level 60, Mega Gengar now rivaled a standard Level 64 Gengar in raw power.
Of course, this was just the system's calculation.