"Inner Focus!"
"So Riolu also possesses the Inner Focus ability!"
The head of the family showed a surprised expression.
Indeed, the Inner Focus ability seemed unrelated to a Fighting-type Pokémon like Riolu. But after seeing Ethan's Lucario in battle, that idea had completely changed.
Then, suddenly, he realized that the Inner Focus ability might be related to Riolu's mental mutation, and that this also involved the power of aura.
In the end, the deal was finalized. Both sides obtained what they wanted.
Moreover, after acquiring Meltan's nuts, the head of the Silver family entrusted Ethan with a research task. Ethan accepted without hesitation, and the Silver family also promised to help him gather more Meltan nuts.
After that, Ethan stayed to discuss Lucario's breeding with the head of the family. One was among the best trainers specializing in Steel-type Pokémon, the other the youngest Pokémon Professor; their positions were equivalent, and the conversation turned out to be very pleasant.
...
The next day, Ethan left the Silver family's residence.
Without wasting time, he mounted Charizard and flew directly back to the headquarters of the Pokémon Researchers' Guild.
There were still more than three months left before the Pokémon World Championship, so he had to use that time to train his Pokémon intensively.
After seeing that Lucas had directly obtained a Quasi-Elite level Lucario from his family, Ethan couldn't help but feel a sense of urgency.
It was easy to imagine that Adrian Vane, Jorge Holt, and other young members of major families, upon returning to their families, would receive intensive training, and might even obtain powerful Pokémon prepared by their families.
Under those circumstances, even if he was now the champion of the World Championship qualifier competition, in three months he might no longer remain so.
Moreover, the situation abroad would surely be the same. The great families had extremely deep accumulated foundations; if they were willing to invest all their resources, it was entirely possible to raise a trainer's level by a whole step.
Therefore, during these three months, Ethan had to intensify his training and achieve breakthroughs in the strength of his Pokémon.
Fortunately, although he didn't come from a great family, he now had the Pokémon Researchers' Guild behind him. In terms of resources and foundation, the guild surpassed even many major families.
"Ethan, you're back."
President Beckett smiled broadly when he saw him return.
Ethan's performance in the World Championship qualifier competition had been dazzling. And since he was now clearly associated with the Pokémon Researchers' Guild, the guild also shared that honor.
"President Beckett, I've returned," Ethan replied respectfully.
He knew that his current achievements would not have been possible without the guild's help, and he sincerely appreciated it.
"Good, good. Stay at the headquarters and prepare for the World Championship. During this time, the guild will do everything possible to help you."
President Beckett spoke on behalf of the guild.
Although the guild rarely involved itself in trainer competitions, since Ethan had come this far, they didn't hesitate to give him an extra push.
Moreover, Ethan was a Pokémon Professor of the guild and enjoyed great privileges; he was practically part of the upper management.
Afterward, the two exchanged ideas.
The guild's help was simple and decisive.
In addition to opening access to the treasury, they mobilized numerous Pokémon Professors to assist him in training his Pokémon.
Any doubts he had could be directly consulted with Pokémon Professor-level experts to refine his training plan.
...
Back in his dormitory, Ethan reflected.
How should he optimize everyone's training?
Among all of them, Meltan was the one he worried about the least.
Upon returning, he released it immediately.
Then he directly handed over the eight Meltan nuts obtained from the Silver family.
"Zzzt!"
Meltan seemed extremely excited.
Its body rippled like a net and wrapped around all the nuts.
After devouring them, it immediately fell into a sleeping state, like a cocoon waiting for the moment to break open and transform.
Ethan watched it expectantly. He didn't know what changes would occur after absorbing eight nuts.
Evolving directly into Melmetal was perhaps unlikely, but reaching the Quasi-Elite level shouldn't be a problem.
After returning it to its Poké Ball, he had already solved the training of one Pokémon.
The technique of its Electromagnetic Cannon was already at maximum level; it only needed continued refinement.
Next, he organized Slowking's training plan.
In fact, it was simple: he left it under President Beckett's care.
Slowking possessed extraordinary intelligence; it even helped with research. Moreover, with Shellder's assisted memory, it could plan its own training.
It was practically a Pokémon with "cheat mode activated."
As for Sandslash, Ethan decided to focus everything on four moves: Defense Curl, Rollout, Gyro Ball, and Rapid Spin.
In the previous tournament, with that combination it had managed to tie against Adrian's Garchomp, demonstrating the enormous power of that synergy.
Furthermore, the use of the move Harden by Adrian's Gastrodon gave him inspiration. He planned to further develop those four moves.
Then there was Cacturne.
Thanks to the development of the move Growth combined with the instant absorption of energy from the "root domain," it had achieved a giant form.
In that form, its physical attributes increased enormously, so the main focus would be strengthening its close combat.
Based on the martial arts manual he obtained from the Multitype Martial Dojo, he created an even more detailed plan.
Next came Vibrava.
Its performance had been notable, but in the last battle it was countered by Gastrodon.
Its "Sand Dragon" technique depended too heavily on terrain. When the desert field was destroyed, it couldn't even emerge.
So its training would focus on the moves Sandstorm and Sand Tomb, moves that alter terrain.
If it could create its own environment without depending on Tyranitar or Cacturne, its strength would increase significantly.
The situation for Tyranitar was similar: it had to refine Sandstorm, Sand Tomb, and its rock armor under sandstorm weather. For a weather controller, mastering the terrain was everything.
In addition, Charizard, Magmortar, and Litwick had a clear task: fully assimilate the ability of Gigalith's orange core and enhance their own power.
Finally, Shuckle.
The biggest reward for winning the competition had been a book containing numerous recipes for nutritious juices.
Shuckle's task would be to prepare some of them and turn them into Pokéblocks.
For that, Ethan requested large quantities of Berries and materials from the guild.
...
After organizing almost everything, Ethan left the training field with Rhyperior and Lucario.
Soon he arrived at Professor Harris's laboratory.
He had come because of Rhyperior.
To overcome the side effects of the move Rock Wrecker, Ethan had thought about the abilities Rock Head and Solid Rock.
The side effects of Rock Wrecker and Rock Smash Hammer were greater because they caused additional damage to the body. He wanted to study the principle of the Rock Head ability — which eliminates recoil damage — in order to compensate for it.
Additionally, taking Steelix as an example — which tempered its body under underground pressure — he intended to develop the Solid Rock ability to improve Rhyperior's durability.
Since Professor Harris was an expert in the Rhyhorn evolutionary line, he asked for his help.
When he arrived, he saw two enormous figures: two Rhyperior.
Professor Harris, after learning the evolution method, had evolved his own.
Both roared happily when they saw Ethan.
Ethan released his own, and the three gathered together joyfully.
"Ethan, you've arrived," Professor Harris and Professor Reynolds greeted him with smiles.
"Professor Harris, Professor Reynolds," he greeted respectfully.
After hearing his plan, Professor Harris became enthusiastic.
"I see, so that's how you developed Rock Wrecker... But the series has enormous side effects. Developing the Rock Head ability and the Solid Rock ability... it might be feasible."
Professor Reynolds added:
"Steelix, evolved from Onix, tempered its body under underground pressure and heat until it became harder than metal. Perhaps it could help in that aspect."
"Then I'll leave Rhyperior in your hands," Ethan said gratefully.
After saying goodbye, he returned to his own laboratory in the guild.
As a Pokémon Professor, he had his own space for confidential experiments.
"Now only Lucario remains."
He released Lucario.
Then he took out the Key Stone and Lucario's Mega Stone.
In the remaining time, he would conduct the Mega Evolution experiment.
And besides that, he also wanted to test a hypothesis.
A hypothesis that might explain why Charizard could not Mega Evolve.
(End of Chapter)