After bidding farewell to everyone in Pokémon Town, Silas and Diantha began their journey back.
For the moment, the rest of the Pokémon were stored inside their Poké Balls, leaving only Giant Dragonite flying beside them.
This trip had already lasted nearly a full week, and Silas could not help feeling worried about the Pokémon back at the ranch. He wondered how they were doing without him.
Just as it seemed they would quietly leave the area without incident, an airship suddenly locked onto them from afar.
Inside the airship were a man and a woman controlling the vessel.
"Levi, target confirmed. Capture that Dragonite."
"Understood."
The man called Levi, whose fierce looking face gave off a dangerous aura, began lowering the airship while greed flickered within his eyes.
Their target was not the two trainers themselves.
What they wanted was the Mega Stone carried by Dragonite, the only one of its kind discovered so far.
Lord Alva had personally ordered them to seize it. If they could unlock the secret behind the stone, they would be able to further perfect the Mega Wave Evolution team and control even more Pokémon.
(TN: Lmao, of all Pokemon they targeted Giant Dragonite.)
"DRAA!"
Giant Dragonite immediately sensed the danger approaching. With a powerful burst of speed, it accelerated sharply and carried Silas and Diantha straight into the depths of the clouds.
"Silas, their target should be Dragonite's Mega Stone," Diantha said while holding tightly onto Dragonite's back.
"I know."
From the moment he decided to reveal Mega Dragonite, Silas had already expected that Pokémon hunters would eventually come looking for trouble.
Three Poké Balls at his waist opened simultaneously.
Three Noivern appeared beside them in midair, and Silas and Diantha each quickly mounted one.
Behind them, the pursuing airship came to a hovering stop.
Standing on the deck were the two hunters, surrounded by a group of Pokémon.
From a distance, Silas saw the pair raise their arms.
The Pokémon on the deck immediately began to Mega Evolve.
However, this was not normal Mega Evolution.
Floating in front of each Pokémon was a strange sphere emitting a distorted energy. The Pokémon were clearly being forcibly stimulated and controlled into Mega Evolution through unnatural means.
"That is the Mega Wave!" Silas gritted his teeth. "Very good. I was just looking for a reason."
The flaws of the Mega Wave were obvious at a glance.
The Pokémon forced into Mega Evolution had eerie red light flickering within their eyes. Their auras were chaotic and unstable, yet filled with violent aggression.
It was clear they had completely lost their own consciousness.
Silas suspected that the side effects of this artificial Mega Evolution were not limited to what he could see.
It might even be consuming the Pokémon's mental stability and lifespan as a price.
"Silas, let's fight together," Diantha said seriously.
She had also noticed that something was very wrong with these Pokémon. The Mega Evolution used by the enemy was clearly abnormal.
"No need," Silas replied. "Help contact Elite Four member Drasna and inform her of the situation here. Also request temporary Inspector authority from the League. We will conduct a full investigation into the Azoth Kingdom."
If they were going to deal with this problem, then they would eliminate it completely without leaving any future trouble behind.
Pokémon Inspectors were not simply responsible for traveling and inspecting Gyms.
Their authority covered a wide range of duties, including investigating criminal organizations. Their direct superiors were the Elite Four.
Diantha naturally agreed. She moved to the side and activated a Xtransceiver to contact Elite Four member Drasna.
Situations like this were not uncommon during their travels together.
"Biggie, finish this quickly and minimize the Pokémon's suffering. Mega Evolve."
"DRAAA!"
A brilliant light of Mega Evolution enveloped Giant Dragonite.
The moment Mega Dragonite appeared, it rushed forward at overwhelming speed toward the enemy airship.
A massive fist the size of a sandbag rained down like a storm.
Mega Pidgeot was instantly engulfed in crackling lightning.
With a cry that almost sounded like relief, Mega Pidgeot reverted back to its normal form and collapsed unconscious onto the airship deck.
After defeating one opponent, Mega Dragonite did not pause for even a second.
It immediately rushed toward the nearest Mega Beedrill.
This time its fist burst into flames.
"Attack! All of you attack!"
Seeing this situation, Levi and his partner Cherie hurriedly shouted commands to the Pokémon under the control of the Mega Wave.
At the same time, a faint sense of unease began creeping into their hearts.
Today it seemed they had kicked a steel plate.
Mega Evolution was merely an amplification of a Pokémon's existing power.
It did not automatically mean that every Mega Evolved Pokémon was powerful.
Even while being surrounded and attacked by thirteen Mega Evolved Pokémon at once, Mega Dragonite moved through their attacks with incredible ease, weaving between them like a dragon dancing in the clouds.
The twin wing like fins on Mega Dragonite's head flicked slightly as it dodged the deadly needle strike from Mega Beedrill with effortless grace.
At the same time, orange flames instantly wrapped around its right fist, the air itself distorting from the intense heat.
The blazing punch crashed violently into the joint where Mega Beedrill's wing connected to its body.
The terrifying force smashed Mega Beedrill straight into the airship.
A loud explosion echoed as Mega Beedrill crashed down while surrounded by flames. It lost the ability to move, reverted from Mega Evolution, and curled up unconscious.
After defeating Mega Beedrill, Mega Dragonite did not stop moving.
It immediately turned to face the approaching Mega Glalie and Mega Sharpedo.
White light glowed around its claws as fierce Fighting type energy spread outward.
Mega Glalie unleashed a freezing breath attack from the left.
Mega Dragonite did not dodge.
Instead its left claw sliced downward with a powerful wind cutting motion.
Crack.
The icy breath was split cleanly in half.
The Brick Break attack struck directly onto Mega Glalie's head, shattering even the horn on its skull.
Without hesitation, Mega Dragonite followed up with a Low Kick, sending Mega Glalie flying backward.
The flying body slammed straight into Mega Sharpedo, which had been charging forward with its jaws wide open.
Both Pokémon were sent flying like kites with broken strings before crashing heavily onto the deck of the airship.
Within only a few short breaths of combat, Mega Dragonite had already defeated four Mega Evolved Pokémon as easily as slicing vegetables.
Levi and Cherie were completely panicking now as they watched Mega Dragonite drawing closer and closer.
They hurriedly activated the airship's built in energy barrier while ordering their remaining Pokémon to block the attack.
But the remaining ten Mega Evolved Pokémon were still unable to stop Mega Dragonite.
Its left hand delivered Fire Punches.
Its right hand unleashed Thunder Punches.
Its left leg struck with Extreme Speed kicks.
Its right leg smashed enemies away with Low Kick.
Not a single Pokémon could withstand even one exchange against Mega Dragonite.
When the final Mega Metagross collapsed under a blazing Fire Punch, all fourteen Mega Evolved Pokémon had been defeated.
Out of the corner of his eye, Silas noticed Diantha still reporting the situation through her transceiver.
He lowered his head and checked the time.
"Not bad," he said calmly. "Only three minutes."
"How is this possible? Our Mega Wave clearly strengthens Pokémon!"
"Hurry up and retreat! We hit someone we cannot deal with today. We must return and report this to Lord Alva."
With all their Pokémon defeated, the two hunters attempted to escape by piloting the airship away.
But Silas had finally obtained solid evidence. There was no way he would let them escape now.
"Dragonite!"
"DRAA!"
Giant Dragonite responded instantly.
Its body grew larger as it expanded its strength, and its enormous claws firmly grabbed onto the airship.
With a casual punch, the energy barrier shattered instantly.
The entire airship was gently carried down and placed safely onto the ground.
The reason was simple. Silas did not want to accidentally harm the fourteen Pokémon inside.
They were innocent victims in all of this.
"Well done, Dragonite!"
Silas reached out and patted Giant Dragonite's large belly after it reverted from Mega Evolution. Today's victory was thanks entirely to its strength.
"Draa~!"
Kind hearted Dragonite was clearly worried about the fourteen Pokémon that had been forced into Mega Evolution. During the battle, it had clearly felt the pain they were suffering.
"They should be fine," Silas reassured it. "A Nurse Joy will arrive soon to examine them. Do not worry."
He patted Dragonite affectionately a few more times, signaling for it to relax.
Only then did the trainer and his dragon turn their attention toward the two captured hunters.
The pair were now being watched closely by the three Noivern.
Silas and Dragonite both looked at them with cold expressions.
"Well then," Silas said slowly, "tell me everything you know."
"Otherwise…"
"DRAA! (｀Δ´)!"
(End of Chapter)