Damon frowned deeply, lost in thought.
With Dragonite down for the count, he finally had time to process what had happened. Not only did he need to understand why his attacks had proven utterly ineffective against Mega Aggron, but he also had to devise a strategy for the battles ahead.
Before the referee could even prompt him, Damon slowly retrieved a Pokeball from his belt and released his next fighter.
Silver light exploded outward, and a massive crimson fireball descended from within.
"ROOOAR!" An earth-shaking roar echoed across the arena as the crimson flames were torn apart by the sound itself. Sparks flew in all directions, revealing an orange-red flying dragon that appeared before the crowd.
Charizard!
Despite its draconic appearance, Charizard was actually a Flying and Fire-type Pokemon. More importantly, it was a Pokemon with a devastating four-times weakness to Rock-type moves, potentially vulnerable to a single well-placed Rock Slide from John's Mega Aggron.
But in the next instant, Damon revealed his counter-strategy, raising his MEGA bracelet high.
"MEGA Evolution!"
Charizard was immediately surrounded by brilliant, multicolored light. When the radiance burst apart, the orange-red dragon had transformed dramatically, its hide now a striking charcoal black, with ethereal blue flames dancing from its tail and mouth.
"CHARIZARD!!!" Another violent roar erupted, accompanied by a gout of azure flame.
Tough Claws!
Charizard had two possible MEGA Evolution paths: Mega Charizard X and Mega Charizard Y. Damon's choice was clearly Mega Charizard X.
The transformation changed Charizard's typing from Flying and Fire to Dragon and Fire, shedding its Flying-type vulnerability. No longer would it suffer four-times damage from Rock-type attacks, only double damage remained.
In terms of base stats, Mega Charizard X developed its physical and special attack capabilities in perfect balance. Its ability also shifted to Tough Claws, boosting the power of contact moves by 30%.
By contrast, Mega Charizard Y retained the original Flying and Fire typing but dramatically enhanced special attack power. Its ability changed to Drought, automatically setting the weather to intense sunlight and pushing Fire-type special attacks to devastating levels.
Seeing the result of Charizard's MEGA Evolution, John immediately understood Damon's strategy.
The Elite Four member wasn't certain whether Aggron truly mastered Wonder Room, so he'd sent out a Pokemon with nearly identical physical and special attack stats to test both defensive scenarios.
As for type disadvantage... Mega Aggron's typing was pure Steel. Where exactly was Mega Charizard X at a disadvantage?
"Charizard, Fire Punch!"
Mega Charizard X locked onto Mega Aggron with predatory focus. After MEGA Evolution, it spread its transformed wings and rolled toward its target like a black hurricane, azure flames wreathing its right claw.
"Wonder Room," John snapped his fingers, switching back to his previous defensive configuration.
Mega Aggron stretched out its sharp claws and seemed to pat the air itself. Immediately, what looked like a layer of transparent glass covering the entire battlefield shattered with an audible crack.
Unlike the pink-tinted barriers of moves like Magic Room, Wonder Room's manifestation tended toward complete transparency. After extensive training with Aggron, John had refined the technique to near-invisibility, which explained why everyone had initially doubted its authenticity.
But the visual effect when dispelled was unmistakable.
Seeing this demonstration, any lingering questions about whether Aggron could learn Wonder Room were definitively answered.
BOOM!
Mega Charizard X's Fire Punch connected directly with Mega Aggron's chest, producing a solid, metallic impact.
The steel plating proved unbreakable as ever.
"Rock Slide!" John immediately launched his counterattack, while simultaneously performing an action that baffled everyone watching, he canceled Aggron's MEGA Evolution.
"Is avoiding Fire-type resistance really worth sacrificing MEGA Evolution?" many spectators wondered aloud.
The only explanation they could conceive was typing advantage. Mega Aggron reverting to normal Aggron would change its typing back to Rock and Steel, boosting Rock-type move power while eliminating the Fire-type weakness.
But surely the stat increases from MEGA Evolution and the Filter ability's damage reduction outweighed a simple typing change?
Normally, yes, absolutely no comparison!
John could answer that question without hesitation.
For other trainers facing Mega Charizard X, given the choice between Rock typing and MEGA Evolution, they would choose MEGA Evolution every time.
But for John, Rock typing was infinitely more valuable than MEGA Evolution.
Because in John's backpack rested a legendary artifact: the Rock Horn!
[Rock Horn: When equipped by a Rock-type Pokemon, all stats increase by 25%. When the horn is blown, the next Rock-type move's damage increases by 50%. Special melodies may summon terrifying ancient powers.]
A 25% increase to all stats, this was comparable to the overall stat boost from Aggron's MEGA Evolution, but more evenly distributed. Compared to the Rock Horn's benefits, MEGA Evolution only offered slightly higher physical defense and the Filter ability.
Against Fighting-type and Ground-type moves that dealt quadruple damage, MEGA Evolution was essential.
Under normal circumstances, however, Aggron was far more powerful with the Rock Horn's blessing!
"GRAAAAH!!"
Spatial rifts tore open above the battlefield, and golden stone spikes rained down like a devastating hailstorm!
"Charizard, Flamethrower!" Now that Wonder Room's existence was confirmed, Damon, as an Elite Four member, immediately formulated a counterstrategy!
Mega Charizard X swooped down from above, spewing azure flames through the air and pouring them mercilessly toward Aggron. Simultaneously, its body rushed forward like a black intercontinental missile seeking its target!
This time, John chose not to activate Wonder Room again.
No need.
Damon's battle plan was obvious: use the special attack Flamethrower to suppress from range, then have Mega Charizard X follow up with physical attacks once it closed distance.
A two-pronged assault.
Even if Aggron activated Wonder Room, it couldn't defend against both attack types simultaneously, one approach would inevitably exploit a defensive "weakness."
But John hadn't canceled Aggron's MEGA Evolution to play defense like the previous battle.
What he wanted now was pure offense!
"Aggron, Z-Move: Continental Crush!"