Successful evolution!
Gardevoir's Light Black quality did not disappoint Cain's expectations in the slightest, becoming the third Pokémon he now possessed of that color quality.
Even Tyranitar, at present, was still at Quasi-Black quality, still a short distance away from the true Light Black level.
The evolved Gardevoir had directly surpassed the others. This was undoubtedly due to the effect of the quality-enhancing potion, though it also had much to do with the role played by that other Gardevoir.
Her level had even jumped straight up to level 35, showing just how much she had been suppressing herself before.
However, what Cain couldn't quite understand was that, after the level indicator, there now appeared a parenthetical note reading "Fast Ascension."
Could it be that the condensed crystal left behind by the other Gardevoir had not been completely consumed during evolution, but now, after evolving, she would slowly absorb and assimilate it?
That would cause an explosive increase in Gardevoir's level, allowing her to experience a period of rapid growth.
After evolving, aside from a trace of sadness, Gardevoir didn't feel any abnormal discomfort.
Cain encouraged her with a pat on the shoulder. The evolved Gardevoir now stood at about one meter seventy, transformed into a true young lady.
"This was her choice. Don't be so sad. You must live for her as well — carry the part that belonged to her, and do it well," Cain said to comfort her.
Hearing this, Gardevoir, tears welling in her eyes, threw herself into Cain's chest.
That sudden act of comfort made her, for the first time, understand what responsibility meant. It was a heavy burden — but also the beginning of her true growth.
Cain gently patted her back and added softly, "She left with happiness. You, Magearna, and Diancie — bury her here, so she can watch you grow."
Gardevoir nodded, wiped her tears, and, using her psychic power, lifted the body of the other Gardevoir from the ground, ready to find a beautiful place to bury her.
The moment she raised her head, Cain caught sight of a crystal embedded in the center of her forehead, hidden beneath her bangs.
It was precisely the crystal into which the other Gardevoir had condensed everything she was. Now, it was continuously supplying energy to Cain's Gardevoir.
Watching that Pokémon slowly walk away, Cain couldn't help but sigh. He had never thought the ending would turn out like that.
It could only be said that humans had failed Pokémon. But Pokémon, throughout their entire lives, had never once failed their trainers.
A Pokémon worthy of respect!
...
Gardevoir's evolution had come with certain incidents.
But in Cain's grand plan, they didn't have much of an impact.
The plan had already reached its middle phase — that is, the second stage designed by Cain.
To make the cores of both teams begin attempting a fusion. Something Cain had already experienced long ago, though back then it was during an impromptu battle and under the Pokémon's own control. Now, however, it would be under Cain's conscious regulation, allowing the two sides to start merging properly.
Slowking's psychic network, combined with Tyranitar's sandstorm.
First test.
"Tyranitar, Sandstorm!"
"Slowking, psychic web!"
Cain took Slowking and Tyranitar to attempt the fusion directly within the alternate space. Only when they managed to coordinate properly could the other Pokémon join in later.
Furthermore, once the fusion was complete, Cain would have multiple ways to vary his strategies, creating different formations against different opponents, adapting to traits, advantages, and move combinations.
"Tyranitar, first reduce the sandstorm's movement speed so Slowking's psychic power can intervene," Cain said, releasing his own psychic power as well, allowing him to perceive more clearly the state of their merging.
As for the fusion time, Cain granted them a very broad allowance so they could attempt it slowly, multiple times.
According to his plan, achieving perfect coordination in just one month was impossible. His goal was only for them to reach preliminary cooperation.
At the very least, he didn't want to repeat that rough, rigid fusion used in the battle against the Sacred Church member. There had been no real cooperation then.
Rather than adding up, one plus one in that fight hadn't even equaled two — barely 1.5 — with much potential wasted.
"Slowking, use your experience fixing water currents to mark the sandstones of Tyranitar. Tyranitar, pay attention to the marked stones and try to fix them at certain points within the sandstorm. That will be the foundation of Slowking's psychic web. Make sure it's safe and stable."
Cain patiently guided the two Pokémon to combine their abilities.
Slowking infused Tyranitar's sand with psychic power, turning it into the base for his web — allowing him to construct it faster and more stably.
And since those bases were fused within the sandstorm, they wouldn't be easily detected.
In Cain's ideal conception, those bases would also move along with the storm, allowing Slowking's psychic web to rotate and shift with it. That way, even against another psychic Pokémon, they wouldn't be restrained as Gardevoir once had been.
The joint action of psychic power would also drive Tyranitar's sandstorm — not only enhancing its power, but allowing it to shape the sand into shields, swords, or other forms.
The ideal state of this fusion would be a complete integration between Slowking's psychic power and Tyranitar's sand.
Wherever the sand reached, Slowking could immediately move there — the entire storm area would be his battlefield.
And within the psychic web, Tyranitar's sand would not only be under his control but also reinforced by psychic energy.
Supporting each other, the sum of the two would far exceed two — depending on the combination, it could surpass three or even four.
For now, Cain's requirements were simpler: for one plus one to at least equal two. That would already be a good result.
"For now, the speed can be slower," Cain said with satisfaction, watching them begin to merge.
The first test had produced a good effect.
"Now let's test the result of the fusion a little."
"Slowking, pay attention to my psychic waves. Wherever they touch a grain of sand, move there immediately."
"Tyranitar, at that same point, form a shield or a sword. Once Tyranitar forms it, Slowking, you reinforce it with your psychic power."
"It's our first test, so we can go slowly — no need to get tense. The priority is coordination."
Both Pokémon listened to Cain's words with utmost seriousness, nodding in unison.
Every time Cain's psychic waves touched a grain of sand, Tyranitar sensed it, and Slowking located it through his web.
Perhaps, seen separately, Slowking and Tyranitar didn't appear overwhelmingly powerful together.
But if another Pokémon faced Cain's Pokémon within the sandstorm, it wouldn't be fighting just one — but at least three.
The Pokémon directly attacked, Slowking who could appear at any moment, and Tyranitar's reinforced sand.
That combination, once perfected, would be the true "Domain of the Sandstorm."
Within the domain's range, everything was their territory!
(End of chapter)