The form Gardevoir displayed now was one where she released all her hidden power: Unbound Gardevoir.
This was a form of psychic explosion, causing drastic changes in her stats and typing.
[Species: Unbound Gardevoir]
[Base Stat Total: 618]
[Gender: ♀]
[Type: Psychic / Fairy]
[Ability: Unbound (Due to immense psychic power, Unbound Gardevoir is immune to status conditions. Every turn, a random stat rises by 1 stage.)]
[Signature Move: Psycho Cut (Unbound) / Mind Blade (Power 125: A psychic blade condensed from powerful energy. Ignores type matchups and can cut through any form.)]
The appearance of Unbound Gardevoir was as shocking as Eternal Gardevoir. For those seeing it for the first time, it was a massive visual impact.
Even Champion Diantha couldn't stay calm. She stared at Unbound Gardevoir in awe, unable to believe Gardevoir could undergo such a beautiful transformation.
But soon, awe turned into excitement. Her starter was also a Gardevoir. If Li Yuan could achieve this, could she do it too?
"Gardevoir, go check it out," Diantha telepathied her Gardevoir hastily, wanting to understand the change in the shiny counterpart.
"Garde!" Gardevoir nodded. Ignoring the match setting, she teleported next to Unbound Gardevoir (Shasha) and examined her closely.
As a Gardevoir, she was the most curious. She sensed a familiar power in Shasha—the power that made her stronger and more beautiful.
Who doesn't love beauty? Even without the power boost, the "new skin" alone was worth it.
So, Gardevoir abandoned pride and asked Shasha directly about the evolution method.
However, her way of asking was special, making the audience's blood boil.
Gardevoir hugged Shasha tightly. Their bodies pressed together, red chest horns touching, foreheads resting against each other. They closed their eyes and communicated telepathically.
It looked like two beauties rubbing against each other (yuri), triggering infinite fantasies. Many viewers wore perverted expressions.
So envious. If only I had a Gardevoir...
Three seconds later, they separated.
Gardevoir returned to Diantha with a disappointed look.
"Well?" Diantha saw the look and had a bad feeling. Does she not want to teach, or can we not learn?
If it's the former, she understood. Exclusive forms are exclusive for a reason.
"I asked. Strictly speaking, every Gardevoir can achieve this form," Gardevoir sighed.
"Then why are you unhappy?" Diantha asked, confused.
"Because we've always tried to achieve this form, but never succeeded," Gardevoir smiled bitterly.
"You mean... that hidden power?" Diantha understood immediately, her face falling.
Having lived with Gardevoir for years, she knew the species' secret.
Like Absol sensing disasters, Gardevoir possessed a unique, powerful ability (black hole creation).
This power was so strong that even Gardevoir feared it. Using it caused immense backlash, potentially costing her life.
So Gardevoir never dared to use it. Even when facing unbeatable opponents in the World Tournament, knowing this power could turn the tables, she never considered it.
This meant... the power was useless. What's the point of a power you can't use?
Waiting to die and take the opponent with me?
I don't want a 1-for-1 trade!
So Diantha and Gardevoir had been researching this power, hoping to control it or make it safer.
Unfortunately, they failed. Even at Champion level, the power grew with them, becoming harder to control.
Now, Diantha saw it as a chicken rib—tasteless but wasteful to discard.
But here, in an exhibition match invited by her best friend, she met a destined person and saw a miracle in his hands.
Looking at Unbound Gardevoir's ethereal, butterfly-like form, Diantha's eyes filled with desire.
It was what she had pursued all her life. Someone actually did it.
How did he do it? I want to know...
"Did she say how?" Diantha was unwilling to give up. Her lifelong wish was right in front of her.
"Well... she said Li Yuan can help achieve it, but..." Gardevoir hesitated.
"But what? What price do I need to pay?" Diantha knew there was no free lunch. She was willing to pay any amount of money.
"But... he only teaches his women," Gardevoir said awkwardly.
"Huh?" Diantha was stunned.
She understood why Gardevoir was disappointed. Gardevoir didn't want her to trade her body for this. They were destined to miss out.
Even Gardevoir disagreed, and Diantha hesitated too.
Li Yuan was 19. Seven years younger. Being such a young boy's woman felt weird.
Diantha wasn't a shota-con. She understood Cynthia's plan to raise a young husband, but she couldn't accept it for herself!
So her first reaction was refusal. Are we really going to miss this power?
Let's wait. Ask him after the match if there's another way.
If not... maybe...