Scizor.
"Scizor… pay attention to your breathing!"
"Keep it steady…"
The young Bug Catcher spoke seriously as he faced the red mantis Pokémon.
Scizor kept its eyes tightly shut.
Its entire body relaxed.
Its breathing became incredibly calm, almost as if it had entered a state of suspended animation.
A sharp look flashed in the Bug Catcher's eyes, and he immediately shouted,
"Now… use Focus Energy!"
"Scizor…"
The moment the command fell, Scizor abruptly opened its eyes.
It let out a low cry and inhaled deeply.
A sharp light flashed across its gaze.
A low hum filled the air.
A faint gray glow rapidly spread across Scizor's body, while its eyes shone with startling clarity.
Scizor had actually completed Focus Energy instantly.
Everyone knew enhancement moves required preparation time, and the stronger their effects were, the harder they were to activate quickly.
Moves like Swords Dance and Dragon Dance always needed a certain amount of buildup.
As for Focus Energy, every use increased the Pokémon's critical-hit rate by two stages and boosted critical damage by fifty percent.
The move was absurdly powerful.
But because Focus Energy normally required a charge-up period, opponents could easily interrupt it.
That was why almost no one would let their Pokémon stand still and gather energy while waiting to be attacked.
Yet this Scizor had managed to activate Focus Energy instantly.
It was unbelievably broken.
"Great!"
"Scizor… you did it!"
The Bug Catcher excitedly hugged Scizor and shouted in joy.
"Scizor!"
Scizor's eyes curved into happy crescents. It was clearly thrilled as well.
"Keep it up. Keep training. The next step is learning how to instantly stack Focus Energy again."
The Bug Catcher encouraged Scizor.
Although Scizor could now activate Focus Energy instantly once, the second instant activation would be several times harder than the first.
As for stacking a third instant Focus Energy…
That was practically impossible.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
At that moment, slow applause echoed through the forest.
"Scizor!"
Scizor's eyes sharpened as it gave a warning cry toward the trees.
"Who's there!?"
The Bug Catcher's smile disappeared as he shouted.
"I don't mean any harm…"
A man in a black trench coat walked out of the forest alongside a black Greninja.
It was Aaron and Frog Boss.
The moment Aaron sensed the energy fluctuation here, he had Charizard wait nearby, then recalled it and quietly approached with Frog Boss.
He had arrived just in time to witness Scizor instantly complete Focus Energy.
How could he not be shocked?
It was practically comparable to the effects of an Apotheosis-tier mastered move.
But what shocked Aaron even more was that this red mantis Pokémon was actually a Scizor.
A Pokémon that had yet to be discovered in this world.
Moreover, its physique was far larger than an ordinary Scizor's.
A normal Scizor stood around 1.8 meters tall, but this one was at least 2.2 meters.
Its enormous pincers brimmed with explosive strength, making it look exceptionally fierce.
An undiscovered Pokémon like this…
In such a remote, deserted forest…
Aaron had actually run into one.
And it even had a Trainer.
A glint flashed through Aaron's eyes as he opened Scizor's status panel.
[Name: Scizor]
[Gender: Male]
[Nature: Adamant]
[Type: Bug/Steel]
[Ability: Technician]
[Base Stats Total: 500]
[Level: Elite (Stage Late)]
[Pokémon Potential: Champion-class]
[Held Item: Scizorite]
[Known Moves: Bullet Punch (Perfect), Quick Attack (Perfect), Focus Energy (Perfect), Iron Head (Mastery), X-Scissor (Mastery), Night Slash (Mastery), Swords Dance (Proficient), Steel Wing (Mastery), Agility (Proficient), Metal Claw (Proficient), Slash (Proficient), Razor Wind (Proficient), Iron Defense (Proficient), False Swipe (Proficient), Double Team (Proficient), Roost (Proficient)...]
[Description: Scizor, the Pincer Pokémon and the evolved form of Scyther. A forest warrior whose massive pincers possess tremendous power.]
…
The moment Aaron saw Scizor's information, his pupils contracted.
Its potential had actually reached Champion-class.
But what shocked Aaron the most was the held item.
It was actually Scizorite.
The information hit Aaron like a bomb going off in his head.
Since transmigrating into this world, this was the most confused he had ever been.
Finding an undiscovered evolution like Scizor was one thing.
After all, if a Scyther happened to come into contact with a Metal Coat under the right circumstances, evolving into Scizor was understandable.
And Champion-class potential was still within reason.
Just from this Scizor's size and appearance alone, Aaron could already tell its potential would not be low.
Pokémon with physiques much larger than average were usually elite specimens within their species.
But what Aaron absolutely could not understand was why this Scizor was carrying a Mega Stone.
Aaron: "!!!!"
He had clearly researched this world online before.
There was absolutely no record of Mega Evolution anywhere.
This world should not have discovered the Mega Evolution system yet.
Aaron looked at the unusually powerful Scizor again.
Sure enough, hanging beneath its neck was a Scizorite.
At this point, he had no choice but to believe it.
Then Aaron noticed something else.
Around the Bug Catcher's neck hung a Key Stone as well.
Aaron: "…"
Was this still the world he knew?
Or had the Mega Evolution system already been discovered in this world and simply hidden from the public?
Impossible.
Aaron shook his head and immediately rejected the idea.
Because neither Lily nor Brutus had Mega Stones, and he had never sensed that unusual energy from them either.
Even Champions did not have Mega Evolution.
Which meant this world truly had not discovered the Mega Evolution system.
Aaron quietly let out a breath.
Then there's only one explanation…
Aaron narrowed his eyes slightly, deep in thought.
Then he raised his head, looked at the Bug Catcher, and said,
"Hello. My name is Aaron. I'm a traveling Pokémon Trainer."
…