章 47: ##Chapter : 47 Theory of Pokemon evolution
The grand doors of Ecruteak Gym now stood wide open, welcoming and inviting guests from all directions. The news that Chiyama had spread regarding the gym no longer limiting the number of challengers that can challenge the gym. With that challengers traveled far and wide. Consequently, trainers who hadn't yet collected all of their gym badges began flooding into the city, eager to test their skills. Many of these hopeful trainers hadn't even earned a single badge, yet they still arrived in droves, holding onto a glimmer of hope that they could perhaps earn one here.
However, those who rely on luck alone often find themselves walking a path toward failure.
Standing prominently in front of the gym, Komatsu had posted the challenge rules for all to see: If a challenger could manage to defeat any one of the four gym trainees, they would then earn the right to face Chiyama, the revered gym leader, in a one-on-one Pokémon battle. The battle would be no simple feat, as all the Pokémon used by the gym's trainers and Chiyama were of the Ghost-type variety, known for their tricky and unpredictable tactics in battle.
Chiyama, ever the dedicated leader, had made arrangements for a specially designated battle arena right next to the gym's training grounds. This allowed him to step in at any moment to fight personally, without disturbing the flow of the trainers' battles. To accommodate the overwhelming surge of challengers flooding the gym daily, Chiyama even took the extra step of hiring two Pokémon doctors to be stationed within the gym. Their job was to ensure that the Pokémon belonging to Kane and the other trainees were promptly treated and cared for after every battle.
Meanwhile, Kane remained focused on his own rigorous training, dedicating his time and energy to helping Gastly perfect the Shadow Ball technique. His Ditto, on the other hand, had its own task, as it was off at Burned Tower, engaged in what could be described as an intense "cat and mouse game" with the local Ghost-type Pokémon that inhabited the area.
Initially, the number of challengers who arrived at the gym each day wasn't too overwhelming. This lighter influx allowed Kane to maintain his focus on his specialized training without too many distractions. However, by the second day, the gym had become a hotbed of activity, bustling with life and hosting around ten battles per day. Despite this flurry of battles, Kane remained largely unbothered by the increasing number of challengers. This was because the vast majority of these aspiring trainers were weak, inexperienced, and ill-prepared for the challenges that lay ahead. They were mostly bug catchers, youngsters in shorts who hadn't a clue about Pokémon battles, or mountaineers who had never truly invested in proper training. The Pokémon they brought with them were often undeveloped, lacking the power and skills necessary to make a serious impact in a battle.
After a full week had passed, Kane and the others had collectively participated in over seventy battles, experiencing barely any losses. The gym trainees were showing great progress, and their Pokémon were growing stronger with every encounter. Over the course of these battles, something extraordinary happened—Melissa's Drifloon evolved into the more formidable Drifblim. The change was astonishing, as Drifblim's increased size, speed, and special attack capabilities turned it into a true powerhouse. Melissa, naturally, was overjoyed by this transformation. Though she had lost two battles earlier in the week, once Drifblim evolved, she remained undefeated and her confidence soared to new heights.
While Melissa's Pokémon were flourishing, Kane's own Gastly was also making remarkable strides. Throughout this period of battles and rigorous training, Gastly had been continuously honing its skills, especially when it came to executing Shadow Ball and Sludge Bomb attacks. Initially, the projectile attacks Gastly produced had been somewhat rough and inconsistent, but over time, the attacks had transformed. Now, the Shadow Ball took on a refined, oval shape, and its destructive power had increased significantly. In addition, the spread of poison from Sludge Bomb had become far more reliable. Whenever the attack burst upon an opponent's skin, the venom seeped in deeply, causing a poisoning effect that would gradually weaken the target—though thicker-skinned Pokémon tended to resist this effect to a certain degree.
During this intense training period, Gastly also managed to learn the move Dream Eater. However, much to Kane's dismay, Gastly displayed very little interest in utilizing this particular technique. Instead, Gastly seemed to prefer direct energy-draining attacks, and as a result, Dream Eater was swiftly abandoned. Yet, not long after, Gastly began working on mastering another move: Dark Pulse. This development was largely thanks to the influence of Komatsu's Spiritomb, a Pokémon Gastly has constantly sparring with. Though Dark Pulse was still far from perfect, Gastly was slowly but surely becoming more proficient with the dark, energy-based attack.
Dark Pulse was an incredibly important addition to Gastly's growing arsenal of moves. When executed, it unleashed a wave of terrifying, malevolent energy that had the potential to cause the opponent to flinch in fear. This could provide a valuable opening in battle, as the opponent might be temporarily unable to counterattack. Furthermore, the wide range of Dark Pulse's effect made it particularly useful when dealing with wild Pokémon encounters, giving Kane a significant edge in battle.
As an additional ten days passed, the intensity of the gym challenges began to wane. The once-packed gym now saw fewer and fewer trainers arriving each day. Over this period, only a single trainer had managed to secure a badge from Ecruteak Gym, and the daily crowd of challengers had dwindled to about half of its original size.
Despite the remarkable progress Gastly had made in learning new moves like Dark Pulse, it had yet to evolve. Kane, always observant and analytical, began to speculate that the delay in Gastly's evolution might be linked to the physical changes caused by the stimulation of its poison core. The process of evolution, after all, is a complex and mysterious one for Pokémon—a phenomenon that contributes greatly to the mystique surrounding these creatures. It was entirely possible that Gastly's current form still harbored untapped potential, which was holding back its natural transformation into Haunter.
The concept of evolution in Pokémon is nothing short of a marvel, a phenomenon unlike anything else seen in the natural world. For humans and many other living organisms, evolution is a slow and gradual process, taking place over the course of tens of thousands of years as species adapt to their ever-changing environments. Only those who survive the trials of time and natural selection are able to undergo this transformation. However, for Pokémon, evolution is a process that occurs on an individual level, often triggered by accumulated battle experience or a build-up of energy within the Pokémon, leading to a sudden and dramatic physical metamorphosis.
When a Pokémon evolves, it often undergoes a significant change in both size and strength, as its energy is channeled into reshaping its body. This transformation often leads to an increase in the Pokémon's power, granting it new abilities and greater potential in battle. Researchers and doctors alike have long been fascinated by this incredible process, yet despite years of study, many aspects of Pokémon evolution remain poorly understood. Evolution through the use of evolution stones, for example, is still a relatively rare occurrence, though there are notable exceptions, such as Eevee, which can evolve into Vaporeon, Jolteon, or Flareon depending on which evolution stone it absorbs energy from.
One of the leading experts in the field of Pokémon evolution is Professor Rowan from the Sinnoh region. Many of the special evolutions that have been identified over the years were first researched and documented by him, making Sinnoh a hub for evolutionary studies.
Kane, of course, was no stranger to these evolutionary theories. In fact, in his previous life, he had delved deeply into the subject. There was even a time when Kane aspired to gain recognition and funding from the Pokémon League by advancing the field of evolutionary research. However, those dreams were shattered when his very first report on Pokémon evolution turned into a complete disaster. Professor Rowan had accused him of plagiarism, claiming that Kane had stolen his ideas.
As it turned out, Professor Rowan had been preparing to publish his own research on the same topic, and although Kane had developed his theories independently, he lacked the reputation and connections to defend himself against such accusations. In the court of public opinion, Professor Rowan's well-established name easily overshadowed Kane's fledgling efforts. At just eleven years old, Kane found himself branded as a thief of intellectual property.
This bitter experience had been a harsh lesson for Kane, one that taught him the cruel reality of the world. It became painfully clear that fame, influence, and power outweighed the truth in the eyes of the public. This event had played a significant role in pushing Kane toward the path of becoming a Pokémon hunter, a decision that forever changed the course of his life.
Reflecting on these memories now, Kane couldn't help but let out a quiet chuckle. If he were to publish any theories on Pokémon evolution in this lifetime, Professor Rowan might very well find himself on the receiving end of an unpleasant surprise. After all, without that betrayal in his previous life, Kane wouldn't have had to work nearly as hard as he did to get where he was now.
"Professor Rowan, huh... funny how life turns out," Kane murmured softly to himself, his thoughts drifting back to the past.
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット