Maki grabbed Mawile's small arm, preventing her from recklessly charging forward in a fit of rage.
Naturally, Magmar overheard the commotion between Maki and Mawile. He had also seen Maki take the Mega Stone from Whimsicott just moments ago.
Furthermore, the small Pokémon beside Maki looked much easier to deal with compared to Charmeleon and the others. Without hesitation, Magmar unleashed a stream of Flamethrower directly at Maki's position.
"Watch out!"
Mawile hesitated for a moment due to Maki's words, momentarily failing to react. However, Maki quickly noticed Magmar's attack and instinctively grabbed Mawile, diving to the side just in time.
"Whim!"
"Roar!"
Whimsicott glanced worriedly in Maki's direction, while Charmeleon let out a furious roar. That wretched duck dared to attack Maki directly!?
Fueled by sheer rage, Charmeleon unleashed a powerful Dragon Rage, his draconic energy surging forth in an explosion of fury.
Sensing the attack, Whimsicott immediately used Helping Hand, amplifying Dragon Rage's intensity even further!
Before Magmar could react, the combined wrath of the two Pokémon engulfed him entirely.
"Gah!"
Even Magmar couldn't hide his pain under such an onslaught. As Dragonite had once said—Dragon Rage is a move that thrives on raw emotion rather than technique.
The greater the anger in the user's heart, the more powerful the attack.
At the same time, Charmeleon failed to notice that within his body, the invisible barrier that had been suppressing him was completely shattered by this furious strike!
Charmeleon's normal power had now reached Ultra Ball tier.
"You okay?"
Maki frowned slightly as he glanced at Mawile beneath him. Fortunately, he had dodged just in time, avoiding Magmar's Flamethrower. It was also thanks to Whimsicott's Tailwind—without it, even noticing the attack wouldn't have been enough to evade it.
"Mawile~" Mawile shook her head. She was fine, but…
Her gaze drifted downward. Due to the high temperatures of the secret realm, Maki was wearing a short-sleeved shirt and shorts. The cave's rough terrain had left its mark—his knee had scraped against the uneven ground, breaking the skin and allowing a thin layer of blood to seep out.
Though it wasn't a severe injury, the pain still made Maki frown involuntarily.
Yet, he forced a composed expression, focusing instead on Mawile.
"M-Mawile…"
Mawile hesitated to meet Maki's gaze. In her mind, it was her mistake that had caused him to get hurt. She should have been the one protecting him, standing in front of him like a true guardian.
She longed for the strength to protect Maki.
A powerful determination swelled within her, and as if drawn by an unseen force, her eyes fell upon Maki's pocket—something inside it was calling to her.
"…Are you sensing something?"
Noticing Mawile's gaze, Maki seemed to realize something. He reached into his pocket and pulled out the Mega Stone that Whimsicott had retrieved earlier. Unlike before, it now emitted a faint, pulsating pink glow, as if responding to something.
"Mawile's… Mega Stone!"
The realization struck him instantly.
"But…"
Maki hesitated. Mega Evolution wasn't something that just anyone could achieve. Simply obtaining a Mega Stone and a Key Stone didn't guarantee success.
Mega Evolution's power stemmed not only from the hidden energy within a Pokémon but also from the strength of the bond between trainer and Pokémon.
The bond between me and Mawile…
Maki fell into silent contemplation. No matter how he looked at it, Mawile had only been part of his team for slightly longer than Absol. Could they truly achieve Mega Evolution?
"Mawile!"
Before he could dwell on it further, Mawile grasped his hand, the one holding the Mega Stone. Her gaze was unwavering, as if telling Maki—trust her. Trust their bond.
Maki was stunned.
Images of their time together flooded his mind—especially the very beginning, when she had clung to his pant leg, refusing to leave his side.
Perhaps… some things didn't need time to be proven.
Maki reached into his other pocket, pulling out the Key Stone he had long neglected. He clenched it tightly in his fist before placing the glowing Mega Stone into Mawile's hands.
Upon touching her, the Mega Stone's glow intensified.
Enduring the pain in his leg, Maki rose to his feet. His right hand clenched tightly before him, holding the Key Stone.
Their exchange had lasted only a few breaths, but the understanding between them was clear.
Mawile, too, straightened up, no longer appearing fatigued.
"Mawile, let's answer our bond!"
A small smile tugged at Maki's lips as he spoke words he would normally never say. Any other day, he would cringe at such a line—but today, he wanted to embrace the moment.
Brilliant streams of multicolored light erupted from the Key Stone and the Mega Stone, enveloping both Maki and Mawile.
"Mega Evolution!"
The light from the two stones connected instantly. Maki felt his energy being drawn into the Key Stone, but in return, a deeper connection formed between him and Mawile.
He could clearly sense Mawile's thoughts.
And Mawile, in turn, could fully understand Maki's intentions and act upon them.
The evolutionary light surrounding Mawile faded—Mega Mawile was born!
Her skirt-like lower half and sleeves turned deep purple. While her overall form remained similar, the most striking change was the addition of a second massive jaw behind her, earning her the true title of "Twin-Tailed Terror."
"Mawile!"
She felt it. A surge of power unlike anything she had known before. But more than that, she could feel Maki's emotions.
Their bond.
"Go, Mawile! Use Power-Up Punch!"
Maki excitedly swung his arm forward.
But before his words had even left his mouth, Mawile had already charged ahead. The connection between them now transcended language.
However, the moment Maki swung his arm, he lost his balance and collapsed onto the ground again. Mega Evolution had drained too much of his stamina.
But even so, he couldn't stop smiling.
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