After getting some information about the Aether Foundation from Gladion, Axel didn't let him leave right away.
The current Gladion was way too weak.
Even if he did find the entrance, he'd probably just end up getting one-shotted by Faba.
Luckily, Axel knew how Type: Null evolved, so he could help Gladion evolve it first.
"Evolve?", Hearing that, Gladion's eyes lit up.
He'd been researching it for a long time and already knew that Type: Null had an evolved form.
But figuring out how to make Type: Null evolve had always been an unsolved problem.
Normally, Pokémon evolve by leveling up, but he'd already tried that countless times.
His Type: Null was already past level 50, yet it still hadn't evolved.
Even pseudo-legendary Pokémon didn't evolve this late.
During that time, Gladion even tried having Type: Null level up while holding various items, just like Poliwag or Growlithe, but none of it worked.
"Yes. Your Pokémon's evolution method is actually very simple. If everything goes smoothly, it should evolve very soon."
"What do I need to do?", Faced with Axel's overwhelming strength, Gladion chose to believe him without hesitation.
"Just follow my instructions."
For the next half day, Axel had Gladion buy a Soothe Bell and remove all the heavy items Type: Null was carrying.
Then he arranged a few bonding mini-games for him and Type: Null to play together.
With the groundwork already laid, by evening, Type: Null finally evolved in a flash of white light, turning into Silvally.
When Gladion saw the gleaming silver body and the surge of power radiating from Silvally, his gaze toward Axel completely changed.
His Rotom Dex, which had stored potential data beforehand, automatically displayed Silvally's information.
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— Silvally: Lv. 59 (Artificial Pokémon, evolved form of Type: Null, capable of freely changing its type.)
— Current Type: Normal
— Ability: RKS System (Changes its type based on the memory disc it holds.)
— Moves: Tackle, Poison Fang, Heal Block, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Fire Fang, Air Slash, Punishment, Swords Dance, Multi-Attack (changes type depending on the memory disc held.)
— Potential: Champion
— Held Items: Memory Discs ×17
— Tags: Ultra Beast Suppression (Gold), Attribute Boost (Gold)
• Ultra Beast Suppression: Increases damage to Ultra Beasts by 50%.
• Attribute Boost: Can change its internal type through specific energy infusion.
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"Holy crap, bro!", Gladion looked absolutely thrilled.
Thi-this was what you called a true Pokémon Breeder.
The entire Foundation had spent years studying this and couldn't figure it out, yet Axel solved it in a single night.
Gladion bowed deeply, eyes full of gratitude, then threw his arms around Silvally's neck.
"Silvally, you finally evolved!"
"Now, even if an Ultra Beast appears, we actually have the power to stop it."
Then he turned back to Axel.
"Mr. Axel, could you let your Ultra Beast battle with me? I really need data on Silvally fighting against one."
Axel: "..."
"You sure you want your freshly evolved Silvally to fight them?"
"Yes!", Gladion's voice was full of confidence.
Silvally had been created to counter Ultra Beasts. Now that it was in its complete form, how could it possibly lose to them?
And according to their research, Silvally could become even stronger through its unique ability.
Any battle against an Ultra Beast was extremely valuable data.
"Alright then," Axel shrugged, "But maybe you should give your little Null a pep talk first."
"My two Ultra Beasts aren't like the others. Tell him not to take it too hard when he gets beaten up."
Gladion grinned, "Don't worry, Mr. Axel. I know Silvally inside out."
Axel: "..."
'Yeah, but you don't know my Ultra Beasts, kid.'
"Fine, fine. Let's do it. I've been wanting to see how Pheromosa's combat strength has developed lately anyway."
Also, Axel had been uncertain about Gyarados's training path.
But seeing Silvally gave him an idea.
If he could obtain that Tag, maybe he could change Gyarados's typing, perhaps even let it gradually inherit Palkia's authority over space.
———
Soon, both sides took their positions.
Gladion radiated confidence.
As someone who regularly worked with the Aether Foundation, he knew exactly what Silvally represented.
This was the ultimate weapon designed to resist the Ultra Beasts.
It might not stand out much against normal Pokémon, but once its opponent was an Ultra Beast, Silvally would become their worst nightmare.
Just like how even a small cat could still scare off a rat.
Even though Axel's two Ultra Beasts were extremely well-trained, Gladion was sure his Silvally wouldn't fall behind.
"Nihilego, you start first," Axel was also curious about Silvally's strength and wanted to observe it more closely, so he sent out Nihilego first.
If Pheromosa went in right away and accidentally kicked off one of Silvally's parts, that'd be a mess.
When Gladion saw Nihilego, his heart tightened.
'So it really is that one...'
Even Axel, it seemed, felt some pressure facing Silvally.
In Gladion's mind, everything, the Ultra Beasts' arrival, the Aether Foundation's change, had all started with a Nihilego.
Naturally, he saw it as the most terrifying of all Ultra Beasts.
And his goal all along had been to defeat it.
Now, that chance had finally come.
"Mr. Axel, thank you for taking this seriously. I'll give it my all!"
Meanwhile, Dragonair and Duraludon had already pulled out sunflower seeds and bottled water, hiding behind Gardevoir to spectate.
'Bro, if you're going all out just to fight Nihilego, where'd you get the guts to challenge Pheromosa too?'
As everyone watched, Nihilego floated down awkwardly in front of Silvally.
"The battle begins."
At Cynthia's signal, Gladion nodded sharply and pointed forward.
"Silvally! The opponent, Nihilego, is Rock and Poison type."
"So, change to Steel type and use Multi-Attack!"
Gladion barked the order, looking all confident and strategic.
Normally, the best option would be Ground type for maximum damage.
But Nihilego was Poison type.
And Poison Pokémon usually open with a poison move.
By switching to Steel type, Silvally could shrug it off and get a free turn.
Gladion had imagined this battle against Nihilego countless times.
Now, he finally got to live it.
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