Chapter 207: A New Realm Beyond Level 80

“I tested it just now.”

“While in Demonized Mode, my energy, stamina, and vitality all increased tremendously.”

The actual figures were roughly double their original values.

Don’t underestimate a simple doubling.

What had increased was their energy, not some other statistic.

Energy was the foundation.

In theory, strengthening a Pokémon’s moves placed a certain degree of strain on its body.

By comparison, the name “Demonized Mode” might sound ominous, but the actual enhancement it provided was a genuine increase in a Pokémon’s fundamental reserves.

Its fundamental reserves included potential, latent potential, lifespan, vitality, and so on.

The reason Pokémon could repeatedly break through their limits during battle through their bonds with their Trainers was precisely because they were constantly drawing upon these reserves.

Ogerpon’s Fourfold Terastallization, for example, utilized the latent reserves hidden within Ogerpon’s body.

If she could undergo Demonization as well…

Her reserves would double.

The enhancement this would provide Ogerpon would be nothing short of earth-shattering.

Just extending the duration of her Fourfold Terastallization would make this research worthwhile for Sora.

And if every Pokémon could double its fundamental reserves after achieving one-hundred-percent Gigantamax fusion…

Honestly, that would be terrifying.

It could completely overturn the current understanding of the Pokémon world and would be an achievement worthy of being recorded in history.

“It really worked…”

Cynthia was undoubtedly the person with the most authority to comment.

When she learned that Calyrex’s fundamental reserves had doubled after completing the Gigantamax fusion, the shock she felt was difficult to put into words.

“You’ve opened up an entirely new path, Sora.”

“Though Calyrex isn’t anything like an ordinary Pokémon.”

“Even so, it’s still an incredible achievement!”

Cynthia naturally understood that.

There were many reasons Calyrex had been able to endure and adapt so quickly.

First, he already possessed a vessel capable of reaching beyond Level 95.

On top of that, he possessed the King’s Power, an energy that stood in opposition to Eternatus’s Dynamax Energy.

The two powers had formed a certain balance within Calyrex’s body.

That was what allowed him to complete the fusion in just over an hour.

“Let’s summarize our findings.”

Over the following period, Sora had Calyrex demonstrate the new power he’d acquired.

The final conclusion was that Demonized Mode could not increase Calyrex’s physical size the way Dynamax or Gigantamax could.

To become larger, he still needed to absorb Dynamax Energy.

There was simply no way around that.

And without Victini’s assistance, or when outside the Galar region, Calyrex’s so-called Demonized Mode was more like releasing another reserve of power sealed within his body.

In Sora’s words…

Calyrex had effectively gained another HP bar and another energy bar.

While in Demonized Mode, Calyrex could expend this additional reserve without restraint.

Only when more than fifty percent of that energy had been depleted would he automatically exit Demonized Mode and return to his normal form.

“Is it something like a variation of Mega Evolution?”

Sora noticed that Calyrex’s appearance had not changed much after Demonization.

Apart from his blue coloration, there wasn’t much difference.

He speculated that Pokémon possessing Gigantamax forms might actually be the most suitable candidates for Demonization.

Previously, Sora had assumed that every Pokémon could obtain its own unique Gigantamax form.

Now that he thought about it…

That might not actually be the case.

It had nothing to do with game designers cutting corners.

Instead, it was fundamentally about compatibility with Dynamax Energy.

Some Pokémon were more compatible with Eternatus’s power and could therefore undergo an alternative form of “evolution.”

Most Pokémon, however, couldn’t truly adapt to it.

Of course, every Pokémon could attempt Demonization.

The problem was simply that the threshold was extremely high.

“Calyrex, what level do you think a Pokémon needs to reach before it qualifies for Demonization training?”

“Level 80.”

Calyrex answered without hesitation.

The reason was simple.

In his current weakened state, he couldn’t undergo Demonization on his own.

Doing so would cause him tremendous pain.

Only after mounting Spectrier or Glastrier, when his energy output increased, could Calyrex withstand the corrosion of liquid-state Dynamax Energy and attempt to absorb it.

“Level 80?”

“Another Champion-level secret technique…”

Sora sighed.

He was beginning to realize that many powerful techniques truly weren’t accessible to ordinary Pokémon.

Take Demonization training.

If you tried it on a Pokémon below Level 70, it would essentially amount to suicide.

Pokémon with Gigantamax forms had it somewhat easier.

When exposed to liquid-state Dynamax Energy, they could at least enter Gigantamax.

But Pokémon without Gigantamax forms…

Forcing them to come into contact with liquid-state energy would feel no different from having a vat of sulfuric acid poured over them.

Even Pokémon between Levels 70 and 80 would have to endure tremendous pain.

At least they wouldn’t suffer permanent damage.

“In other words, a Level 70 Pokémon can technically undergo Demonization training.”

“But to prevent them from being injured, we should still set the official threshold at Level 80.”

Sora felt it was necessary to restrict access to Demonization training.

Otherwise, once certain Trainers learned about this power, they might recklessly torture their own Pokémon in pursuit of greater strength.

At present, only Victini could manufacture liquid-state Dynamax Energy.

But Sora knew something else.

Chairman Rose controlled Eternatus.

Never underestimate human technology.

If Rose learned about Demonization, he would undoubtedly begin researching Dynamax Energy and attempt to extract liquid-state Dynamax Energy directly from Eternatus.

And that wouldn’t be the imitation produced by Victini.

The genuine liquid-state energy would be countless times more violent than Victini’s version.

The divinity contained within it could even destroy Pokémon outright.

“Cynthia?”

“Mm. I understand.”

Cynthia immediately recognized the danger.

“I won’t tell anyone about it.”

“I trust you.”

Sora wasn’t worried about Cynthia.

Nor would he casually tell Korrina and Marnie about this power.

At least not until they reached Champion level.

Naturally…

If they never managed to raise a Pokémon to Champion level—Level 80—then there would be even less reason for them to learn about it.

“Let’s treat this power as a forbidden technique of my school and seal it away for now.”

“Seal it away” didn’t mean Sora would stop researching it.

He wasn’t restricting his own Pokémon.

Once his Pokémon reached Level 80, he could let them pursue the same path as Calyrex.

Magearna, Volcanion, Ogerpon…

They could all use Victini’s assistance to develop their own unique forms of Demonization.

Sora was very much looking forward to seeing what different kinds of Legendary Pokémon would look like after Demonization…

And how their forms would differ from Calyrex’s.