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Chris had been in the Kalos Region for a few days, delaying his return to the Hoenn Region. While exploring maps for Pokémon spawn points and fields for planting Berries, he discovered the Kalos Region's claim to fame: the birthplace of Mega Evolution. Chris initially hoped to find a treasure trove of Mega Stones but was disappointed by their scarcity. Even in Kalos, Mega Stones are rare treasures, comparable to secret items in their rarity. Perhaps Chris wasn't dedicated enough to the hunt, as his focus was mainly on challenging the region's gyms.
Kalos' eight Gyms presented an impressive challenge. Using his holiday break, Chris managed to conquer them all. Compared to Hoenn, the Kalos Gyms proved significantly tougher, with more than half of the Gym Leaders capable of Mega Evolution. Since Chris had already collected all eight badges, any Gym Leader he faced went all out, using Level 70 Pokémon teams equipped with strong tactics, helpful items, and the natural advantages of their respective gyms—plus the bonus of Mega Evolution.
Chris relied heavily on his Gardevoir, Garchomp, and Red Gyarados. For the Lumiose City Electric Gym, his Garchomp easily overpowered Clemont. The Grass Gym in Coumarine City, the Bug Gym in Santalune City, and the Rock Gym in Cyllage City also posed little trouble, as his Red Gyarados swept through with Moxie. At the Psychic Gym in Anistar City, Chris recreated his infamous "Mossdeep massacre" with the double Dark-type duo of Tyranitar and Greninja, dominating the Psychic Pokémon.
The Ice Gym in Snowbelle City proved tougher. Wulfric, who once defeated Ash and Greninja, nearly bested Chris. However, he triumphed with the combined efforts of Tyranitar, Blaziken, and Mega Gardevoir. The most grueling battle was against the Fairy Gym in Laverre City. Chris struggled since his Pokémon weren't well-suited to counter Fairy-types. Without Mega Gardevoir, he might have lost—Sylveon proved both strong and terrifying.
Despite the exhaustion from battling seven Gyms in quick succession, Chris persevered, treating the experience as valuable training. His hard work paid off, as the power of several of his Pokémon's moves increased, especially Cut, which now had a base power of 100 and an improved critical-hit rate. Greninja, specializing in Cut, continued practicing it alongside Surf.
Chris ended his Kalos journey by flying back to Hoenn on his Flygon, noticing a substantial improvement in Fly's speed thanks to the enhancements he gained. The trip back now took 187 hours instead of 234, making his efforts in Kalos even more worthwhile.
If Chris were to travel to the Johto Region, the journey would likely take only two days. Among his many lessons, Chris has focused on mastering the moves taught by his father, using the increased power of Secret moves—from 110 to 120—as a basis for developing other strategies. The overall physical attack power of his Pokémon has significantly improved, making this approach more impactful than the general move power bonus gained from badges.
One of the standout moves is Secret Waterfall. With a power of 100 and a 20% chance to make the target flinch, it can also trap the opponent in Whirlpool if the Pokémon has mastered that move. For Chris, this move is a game-changer, especially for Greninja and Gyarados. Their synergy with the Waterfall and Surf combination has elevated their battle capabilities. Using Surf to create massive waves, followed by Waterfall to leap and stir water currents on impact, this strategy dominates Pokémon weak to Water-types, including Fire, Rock, and Ground Pokémon.
Unfortunately, the learning requirements for Waterfall are steep, with few non-Water-type Pokémon being able to learn it. This limitation excludes Garchomp and Tyranitar, preventing them from benefiting from its effects.
After completing the seven Kalos gyms, Chris spent additional time leveling up his team while exploring. His Pokémon gained one or two levels as a result. However, he decided to delay challenging Kalos' Victory Road and Elite Four due to their immense strength—each Elite Four member boasts an average of 2 Mega Evolutions. Instead, Chris plans to tackle the Hoenn Region's Victory Road first, where completing the main quest may lead him to capture a Rayquaza with a Master Ball.
Before leaving Kalos, Chris tended to the Berry fields and finalized his exploration. As the year's end approached in the real world, Chris received an unexpected call from his teacher, Vladimir.
"Come to my house. Some senior trainers are visiting me today, and you should come meet them," Vladimir invited.
With new opportunities ahead, Chris prepares to make the most of the remaining time before advancing further in his journey.