[Vote Poll Is Already Open On P@tr3on!!]
[Warhammer 40K: A Multiverse Saga]
[Warhammer 40K: They Said I Have No Soul]
===
Cyrano's invitation did, in fact, stir Hikaru's heart.
The Eco-Core was truly one of Blueberry Academy's crowning research achievements; one could even say it was the very cornerstone that made the Terarium possible.
Hikaru still remembered a skill he had obtained long ago—simple in description yet of paramount importance.
It was Environmental Carving, and thanks to that craft he could repair all kinds of ruins and soothe the emotions of wild Pokémon.
If he could collect soils from different regions, he could then create a small, localized terroir.
As a result, he unconsciously incorporated the technique into his later carvings.
"I really am interested—that's the truth."
The metaphysical forces that underpin the world of Pokémon—the "unbelievable" spiritual powers that shape its grand currents—are its very bedrock, and yet the Terarium houses technology that outright defies that natural order.
Not just the Eco-Core.
There was also the core tech that regulates the climates of the four zones.
They could freely produce snowfield, canyon, southern tropics, and subtropical savanna without even a Gradient Belt.
Hikaru suspected those roadside luminous polyhedra in Blueberry Academy—glowing like "sea-crystal lamps"—might well be the crucial facilities that influence the Terarium's climate.
These objects exist throughout all four zones; no one knows what they do and they can't be interacted with, yet they are among the primary structures of the four areas—so the answer is simple.
If the design draws on the Pokémon House, then these are the dome's ecological pillars.
"…Hold on—teachers are usually researchers who transfer over."
Hikaru suddenly realized something, and Cyrano burst into hearty laughter.
"So long as you join the Eco-Core research, you'll earn immense renown in the scientific community, and if you guest-teach after that, no one will object!"
"Of course, I'm not insisting you help with classes… Mm, and if you absolutely refuse, there's nothing I can do."
"But I can feel it—you're not averse to being a teacher; you're craving something else!"
"Artifacts, techniques, technology—whatever it is, so long as you achieve your goal, the process doesn't matter!"
"Join this research and you'll certainly gain rich knowledge and engineering know-how—it's a win–win, isn't it?"
Hikaru was taken aback. "So to recruit talent, you'd even put such secret technology on the table as a bargaining chip?"
Cyrano: "Technology has value only in the hands of talent. If you hoard it or misuse it, it's worthless!"
Hikaru found himself agreeing with that.
Hikaru: "In that case… I want to know if what the lab needs includes the composition of terroir."
Cyrano: "Terroir? If you mean the climates of different lands… our first plan is to gather soils from various regions—starting with Unova."
He grabbed a handful of dirt. "See? The soil here is incredibly fertile, which is why we have such beautiful, flower-filled towns, snowy mountains, lakes, blossoms, winds, and skies—"
Hikaru: "Ahem."
For some reason, this was the moment to cut him off.
"To simulate them, we study soil components and humidity for each region. Deeper research is currently entrusted to a field expert—a scholar named Berea."
"But from the way you speak, you seem to have a unique understanding of terroir too. I'd love to hear your view on soil collection."
Hikaru: "Mm. Land carries power."
"Different regional soils nurture different plant communities; under the factors of climate and geography, these soils acquire distinct properties, and thus unique Pokémon arise upon those lands."
"Under the influence of terroir, some Pokémon come to look very different from their counterparts elsewhere; their ecologies diverge markedly from known conspecifics, and even their types can change—that is what we call regional forms."
"Moreover, beyond ordinary regional forms, the flux of nature has also given rise to 'Past' and 'Future' forms."
"Even with the same Pokémon, evolutions can produce different forms."
"And some Pokémon with different ancestors can, through environmental change, display convergent evolution."
"Oh!" Cyrano was amazed, wholly engrossed in Hikaru's argument.
"You've researched regional forms as well? Remarkable—by my knowledge, that topic is still a brand-new field!"
Hikaru: "So, to fully reproduce a region's terroir, you need special forces."
"Those are crystals and natural energy."
"Oh?" Cyrano's expression shifted; he realized the 'man who knows everything' before him commanded hidden knowledge.
Hikaru knew one thing with clarity.
Though the Eco-Core's operating principles and fabrication methods remained unknown, it undoubtedly possessed a power akin to Team Rocket's Terrain Amplifier from the Special: it could diffuse natural energy imported from faraway regions to generate a small, specialized zone that simulated a homeland environment.
In later stages, the Eco-Core was injected with three substances; those dissolved into its internal fluid and in turn emitted Terastal energy.
Soil from Paldea, water from the Crystal Pool, and crystals from Area Zero.
Hikaru then outlined some fundamentals of shifting terroirs and how different soils affect Pokémon, including which Pokémon can produce or shape those soils.
Cyrano's eyes shone ever brighter, and though the three kids couldn't follow everything, they still learned about regional forms and climatic terroirs.
Rosa, a quick study, swished her twin tails excitedly.
"So! A Pokémon calms down when it's standing on soil from its homeland—even places that are close together have different 'natural power and scent' in their soil!"
Nate's eyes sparkled in sudden realization.
"I get it—Pokémon categories are influenced by land, too. In far-off places, you still find Pokémon classified the same way—I heard Diglett and Drilbur share the same category!"
Hugh, more focused on moveset differences across regions, chimed in.
"Mm, different lands affect how Pokémon battle, and they'll learn different moves! There are also big finishers that draw on the environment—Secret Power, Nature Power—there are moves like that!"
"Subarashii!"
Cyrano applauded, visibly thrilled. "O knower of all things—your views are fascinating and formidable!"
"Even the specialist I hired isn't as lucid as you."
"And I know of natural energy. There was a tremendous natural disaster in the Hoenn region before."
"Intense natural energy affected even distant lands. I didn't witness it with my own eyes, but ever since then, discussions of natural energy began appearing in research across many regions."
By now, Cyrano's impulse was irrepressible.
"Please, you must join our ecological research—this is of incalculable importance to Blueberry Academy!"
"As for money—don't worry about it!"
Director Cyrano declared that Blueberry Academy was a man-made miracle funded by his vast investment; perhaps the Terarium lacked many things, but money was not one of them!
(End of Chapter)
[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]