"I thought the Thunderstruck Swordsman would be hard to find. Who would've guessed there'd be a ramen stand on Mount Coronet? You could see the cooking smoke from miles away!"
"And there are actually quite a few people nearby. Did they come here to mine? I can't believe people would flock to a shop opened in a place like this."
Several days later, Adaman, leader of the Diamond Clan, arrived at the mountain.
After visiting the Galaxy Team and obtaining reliable information, he had conducted a thorough investigation with members of both the Galaxy Team and the Diamond Clan before finally locating this place.
He was not alone. Accompanying him were Cyllene, the newly appointed captain of the Survey Corps, and several people transferred from the Security Corps. They were inexperienced, but these people were the Survey Corps' first members.
For this trip, Cyllene had deliberately brought her sword, a blade from the Hoenn region.
She had also brought the Abra she had caught near a space-time distortion in the wilderness, the same one Alec had rescued and treated. If danger arose, Abra could use Teleport to escape. As for why it had been injured while still wild, it simply had not managed to use the move in time...
"I need to confirm that the Thunderstruck Swordsman truly is here," Cyllene said.
"Miss Cyllene, you've confirmed that several times already," Adaman replied. "Besides, if the Galaxy Team doesn't know, then the Diamond Clan won't have a clue either. By the way, is the Galaxy Team here to learn his technology, study his knowledge, or challenge him to a sword fight?"
"All three. After all, he claimed to be the greatest master in the world. I will never forget what I witnessed that day. I have never seen anyone so powerful."
"In other words, he is also the world's greatest swordsman."
"As another swordsman, I want to know how far away the 'world' truly is."
"I could not even give my name. When confronted by a Pokémon, I seemed to lose the courage to swing my sword. I asked Alec whether he was afraid. Yet even a doctor showed no fear, while I, a swordsman, did."
"I once believed there was no one who did not fear Pokémon, even a Wurmple... But then I saw the world's greatest swordsman."
"During that battle, I realized that I had been nothing more than a frog at the bottom of a well. Looking back on everything I have done, why have I continued wielding a sword all these years?"
A scar upon one's back was proof of retreat.
Scars on the back were a swordsman's shame!
Cyllene's voice abruptly changed. She gritted her teeth, her words filled with unwilling frustration.
"The world should not be so far away!"
She practically growled the words, venting the emotions she had kept buried. Then she regained her composure and immediately returned to her usual demeanor.
"That is merely my personal opinion."
"Our commander also wishes to determine whether the swordsman's presence and activities will affect the Galaxy Team's survival. Furthermore, we are concerned that his appearance may provoke a significant reaction from your two clans."
"A swordsman's pride..." Adaman murmured. "Hisui seems to have a legend about a fallen swordsman as well, though I don't know much about it."
"Perhaps the word 'swordsman' carries a deeper meaning of its own."
He changed the subject, shifting the focus back to the Diamond Clan.
"As for the reaction, there's been some, but nothing too serious. Your commander is so cautious, yet he keeps probing for information. That's bound to place enormous pressure on him. Too much pressure can make people behave strangely or do things no one understands. I can't exactly tell him that to his face, so you should advise him to relax from time to time."
"He appears so steady. I never expected him to be that impatient."
"Don't worry. The Diamond Clan won't start a conflict with the Pearl Clan over this. This is a new age, and time is always changing. The Diamond and Pearl Clans certainly have a history of conflict, but since we all live in Hisui, we should solve our problems together. We should cooperate for our mutual benefit and help one another."
"Still, if a conflict truly breaks out, the Galaxy Team might choose not to interfere."
"I hope so," Cyllene said. "We came here seeking a new world free from conflict. I apologize."
"We also intend to learn more about the 'one with the mission.' It is difficult to imagine that even someone as powerful as the Thunderstruck Swordsman is not that person. If a god truly exists, then whose arrival is it awaiting?"
"That question has caused our commander endless anxiety. The return of Celestica and Sinjoh has introduced new uncertainties to this land. It is difficult to imagine that a single person could exert such tremendous pressure."
A voice came from behind the ramen stand.
"Ah, an Abra... What a nostalgic Pokémon. It reminds me of the Abra back home in Sinjoh. Anyone who wandered into Sinjoh only had to picture their home in their heart, and that Abra could send any lost person or Pokémon safely back where they belonged."
Hikaru looked at the two people who had climbed the mountain, as well as the Galaxy Team members accompanying them. He recognized several faces from the Security Corps.
Cyllene's arrival was understandable.
But Adaman had come too...
The Diamond Clan's members were natives of this land and had Pokémon partners, allowing them to roam the wilderness alone. Adaman himself was one of the clan's stronger members.
Besides, if Irida was the "gifted music student," then Adaman was the "Poké Ball Review Master"!
When Adaman traveled to the modern era in Pokémon Masters EX, he had offered his opinions on different Poké Balls.
His review of the Timer Ball had been: "Who made this thing?! It's the sort of Poké Ball that'll make you die of impatience!"
His review of the Quick Ball, meanwhile, had been: "Now this is good! It doesn't waste a second. It might be the greatest invention ever!"
That was how he had earned the title of Poké Ball Review Master.
Hikaru wondered how Master Adaman would evaluate the other varieties.
"The Crimson Mirelands, where the Diamond Clan lives, are home to vast fields of golden Hearty Grains. It is some of the most fertile land in all of Hisui. Those grains can be cooked like rice or ground into flour for noodles, making them a very unusual crop. Ordinarily, rice flour and wheat flour have completely different culinary uses."
Apart from Adaman and Cyllene's group, several members of the Pearl Clan were also present, eating ramen. They looked surprised when they saw the Diamond Clan's leader arrive, but the moment they noticed Cyllene, they understood.
So they had come looking for the swordsman...
The Pearl Clan had learned Almighty Sinnoh's true name and was now the clan that had received guidance. The Diamond Clan, in contrast, had received no such guidance. This should have been the perfect opportunity to expose the false impostor and humiliate those disgraceful fools.
However, Irida refused to permit it. Even Warden Lian now opposed such behavior.
Some had initially believed that the swordsman had bewitched them. After becoming acquainted with him, however, they came to understand why Irida had made that decision. The swordsman was not that sort of person, and getting to know him had eased their inner turmoil.
The Diamond Clan had apparently released new information to preserve its dignity, claiming the swordsman himself had spoken of "the vastness of time." The Pearl Clan could not twist the wording to refute that particular claim, so it had no choice but to accept it.
As a result, the complete story known by the swordsman had not yet spread throughout Hisui.
Some people had come to hear ancient myths and remember ages long past, hoping to draw closer to heaven and the gods.
"The foreign Thunderstruck Swordsman of Sinjoh, Lord Hikaru," Cyllene greeted him. "It has been a long time."
"Miss Cyllene, isn't that title a little too long?" Adaman asked.
He then turned toward Hikaru.
"Hey! Nice to meet you! I'm Adaman, the handsome and dashing leader of the Diamond Clan! That's 'leader,' mind you, not some stuffy old chief!"
"You never came looking for the Diamond Clan, so I decided that, since we are both descendants of the Celestica people, I had to make the trip myself and meet you. I hope you'll forgive me for arriving uninvited. Someone said you and members of the Pearl Clan were mining here, so I decided to come!"
"Someone also said you were with the Lady of the Ridge. Could you explain...?"
Adaman had not heard this from Clover. Since she had left the Diamond Clan, Adaman had no idea what she was doing. He had not even seen her wanted poster.
Before he could finish, he saw Lilligant nearby and widened his eyes in astonishment. He quickly realized the truth.
"No, that isn't the Lady of the Ridge herself. It's another Pokémon of the same species. Their sizes are different... I see. You possess Pokémon revered by both the Diamond and Pearl Clans. So this is the power of Sinjoh's people..."
"Before we talk, would you, Miss Cyllene, and everyone from the Security Corps... no, the Survey Corps, like some ramen?" Hikaru asked.
Adaman answered without hesitation.
"Time is precious, so I'll ask my questions directly. I came to understand everything."
"I've heard that the Thunderstruck Swordsman's cooking is extremely popular among the Pearl Clan. Apparently, several Galaxy Team members working in the field also encountered you recently, and they all gave it the highest praise."
"Please give me a bowl. I'm counting on you!"
"To understand everything..." Hikaru said. "Then let us begin with the sayings and myths passed down by the Diamond Clan."
"'Let's meet tomorrow together.' That is a Diamond Clan saying. It expresses the hope that both people will remain safe."
"'Give not into sorrow. Give not into anger. Offer only friendship to those around you. Give not into sorrow. Give not into anger. Bring not Almighty Sinnoh to sorrow. For that is when time's flow will cease...'"
"In a world far beyond our own, there was once a similar story known as the planet's paralysis."
"When the gears of time malfunctioned, the wind stopped blowing, the clouds ceased to drift, and even the dew upon the leaves no longer fell."
"That's from our clan!" Adaman exclaimed. "Though some members of the Pearl Clan know parts of it too..."
His gaze sharpened.
There truly was a story about time!
However, the Thunderstruck Swordsman abruptly changed direction.
"But the Almighty Sinnoh mentioned in that passage is not the deity revered by the Diamond Clan," Hikaru said.
"The true name of your Almighty of Diamond is Dialga. There is an obscure myth passed down in Hisui. It says that when Dialga was born and its heart began to beat, time in the mortal world began flowing like a mighty river."
"And now, here is the legend in its original form."
"Old Verse 18."
"'Offer only friendship to those around you. Anger none. Sadden none. Know that a land once riven...'"
"'Can never be made whole again!'"
Hikaru looked directly at Adaman.
"Do you also wish to stand upon the stage of light?"
"What convictions brought you here?"
Unlike Irida, who was comparatively conservative and cherished ancient customs and cultural traditions, Adaman was highly receptive to new ideas.
The world was changing, and time was always moving forward. That was his personal creed.
His heart wavered for only an instant.
"My conviction is to resolve the conflicts and anger between people, make the Diamond Settlement better, and learn more about Pokémon!" Adaman declared. "Only then can we survive in this changing age!"
"I've always wanted to understand the relationship between humans and Pokémon. I want to know how a person should face this world."
"I will treasure the history that brought us here while also pursuing a better future! I want to understand the teachings of Almighty Sinnoh preserved in the Diamond Clan's myths!"
"As expected of the leader chosen by the Diamond Clan," Hikaru said. "That presence of yours is anything but ordinary. Perhaps it comes from growing up with two Pokémon as your brother and sister."
"Of course, change is not always good. A change of heart can give birth to betrayal. That is why one must understand change correctly before making a choice."
"Then we shall begin with knowledge about Pokémon. Unfortunately, that takes a great deal of time. An impatient man may find it difficult to sit still and learn. The other clan leader is calmer and more even-tempered by comparison, but the price is that her head is completely empty."
"What was that? Are you talking behind my back?"
Irida approached from nearby. The instant she saw Adaman, a displeased pout appeared on her face.
"He's no good at using his head either! Even Warden Sabi of the Diamond Clan said Adaman only pretends to be clever!"
"Huh?" Adaman snapped.
"Hmph!" Irida replied.
Although these two argued every time they met, even when they set aside their positions as clan leaders, this time they merely exchanged a single sound before turning away and ignoring one another.
The same instinct seemed to be written into the very foundations of both clans.
"You did not argue this time," Cyllene observed with a completely straight face. "You did just declare your intention to resolve conflicts, after all."
She joined the conversation and explained why she had come.
"I knew from the beginning that the Galaxy Team would eventually send people here to study your technology and knowledge," Hikaru said. "Setting aside magic and swordsmanship, medicine is the true priority. After Alec left, Jubilife Village no longer had a highly skilled doctor. The Medical Corps alone cannot care for everyone, especially with Pokémon now joining the village."
"However, what Alec left behind has proven useful. That includes methods for using Medicinal Leeks and Potions made by combining them with Oran Berries. The Ginkgo Guild also sells topical Potions while traveling through other regions."
"The Galaxy Team can also learn traditional treatments from the Diamond and Pearl Clans. The Diamond Clan has a secret medicine made by diluting Croagunk poison. The Pearl Clan possesses an even longer history of medicine-making. Warden Calaba is highly skilled in the craft and can produce powerful poison-purging pills, though their medicinal properties are too intense for most humans to endure."
Hikaru took out a green herb with curled leaves and placed it before Cyllene.
"A vivid green medicinal herb I've never seen before..." Cyllene murmured.
"Correct. This medicine does not yet exist in Hisui, or rather, no one has discovered it. It grows only in fertile lands or places possessing unusual energy, which presently means the Coronet Highlands and the Alabaster Icelands."
"Although the soil in the Crimson Mirelands and Obsidian Fieldlands appears fertile, it cannot yet support the cultivation of this plant."
"Traditional medicines instead use Petilil leaves or the dewdrop buds known as Vivichokes. Mai, Adaman's elder sister and the warden responsible for Deertrack Heights, is particularly knowledgeable and skilled in their use. However, I don't believe she has ever visited Jubilife Village."
"This herb is called a Revival Herb. Its flavor is extremely bitter and spicy, but it can completely restore the strength and vitality of a Pokémon on the brink of death. Because of its intense bitterness, it lowers a Pokémon's friendship with humans. That is hardly important, however, since some Pokémon actually enjoy this flavor."
"In the distant Alola region, Revival Herbs are considered a traditional ingredient in Akala Curry."
"I have many medicinal herbs like this, along with the remedies that can be made from them. You have probably heard something about the Secret Medicine, a formula passed down for hundreds of years."
"However, if the Galaxy Team wishes to study or acquire these medicines, this world's money is useless to me. I already possess plenty of Nuggets, so I require something more valuable."
"Bartering, then?" Cyllene asked. "What do you want? Everything the Galaxy Team possesses was brought here from foreign lands. Do you want armor unavailable in Hisui, or perhaps machinery?"
"I need neither. I want a stone, specifically one shaped like this."
As he spoke, Hikaru took out his Thousand-Arms Wheel pendant.
"A stone of this shape is known as a Shrine Guardian Stone. I already asked Irida, but it seems the one from the Temple of Sinnoh has vanished. Is it in Jubilife Village?"
Cyllene froze briefly and searched her memories. Her answer surprised Hikaru.
"No. In truth, no one in the village has ever seen a stone like that."
It remained unclear whether the Galaxy Team simply had not obtained the Shrine Guardian Stone yet, or whether it had been removed from history like the Lustrous Orb, preventing Jubilife Village from ever acquiring it.
Either way, the Old Charm had now been lost completely.
"I thought you might desire some precious machine transported here across the ocean," Cyllene said. "Instead, you chose a stone. I truly cannot help you with this."
"You don't appear to be lying, Miss Cyllene..."
Cyllene shook her head.
"I am telling the truth. I have not lied. Does this stone possess some unusual quality?"
"If you're looking for stones, we have a gigantic Diamond boulder enshrined at the Diamond Settlement," Adaman offered. "Would you like to come see it?"
"The Pearl Settlement also has an enormous boulder," Irida countered. "There is no need to visit the Diamond Settlement merely to look at a rock."
"You're awfully nervous, Irida," Adaman said. "I'm only inviting him as a guest. Nothing is going to happen. Or do you lack confidence in your ability to lead your own clan?"
"You... You... Hmph! In light of Hikaru's words, I refuse to argue with you."
"Huh? The Pearl Clan's leader is surprisingly agreeable today. Fine, I was wrong just now. But I genuinely want to invite him, and nothing will happen. You can relax."
Although the two leaders continued discussing the matter, Hikaru merely shook his head.
"Setting aside the Diamond and Pearl boulders, the Shrine Guardian Stone is a very important object. I will entrust the Galaxy Team with searching for it. When the Survey Corps ventures into the field, keep an eye out."
"That will be the condition for exchanging knowledge."
"As for Survey Corps members who are afraid of exploring the wilderness, they can use these. Of course, they must purchase them separately. I am not giving them away for free."
Hikaru produced several charms.
"Tempting Charms, Survival Charms, and Warding Charms. Their effects are..."
"Thanks to Hisui's inexhaustible mineral deposits, these charms can now be mass-produced. A certain backup stone used in their creation merely possesses the same properties as the Shrine Guardian Stone, but its effectiveness when made into charms is nearly identical."
"The Shrine Guardian Stone's importance, however, extends far beyond making these charms."
"I do not fully understand, but obtaining something in exchange is enough," Cyllene said. "Very well. During our expeditions, the Survey Corps and I will pay particular attention to this stone."
"Still, searching vast Hisui for a peculiar stone the size of a human head without a single clue is like searching for a needle in the ocean."
"In other words, you don't truly expect us to find it. Even so, we will not neglect the task. Those who do not work shall not eat. That is the Galaxy Team's principle."
"You claim these other charms possess unusual powers. If anyone else, including the Ginkgo Guild, made such claims, I would assume they were exaggerating to sell their wares. Coming from you, however, it proves these jade charms truly possess special power."
"What do you want in exchange? Crafting materials?"
"Candy Truffles, Sootfoot Roots, Springy Mushrooms, Hopo Berries, Bugworts, Iron Chunks, Swordcaps, Direshrooms, Hearty Grains, Plump Beans, Caster Ferns, Spoiled Apricorns, and Mud Balls."
"Many of those are common natural resources found throughout Hisui. Springy Mushrooms, for example, grow everywhere because of their extraordinary vitality. Others are considerably rarer."
"Bring me all of them. Do not gather nothing but mushrooms simply because it is convenient."
"I see," Cyllene said. "You intend to collect vast quantities of materials for crafting."
"It is extremely rare to encounter anyone outside the Galaxy Team who possesses advanced crafting techniques in this region. For someone from a foreign land, however, it may not be difficult."
"Still, many of those materials are food. Do you truly intend to open a food stall or establish a traveling settlement here?"
"No. Apart from cooking and crafting special items, the food gathered here will also be used to create balms."
"Irida's people will help me gather them as well. If the Diamond Clan is willing, I would appreciate its assistance."
"Balms are throwable packets made from foods or objects favored by various Pokémon. They are used to quell Pokémon that have become frenzied."
"Mountains, swamps, snowfields, volcanoes, forests, space and time... Different balms correspond to different environments and different kinds of Pokémon."
"When Hometown Soil proves ineffective, balms are one method of weakening a Pokémon's rage. If combined with Oración, the melody I played before, and a Capture Styler, the results are exceptionally effective."
"Hometown Soil? A Capture Styler?" Cyllene repeated.
"Pokémon sometimes leave their natural habitats for various reasons. When they cannot tolerate the climate and environment of a distant land, they may begin rampaging. By using soil from their homeland to form a calming seal, they can be soothed. For example..."
Many people had gathered near the ramen stand, and the aroma had also attracted wild Pokémon. Hikaru made sure to care for every one of them, though the dining areas for humans and Pokémon were separated by some distance.
At that moment, a Pokémon from elsewhere seemed to have entered the area and started a dispute with the local Pokémon.
It was...
"Rooaaar!"
A red-eyed Alpha Steelix appeared upon Mount Coronet.
Wild Alpha Pokémon were filled with Wild Might, making them vastly more powerful than ordinary members of their species.
The weaker Pokémon gathered around the Coronet Highlands, including Elekid, Hisuian Sneasel, Machop, and Teddiursa, panicked and scattered in every direction. Even the larger Graveler began rolling down the mountain.
Chaos erupted in the distant area where the Pokémon had gathered.
The nearby humans also grew anxious, but...
"Huh? There's clearly a disturbance, yet no one is running away?" Adaman wondered aloud.
People should have avoided a wild Pokémon rampage of this scale. Yet not a single member of the Pearl Clan who had been mining or eating near the base of the mountain showed any intention of leaving.
They still looked somewhat afraid, but they seemed...
"Will he play that flute again?" Cyllene asked. "Then use a sealing technique?"
"Fear is only natural," Irida replied. "But Hikaru is here, so there is nothing to fear."
She answered both Adaman and Cyllene's questions.
"This is the Thunderstruck Swordsman's power. During this time, large red-eyed Pokémon have occasionally followed the smell of food here or caused trouble nearby. In the end, they were all calmed and became our friends."
"We have witnessed these things ourselves. Hikaru possesses many different methods that allow humans and Pokémon to coexist peacefully and soothe those that have gone berserk."
"If anyone could learn these techniques, people would be able to live alongside wild Pokémon in their natural habitats."
"Look. Just like that!"
She pointed into the distance.
Adaman and Cyllene, the person who needed to learn coexistence most of all, witnessed it firsthand.
Rampaging Pokémon could unleash moves that covered vast areas and interfered with capture attempts, so they first had to be calmed. During a capture, this meant using various assist moves and field techniques to leave them temporarily powerless, allowing them to be soothed quickly and effectively.
At that moment...
A "gun" appeared in Hikaru's hand!
A miniature figure shaped like Emerald rapidly fired Hometown Soil. The dirt came from the island of the Battle Frontier and could soothe any Pokémon's anger.
A radiant seal formed beneath Steelix's body.
The Capture Styler then transformed into a ring of light. Rainbow radiance released by three colored crystals enveloped Steelix's entire body.
"Capture complete!"
"Grrr..."
Steelix calmed down.
Although it remained bursting with vitality, the anger it had been unable to vent and its overwhelming urge to feed had been suppressed. Those emotions gradually dissolved.
They would return as time passed, but by remembering its present state, Steelix could learn to control its own power more effectively.
"He tamed that iron serpent so easily!"
Adaman's pupils contracted. He immediately recognized how astonishing this power truly was.
This was the path to coexistence!
"Hikaru is capable of more than taming and soothing Pokémon," Irida said. "He is also exceptionally skilled in Pokémon battles."
"His battles are entirely different from those we once fought. His style is fierce and ever-changing, impossible to comprehend or predict, and filled with the power to end a battle in a single blow!"
"Some people say that anyone capable of battling alongside Pokémon in such a way is just like the hero from the Diamond Clan's myths."
Adaman's expression grew solemn as he began to think.
However, Cyllene was the one most profoundly shaken.
She recalled the previous encounter. Hikaru had already displayed three different tools then, and now he had revealed two more.
Just how many tools did he possess?
That weapon capable of rapidly firing mud pellets had a simple-looking structure, yet its effectiveness was astonishing.
The other device, worn around the hand, was even more intricate. She had never seen anything like it.
Although people had gradually begun arriving from Galar, Professor Laventon had yet to bring his most important instruments and equipment to Hisui. Even modern cameras had only recently appeared within the Galaxy Team, though the other settlements undoubtedly regarded them as cutting-edge technology.
Compared to a Capture Styler, a true crystallization of human wisdom and emotion, such devices were not even scraps.
The Vatonage Styler was a genuine pinnacle of science, further enhanced through its fusion with the mystical power of the Four Royal Souls.
"Pokémon that have not received power from the space-time rift are very easy to soothe," Hikaru explained. "Depending on the severity of the disturbance, their condition is generally divided into three levels: agitated, enraged, and frenzied."
"The fury of Pokémon empowered by the space-time rift, however, appears to be something even Oración cannot dispel."
"At least, my flute cannot do it. We would need a larger and more powerful instrument to perform the melody."
"Beyond even that are stronger Pokémon that have absorbed power transcending space and time."
The Hisui era possessed four distinct kinds of power: the Wild Might found in Alpha Pokémon, the Frenzied Might possessed by noble Pokémon, Giratina's Terrible Might, and the Terrific Might of Dialga and Palkia.
All four were classified as status conditions.
Agitation and anger, meanwhile, were behaviors recognized by Pokémon Rangers when Pokémon suddenly attacked innocent travelers. Sometimes they had no reason whatsoever and simply wanted to punch someone a few times.
As for Almighty Arceus...
If it had experienced the Oblivia incident, then its anger level was the highest of all. Anyone who had played the online mission "Pledge to Arceus," or the Heroes of Light who had battled Arceus in the past world, would understand more easily.
At that time, Arceus unleashed barrages of light cannons that covered the entire screen. It usually fired three to eight enormous golden-red lasers in a single burst. Some swept across the field, some tracked their targets, some fired straight ahead, some rotated, and others struck with alternating fast and slow timing. At their peak, more than ten beams could fill the entire screen.
It could also release hundreds of sweeping Judgment projectiles at once, unleash crimson shockwaves of rage, and summon dozens of earth-shaking purple pillars of light.
Hisui had even added lightning strikes to its arsenal...
Compared with Almighty Sinnoh, which merely threw meteors and shockwaves everywhere, Almighty Arceus fought even more viciously. Defeating it took everything a person had.
Cyllene wore an unusually complicated expression. She normally kept a perfectly impassive face, much like Cyrus, but not this time.
"This has truly broadened my horizons...! You are proficient not only in magic but also machinery. The new technology in which the Galaxy Team takes such pride truly is insignificant before you."
"However, you just mentioned space-time. Is that connected to the 'Third Universe' and the 'one with the mission' you spoke of before?"
"What effects will the space-time rift have upon Hisui, and how can we resolve them?"
Cyllene did not receive an immediate answer.
More precisely...
"Even if you ask me, I cannot resolve it," Hikaru said. "For now, I am merely making preparations."
"Can you comprehend the universe? The Galaxy Team has a saying, does it not? 'Human talent is as countless as the stars in the sky.'"
"But you must understand that every star visible in the night sky is an enormous sun. They merely appear small because they are unimaginably far away."
"Their light must travel for hundreds, thousands, or even millions of years before reaching our world. It crosses every direction of space and passes through the history of ages past and future. That is the universe."
"Even if humanity's creations entered space, they could not travel at one-thousandth the speed of light."
"Yet Almighty Sinnoh, worshiped by humans as a god, can cross that unimaginable distance in a single instant."
"As Irida said, we are exceedingly small."
"Anything viewed on the scale of the universe becomes insignificant. Our land is nothing more than a mote of dust drifting through the cosmos."
"Would you like to study the universe?"
The sudden question and everything Hikaru had just explained left the newly appointed Survey Corps captain silent.
As a swordsman, Cyllene had never considered matters concerning the distant universe. Such things belonged to scholars.
After a lengthy silence, she decided to adopt Irida's method: empty her mind and allow all that knowledge to flow straight back out.
"For the moment... I would rather not."
The words emerged with some difficulty.
She then raised the sword at her waist.
"There is something more important."
"I wish to witness your true swordsmanship. Fight me!"
"The distance to the world cannot possibly be this vast!"
Hikaru felt a strong sense of déjà vu.
"If you were truly a first-rate swordsman, you should be able to understand the difference between us without ever crossing blades. This is where I'm supposed to say something like that."
"However, swordsmen hold profound significance in Hisui. No one here uses swords because the swordsman from the oldest myths once committed a terrible error."
"'I set the bones of Pokémon adrift upon the river. I let my memories flow on, adrift upon the river.'"
"After eating Pokémon caught in the sea or rivers, people would wash their bones clean and carefully return them to the water."
"In doing so, the Pokémon would regain their bodies and return to this world."
"Still, since this is merely a sparring match, wouldn't ordinary bamboo swords be more appropriate?"
"What do you mean?" Cyllene demanded. "Do you intend to hold back because I am a woman? I have already prepared myself. Whatever else may be true, I was once one of Hoenn's finest swordsmen!"
"Because I retreated and allowed fear into my heart, every oath and promise I had upheld until then vanished. I could never return to my homeland."
"I had already stopped carrying a sword. But now I will reclaim the heart I possessed as a swordsman, so I can lead the Galaxy Team and ensure its survival in Hisui!"
"A scar left upon one's back is a swordsman's shame!"
"The techniques used to fight humans and those used to fight Pokémon are different," Hikaru said. "That is a fact."
"Although you are a master of the hard sword, you feared Pokémon and could not draw your blade. That was because of the fear within your heart. Only by forgetting fear can you wield your sword properly."
"Since you insist, I shall offer you the respect you deserve."
"Come, strong one from the distant past! Witness just how vast the 'world' truly is!"
Cyllene drew her sword.
Although it was called a sword, it was technically a long blade, a traditional "quick sword."
Yet while she guarded against the Instant Sword, she saw Hikaru take out a Poké Ball.
She froze.
"The truest swordsmanship does not lie in the sword you saw before," Hikaru said.
"As a Pokémon Trainer, fighting with my full strength is the proper courtesy one swordsman owes another!"
"My greatest sword is here. My very first partner!"
An enormous blade materialized.
Aegislash fixed its single eye upon Cyllene and struck its massive shield with a resounding clang.
Stance Change: Blade Forme!
A wave of spiritual power flowed from Aegislash. Its abilities could control the human heart, so naturally it could also allow humans to understand its words.
"So you wish to imitate the greatest master in the world and challenge me, the Royal Sword Pokémon, with a human blade? Admirable!"
"As for the strongest swordsmanship... Cancels! Unknown swordsman, come at me! Attack from any angle you please!"
"If you can injure me or leave even a single scratch upon my blade, you win!"
"If you cannot, then seek a Pokémon partner suited to you! Aside from that Abra capable of Teleport, there must be another Pokémon better suited for battle!"
"I look forward to the day you return and give me your name!"
Time passed...
Jubilife Village.
"Since that day, Captain Cyllene has devoted herself to field surveys. Even when working overtime, she frequently travels toward the base of Mount Coronet."
"She must be going to find the Thunderstruck Swordsman and challenge him to another sword fight."
"Although the captain has grown somewhat fiercer, her mood has improved considerably. Even with such a heavy workload, she seems happier than before. She has also begun trying to catch Pokémon..."
"The Galaxy Team's Poké Balls have undergone several rounds of testing. Captain Cyllene is quite talented."
"However, she is afraid of Bug-type Pokémon. The instant she encounters a bug, she reverts to her old self and flees in panic. Sometimes her legs grow so weak that she collapses. She doesn't resemble a master swordsman at all."
"Still, the Thunderstruck Swordsman has mobilized the Pearl Clan, Diamond Clan, and Galaxy Team by exchanging knowledge for materials and issuing commissions."
"He actually united the people of all three groups. It's incredible."
"This has also increased the enthusiasm of Jubilife's residents for outside exploration, helping everyone survive more easily."
"The advanced agricultural techniques he brought have delighted the Agriculture Corps. Apparently, things shed by certain Pokémon can help cultivate and enrich the land."
"Golem, for example, sheds stone shells that eventually crumble into soil. Scattering that soil across farmland promotes crop growth and enriches the earth."
"Because of that, Boss Kamado... No, I mean Commander Kamado, personally set out to find this Pokémon."
"According to reports, a small number of Golem and many Graveler live in Bolderoll Ravine in the Coronet Highlands. They roll around constantly, which appears to be a form of recreation."
"Battling rocks should be Commander Kamado's specialty. I've heard his sumo can hurl enormous boulders through the air..."
"The Construction Corps and Supply Corps also hope to exchange things for new knowledge from the Thunderstruck Swordsman when the opportunity arises."
"Mr. Anvin was especially grateful because he managed to purchase a wooden Pokémon carving. Although Mr. Anvin is himself a master woodcarver skilled in making Pokéshi Dolls, the other man's craftsmanship seems even more impressive."
"According to the stories, the people of distant Sinjoh, the Thunderstruck Swordsman's homeland, carved numerous Rhydon statues and placed them before a certain stage as an expression of reverence for the deity that created the world."
"Those were the original statues."
"Similar statues appear to have spread throughout the world."
"The swordsman is also highly skilled at painting. The crafts he produces are exquisitely made and beautiful."
"They have even attracted members of the Ginkgo Guild. Unfortunately, those people buy crafts from the swordsman, immediately raise the prices, and resell them in the village. It is infuriating."
"'These crafts were made by the Thunderstruck Swordsman. Because the mountain paths are so difficult to traverse, they are rare treasures. Naturally, the price must be increased.'"
"That is what they said!"
"Unfortunately, merchants must always make a profit."
"I heard the head of the Ginkgo Guild flew into a rage because one of his merchants wandered off and refused to return. Even after visiting a certain hermit, he still could not find the man and is now sulking."
"The good news is that the bandits who previously attacked the guild and wilderness explorers disappeared shortly after the wanted posters were issued."
"The wilderness has actually become somewhat safer because of it."
"But why don't those women dare appear before the Thunderstruck Swordsman? He possesses so many treasures."
"It must be because his reputation has spread far and wide. They must be so terrified they cannot move and have become afflicted with flinching."
These were entries in a notebook recording the Survey Corps' daily observations and recent developments. Captain Cyllene had established this as one of their new duties.
The writer was Rei, a recent addition to the Survey Corps.
Although he was already fifteen years old, he had originally transferred from the Security Corps out of simple curiosity.
Not long ago, however, the Pikachu he had caught struck him with such powerful electricity that he fainted on the spot.
Ever since then, the sight of his own partner always made him nervous.
The Thunderstruck Swordsman had reportedly made a sarcastic remark about the incident, claiming that the people of this land possessed unusually weak resistance to electricity, though that was unexpectedly normal.
He also told a short story about an Aura Guardian who could withstand electric shocks without suffering the slightest harm.
That story quickly spread throughout the village and beyond.
Some people claimed the Thunderstruck Swordsman had fabricated the entire tale merely to convince everyone to buy his ramen.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]