Jubilife Village, Galaxy Team.
Thanks to the information and knowledge provided by the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman, the people of Jubilife Village had begun gathering the various materials dropped by Pokémon and using them to improve their lives. They collected materials through labor and expeditions into the wilderness, then commissioned the Ginkgo Guild, the Diamond Clan, or the Pearl Clan to trade them to the swordsman in exchange for crafting techniques.
In the villagers' eyes, the newly established Survey Corps was also progressing smoothly under Captain Cyllene's leadership. She had even established training grounds within the village, along with pastures where some Pokémon could be kept.
From time to time, she allowed the villagers to watch her practice swordsmanship against an exceptionally powerful bladed Pokémon.
Scyther could be found in the deep forests of the Obsidian Fieldlands. They could split trees apart with a single slash and were ferocious enough to interfere with the villagers gathering lumber. Yet Captain Cyllene had actually defeated one with her swordsmanship, causing morale throughout the village to soar.
With an expert like her protecting Jubilife Village, what was there to fear?
Even Commander Kamado had personally captured a Golem. Using his tremendous strength and sumo skills, he had thrown the Pokémon away in one motion. According to the commander himself, however, he had only succeeded because that Golem had not been an alpha. If it had been, he would not have stood a chance.
Of course, something else drew even more attention from the villagers.
A scholar had arrived from the distant Galar region aboard a large ship filled with supplies and machinery. As soon as he reached Galaxy Team, he joined the Survey Corps.
In photographs, he looked reasonably dignified and handsome. Hisui was bitterly cold, however, so when he arrived, he wore a lavender winter cap with a distinctly Ainu-inspired design.
He had also thrown a white research coat over his clothes. Combined with his large, round face, the ensemble made him look rather comical.
"Nice! Pokémon are supposed to be terrifying creatures, yet you actually defeated that Scyther, Captain Cyllene! That was absolutely marvelous! I captured the decisive moment perfectly with my camera!"
The scholar's name was Laventon, and he was a Pokémon professor. A Pokémon professor was a researcher who conducted all kinds of studies to deepen humanity's understanding of Pokémon.
At the training grounds, Professor Laventon watched enthusiastically as Cyllene wielded her sword.
She merely shook her head.
"I once swore that I would never run away again, and that I would never lose again."
"Face your fear. Cowardice invites death. There's another reason as well. The Scyther I caught is a comparatively weak specimen. No, 'weak' isn't the right word. I suppose I should call it young."
Cyllene looked at the panting Scyther before her. It had braced its scythes against the ground while struggling to catch its breath.
She pointed at her newly captured "firewood-chopping beast."
"Its scythes aren't sharp enough yet, so they couldn't cut through my sword."
"The scythes on this Pokémon's arms can become extraordinarily sharp. The more hard objects it cuts and the more battles it experiences, the sharper they become. Eventually, it can cleave an enormous tree in two with a single slash."
"Its Ability is Steadfast, which increases its speed, but its blades still aren't strong enough. That Ability is useless when it faces an opponent who cannot be made to flinch."
"In other words, it's still quite young and hasn't been tempered by time," Professor Laventon said. "Even so, watching you spar with that Scyther was positively nerve-racking! Blades flashed everywhere, like three swords dancing through the air. We could call it the Three-Sword Style!"
"I must say, Captain, I never expected you to know so much about Pokémon! Commander Kamado told me that everyone in the village was frightened of Pokémon, and it's certainly true that Pokémon can be dangerous."
"Some are adorable, while others are terrifying. We must study what habits they have, what they're capable of, and what talents and distinguishing traits they possess. Hmm, that power is called an Ability, is it?"
"I see. Even Pokémon of the same species may possess different Abilities!"
"There are still so many mysteries waiting to be solved. That's precisely why we must investigate them."
"And now, not only has the captain of the Survey Corps captured a powerful Pokémon, but the villagers themselves are sharing all kinds of stories and knowledge about Pokémon. Oh, this is magnificent!"
"I told you, none of that is our accomplishment," Cyllene replied. "The credit belongs to Alec and the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman. He has spread all kinds of tales across Hisui, allowing those who once possessed narrow views of the world to understand just how vast it truly is."
"To ordinary villagers, stories about Pokémon may be little more than entertainment enjoyed over tea after a hard day's work, something that comforts their weary hearts. Even so, those stories have given people a basic understanding of Pokémon."
"They've learned about their temperaments, the foods they like, the things they hate, and their living habits. They've learned which Pokémon can be safely approached, which are dangerously aggressive and should be avoided, and which can assist with work or improve daily life. They've even learned what roles those Pokémon have played in stories from distant regions."
"Take Scyther, for instance. I've heard that they're called ninjas in Alola. The homeland of ninjas is said to be Mahogany Town in Johto, though the profession itself was supposedly brought there across the sea from an even more distant region. This proves that the different regions also communicated with one another in ancient times."
"There are all kinds of stories..."
She paused thoughtfully, then began reciting them as if she had memorized a textbook.
"The elderly couple who rode on Geodude. The Magikarp that leaped over a mountain. The Sneasel that caused trouble in an ancient city. The Pidgey that flew into space. The Pichu that played the ukulele. The Onix with a body like crystal. The Squirtle Squad. The heroic Lucario. The Pikachu that loved ketchup. The giant Dragonite at the lighthouse..."
"The Santa Claus whose sleigh was pulled by Ponyta. The Rhyhorn that carried a small house on its back. The Eevee that performed songs and dances. The Clefairy dancing beneath the moon. The Quagsire beneath the waterfall of the Blue Moon. Meowth's song. The Psyduck that loved acting cool. The Rhydon that wasn't afraid of water. The Drifloon that investigated the weather. The Luxray in the snow. Baron Lickilicky. The Togepi with terrible habits. The shrine of the Forest God. The boy who traveled aboard Lapras..."
Professor Laventon stared at her in astonishment.
"You know those little stories extraordinarily well, Captain Cyllene! You memorized every last one of them!"
Cyllene's expression immediately hardened as she sheathed her sword.
"The leader of the Pearl Clan wanted to hear them. I merely happened to overhear them when I was bored. My ears listened to them on their own! I just happened to hear the stories, and I just happened to remember them!"
"The same applies to my swordsmanship. Everything I do is for the sake of conducting better surveys!"
"In any case, people have come to understand that Pokémon aren't merely savage beasts. They possess intelligence similar to ours and have their own dignity. They shed tears when they're in pain, laugh when they're happy, and grieve when they're sad."
"Commander Kamado once asked why Pokémon became angry. Did they wish to tear apart the relationship between humans and Pokémon? Humans couldn't understand what Pokémon were thinking. However, after the swordsman appeared, his views changed somewhat."
"I believe it was because he saw a human who could genuinely communicate with Pokémon. Some people still view the swordsman as an aberration, perhaps even a Pokémon wearing human skin, but I trust him. Everyone here who has benefited from his kindness or had their life saved by him in the wilderness should trust him as well."
Professor Laventon looked at the Scyther. It had calmed its breathing and seemed to be reflecting on its defeat. Without noticing Cyllene's attempt to change the subject, he fell into thought.
"How utterly extraordinary. In other words, he can communicate with Pokémon and understand them, while also possessing a variety of powers capable of calming them. Whether in physical strength or matters of the heart, he completely surpasses both humans and Pokémon. Someone like that... No, could he be the ultimate life-form?"
Perhaps he was something like a master of ancient martial arts.
Laventon considered Cyllene one such expert, and Zisu of the Security Corps was another.
The Lightning-Slaying Swordsman, however, was different from either of them.
"I've heard tales from distant lands about people with special powers," Professor Laventon said, "but this is the first time I've encountered anyone so extraordinary!"
"Hisui is an untamed land overflowing with danger, yet he travels fearlessly through its wilderness. Such confidence can only come from exceptional skill. If a person like that were willing to assist me, my dream of creating a Pokédex could finally be realized!"
Cyllene suddenly froze.
Something had occurred to her.
The Pokédex Professor Laventon spoke of was also something Commander Kamado had mentioned. To help their people survive in Hisui and prevent the tragedy of their homeland from repeating itself, he had approved the establishment of the Survey Corps and invited Professor Laventon to join them.
Professor Laventon already possessed similar ambitions, so the two of them had immediately reached an agreement.
"Starting now, however, expeditions into the wilderness may become much more difficult," Cyllene said. "We haven't made any progress on the swordsman's request to locate those special warding stones. It's shameful."
"Eh? Is this related to the space-time rift?"
"Exactly. The Hisui region is home to Pokémon known as alphas. You haven't seen one yet, have you, Professor Laventon? They're special Pokémon with crimson eyes, far stronger than ordinary members of their species. According to what we've learned, they're created through a combination of abundant life energy and Hisui's harsh environment."
"Because of the space-time rift and the resulting space-time distortions, large numbers of powerful Pokémon have begun appearing throughout Hisui. These distortions have become increasingly frequent over the past month. Fortunately, the swordsman has been active in the wilderness, so any disturbances are quickly suppressed."
"People have begun gathering in areas where the swordsman is active. The Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan are doing the same, though they also enjoy the protection of powerful nobles. Unfortunately, alpha Pokémon are appearing so frequently that we recently received word that one of the nobles had been injured."
"Alpha Pokémon have appeared at the nobles' arenas and among ancient ruins, wreaking havoc. Some have even begun moving in groups."
"Even the nobles have been trapped in prolonged battles against them. Alpha Pokémon display behavior that defies common sense. They appear to possess significantly greater resistance to types that should normally be effective against them. I believe that's the proper way to describe it."
"This may be caused by energy leaking from the space-time rift and rapidly increasing their vitality."
"As for attacks of types they already resist, those are even less effective against these alphas."
"The Survey Corps has therefore begun training. We must learn to operate safely and cautiously in regions where the swordsman isn't present. We've also begun constructing base camps so supplies can be obtained without delay."
"Some have suggested using Poké Balls to find reliable and powerful Pokémon partners, imitating the customs of the Pearl and Diamond Clans."
"Our greatest concern is that the nobles themselves may also be affected. They're already far stronger than ordinary Pokémon. If they lose control and begin rampaging, the consequences will be severe, and many people will be injured."
"These base camps were originally designed and planned with the possibility of developing them into new villages. For the time being, however, they can only serve as supply stations."
Professor Laventon fell into thought.
"That certainly is a grave problem! Still, hasn't the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman mastered knowledge from ancient times to the present day, much like the ancient hermit who lives here? As one of the Pearl Clan's wardens, surely he wouldn't simply stand by if the nobles began rampaging?"
"Of course, I'm not saying we should place all our hopes on the swordsman. It's simply that this situation is far beyond anything ordinary villagers can handle. Even members of the Survey Corps would likely be finished the moment they encountered a group of those alpha Pokémon..."
Cyllene nodded.
"That's why the swordsman has already prepared the necessary calming tools. It seems he has also communicated with the nobles."
"Unfortunately, we're incapable of learning or using most of his calming methods. There are melodies we cannot play, machines whose principles we cannot understand, soil from his homeland that is almost impossible to obtain, and an Aura sealing technique that even Rye cannot learn."
"The last method requires enormous quantities of materials to prepare foods favored by different Pokémon. Those are what we call balms."
"Although the balms for the nobles have already been prepared, determining the favorite food of every wild Pokémon and gathering all the required materials is virtually impossible. Temperament and other factors mean that even Pokémon of the same species may have completely different preferences. The land of Hisui is simply too vast, and we cannot even estimate the number or variety of Pokémon living here."
Merely discussing the matter gave Cyllene a terrible headache.
Professor Laventon nodded.
"Hmm, I see. This is the dilemma currently facing the Survey Corps. In other words, we would need at least one more person whose abilities rival the swordsman's."
"However, neither the leader of the Pearl Clan nor the head of the Diamond Clan seems quite that powerful. They also wouldn't help us capture Pokémon in large numbers for our research, since doing so goes against their customs and traditions."
"Of the five calming techniques, four are impossible for us to learn. That leaves only the clumsiest fifth method. Goodness, after hearing your explanation, I suddenly feel as though this truly is an impossible undertaking."
"Still, that only makes me more curious about the swordsman. I would very much like to meet him one day..."
"The matter of the Third Universe also sets my imagination racing. As a scientist, my work is to identify the laws and patterns behind the phenomena I observe."
"The space-time rift is the result of several universes overlapping. Their power has reached saturation, causing energy to spill outward. However, the portion that transcends spacetime astonishes me. The swordsman's cosmological theories are extraordinarily advanced, even by the standards of astronomy!"
Professor Laventon and Cyllene continued talking as they returned to Galaxy Hall.
When they arrived, however, they discovered the main doors standing open and heard guards shouting inside.
Laventon's research room was a complete disaster.
Documents and research materials had also been scattered across the floor of Cyllene's office. Bagin, the guard responsible for security inside Galaxy Hall and a master of organizing satchels, was holding an unconscious boy in a red cap and attempting to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
Professor Laventon paled.
"Wake up! What happened here? Rei, stay with us! Please, wake up!"
As he shouted, three Pokémon darted out from a corner of the room.
Rowlet had originally been perched in a bonsai tree, Cyndaquil had been resting inside the stove, and Oshawott had been blowing bubbles in a water jar. The three of them had caused the commotion.
As for what had knocked Rei unconscious...
"Pika...chu!"
Rei's Pikachu released a blinding electric shock.
Ever since capturing the Pokémon, Rei had frequently been attacked by it without warning. He usually kept it inside its Poké Ball, but even with locking clasps, the ancient Poké Balls could not completely confine Pokémon. They remained capable of entering and leaving whenever they wished.
"We were supposed to investigate the Obsidian Fieldlands," Bagin explained. "Last time, he was also shocked by a Shinx. Fortunately, he's only unconscious and doesn't appear to be seriously injured."
"Professor Laventon, the three Pokémon you brought with you have escaped!"
Bagin did not need to emphasize the situation.
Professor Laventon was already shouting in the language of Galar, uttering words none of the bystanders could understand as he rushed through the doors.
The three Pokémon raced down Canala Avenue and fled in a particular direction.
The moment Cyllene saw them, she froze.
"When the one who bears the mission arrives, certain Pokémon will respond."
Hikaru's warning echoed through her mind.
It had happened so suddenly!
"I need to make preparations!"
She looked toward Mount Coronet.
No matter where one stood in Hisui, the towering mountain could be seen rising from the heart of the land and piercing the clouds.
Power gathered inside the twisted space-time rift.
Then something exploded with light.
"Oh! My adorable Pokémon, why are you running away... Wait, someone is falling from the sky!"
"Wake up! Can you hear me? Are you alive?"
"You fell straight out of the sky and gave me quite a fright... Thank goodness. It appears you're still alive!"
Professor Laventon had chased the three Pokémon all the way to Prelude Beach.
This was where Galaxy Team had begun, and where the original settlers had first landed in Hisui. The professor himself had only recently disembarked from one of the expedition ships.
He did not know why the three Pokémon had suddenly become so anxious, nor did he understand why they had fled.
Then he saw a person fall from the sky.
"Who in the world are you, falling from the heavens like that?" Professor Laventon asked. "Could these little ones have known in advance that you would appear?"
"What is your name?"
A fifteen-year-old girl dressed in a white shirt and shorts abruptly stood up from the beach and stared at Laventon in astonishment.
Her name was...
"Akari! The 'Aka' from brightness! Wait, who are you? Where am I?"
"Er... Your unusual clothing is rather difficult to describe," Professor Laventon said. "Do you know anyone who lives nearby?"
"Do I...?" Akari hesitated. "I don't know. No, wait, where is this place? And my clothes... What is this symbol?"
"Let me think. I remember seeing a message, and then... I was in some kind of void. There were stars and light..."
She fell into a long silence as she searched her memories, only to discover that some details were already growing blurry.
Why was that happening?
The word "Trainer" came to mind for some reason, and she was certainly familiar with Pokémon...
"As for where you are, this is Hisui," Professor Laventon explained. "Do you understand? Hisui is the name of this region. In other words, this is a land where humans and Pokémon live together."
"Do you know what Pokémon are? These little ones are Pokémon. They're mysterious creatures..."
"Oh, sorry! My name is Laventon. I'm a Pokémon professor, a researcher who conducts all kinds of studies to deepen our understanding of Pokémon."
"As for you, it appears you've found yourself in quite a predicament. You know no one here and have nowhere to stay. Do you possess the means to survive?"
Professor Laventon could not help wondering how someone could fall from the sky without suffering a single injury.
It violated the laws of physics.
"Wait. You fell from the sky?"
The professor suddenly froze as something occurred to him.
"Come to think of it, wasn't the swordsman also said to have fallen from the sky? People claim he descended amid a storm of lightning!"
"The Lightning-Slaying Swordsman may know something about your origins!"
"The Lightning-Slaying... Swordsman?" Akari asked. "Who is that?"
For Akari, who had only just arrived in this world, everything had begun with a single message.
In the middle of the night, she had been pulled into a strange space.
When she opened her eyes, she found herself floating within a vast void.
Countless lights appeared around her. A radiant golden sphere spoke many words to her before finally gathering into the shape of a certain creature.
Even her phone, whose screen had been cracked, was transformed into a strange, glowing device.
"Welcome. This is my universe, one that transcends time and space. I am the one you humans call Arceus."
"I entrust you with this Arc Phone and a mission..."
"The world you are about to enter is home to wondrous creatures known as Pokémon. Akari, seek out all Pokémon. When you have met them all, I shall appear before you again."
"However, I believe that moment will not be long in coming... Restore the sundered land. Return the relationship between humans and Pokémon to what it once was. I ask you to pacify the enraged heart that transcends all, and allow distant Hisui and Sinjoh to meet once more."
Afterward, time revolved like a sea of stars, transforming into light that surrounded her, just as it had at the birth of the starry heavens.
There was one thing she could not understand.
"The gates to the Pokémon world have opened?"
"Have I been reincarnated in another world?"
Was this supposed to be a spontaneous adventure?
She was bewildered, confused, and barely able to stay on her feet, yet her life in ancient Hisui had begun just like that.
Professor Laventon said that he could not abandon a person in need. Since he lacked the talent to throw Poké Balls accurately, he asked Akari to retrieve his three Pokémon for him.
It proved incredibly easy.
Professor Laventon was astonished by her success. He was equally surprised that she did not fear Pokémon, which made her completely different from the people who lived here. Many people in this world were too frightened to even approach Pokémon, much less capture them.
When Akari took out her phone...
No, she had not retrieved it from the ground. It had been beside her from the very beginning.
Professor Laventon read the message instructing her to meet every Pokémon, as well as the line telling her to reunite Hisui and Sinjoh.
The professor seemed to understand something.
He then shared his dream with her.
"I wish to complete the world's first Pokédex. It will record information about every Pokémon. It's an extraordinarily advanced and ambitious field of research."
"However, to record information about Pokémon, we must first capture them. Poké Balls were only recently invented, and there are very few people capable of successfully using them."
"You possess the ability to capture Pokémon and have been instructed to meet them all. Meanwhile, I'm searching for someone who can help me catch every Pokémon."
"Yes, we can cooperate and help each other. Together, we can survive in this ancient and boundless land of Hisui!"
"Your origins may be mysterious, but strange people like you have appeared before. For the sake of completing the Pokédex, we would be delighted to welcome you..."
Cyllene's voice suddenly came from nearby.
"Precisely! You possess the ability to retrieve escaped Pokémon. That talent will prove useful, allowing you to earn food, clothing, shelter, and everything else required for survival. Your recent performance was quite reliable!"
"Perhaps this is the work of fate!"
"Captain Cyllene?" Professor Laventon looked at her in surprise. "Why have you come to Prelude Beach?"
Cyllene was studying the girl before her.
The one who bore the mission...
Many people knew about the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman's prophecy, but Cyllene had never expected the person in question to be this strangely dressed girl.
Judging by the skill with which Akari had thrown those Poké Balls, however, there could be no mistake.
She was the chosen child.
According to the prophecy, she was the one capable of resolving the space-time rift and allowing everyone to live in peace.
Burdening her with such enormous expectations would only create unnecessary pressure.
Cyllene took out the clothes she had brought with her. She had prepared them only moments ago.
"Regardless of where you came from, the most important thing is surviving your first night," Cyllene said. "Evening is approaching, and the sun will soon set."
"When darkness falls over cold Hisui, dangerous creatures emerge. Ferocious Pokémon roam this entire land. Hisui is descending into chaos, and without high walls or strong barriers to protect you, you may end up dead in the wilderness."
"This isn't an exaggeration intended to frighten you. It is the reality faced by all of us who live here."
"You may not understand your circumstances yet, so I'll speak plainly."
"Perhaps you came from a distant world, or perhaps from beyond the reaches of spacetime. For now, however, you should focus on finding a place to stay."
"If you're willing, come and take the Galaxy Team's entry trial tomorrow. If you don't wish to live in Jubilife Village, I can take you elsewhere."
"Jubilife Village isn't the only place in this vast region where outsiders can find shelter. What do you say? We're short-handed at the moment, so you can treat it as temporary employment. You'll receive additional compensation as well."
"I see! That's an entirely fair proposal," Professor Laventon said. "Akari, if you join Galaxy Team, you won't need to worry about food, clothing, or shelter!"
The professor soon became puzzled.
"Captain Cyllene, why did you bring clothing with you? It even appears to be the right size. Did you already know that Akari would arrive? Could this truly have been prophesied?"
"You can assume that it was," Cyllene replied. "For now, I don't intend to burden her with unnecessary pressure."
"There are several unoccupied huts near Prelude Beach that we use for storage. She can change inside one. Once she's wearing local clothing, no one will know that she's an outsider who fell from the sky."
Akari took out her Arc Phone and looked at the message displayed upon it.
Cyllene was right. The most important thing was surviving her first night.
The climate here was cold, and it would become even colder if it rained.
Without warm clothes or food, she would likely end up curled into a ball and shivering uncontrollably.
"Hmm... I understand," Akari said. "I'll survive first and figure everything else out afterward. Thank you!"
She still did not know what she was supposed to do, though she certainly had no intention of running around punching random passersby.
Even so, she did appear to have some kind of mission.
For now, she needed to find something to eat. She could fill her stomach, preserve her strength, and prepare for tomorrow.
When someone was in a state of total panic, even a brief opportunity to catch their breath felt like unimaginable happiness.
After all, she genuinely had nowhere else to go.
The God of War of Hisui had made her grand entrance!
"That's an excellent idea!" Professor Laventon declared. "Yes, if you wish to discover your roots, we can take you to search for the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman once you've settled in!"
"The captain says he possesses knowledge spanning ancient times to the present and seems to know everything there is to know about Pokémon."
"Most importantly, the device you called an Arc Phone displayed those words, didn't it?"
"Hisui and Sinjoh!"
"That must be it. According to the stories, the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman came here from the unimaginably distant land of Sinjoh!"
"He can communicate with Pokémon," Cyllene said, "and he's constantly traveling throughout the wilderness. He possesses more than five extraordinary powers capable of calming Pokémon."
"He is currently affiliated with the Pearl Clan and wanders throughout the vast land of Hisui."
"Your arrival reminds me of something he once told me."
"Can you become a light that illuminates the darkness? Although that light is still small, perhaps it will one day become the sun. A sun beneath which humans and Pokémon can coexist... Go ahead and try."
"That device is guiding you, and Galaxy Team possesses nothing like it. Your arrival here must have meaning!"
"You may find this confusing, but consider what I'm about to say a prophecy. I cannot determine whether it is true or false. I can only repeat what I was told."
"I must confirm something!"
"If you truly opened your eyes within the void, then isn't it possible that almighty Sinnoh created you only moments ago?"
"It may be that the world itself was waiting for your birth!"
"Perhaps this village, the place where everything begins, also exists for this very purpose..."
"For some reason, that's how I feel. After hearing so many stories, I feel as though I've become a character within one of them. Is this what it means to be guided by fate?"
"Myths passed down across this land claim that almighty Sinnoh created the universe and everything within it. Different ancient peoples who worship almighty Sinnoh also live here. According to their beliefs, all life is an expression of its power."
"Now, Hisui's flow of time will accelerate, its space will expand, and the starry heavens will tremble."
"The starry heavens will tremble...?" Akari murmured. "I think I saw that. But to suddenly tell me I have a mission... No, it's true. Could the Pokémon I saw inside that light have been..."
"Arceus."
"Was I created from the void...? No, that isn't right! I remember what my home looked like!"
She fell into thought but could not make sense of it.
Still, this felt somewhat like the beginning of a hero's journey in a game she remembered.
Everything was strange, and she could not immediately trust the people here. Even so, it truly felt as if an adventure had begun.
Perhaps this unexpected journey would not be quite as terrible or painful as she had feared.
It seemed her reputation stat had been maxed out right from the beginning.
What an oddly complicated feeling.
This world also appeared to be completely real rather than some illusion.
That being the case, wasn't someone supposed to give her a sacred sword from the starter village?
"The Lightning-Slaying Swordsman once told me..." Cyllene paused. "What follows isn't something I said. I'm merely repeating his words."
"Just as the first life was born from the void at the beginning of the universe..."
"She will descend from the heavens and become a source of light."
"She will illuminate the land of Hisui!"
She felt the coldness of the world.
She was as insignificant as an ant or a speck of dust, yet she also felt as vast as the sun, moon, and river of stars.
The girl now wore a Survey Corps uniform, with her long black hair tied beneath a white headscarf. According to the members of Galaxy Team, the thick, durable clothing could withstand attacks from many Pokémon.
She also carried various charms that had been obtained through trades with the Lightning-Slaying Swordsman. They could protect her from life-threatening danger.
The many strange Berries and tools in her satchel were another guarantee of survival.
Thus, even though Hisui had descended into turmoil, people could still carefully avoid the territories of wild Pokémon and travel through the gaps between them.
Without those things, life here would have been unimaginably difficult.
Now, with all the rolling and throwing Balls of Mud, Akari was actually beginning to find it rather entertaining.
To help her, Professor Laventon had allowed her to choose one of the three Pokémon from Prelude Beach as her partner.
Her first partner, however, was not yet very powerful.
Even in the lush Obsidian Fieldlands, countless strong wild Pokémon roamed the land. After passing her entry trial and receiving her partner, Akari remained vulnerable to injury whenever she conducted surveys in the wilderness.
The world was so vast, yet she was so weak.
Strangely, her physical abilities seemed considerably greater than those of the native people living here.
She could not understand why.
At least it gave her the ability to contend with wild Pokémon for a short while.
Expeditions into the wilderness could also expose her to things she had never witnessed before.
Like what was happening now.
The Obsidian Fieldlands!
"Hisui's rain has filled the land with endless mist, and the sun is about to set!"
"What is that lightning? Does thunder constantly strike even during the day? Is this what the captain called Divine Thunder?"
An enormous bolt of lightning tore through the sky.
Energy erupted from the distant space-time rift and descended upon various parts of Hisui.
The entire forest abruptly came alive, as though everything within it had been startled awake.
Large numbers of Pokémon began running in every direction as a space-time distortion appeared.
This was the first time Akari had ever seen one.
Captain Cyllene had warned her to flee immediately whenever she encountered a space-time distortion.
Countless powerful alpha Pokémon could emerge from within, including some capable of forcing the Ten Nobles into brutal battles.
The distortions were also accompanied by fierce storms and blizzards.
At the same time...
"I think I can hear a distant, majestic song coming from the mountain of heaven. It's spreading across the entire Obsidian Fieldlands. Who's singing? Or is that the sound of a flute?"
Akari buried the lower half of her face in her red scarf.
In this era, those who could not fight could not survive.
The scratching of her pen gradually stopped.
She held her breath and hid behind a large tree, tightly gripping a Poké Ball.
Large numbers of Pokémon were gathering nearby, and she was still some distance from the Fieldlands Camp.
Professor Laventon was waiting there.
She needed to slip past them quietly.
"Whoa, that's an alpha Parasect. I should take the long way around."
Unfortunately, accidents always arrived one after another.
An enormous Luxray with crimson eyes suddenly charged into the area.
Within the endless green expanse of the Obsidian Fieldlands, Luxray and the rest of its lightning-wielding evolutionary line were terrifying in every sense of the word.
"A crimson-eyed Luxray," Akari muttered. "Another alpha, and this one is enormous! This is bad. It's blocking the only road to the base camp. Come on, leave already..."
"Grrrr..."
Luxray began growling.
It had noticed her presence.
Akari's heart pounded as she removed several rock-hard Balls of Mud from her satchel.
She had to use everything available on the battlefield.
Both sides seemed to know exactly where the other was.
All Luxray needed to do was use its sharp claws to cut through the tree.
The fragile balance between them was about to collapse.
"Honestly, do I have any other choice...?"
Together with the partner Professor Laventon had given her, she should at least be able to put up a fight.
Probably.
Just as that thought crossed her mind, another peal of thunder sounded in the distance.
Lightning flashed across the sky.
Luxray's fur stood on end. The Pokémon became intensely wary, then began pacing anxiously.
It stared in one particular direction for a very long time.
Violent electricity suddenly enveloped its body, and it charged.
Lightning collided with lightning deep within the forest.
The resulting blast swept dust and fallen leaves into the air and tore craters into the ground. Flowing radiance filled the forest until everything finally subsided.
Consumed by curiosity, Akari concealed herself among the grass and crept forward, wanting to discover what had happened.
Then she heard someone calling to her.
The voice seemed to echo directly inside her mind.
That person appeared ahead of her.
The Pokémon that had defeated the alpha Luxray was a species she had never seen before. It possessed razor-sharp claws and a long, high ponytail.
"The power of Oración is limited when performed upon a flute," Hikaru said. "In an age without the Space-Time Towers, how can the fury filling heaven and earth be calmed?"
"Luxray possesses the power to see through walls. It can use that power not only to pursue fleeing prey, but also to locate lost children."
"Legend says that when its eyes shine with golden light, it can see through everything in creation."
Sneasler's voice echoed through their minds.
"An attack that isn't resisted deals normal damage. As long as I'm strong enough, I can beat an alpha. Don't underestimate me. I'm still one of the nobles!"
"Fake Out followed by Close Combat, then fling a Big Nugget to activate Unburden. That's a pretty good combination!"
"Even if your eyes can follow an attack, it means nothing if your body can't keep up! Speed is important, isn't it?"
The Lightning-Slaying Swordsman turned toward the girl in the headscarf.
"Akari, do you know why Pokémon began appearing before humans?"
"The latter half of Old Verse 19."
"When first this land was formed, man and 'mon lived happily, sharing all that they could see, by kind acts born and warmed."
"One Pokémon then proposed that they should always ready be to help humans should they need, and let their presence be disclosed."
"And that is why, to this day, not all Pokémon do flee when a human they do see. They leap out where tall grasses sway."
"Yet this is an age in which humans hide in the tall grass while Pokémon walk openly along the roads."
"As for techniques for fighting in the wilderness, would you like to learn how to truly fight?"
"Secret Technique: Back Strike. Conceal your presence and approach the enemy from behind. That is one path to survival."
"Of course, confronting them head-on is also possible. For example, you could use a battle technique like Strong Style: Gigaton Ball."
"Prepare to begin your pilgrimage. First, we'll go meet Wyrdeer!"
"Before setting out, however, we're standing upon a trail covered in wildflowers in the middle of this enormous forest. Would you like to rest and eat something?"
Akari stood frozen in place.
The air currents produced by the battle had surged into the sky and parted the dark clouds.
"If I'm remembering correctly, this should be Sunny Day!"
She stared at what had happened in disbelief, yet another part of her felt that it was perfectly natural.
Thunder resounded across the heavens.
Rain washed over destiny.
Akari's voice trembled.
"The rain over Hisui has stopped, and the sun is rising!"
"But you're... You must be the one everyone has been talking about. The one who cleaved through the falling lightning!"
"I've finally found you. I finally found you!"
"You left behind the prophecy about the trembling heavens and the girl who would become a source of light. Why were you looking for me?"
"You were the one playing that flute, weren't you? That music reached every corner of the world!"
"Why was I summoned into this world? Why was I brought to this unfamiliar land and told to meet every Pokémon?"
"What does it mean to reunite Hisui and Sinjoh?"
"You know the answers, don't you?"
"Answer me, Swordsman of Sinjoh!"
"Do you wish to discover your roots?" Hikaru asked. "However... Hmm, I should greet you first."
"Afterward, you'll be able to see some machines you're familiar with."
"For now, let's follow the new customs of this land."
"We'll greet each other the way the 'new people of Hisui' do!"
"Prepare yourself!"
Akari froze for an instant.
Then her expression became serious.
Without another word, she clenched her fists and charged straight at him.
Recklessness was also a form of courage. It could even be called the hot-blooded vigor of youth.
"Let's do this! Hyaa!"
"From whence you came, none can know."
"Yet this shall be the place where first we meet."
Thus, Hisui and Sinjoh, which had long since become strangers, would finally meet again.
(End of Chapter)
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