Press onward and never give up... Akari still did not know what her true convictions were, and all she had to do for now was fulfill the mission entrusted to her. Even so, she felt that perhaps being given the chance to embark on this journey was actually an incredibly fortunate thing.
When people were young, they always dreamed of becoming heroes who saved the world. Even as the years went by, that dream never truly faded!
Perhaps everything would have gone terribly in the original timeline. She really would have been worked to the bone, then shunned and suspected by the villagers because of the various anomalies occurring throughout Hisui. None of that was difficult to imagine.
But things would definitely be different now!
And so, Akari began to learn.
She learned every method of quelling and soothing a Pokémon's rage!
Captain Cyllene had said that although the Lightning-Fallen Swordsman could resolve many crises, the methods he used to quell Pokémon were not something the Galaxy Team could learn. Even so, the people of the Galaxy Team, along with those of the Pearl Clan and Diamond Clan whom Akari had yet to meet, were doing their utmost to survive by their own efforts in the land of Hisui.
Pokémon battles were gradually growing more common, and using them to subdue Pokémon had certainly prompted some people from the ancient clans to object, saying, "Isn't this just using brute force to make Pokémon calm down? Surely there must be a way that doesn't involve doing that."
But as the nobles themselves began to suffer injuries, such objections gradually disappeared!
If they refused to fight, they would not survive!
If the Galaxy Team wished to live in Hisui, battling Pokémon was unavoidable. Yet those battles were also fought for the sake of creating a new land free from conflict!
Akari said, "I want to become a space-time explorer too... I want to discover an ancient book in some forgotten corner, meet mysterious people and Legendary Pokémon, and learn about a little-known chapter of this world's history!"
"I want to play the part of a brave explorer, scaling steep mountains, delving into mysterious ruins, solving ancient riddles, fighting evil monsters, and searching for lost treasures!"
"I'll use wisdom and courage to devise strategies, cleverly evade attacks, search for the enemy's weakness, and finally defeat it. When I bring down a powerful monster and obtain some precious item, the joy and sense of accomplishment will be beyond words!"
"I'll forget time, forget death, and even forget all the unhappiness and pain in life, immersing myself completely in the eternal present and the happiness of that very moment!"
"I want to meet every Pokémon throughout the infinite universe and experience a thousand different lives!"
Do you feel it now? This was what it meant to be Arceus's blade!
The process of learning was painful and enjoyable in equal measure. For some reason, Akari seemed to possess exceptionally high aptitude in certain areas. She had a talent for throwing things, a talent for playing music, and even a talent for shooting at targets... It was enough to surprise Akari herself.
Most important of all was the Aura that allowed her to fire energy waves!
"Hah!"
A ripple of energy shot forward and erupted in brilliant light. Akari stared in astonishment before an incomparable joy surged through her!
Akari cheered and jumped for joy. "Yes! I can use the Ripple now too! My power level went up! Next comes Aura!"
"Being able to use ki feels like a dream!"
"Speaking of which, are you going to give me a Master Sword next? The Master Sword! The Blade of Evil's Bane from the wilds!"
She whooshed a branch through the air, striking an extremely cool pose!
A duel of true blades! Sword and soul as one!
Hikaru waved his hand, refusing the excited Akari. "I can't give you that sword. It's an extremely dangerous weapon."
"As I've already said, the profession of swordsman holds tremendous significance in Hisuian history... It represents hunting and symbolizes an ancient memory from when the relationship between humans and Pokémon fell apart. That said, in the most ancient era, humans and Pokémon had not yet developed any relationship of mutual dependence... To put it simply, it's a dark chapter of history that was forgotten and erased."
"A sword is a human's claw and fang. After the oldest swordsman of Sinnoh broke the divine sword and swore that such a weapon would never be used again, no more swordsmen appeared in Hisui. Humanity was left without claw or fang, and that was why lightning descended from the heavens and granted power to ten Pokémon."
"Look at me and Captain Cyllene. Although we're both swordsmen, neither of us is from this land or this era. In distant regions such as Galar, where Professor Laventon comes from, and Hoenn, where Captain Cyllene comes from, all sorts of legends about swordsmen still exist."
"Besides, this isn't Hyrule."
"Still, even if swords are forbidden, you can make some use of a staff and shield. A staff is something wielded by an Aura Guardian, so there's no need to explain how precious one is. Even if it were crafted using only inferior adamantine jade, people of this era would still be incapable of mining such material."
"As for shields, they're made using technology derived from the lids of the sealing shrines in the distant Paldea region. Make one small enough and it becomes the Shield of the People from Galarian legend, or a buckler."
"So I possess a secret combat technique that has never been passed down to anyone else. The buckler parry...!"
Parry, then execute!
Akari's eyes sparkled as she listened. "Is it a counterattack skill from an action game? I can actually experience it myself... That's amazing!"
"Come to think of it, not long after I joined Jubilife Village, Rei, my senior in the Survey Corps, immediately taught me how to roll, dodge, and hide in tall grass... How strange. Rolling around with a buckler feels like it's reminding me of something..."
Her memories from her previous life were faintly awakening!
There would be a snack marathon later too!
No, wait. I'm supposed to be a righteous little knight...
Akari was slightly scatterbrained by nature. Although she displayed a great many little expressions throughout the story, she was not someone who enjoyed questioning other people. She thought about it for a moment, discovered that she could not remember, then promptly gave up.
Akari said, "Hmm, but fighting Pokémon with my own body still sounds a little dangerous, even if I'm physically stronger than most people... But now that I have ki... I mean Aura, there's nothing to fear!"
"It would be even better if I could use a Long Sword to perform a Spirit Helm Breaker!"
Hikaru coughed lightly. "Stop right there!... Swinging from eight hundred li away and somehow slicing your teammate's knee... This isn't... Wait, Hisui actually does have Chop Down. Are you talking about the Hidden Move Cut? But that move's power is too low. If you just want to cut down trees and open a path, there are other skills you can use."
"Even though I've already taught you Strong Style, Agile Style, and a variety of other combat methods... The answer is still no!"
"Besides, HMs don't exist in Hisui, and I'm not teaching you one. Request denied!"
In Pokémon: Let's Go, the old Hidden Moves had been replaced by Secret Techniques, with Cut becoming Chop Down! Even the Japanese names lined up perfectly!
Ingo also happened to have a conversation with Akari about Hidden Moves! It all matched...!
People who played Iai always ended up with eyes radiating a clear and innocent stupidity. Their brains would shut off, and once they acquired the move, they would keep using it forever without ever replacing it, just like Ash, until they eventually met the same fate as Greninja. It was a trap move, so one must never use it!
Akari looked disappointed. "What? I can't use it... That's so disappointing!"
"The moves look so bold and forceful, and the pauses in every combo are filled with absolute confidence. Spirit Helm Breaker replaces thought, Foresight Slash stops a charging wyvern, and when the enemy rushes over, you don't dodge. You just stand still, charge your attack, and bring your sword down on its head... But that isn't strong here?"
"This is the end of the road for a Long Sword main...! Blades and swords are both prohibited items... I understand."
Hikaru said, "Yes, stopping a wyvern charge with Iai. The dragons around here aren't easy to stop! Let's forget about it!"
Being a Long Sword main in Hisui would count as practicing the ancient style of the weapon, right?
No Iai, no Spirit Helm Breaker, and no Foresight Slash?
Hikaru continued, "Leave the attacking to your Pokémon and fight alongside them. Use Balls of Mud, Spoiled Apricorns, Sticky Globs, and Gigaton Balls... That combat style is also extremely powerful. The materials can be found everywhere, and wild Pokémon struck by them will move more slowly, become stunned, and stare around in a daze."
"Besides, don't you have a Pokémon who can serve as your swordsman? I'm talking about Oshawott. After a little more training, it should be able to evolve... Once it becomes Dewott and evolves one more time after that..."
"One thing worth noting is that, under the influence of Hisui's environment, its final Evolution in this region is far from ordinary. It will become an exceptionally rare regional form straight out of legend!"
"Mijiu..."
Oshawott stood beside Akari, polishing its scalchop. It looked thoughtfully at Hikaru, swished the shell through the air several times, and listened to their conversation with an expression full of yearning!
Among Unova's three first-partner Pokémon, Oshawott had been nicknamed Mijiu, or "rice wine," because Ash's Oshawott always made cries that sounded like "mijiu, mijiu." It was also practically the king of taking humiliating losses.
In the official animation, both Hugh and Hilbert appeared to carry Oshawott that ultimately evolved into Samurott. That said, ordinary Unovan Samurott was basically usable only as transportation. Its actual battling strength was rather average, even if it looked intimidating.
But if it evolved into its Hisuian form, that would be a completely different story!
It would gain the prestigious Ability Sharpness, which increased the damage dealt by slicing moves!
It would also acquire powerful Dark-type penetration and the chance to scatter hazards across the field, inflicting the Splinters condition with its signature move, Ceaseless Edge!
Oshawott cried, "Mijiu! I'm going to evolve into a Long Sword main!"
Spirit Helm Breaker!
Hikaru said, "So this was where the Long Sword main was hiding. Still, there really is one suitable move... Sacred Sword...!"
"Actually, the professor should have given you all three of them... Every one of those Pokémon develops a different form when raised here in Hisui."
Akari said, "So I'm supposed to carry all three first partners, then form bonds with all ten nobles. But wouldn't that put me over the party limit?"
"That's why you need the Celestica Flute," Hikaru explained. "With the Celestica Flute, you can summon the Ten Nobles to fight whenever and wherever you wish. They don't need to remain by your side all the time. Just treat it like a Hunting Horn..."
"After all, they're important Pokémon to the Diamond and Pearl Clans. You can't catch them in Poké Balls. The clan members would be furious if they saw that."
"Of course, although I can make a flute myself, you should still obtain yours from the Diamond Clan. Their clan leader is already planning to test your strength, and everything has been prepared. It's just like the trial stages you find in games. Pass the test, and you'll receive a treasure... That's all there is to it!"
"As for the party limit, why would anyone in this era care about that? Hmm, it's true that the Poké Balls of Hisui can't shrink down, which makes them rather inconvenient. Carrying more than a dozen on your body would be troublesome if you wanted to use Heavy Balls... But with your strength, it shouldn't be a problem, should it?"
"If you put it that way, then I really don't feel much of anything..." Akari replied. "I could even tie two full belts of them around myself...!"
She moved her body experimentally.
Had her strength increased after rapidly learning the Ripple?
Or was it just her imagination?
Hikaru said, "Your talent for throwing things can be used to throw Poké Balls and balms. It's especially important when throwing Gigaton Balls and Jet Balls!"
"Your musical talent can be used to learn Oración, the Celestica Melody, and Melody's Ocarina..."
"Your talent for shooting and hitting targets can be used to fire the Soil of the Homeland. Did you know that, during their free time, the residents of Jubilife Village play a folk game involving shooting and throwing things at Drifloon? Of course, those Drifloon are only handmade balloons. They aren't actual Drifloon."
"Then there's your study of Aura... Your aptitude is quite high... But Aura is a power that exists within everyone. With a little guidance and a grasp of the proper technique... then, with the aid of special gloves and a staff, even an apprentice can wield considerable power...!"
"But when it comes to the Capture Styler... Although you came to this world as a hero, you aren't the Hero of Light, so it's understandable that you aren't particularly adept at using one. This wasn't a conventional combat method to begin with... We need to leave something for the other heroes to do. That's why Pokémon battles suit you better."
An equally admiring voice came from the nearby base camp. Professor Laventon jogged over, raised his thumb, and exclaimed, "Indeed! Akari is truly remarkable!"
"You possess an aptitude for four out of the five quelling techniques! Your attempt with the Capture Styler may not have gone smoothly, but if other heroes do exist, then that can simply be their field of expertise."
"You, however, are a visitor from a distant land, yet you've mastered all five. If Pokémon battles are counted, that makes six methods, perhaps even more! By substituting Pokémon battles for the Capture Styler, Akari also possesses precisely five methods of quelling Pokémon!"
"Truly remarkable! No matter what situation we encounter, it will be no problem!"
Professor Laventon had long wanted to meet Hikaru as well. He mainly wished to discuss the investigation of certain Pokémon, along with Pokémon types... Of course, Pokémon types were supposedly proposed and then classified in greater detail by Professor Oak, yet such concepts already existed in Professor Laventon's era.
This was not a continuity-breaking retcon. Professor Laventon's research notes were simply lost in later generations. Whatever had occurred during those one hundred fifty years had created a veritable "Void Century."
Completed research and Pokédex records disappeared, forcing Professor Oak to begin studying everything again from scratch. Fortunately, history would not suffer another interruption after that... Professor Oak himself could be considered a space-time anchor. Because he had experienced time travel, his research and sketches would probably never disappear.
Professor Laventon said, "Still, we have been investigating around the base camp for quite some time. I believe it is about time we returned to Jubilife Village... We need to replenish our supplies as well."
"Your ramen and other dishes are certainly delicious, but our rewards for completing the survey can only be collected after we return. Without money, traveling anywhere becomes inconvenient, and we won't be able to trade with members of the Diamond and Pearl Clans whom we meet in the wild."
"Come to think of it, the clan leaders of the Diamond and Pearl Clans seem to have appeared in Jubilife Village as well. They are waiting for us to return. I doubt they know that you and Akari are together."
Hikaru said, "I've been collecting wisps recently, so even the Pearl Clan has no idea where I am. Very few people are capable of finding me... But you're right. Irida previously went to the Cobalt Coastlands. I'm certain she brought back some information this time."
"It concerns the fact that there is no lord on the island in the Cobalt Coastlands..."
Hikaru looked toward Akari.
"Then there is the matter of... Deertrack Heights. One of the bolts of lightning that descended from the heavens struck in that direction. Clearly, the nobles have begun to frenzy. This time, it will not be limited to five of them. It may be nine, or even all ten... And on top of Frenzied Might, they will gain Terrific Might."
"Pokémon in a state of Terrific Might take only half the usual damage from status conditions and other lingering effects. Enormous energy also coils around their bodies, producing powerful impacts and blasts of wind."
"The reason I trained you in the Obsidian Fieldlands and brought you to meet Wyrdeer was precisely to prepare for this. Wyrdeer gave you the Mind Plate, which bears an inscription."
"The first sentence concerns the origin of everything. You must remember it."
"'The Original One breathed alone before the universe came.'"
"Therefore, Wyrdeer has already prepared itself to be struck by lightning and driven into a frenzy. It tried to avoid that fate, but the attempt appears to have failed."
"Sneasler may also become frenzied, even though she has remained by my side this entire time. So I'll lend you Sneasler's power from the very beginning!"
Akari instantly put on her battle face. "A boss rush? A full gauntlet with ten bosses...? All right! I'll complete it!"
"It's only a tutorial stage... I'll put all those combat techniques and items to good use!"
The first warrior helping her was a Fighting-type warrior!
Yet the warrior she had to quell was not a Rock type, but a Psychic type!
She was starting with a type disadvantage!
Then she gave the matter some thought. "Hmm, but Sneasler has a four-times weakness to Psychic... She won't actually die if Wyrdeer hits her once, will she?"
Sneasler cried, "Myaow!"
Irida said, "At first, I believed the disorder spreading throughout Hisui had all been caused by the space-time rift. Almighty Sinnoh's power was seeping into this world, so the descendants of the Ten Nobles had to gather once more and offer Almighty Sinnoh our faith and determination in order to calm the disaster that might soon arrive."
"But Palina always refuses to agree. She says... If the divine lightning truly represents Almighty Sinnoh's will, then with Hisui already in such chaos, can forcing a young Pokémon to become the new lord and placing it in danger truly be considered right?"
"She even said that Hisui's disorder might be an expression of Almighty Sinnoh's anger. If we opposed Almighty Sinnoh, wouldn't we be destroying our own faith with our own hands...?"
"But I don't believe that's true... Even someone as conservative as I am has come to understand that a Pokémon battle isn't the use of brute force to compel an opponent to calm down. It is an earnest means of conveying one's heart through battle. Perhaps that is the true foundation of this universe."
"Through battle, we can sense another's Aura and emotions, allowing us to understand what kind of life-form they are. If we cannot understand one another, then the words of the new myth, 'The heart is also a part of space,' cannot possibly hold true."
"No matter how I try to persuade her, no matter how I demonstrate the methods of Pokémon battling and show her how to coexist with wild Pokémon, she refuses to accept it."
"I know Palina is afraid. She's afraid the divine lightning will descend and drive the lord into a frenzy, so she doesn't dare let Growlithe evolve or take it to Firespit Island. Because..."
Adaman continued, "Because several days ago, after lightning descended from the sky, the Diamond Clan's Lord of the Hollow went into a frenzy in the distant mountains!"
"It happened exactly as Brother Hikaru said! After the divine lightning first appeared, the number of alpha Pokémon surged, and space-time distortions and violent storms constantly followed. It was as though Almighty Sinnoh's fury were pouring down upon the land. Then, once the golden lightning struck... at last, the nobles themselves began to rampage..."
"I believe the Lord of the Hollow, Electrode, was the first because its type is... according to the classification used by the Galaxy Team's scholars and Hikaru, the Electric type. Electrode is especially sensitive to electricity, and electricity is light in motion."
"'Set light in motion, and it will transform into thunder.' Those were Hikaru's words. Everyone understands the meaning represented by lightning. It can be both a blessing and a betrayal, both anger and hatred."
"'The demon beast of lightning, and the one who commands the demon beast'...!"
"To demonstrate our conviction, we should have personally fought and defeated the lord we revere... That would not be betrayal. We would merely be calming a noble suffering in a violent frenzy. No matter how one looks at it, after seeing so many alpha Pokémon go berserk, this lightning could never be considered some form of blessing...!"
"As expected, this is the Lightning of Rage from the transcendent space-time!"
"It is more powerful than the force described in the prophecy! It gives off an aura that shakes the very soul... My entire body trembled. I believe that was what Hikaru described as Terrific Might, a power beyond Frenzied Might!"
"It is the power of Almighty Sinnoh... descending into our world!"
"But I was not strong enough. I couldn't defeat the Lord of the Hollow, Electrode, and I was nearly electrocuted into unconsciousness instead. Its raging electricity shattered even the enormous boulders at Moonview Arena. There was nothing I could do. Immediately afterward... the Pearl Clan's Lord of the Woods also fell into a frenzy, and lightning appeared over Deertrack Heights in the Obsidian Fieldlands."
"It isn't difficult to imagine that, one after another, all the nobles will soon begin radiating light."
"Commander... The Galaxy Team's ability to operate beyond the village must already be severely restricted, correct?"
"Without Hikaru's assistance, you won't be able to establish base camps and carry out surveys freely in the wilderness, nor will you be able to gather materials. Even the people of the Ginkgo Guild will be unable to continue conducting business."
"If the swordsman leaves this place to travel into the distant mountains or return to the Pearl Clan's settlement, the Galaxy Team will be unable to operate in the Obsidian Fieldlands. Even we of the Diamond Clan will be unable to tend to the nobles' arenas."
"This is an extremely serious matter! The nobles have already begun to suffer injuries, injuries they received while protecting humanity. How could we possibly leave at a time like this...? We will either fight beside the nobles until the very end and lose our lives, or we will leave with them."
"But the nobles will not leave, so neither will we."
Irida nodded as well.
"When it comes to Pokémon battles, we are all still novice Trainers with limited strength. That is why we came here to ask about... 'the one who bears the mission.' Captain Cyllene notified our people."
"Right now, I have no idea where Hikaru is. Mai previously said that he was in the Crimson Mirelands, but he later disappeared while gathering some sort of flame that appears in the night. He has been wandering everywhere with Sneasler. Still, I believe he will return soon."
"The trial bestowed by Almighty Sinnoh has already begun."
Commander Kamado fell into deep thought. After a moment, he carefully began to speak, his words condensing everything they had experienced over the past several dozen days.
"As commander of the Galaxy Team, I must take responsibility for the entire village... I understand why you have come."
"That girl who fell from the sky... Indeed, if not for the prophecy of the Lightning-Fallen Swordsman, I would certainly have suspected that Hisui's chaos was connected to her. But now that I consider it carefully, could it be that the chaos grew so immense that it caused people from other worlds to come here instead...?"
"Such a thing is unimaginable to me. I cannot understand it!"
"Therefore, it would be even more incomprehensible to the other villagers. Some would surely fear her, and those who are overly superstitious might even believe that she had come to bring disaster."
"That is why Cyllene concealed her identity. At first, I opposed the decision. Hiding the truth and skulking in the shadows creates a danger to the village. If something went wrong in the end, someone would have to take responsibility."
"But all of you regard her as the child of prophecy... one guided by Almighty Sinnoh... Although the Lightning-Fallen Swordsman is also an exceedingly suspicious individual, many within the Galaxy Team have undeniably benefited from his actions."
"He saved their lives and showed them the way... He did not simply hand Pokémon over to the villagers. He taught them to understand that Pokémon possessed abilities that could assist them in production and daily life. Now, even gathering materials dropped by Pokémon in the wilderness allows the village to support itself."
"Life has improved. Even as chaos spreads throughout the wilderness, the village remains peaceful and prosperous. All those changes were brought about by him."
"Perhaps he had already foreseen the present situation, when vast numbers of Pokémon would become alphas and throw the land into chaos... The swordsman's origins may be unknown, but the village has unquestionably received his aid and is changing with every passing day."
"...The swordsman and his more than thirty Pokémon are practically a powerful army. Even in Galar, a force like that could likely capture Hammerlocke... That city was supposedly built in ancient times as a fortress capable of resisting gigantic Pokémon."
"When faced with someone so powerful, I have no means of resisting him. It seems that trusting him is my only choice. In any case, Jubilife Village truly possesses nothing... that such a powerful individual would desire."
Launch "Operation: Jubilife Village Crush"?... The place did not command that kind of respect!
(End of Chapter)
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