Unity Tower.
It was a 131-story super-high-rise built on a floating island near Liberty Garden.
From Mistralton City's Unity Pier you could take a ship over. You could also reach Unity Tower by Flying.
In the games, this facility mainly existed so players from different countries could trade Pokémon with each other, and it basically didn't have any real function. Just from the name alone you could tell it was modeled after the United Nations.
Visiting Unity Tower was also one of the requirements for obtaining the medal "Full-Tour Unova."
However, in the current world, Unity Tower seemed to be the place where international organizations like the International Police, the Ranger Union, and the various regional Leagues came together to coordinate and make decisions.
That, in turn, was another way of imitating the UN's conference system.
Of course, some distant regional Leagues did not participate in Unity Tower's decisions. Either they had no seat, or they simply didn't intend to join for the time being. So most of the resolutions made here were about international issues such as ecological protection.
After arriving at Unity Tower, Hikaru went through the handover with the staff here. The International Police had reception personnel stationed in the building. Once his identity was verified, Hikaru was given a comfortable room to rest in.
Inside Unity Tower, Hikaru did indeed see people from the Ranger Union. That distinctive red uniform was eye-catching anywhere.
Besides them, there were also some people dressed in rather "feudal" fashion. Those were envoys from minor kingdoms and surviving city-states.
That was just how the Pokémon world worked.
Even though society had clearly advanced to modern times, there were still all sorts of medieval-style kingdoms left over, and they even possessed mysterious science and other strange powers.
Hikaru watched for a while. At first he wanted to see if he could spot anyone from the Azoth Kingdom, but after carefully looking around, he didn't see anyone with that kingdom's classic "steampunk skin."
In that case, the other kingdoms weren't very meaningful to him, whether he approached them or not.
After nine hours of waiting, Hikaru had a solid rest. When he woke up, it was already afternoon.
The International Police staff immediately came to report as soon as they heard he was awake.
"Your identification and the requested goods have been delivered."
Hikaru took the package from the staffer. Inside were his International Police credentials and… a gleaming Mega Stone!
"This is Lucarionite. Unlike other Mega Stones, this one is relatively rare."
"Normally, you'd need to go through the trial at the Tower of Mastery in Kalos to obtain it. However, we of the International Police naturally have other ways of locating the corresponding Mega Stone."
Hikaru said, "I understand. After all, you're active in every region and in all kinds of places. The more places you go, the more things you come across."
"Exactly." The staffer nodded. "From this moment on, you are one of us. In terms of rank, you're my superior."
"Although we're not in the same department." Hikaru smiled lightly. "In any case, thank you for the help."
The staffer shook his head. "No need to thank me. Being able to recruit a Trainer as strong as you is our honor."
On paper, the UB Countermeasures Division had a high rank, but in reality it was only responsible for handling issues involving other worlds. Within this world, it probably didn't have much actual law-enforcement authority. Still, having this ID to flash at people now and then wouldn't hurt.
After all, the average person had no idea what "UB Countermeasures Division" was supposed to mean.
[Item: Lucarionite!]
[Description: A mysterious Mega Stone that allows Lucario to Mega Evolve when held during battle! It's said that the power of Mega Evolution originates in a distant cosmos!]
[Note: Mega Evolution is a stage of evolution beyond any Pokémon's current known limits, a further step on the evolutionary ladder. A Pokémon that Mega Evolves will temporarily unleash its hidden power and display abilities unobtainable through normal evolution. Normally, this state lasts only for the duration of a single battle. So far, Mega Evolution only occurs in certain specific Pokémon and is considered a form of "form change."]
[Note: Mega Evolution places a considerable burden on a Pokémon's body. Due to the surge in energy, it may run wild. Long-term training is required to stabilize this state.]
[After Lucario Mega Evolves, its Aura will remain at its maximum level for a short time!]
[Note: Another item capable of triggering Mega Evolution is the "Luminous Stone" (from the Mystery Dungeon world). By using this power, a Pokémon can naturally enter an "Awakened Form." In that state, Mega Evolution can be achieved even without a Mega Stone.]
Mega Stones.
Honestly speaking, they were not much different from pretty glass marbles.
And "Awakened Form" was essentially the form of that second Mewtwo individual. She didn't need a Mega Stone to evolve, and in the Mystery Dungeon world, a Pokémon could also enter an Awakened Form by using the Luminous Stone.
In the end, it really wasn't far off from an "Ultimate form."
"One more stage of evolution and it might as well turn into WereGarurumon." Hikaru rubbed his chin. "Since Pokémon really can be data-fied, what's the difference between that and a Digimon anyway?"
Although he had obtained Lucarionite, Hikaru did not leave right away.
He still had one important tool to craft.
After leaving Unity Tower, he needed to go back to his house in Mistralton City and leave an "Anywhere Door" there!
"Time Links and Space Links, plus Wireless Link and Dream Link… I can now connect different worlds and spatial coordinates to each other."
"But the prerequisite is that they all have to be within the same macro-world."
"By using the Release Orb, I can create an Interdimensional Ring. That's Hoopa's ring. Theoretically, that's also a type of Anywhere Door."
"Infuse power from the Adamant Orb. Infuse power from the Lustrous Orb. Infuse power from the Griseous Orb."
"Hoopa is a djinn, but the Interdimensional Ring is clearly a time-space artifact. In the end, it all comes back to the same principles."
To create a "door," he only needed to craft a "doorknob" or an "entry card." Install it onto any doorway and a coordinate link would be established.
However, the coordinates at two locations had to be linked to each other. If there was only one doorknob, then it would just be an ordinary door.
The formal name for what he was about to create was…
"Magnagate!"
Magnagates were doors from "Magnagate and the Infinite Labyrinth" that could link distant spaces.
They connected two locations by temporarily creating a Mystery Dungeon between them.
In the game world, Magnagates were red. Magnagates created in the real world, however, were blue.
"Still, in a spatial sense, if I say the two points are directly connected, doesn't that count as a labyrinth too? As long as it links them, it works."
Hikaru got to work.
With the Release Orb acting as a universal material and the energies of the three great Orbs added on, the so-called entry card or Anywhere-Door doorknob was finished in short order.
Strictly speaking, these things weren't normal "handcrafted goods" at all, but whimsical devices practically kneaded together directly from time-space power.
Next, all he had to do was install a card or doorknob in his house in Mistralton City, then leave another one in the workshop of the Dream World. Once both were in place, he could link them.
"After that, when I return to somewhere near Sinnoh, I can head into the Distortion World, then come back out in Sinjoh and link the abandoned workshop to the Sinjoh workshop…"
"Then all the separate sub-spaces will be mutually linked, and I'll be able to go in and out freely."
There was an obvious benefit to doing this.
Namely, Calyrex would be able to use the gate to deliver vegetables directly, and could go to the Link World to keep expanding farmland. However, that would likely affect Calyrex's true body.
In other words, the guy would be forcibly dragged out of whatever forgotten corner of Galar it was currently sleeping in!
After that, if it wanted to go back, it would have to take a plane.
"In this setup, each sub-space is like a separate region. If I subdivide them carefully, I can bring my partners straight over and just summon them through the gate whenever needed."
"Although, knowing these travel-loving guys, it's doubtful they'd actually stay home."
Even though unvisited Sinjoh was nice in its own way…
The Pokémon out in the wider world were already used to living alongside humans.
If you suddenly threw them back into a wild environment again, their first reaction would be to feel out of place.
So it would be better to treat each separate zone as a resource depot or a set of warp points. One way or another, once he left a gate behind, going back home or heading to a new region would be as simple as stepping through a door. That was a lot more convenient.
"But the Release Orb gets consumed too. I've saved up quite a bit, but I still can't afford to waste it. I can't set up doors everywhere."
Being able to open a door and step into a far-off world was actually pretty romantic.
In the future, he might even be able to travel through time tunnels via those same doors.
——
After leaving a gate in Mistralton City and confirming that Amarys would not be returning in the near future,
Hikaru temporarily set out for the Paldea region.
Genesect shifted into its High-Speed Flight Mode and began shifting gears.
At its current speed, it could fully compete with a mail-carrier Dragonite. And Genesect had Extreme Speed as well!
When they were about to depart, Aerodactyl had made a fuss about wanting to fly too.
After all, when it saw that vast sky spread out before them, it couldn't suppress the impulse to take off at all!
What a sky.
A sky begging to be flown!
With me escorting you, you can rest a hundred percent easy!
Anyone who dares attack you en route…
I'll style on them in mid-air!
"Genesect has Shift Gear and Extreme Speed. You're not going to outfly it."
"Ge-no. (No comment.)"
"Gaa-oo! (I don't buy it, let's race!)"
Aerodactyl really was being puppeted by its rock-filled brain.
Ancient primal power wasn't about to accept getting pummeled by future tech. It was determined to win one back!
So what if you have Shift Gear? I've got Dragon Dance!
At first, the idea looked beautiful. But once the race actually started, Aerodactyl could still keep up initially, yet little by little it began to tire out.
"Gaa-oo!"
"Aerodactyl, that's enough. You can't catch up to Genesect. It's running on infinite energy."
"Gaa-oo…"
Aerodactyl began logging onto the Murphit Network.
Crap. It had bragged too hard.
Six Dragon Dances and it still couldn't catch up. What are you, human?
Oh right, you're a bug.
Come on, back in the Paleozoic I wouldn't have even spared a glance for this kind of insect!
"Of course. The age of giant bugs was three hundred million years ago. You're at most sixty-five million." Hikaru shrugged.
Aerodactyl stared in disbelief.
So you're telling me… this iron bug is from three hundred million years ago and is older than me?
"Officer Kaguya, you want to fly too?" Hikaru asked.
[No, no. Captain, I'll pass. If I take off, I make way too much noise, it's scary…]
Lady Celesteela, the massive Ultra Beast, turned down the invitation to fly alongside them.
The socially anxious lady wasn't good at joining these aerial competitions.
"Vii!"
Right when Aerodactyl was exhausted, Victini fluttered its small wings and landed on its head.
Victory!
I bring you unlimited power!
A huge surge of power flowed into Aerodactyl's body, instantly re-energizing it!
It felt like it had a limitless reservoir of energy!
"So you've become Victini's mount now, huh… That's fine too! Use that infinite energy and soar as you please!"
Thus, the high-speed Genesect and the Aerodactyl boosted by Victini competed with each other as they sliced through the sky, riding the wind and waves across the boundless sea.
It reminded Hikaru of when he had first gone to Unova, with Mewtwo carrying him in flight and Aegislash accompanying them.
He wondered how far along Mewtwo was in its treasure-hunting now.
Theoretically speaking, the events in Almia hadn't happened yet. The "Path of Light" story was still a long way off, at least half a year or so.
"There, land ahead!"
As a certified pilot, Hikaru's eyesight was excellent. That sharpsight was probably inherited from Skyla.
Foaming waves rolled, and a strange continent slowly emerged in the distance, growing closer and closer.
With Extreme Speed, crossing between regions in a matter of hours was nothing remarkable.
In the official mail-carrier Dragonite short, that Dragonite had used Extreme Speed to cross several regions in an extremely short time.
Truly the king of Extreme Speed.
"Given our heading, this should be the West Paldean Sea, right?"
"Shenbo Town is in the southeast of the Paldea region. From here, we'll need to cut across half the Paldean continent."
As they flew above the western sea, some Paldea-native Pokémon began to appear.
For example, the ones that looked like white herons but whose attitudes were as sleazy as they came: Bombirdier.
These Pokémon had terrible personalities, just as their name suggested. They loved to kick someone when they were down. They made bags out of the fluff on their chests and shed feathers, stuffed them with things, then dropped them from high up for fun, especially enjoying anything that would make a loud noise when it hit.
Sometimes, purely for the sake of bullying outsiders or humans, they would actively attack innocent passers-by and pelt them from above.
Their typing was Flying + Dark; they were practically the air-borne crime syndicate of Paldea's skies.
Sure enough, as Genesect skimmed at high speed over the western sea, the Bombirdier nesting on island outcrops in the water were instantly provoked.
Chirping noisily, they beat their wings and took to the air, posturing aggressively like they were about to launch an ambush… even though they couldn't keep up at all.
Still…
"Gaa-roar!"
Aerodactyl's roar split the sky. The ancient lord of the skies temporarily cut off its Rock-Brain Network connection and recovered its predatory instincts. Seeing that many birds take off all at once instantly put it in the mood.
Good timing!
After flying for so long, it was dying to hit something.
Arrogant, are you?
You clearly have no idea what a true sky ruler is. I'll show you some real aerial superiority!
"Oh, looks like Paldea's gravity has kicked in."
"In that case, let's try out your new move!"
"Aerodactyl, Double-Edge!"
The outcome was obvious.
With the Rock Head ability and Victini's support, Aerodactyl's entire body was brimming with power. The link between rock and brain was fully online, Double-Edge replaced thinking, and with illegal levels of buffs stacked on, it simply gave up on using its head.
Just ram them. (Murphit voice-line.)
"Oto! Oto!"
The Bombirdier flock had never seen anything like an Aerodactyl before. Their leader, with a double weakness to Rock, took a single Double-Edge to the face and fell from the sky like a kite with its string cut.
That immediately threw the mob of evil birds into chaos. Aerodactyl didn't show any mercy either, diving into the flock for a wild brawl. In the blink of an eye, it had scattered the whole group and sent them fleeing for their lives.
So much for Paldea's wild aerial crime ring. In front of our primordial king of the sky, you're nothing special.
Fresh off another win, Aerodactyl was in excellent spirits. Of course, it didn't forget Victini's contribution.
The little partner might be small, but it really had endless energy to give.
"Vii! Vii!"
Victini flashed the V-for-Victory sign to celebrate their triumph.
Win, win, win. I'm winning so hard I'm getting dizzy. This is the power of the Victory Star!
"Right, we've arrived."
As they neared the western coast, Bombirdier and its low-class behavior disappeared. In their place were Kilowattrel, the wind-power-plant seabirds. Compared to Bombirdier, Teacher Kilowattrel's manners were far better.
Then, something in the water started giving chase like a pack of rabid dogs.
"Vii?"
It was Victini's first time seeing such deranged fish. Curious, it peeked down from atop Aerodactyl's head, only to see the crazed fish lift their heads and suddenly unleash a move.
Blades of water like slicing knives slashed up into the air.
"Aqua Cutter!"
"Vii!" Victini jumped in fright, and Aerodactyl roared again.
Even Genesect was speechless.
What was with the wild Pokémon in this place? It really felt like being thrown back three hundred million years.
"So it's a school of Veluza. This species just likes to 'charge.'"
Veluza, the aquatic crime syndicate of the Paldean seas, would shed their excess flesh to become lighter, then rush their prey.
If you were adventuring in Paldea, you had to watch out for Veluza lurking in the water. They would rush you from far away like mad dogs, for no clear reason other than wanting to hit you once.
When people played Scarlet and Violet, Veluza had the honor of successfully dethroning Sharpedo as the number-one jumpscare encounter in the new generation.
When they hit you on the water's surface, that cursed rushing animation was unforgettable. The biggest victim area was Casseroya Lake.
"This place really is a land where beasts flourish and the land is blessed. We haven't even reached our destination yet, and we've already been gang-beaten by wild Pokémon twice."
Genesect and Aerodactyl continued on. The western part of Paldea had many high mountains and windmills.
"Whatever else is out here, bring it all on."
Whooo…
Bang!
All of a sudden, a spinning little iron hammer whistled through the air and smacked right into the low-flying Genesect.
Hikaru immediately looked toward the direction the hammer had come from.
A crowd of pink Pokémon that looked like human toddlers but were all pink in color came hopping out from some ruins one after another. Their eyes were filled with starry sparkles, as if they had just spotted some rare raw material, and they were squealing with excitement.
"Ka-ka-ka-ka!"
The Tinkatink were cheering wildly.
Bullseye. Time to collect metal!
"So we're already here, huh… Paldea's number-one crime syndicate, the Tinkatink family."
"Ge-ge-no?!"
Even Genesect broke into a cold sweat.
Trainer, something feels really wrong about this place.
Even three hundred million years ago, it had never seen such a deranged region.
Do these guys see me as nothing but scrap metal to dismantle?
"And not just Tinkatink… there are Tinkatuff too."
Tinkatink hammered iron filings to make hammers. Until they made one they were happy with, they would keep remaking it over and over. At that stage, they were still pretty weak.
But once they evolved into Tinkatuff, they would settle in places piled high with junk metal. To test the toughness of their hammers, they would smash them against each other in ferocious duels with their partners.
In order to make larger and tougher hammers, they would attack groups of Bisharp and loot their metal.
Of course, if there were no Bisharp around, ambushing other Steel-type Pokémon like Corviknight worked just as well.
Especially their final evolution, Tinkaton!
They swung their giant hammers to blow boulders away and even swatted Corviknight right out of the sky, sending them crashing to the ground.
That was why Flying Taxi service couldn't operate here.
However, when the pink Paldean devils saw their hammer attacks do nothing to Genesect, they immediately started whispering among themselves.
Then, a tongue of flame suddenly rose from within the crowd of little girls.
The group cooperatively cleared a path, and a fierce burst of fire shot out.
"Dodge with Extreme Speed!"
Genesect activated Extreme Speed and dodged in an instant. The fire attack just now was…
Flare Blitz.
Boom!
Flames blasted a crater into the ground. Out of the blazing fire stood a small knightly figure, also carrying a little hammer.
There was a type of Pokémon whose life resided in a burning charcoal.
It liked to eat berries rich in oil. Even when facing a strong foe, it would fight on with burning fighting spirit.
Once it entered battle mode, its internal temperature would rise to a thousand degrees Celsius.
And sometimes… its habitat overlapped with that of the Tinkatink family.
"This guy is…"
"Charcadet?"
"And it's teaming up with the Tinkatink family to hunt?"
That made sense. If steel hammers and rocks couldn't affect a Steel-type Pokémon, then it was time to use fire.
"Honestly… Let me teach you something. You can't just attack innocent passers-by. That's not how a knight should act."
"Hmph!" Flames flared around Charcadet's body. Hikaru read its thoughts.
A true knight challenges the strong. Aren't you a strong one?
It had hunted down many Steel-type Pokémon so far, and they were just the next targets in line.
"I am strong, yes. But an unprovoked attack isn't knightly conduct."
"So what's the most important thing in the knight's path? First, I'll have you understand something more important than success and pride."
"That is… failure."
Hikaru raised a hand. Charcadet looked up in puzzlement, then noticed something in the sky above.
A massive light warped the air, accompanied by a fierce roar as it plummeted like a meteor.
Aerodactyl's Sky Attack.
"Guuu-ooooh!"
The explosive light washed over the Tinkatink family and Charcadet, swallowing them whole.
——
Western Area, Icerend Shrine.
The snow leopard sealed within the shrine suddenly sensed a familiar presence.
It blinked slowly and lashed its tail against the sealing barrier of the shrine with all its might, yet as it had for the past thousand years, the seal did not budge in the slightest.
(End of Chapter)
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