Chapter 503 - 501
"A level 91 Boomburst! There shouldn't be a Pokémon that strong in Area Zero. Wait, did it learn it through [Extra Learning]?!"
That massive Boomburst didn't just knock back the other Great Tusk charging in, it also made the Pokémon on Hikaru's side clamp their hands over their ears, faces twisting in pain.
Everyone got hit!
"B, big bro! That device of yours is insane, but she totally misunderstood your command!" Arven covered his ears, his brain buzzing like a hornet's nest, the whole world spinning. Garganacl, on the other hand, was completely fine.
No matter how strong a Normal-type move was, as long as it wasn't boosted by Victini, it wasn't punching through Rock-types.
[It's not very effective on Garganacl.]
Hikaru covered his ears too. "That's a Capture Styler. It's a device Pokémon Rangers use. It lets us borrow a Pokémon's power for temporary combat. I brought it out as a precaution in case Area Zero got chaotic, but most of these ancient Paradox Pokémon won't fully obey the Styler's commands."
Great Tusk refused to hand over seasoning, Slither Wing treated nest-building as its top priority, and Roaring Moon did use a sound move, but it treated Boomburst like singing. Was it because she couldn't sing, or because she thought this looked cooler?
"Yiii-ya, yiii-ya~"
Roaring Moon cleared her throat. Seeing her kin rolling away in defeat, her mood instantly improved. She turned around and strutted up to Hikaru to demand her reward.
Who cares if it was singing or Boomburst, the outcome was the same, wasn't it?
Ancient high song. Isn't it beautiful?
But when she saw everyone looking like they were suffering, Roaring Moon froze for a beat, then her expression twisted into fury, cheeks puffing out.
"Ya!"
What's with that awful face? Are you saying my singing is bad?
She looked at the other Pokémon.
Armarouge was clutching its helmet. The Falinks were sprawled all over the place, eyes spinning. Mabosstiff had gone stiff as a board, straight-up locked in place.
Even one of the ancient Paradox Pokémon, Walking Wake, the one best at using all kinds of sound-based moves, shook its head at Roaring Moon and let out a pained howl.
"W, w-w-w, yaaaaaa!!!"
Roaring Moon was livid. Her emotions punched through the Capture Styler's restraint, and an irritable impulse surged in her chest.
"This is exactly it. Ancient Paradox Pokémon often have this unexplained rage bubbling inside them. That's probably why, even if you catch them with a Capture Styler, they still won't fully listen."
"Roaring Moon, calm down!" Hikaru glanced at Garganacl. Garganacl was already gearing up to throw down.
If anyone here was least afraid of Boomburst, it was definitely him. A double resistance was no joke.
But right then, Palafin, who'd been resting in the Dive Ball for a bit, popped out on its own again, striking a dramatic hero entrance pose!
This time, though, Palafin wasn't here to throw hands.
It flew in with a huge kick, landed in front of Roaring Moon, grabbed her little hand, and looked utterly moved.
"Man!"
That is the voice of a hero! It's incredible! You are the true king of ancient singing!
"Ya?!" Roaring Moon jolted, then immediately looked touched, her anger evaporating in an instant.
Y, you understand my singing?
Palafin nodded solemnly, one hand pressed to his chest.
True man and true music both live in the heart!
"How did they become friends… Palafin really is the legendary hero. No matter what crisis it is, he can defuse it!" Arven was thrilled, staring at Palafin like a starstruck fanboy.
But Hikaru knew why Palafin was doing this. It wasn't that Palafin had actively defused the crisis. It was that…
"So that's it. Finizen has an Egg Move called Boomburst. They use ultrasonic waves to sense living creatures' emotions."
Hikaru continued, "Finizen can learn it, but Palafin can't. Finizen equals an ordinary person, Palafin equals a hero. Moves an ordinary person can learn, a hero can't. That's proof that everyone has things they can do and things they can't."
"Roaring Moon's Boomburst is also a bit different from Finizen's Boomburst. There's real 'singing technique' in it."
"I'm a musician too. I don't want to admit it, but there's actually some skill in there. She isn't just screaming randomly! Palafin wants to learn that technique and use Boomburst!"
"Y, you idiot! Your Special Attack is only 106! What Boomburst are you trying to use?!"
Watching Roaring Moon and Palafin bond like a roadside singer meeting a devoted fan, Hikaru suddenly felt like he'd seen this before.
Right. That big mouth and those demon high notes were basically exactly like Gian.
"So it's a Gian variant. That explains everything. Very reasonable."
"Ya, ya-ya!"
Roaring Moon started teaching her fan the secrets of screaming out those piercing high notes. Normally, Palafin couldn't learn it at all, but since Finizen could, Palafin figured he should be able to, too.
He carefully memorized the tips and tried to make a sound.
"WuMAN!!!"
"Ya-ya!" Roaring Moon shook her head hard, totally dissatisfied.
Your voice still isn't loud enough! If it's not loud, the feelings you're transmitting aren't strong enough!
No spirit!
Palafin drooped, instantly dejected.
A hero's flaws. This is a hero's flaws, too.
Right. Heroes aren't everywhere. Not just anyone can become a hero.
Palafin looked behind him, pointing at the slightly dazed Armarouge.
That's the kind of big hero I want to be!
"If 'man' isn't enough, then becoming Ultraman is enough."
Sure, Palafin could learn Hyper Voice, but as far as sound-based moves went, that was basically his ceiling.
Hikaru muttered from behind, making Palafin shake his head rapidly. He tried again, and then…
"Maaaan~~~"
"What is that?!"
Palafin let out a bizarre sound. That oddly philosophical noise turned into pink musical light and shot at Roaring Moon!
[Palafin learned "Disarming Voice"!]
It emits a charming cry, dealing mental damage. It releases multiple pink sound waves mixed with hearts. The attack never misses.
"This is legal, but still!"
Watching the hero of the sea make that kind of philosophical noise, both Hikaru and Arven visibly flinched. After Disarming Voice hit, Roaring Moon's expression also became… complicated.
Looks like you really don't have the talent for Boomburst.
Roaring Moon snapped her tail, got annoyed, and smacked Palafin with a loud slap.
How can you make that sound!
So rude!
And you call yourself a fan!
"An idol beating up their fan. That's so rock."
Palafin got scolded, shooed back, and looked crushed. Hikaru patted the hero of the sea on the shoulder.
"It's fine. Even if you make that kind of sound, we're still friends."
"And Roaring Moon's technique wasn't completely useless. If you want to learn Boomburst, let me help you."
"This is for you." Hikaru handed Palafin a disc. "It's a Technical Machine. It has Hyper Voice recorded on it. Learn this first."
"Man!" Palafin was deeply moved.
Steel Alchemist, you're my friend for life!
Palafin looked at Arven.
Arven's expression had shifted a little too, but his overall vibe stayed firm.
"No matter what kind of sound you make, Palafin is Palafin! The ocean's HERO!"
"Man!" Palafin gave Arven a thumbs-up in gratitude.
As long as I have fans like you, I'm full of strength!
Arven lowered his voice. "So even Palafin chases idols… and idols have idols of their own…"
"Yi, ya." Roaring Moon rose onto her toes, asking Hikaru for her prize.
"Here. This one's for you."
Hikaru tossed over a Sitrus Berry. Roaring Moon caught it, chewed, swallowed, and her mood brightened right away.
She swished her ponytail, let out a final, slightly regretful roar, waved goodbye to Palafin, and rolled off to somewhere else.
"Man!" Palafin looked genuinely reluctant to see her go.
Friend! Music idol! Even if I'm not by your side, I'll always support you!
"Garganacl, you didn't get to fight."
"Garga." Garganacl sounded a bit regretful too.
Whatever. There are plenty of ancient Paradox Pokémon in the lower levels. Better to save this useful body for a real slugfest down there.
"Notes from Observation Station No. 2…"
[The frozen Tera Project has been restarted. Starting this month, we will move the base to the Area Zero Lab. The number of researchers has decreased compared to the past, but it will be fine. The influence of the crystals is extremely large, making experimental results difficult to stabilize.]
[The crystals' power is tremendous. The company fears its instability, but if we harness this energy, we can begin research that was previously impossible. At last, we can build a paradise.]
On the way to Observation Station No. 3, Arven started asking about the notes.
Hikaru remembered that, in the original storyline, one of Arven's paradoxes was the whole "time machine and the Tera Project" issue.
At first, Arven claimed he didn't know what his parents were researching.
But at Observation Station No. 3, Arven talked about the time machine and Koraidon and Miraidon.
"Sometimes he knows, sometimes he doesn't. It contradicts itself."
"He says he hasn't been to the stations, yet he doesn't pay attention to the notes. Maybe the professor mentioned it to him back then, or brought it up in later communications?"
Hikaru didn't know what was going on with Arven's contradictions, but it didn't really matter to Arven as a person.
It wouldn't change the world or change him.
Besides, Hikaru had already long understood one thing: history can be overwritten. That was one of the Pokémon world's underlying rules.
Change the past, and the future changes accordingly.
And if some parts of the past haven't changed, it's because the correct person hasn't yet reached the future node where that change happens.
"Arven, do you know what a time machine is? Like in sci-fi movies. A machine that lets you travel through time."
"Huh? That kind of thing…" Arven started thinking, then suddenly seemed to recall some memory that shouldn't exist. "Wait, I feel like Mom mentioned it before…"
"Why don't I remember…?"
Hikaru didn't mind. "You're getting memories that don't exist, right? That's the paradox."
"And that's exactly what I'm talking about."
"Your mom really was doing unbelievably great research, but her motivation for it wasn't exactly great."
"A time machine does exist. It can only send things one way, and once something comes through, it can't go back. Although there are also time machines that can send things back."
"At the next station, you'll see your mother's notes. She spent her whole life completing it, and she placed that thing in the deepest part of the Area Zero Lab."
While they talked, Hikaru, Arven, and their Pokémon arrived at Observation Station No. 3.
Among the four stations, only Observation Station No. 4 was located in a dangerous spot. The other three were outside the deepest layer.
Inside the station, there were dust-covered notes.
[The time machine research has achieved a great feat. We successfully transferred a Pokémon from the ancient past. We named it Koraidon. I never expected we'd also gain a new treasure at the same time! Good things really do come one after another.]
[After Number 1, more ancient Paradox Pokémon were transferred successfully. The moment that book becomes reality is close at hand. For the three of us to live happily in paradise, I have to keep working hard.]
Two notes, exactly what they expected to see.
But Hikaru suddenly noticed another note near the bed.
[This is not correct. In addition to the ancient Paradox Pokémon, future Paradox Pokémon have appeared. That was only a hypothesis.]
[Turo. The content of that book is not the Scarlet Book, but a different imitation book: the Violet Book!]
[We disagreed about the research. Should we transfer ancient Paradox Pokémon, or future Paradox Pokémon? We held different opinions.]
[The first Pokémon transferred from the future is named Iron Boulder.]
"The Scarlet Book and Violet Book… So the Violet Book exists in this world too, it's just less famous. People think it's an imitation of the Scarlet Book, but in reality it's also written by Heath?"
"Back at Observation Station No. 3, Professor Turo hadn't died yet. Arven also hadn't been born at this point."
"Arven was born during the period when they moved from Observation Station No. 3 to Observation Station No. 4, and Professor Turo died during that same period."
"Iron Boulder! That's the Pokémon Iron Leaves and Iron Crown have been searching for. Terrakion's future form. They say it was taken and modified by an evil organization. But Terrakion couldn't possibly live until a 'future city' era."
[Iron Boulder has a cold and ruthless disposition. A metallic body is a defining feature of this Pokémon. The shape of the glowing portion of the horn on its head has changed drastically, resembling circular blades linked on both sides.]
[It possesses rationality and can communicate with us. Therefore, Turo believes future Paradox Pokémon have higher intelligence and are more suitable for developing and living in paradise.]
[I don't like it. It seems to lack normal emotions. Compared to the ancient Paradox Pokémon, it gives me a terrifying feeling. I hope this won't cause trouble, but regarding the transfer project, I still insist: ancient is better than future.]
[Due to severe shortages in Terastal energy and the time machine's startup power, we should continue transferring deeper.]
That was all the content in Observation Station No. 3, but Hikaru couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
As the only future Paradox Pokémon that hadn't had its mind altered… well, not the only one. "Iron Treads" and "Iron Trash" also hadn't appeared in the future city.
Still, Hikaru had a strong sense that this whole situation had something to do with Iron Boulder.
"As the saying goes, who writes notes seriously? If it's written in a note, there's definitely a problem."
Hikaru had a theory forming, but Arven didn't really get it.
"Anyway, my mom and dad built a time machine together. Bringing Pokémon back from other eras… that sounds like pure sci-fi."
"So that's what it was! Mom used to tell me Koraidon was brought back by the time machine or something. I remember now!"
Arven blinked, then looked at Miraidon.
"Wait… are you one too?"
Hikaru glanced at the big lizard. "This one used to pick up trash in the future."
"Agaas." Miraidon puffed out its chest.
My trash-picking is not the same as Archaludon's trash-picking! That one just loves the taste of old rebar. I was exiled, that's why I was scavenging.
"And it's a first-generation prototype. If more Miraidon models show up later, I definitely can't beat them."
"Agaas." Miraidon shrank its neck.
The rampage program is basically broken now. If you suddenly tell me to start a civil war with other units, ahem, you've got the big boss anyway, right.
"Am I supposed to go fight future forms myself?"
"Agaas. (I mean, you've done it before.)"
Hikaru stared hard at the timid lizard, until it nearly pressed its head to the ground, none of that bullfighting-arena arrogance it had when it charged Tauros.
"You're [Ultimate Tauros] and you don't have an ounce of bullfighting spirit!"
"Ultimate Tauros?" Arven looked completely lost.
Hikaru waved him off. "Don't worry about it. It's just a title a bullfighting master gave it. That guy trained Tauros to the point of madness. Besides, Miraidon's a mechanical Pokémon. Add horns, and it's not like it can't be a bull."
"We move toward Observation Station No. 4."
They unlocked the third lock and were about to continue.
Then the ground started rumbling. From a huge hole leading down into the lower area in the distance, a massive wave of Paradox Pokémon came rushing out!
The front of Observation Station No. 3 faced a huge cave. You had to pass through it to reach the lower level. Technically, there were also open shafts and waterfalls leading down outside the cave, but there wasn't any normal, walkable path there.
"Whoa! They're swarming out again!"
Arven finally, truly understood how dangerous Area Zero was. On the way to the stations, you didn't run into many Pokémon, but once you reached a station, tons of Paradox forms would appear nearby. Without real power, you'd never make it this far.
"Garga!" Garganacl's eyes gleamed.
Oh, are we fighting now. I don't exactly love battle intensity like this, but this is a little different from before.
"Wait, those are… Great Tusk!"
In this area, you were guaranteed to run into either a Great Tusk or an Iron Treads.
Hikaru said, "A mass outbreak… Great Tusk are active around here? Their levels are higher than the Titan Great Tusk!"
The Titan Great Tusk was the weakest of its kind. But if it lost strength, what was the tradeoff?
The tradeoff was that it was smart as hell. The moment Area Zero's barrier disappeared, it bolted out in one go.
That's the highest IQ in the family line!
"And it's not just Great Tusk. There are others too!"
There were more ancient Paradox Pokémon than expected. This place felt like it could trigger a "mass outbreak" phenomenon at any time.
"Garganacl, I need you to do something." Hikaru looked at the Falinks, who were itching to go, and made a request to Garganacl.
Use Block?
Garganacl was confused.
We're on the same side, aren't we. Why are we using Block on our own allies?
Well, I don't get it, but I'll do it anyway!
[Garganacl used Block on Falinks!]
"Block is in effect! Falinks, No Retreat!"
"Eeta eeta! Waaaaaahg!"
Falinks' fighting spirit surged!
No retreat, no backing up, a heart that only moves forward! Infinite No Retreat, activate!
Roman legion, advance!
"High Horsepower!"
Falinks might be small, but after stacking six boosts to all stats, they fell into a fanatic, unstoppable state.
Those tiny bodies, like little Kirbys, thundered forward with the impact of an earthquake. The Great Tusk at the very front didn't even bother looking at those little beans.
Next instant, it got rammed clean off its feet.
A Ground-type went airborne again!
Hikaru looked at the big knight. "Armarouge, Psychic Terrain. Domain Expansion!"
The next fight didn't even need careful commands.
Great Tusk might be called "the tusk saint," but it was also one of those rare Pokémon that was double weak to Psychic.
"Roooar!"
A violent bellow came from deep in the cave. A blue, blood-moon-like dragon shot out of the black hole and started roaring.
But the roar only lasted for a moment. The evil dragon stared at Hikaru, feeling like it recognized him. It blinked, then started trembling violently.
I've seen him somewhere before!
"Oh! Looks like we're acquainted. Acquaintances are good! As the saying goes, strangers get half, acquaintances get the full sweep!"
"Falinks, Close Combat!"
The dragon that appeared was naturally one of the Roaring Moon they'd run into before.
It was trapped between terror and confusion when it suddenly heard Falinks screaming, "Waaaaaahg!"
The little candy-bean soldiers that had just launched Great Tusk into the sky and were now brawling wildly suddenly started piling up, one after another, like a human tower as they jumped!
One, two, three, four, five, six!
Up we go!
We think, we go, we all go together!
I'm the big one, I go first, then you all go too!
Anything goes!
Today, we become dragon-slaying heroes!
"Eeta!"
Close Combat times six!
At the same time, Armarouge and Palafin unleashed their fiery, hot-blooded combo too!
Expanding Force plus Surf!
A pillar of light and a roaring tide swallowed the Great Tusk pouring out, and Garganacl took advantage of their drenched state to use Salt Cure!
"Surf doesn't change them into Water-type, so you won't get a real type conversion, but soaking isn't just a move condition. It's also an ecological condition."
In the anime, Ash's Pikachu, putting aside that early-series weirdness with Electric moves and Geodude, later in Sun and Moon on Poni Island's grand trial, used a tactic that smashed a ruin pillar and soaked Mudsdale, putting a Ground-type into a waterlogged state.
"So, if they've been soaked, then when they take Salt Cure damage, that damage should be even higher!"
The raging mammoths dropped one after another. Up in the air, Roaring Moon was being clung to by Falinks. The little soldiers hammered it with spiked shields. Double weak to Fighting, the dragon howled in misery.
Then its wings tilted, it spiraled, and the "sons of Rome" smashed it down to the ground.
"Awooo…"
Walking Wake looked at the situation ahead. Some were still trying to get up and fight. Walking Wake roared, then swung its twin tails like crashing waves.
Breaking Swipe!
That sweep flattened them completely, and then Husky Wake started its classic routine: picking up loot, aka robbery.
"Yaya-yaya…"
A defeated Great Tusk watched helplessly as Walking Wake bit down on its tusks and jerked hard.
Y, you're trying to steal my ivory?!
Water energy surged over Walking Wake's teeth. It released Water-type power through any part of its body. It looked like Fishious Rend, but it was actually Liquidation!
Crack!
That Great Tusk's ivory snapped.
The mammoth shut its eyes in pain. The others were sprawled on the ground too, too battered by Expanding Force to stand, and could only let the robber rummage around.
Walking Wake stuffed a whole string of ivory into its mane, nearly turning itself into "Walking Wake: Chieftain Form," then locked onto the Roaring Moon that had already crashed on the other side.
Oh, and there are dragon feathers too! Last time I didn't have time to pluck them. This time I've got to pluck more!
You ancient Paradox Pokémon don't really drop anything worth stealing anyway. The best I can do is ivory and dragon feathers as crafting materials!
"Too bad Walking Wake isn't a physical attacker. Its Attack is 83, only 7 lower than Dracovish's 90, but the problem is it doesn't have Strong Jaw. Otherwise, learning Fishious Rend wouldn't be impossible."
Hikaru watched Husky Wake rob everyone and didn't stop it.
Because deeper in the cave, something else came rumbling out again.
"This riot never ends. Is this just routine territory patrol? Ancient Paradox Pokémon really do seem to take territory more seriously!"
"Then…" Hikaru's gaze shifted to the distance.
Over there, a few white stone giants were moving around.
"Capture, activate!"
As the Capture Styler flashed, Hikaru captured several wild Garganacl!
The giants stomped into position together, forming a towering "wall of giants"!
Hikaru pointed toward the depths of the cave.
"Capture complete. Garganacl, all six of you!"
"Use Earthquake!"
It wasn't an Earthquake anymore.
It was more like an "earth rumbling."
"Garganacl really is a great companion. Let's capture more Garganacl on the way, charge the lab in one push as a 'giant legion'!"
"Activate the earth rumbling. Trample Area Zero flat!"
——————
The battle at the lower-level entrance alerted two Pokémon nearby, on the cliffs and by the waterfall.
The Pokémon on the cliff stared into the abyss below, sensing a familiar presence. Flames ignited over its body. It looked like a hybrid of a ceratopsian dinosaur and a lion.
The Pokémon near the waterfall moved even faster.
Each time it stomped the ground, it boomed like thunder. Like an ancient "thunder saur."
Like war drums, pounding in a roar.
(End of Chapter)
[Get +30 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"]
[Every 300 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop]
[Thanks for Reading!]