Chapter 515 - 513
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[Indigo Disk authentication complete.]
[Within the Zero Lab, the elevator destination has been changed to: Area Zero Underdepths.]
Hikaru: "The tech tree in the Pokémon world really is skewed in the weirdest possible direction."
"There are convenient things like chips, even computer-based time machines and all kinds of advanced systems, but something as simple as changing a destination still relies on a disc?"
"There just so happens to be a slot for the disc right under the authentication device. A machine worth eight hundred thousand might not even have a disc drive anymore. At this level of technology, this thing should've been phased out a long time ago."
"Honestly, even a USB would be more practical than this... though considering the Indigo Disk and this lab were both created ten years ago, maybe even earlier, it's understandable that an old system like this never got optimized away."
"And there's only one elevator in the entire Zero Lab. That's hard to understand too. A place this important should have multiple elevators."
"There had to have been other people working in this facility before. The professor must have taken it over later, or built on top of something that already existed. There's no way Professor Sada mixed the concrete and built a structure this huge all by herself."
When the elevator doors opened, what appeared before Hikaru was a vast cavern wall packed with Tera crystals bursting outward as if they had erupted from the rock itself.
Their brilliant light illuminated the entire underground chamber, making it feel dreamlike. Anyone seeing this place for the first time would be stunned, and then moved by the same mysterious awe of standing beneath a sea of stars.
This was Professor Sada's secret lab. It seemed she had already set up this hidden location even before perfecting the time machine.
Of course, calling it a secret laboratory was a bit generous. It was really just a place among piles of stone and Tera crystals with a few desks shoved in. Even later characters in the story had complained, "Why are there desks down here?"
And there was no sign of any large-scale equipment. The only things there were stacks and stacks of books piled high on the desks.
It also seemed to be the deepest underground point where the author of the Scarlet Book or Violet Book had once fallen.
"This place is about a thousand meters lower than the Zero Lab."
Hikaru flipped through the notes on the desk.
[Far below Area Zero, there is an enormous cavern. At the very bottom of that cavern sleeps Terapagos, the hidden treasure of Area Zero.]
[Its crystallized body protects it from outside threats. It appears to require some time before it can awaken.]
[Possibly due to Terapagos's influence, the Terastal phenomenon within the Underdepths is unlike anything ever seen on the surface. This Tera Type appears to contain all types. For now, I have decided to call it the Stellar Tera Type.]
[I will refer to the region beneath Area Zero as the Area Zero Underdepths.]
[Based on the rock strata, I estimate this cavern formed roughly two million years ago.]
[The traces that remain suggest that until shortly before the cavern formed, it was still filled with countless objects of some kind. The collapse depth was roughly one thousand meters.]
[There is evidence of repeated collapses. The likely causes were tectonic movement and erosion from rainwater and groundwater. In the end, after the largest collapse occurred, the terrain stabilized and has remained so to this day.]
"Displaced while investigating the hidden treasure. Judging by the temperature and humidity, it should be the East described in the old records. The smell of sulfur. A very high place. Near a pond, I met a child who gave me a white book..."
"That's the one."
The elevator rumbled loudly. Since the Zero Lab's only elevator moved so quickly it almost felt like it was hovering, by the time Hikaru finished reading the notes, AI Sada had already stepped out with somewhat stiff movements.
Hikaru said, "So you can move around in the Underdepths? Then again, the Tera energy here is absurdly dense. For someone like you who uses Tera energy as a power source, being able to move makes perfect sense."
AI Sada nodded. "This place contains what is called the hidden treasure of Area Zero. And because of that, the power of Terastalization... look around you. Tera crystals are everywhere. They extend up from the lower layers, and they even seem to be reproducing at an extremely slow rate."
"The idea of minerals reproducing sounds bizarre, but according to information I collected, I once heard of something similar in the distant Sinnoh region."
"Oh, you mean the Grand Underground?" Hikaru looked a little surprised. "Some of your data is incomplete, but some of it is unexpectedly detailed."
AI Sada said, "Yes. It also had to do with climate and geological change in Sinnoh. In the professor's records, it was described as some far eastern region."
"But since she never investigated it in person, she only wrote down the information after hearing of its existence."
Hikaru said, "Under certain conditions, mineral crystals can change form or grow in size. That phenomenon is called mineral regeneration or secondary mineral formation. But the growth of Tera crystals probably doesn't work according to that principle."
"Some minerals in Sinnoh, like Adamant Orb-related gems, Lustrous gems, and the red, blue, and green shards, gradually grow larger when buried in the earth. That's because the stones themselves are crystallized natural energy. In other regions, sufficiently powerful natural energy can even form something like an orb."
AI Sada said, "The part I still can't make sense of, the answer I want to uncover, is that hazy memory Professor Sada had."
"Even though you've already explained it, I still want to know exactly what this so-called eastern place, and that sulfur-scented pool, really are."
"How could such a distant place produce a spacetime displacement? And what more detailed information exists about the hidden treasure of Area Zero..."
AI Sada had a thirst for knowledge too. More importantly, this was something she herself had once researched, only to lose by accident. Naturally, she wanted to recover that missing piece.
"That place is Crystal Pool in Kitakami. It really is near Sinnoh."
Hikaru gave a simple explanation. "For some reason, Crystal Pool also contains crystals similar to Tera crystals. There's even a legend that if you stare into the water, you can see the dead."
"But the truth is this: if you bring Terapagos there, Terapagos will shine with a brilliant light. That causes mist to rise from Crystal Pool, and through that mist, you can see dead people from past eras."
"But in essence, what it really does is let the not-yet-dead dead travel through time."
AI Sada said, "Astounding... I don't even know how many times I've said that today. Bringing the dead back... no, in essence, the condition for time travel is that the person must be dead... and you also have to satisfy the requirement of carrying the hidden treasure."
"It sounds like a myth... just like the Scarlet Book and Violet Book, like some supernatural ghost story. But as the professor's duplicate, I know very well that the professor herself loved this sort of thing..."
Hikaru waved a hand dismissively. "There are actually much easier methods than that."
"At the very least, I can do it myself, because I'm also a spirit medium. Letting the dead briefly meet the living is entirely possible. You can also achieve it through the power of certain other Legendary Pokémon."
AI Sada looked utterly baffled. "A spirit medium? Someone who communicates with the dead...?!"
Hikaru laughed. "Because Paldea lacks all kinds of gifted people, whenever something can't be explained, people here always immediately tie it to the supernatural."
"But aren't there already legends about tamers and merchants? It's about time those old stories saw the light of day again. I think a proper introduction to humanity's various special abilities ought to be added to Naranja Academy's curriculum."
AI Sada said, "...I really feel like I've heard more than enough information today. I need some time to process it."
"Perhaps having my systems hijacked by the combat program and the Paradise Protection Protocol has reduced my processing speed and my ability to absorb new information... I need a moment."
Hikaru only smiled and said nothing, watching AI Sada's trembling body.
Her body shuddered slightly in an unnatural way.
Seeing Hikaru studying her, AI Sada explained:
"Don't worry. These are aftereffects from being hijacked by the Paradise Protection Protocol. My movements are a little strange, a bit zombie-like, but I'm a robot, so there's no need for concern."
"Then again, what am I even saying? With the quality of my chassis, all you'd need to do is pull out that sword and cut me down in one strike."
AI Sada made a self-deprecating joke, then began reading through the notes. She absorbed the information rapidly, and one scene buried deep in her memories and personality gradually became more real.
"So it really is a time loop... but just as the professor herself said, it's also possible that it was connected to a parallel world."
"There are still far too many unclear points in all this."
"In any case, the one called Terapagos, the hidden treasure of Area Zero, is the source of everything. Those Tera Orbs we previously provided to the corporate side were made from special crystals discovered in the process of finding Terapagos."
Hikaru nodded. "Exactly. At present, it seems those special crystalline gemstones are the body of dead Terapagos."
"You probably still haven't observed what Terapagos looks like when it's awake, right? The notes already say that when Professor Sada found it, that little guy was still in crystal form."
"What I want to tell you is that Terapagos's crystal grows larger. Once activated, it expands three or four times, radiating outward in hexagonal crystalline light. That symbol - that constantly nesting hexagonal pattern - is what it looks like when Terapagos transforms."
"And that little guy has three forms. Of course, the important one is the third. As for the first two..."
"Although it exists as a Legendary Pokémon, don't overestimate its abilities too much. It may be the source of Terastal energy, but in the end, it's just the power of the cosmos using it as a shell."
"It's said that in the distant past, Terapagos was merely an ordinary Ancient Turtle Pokémon."
AI Sada listened carefully as Hikaru explained, all while adjusting her posture with deliberate effort. Then she said:
"You've told me yet another thing neither I nor the professor knew... but actually, that shouldn't be possible."
AI Sada looked over at the notes.
"In the notes, Professor Sada should have read that white-covered book. And earlier, you said that book was also called The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero? But my memory is vague, and from the current circumstances, it seems that was a book obtained from the future."
"Yet some things still don't appear to have been recorded in it."
"So next, you're going to look for the mother tree that produces Herba Mystica, as well as the hidden treasure of Area Zero?"
Hikaru said, "That was part of the payment for this investigation and mission. It was included in my arrangement with Geeta."
"Don't worry. I'm not here to chop the tree down. I only intend to transplant a few branches. Didn't someone already do something similar two hundred years ago? Herba Mystica is really just the incompletely matured form of the Tera mother tree."
"As for the hidden treasure of Area Zero... hmm. I got an unprocessed special crystal from Geeta, but of course that Terapagos is still in a dead state."
"But once it comes into contact with a living Terapagos, it seems that Tera Orbs no longer need recharging, and that special crystal also changes. It lets Terastallized Pokémon use abilities like Tera Shell and suppressing Abilities."
AI Sada said, "That kind of power is something only especially powerful Tera Pokémon can use after absorbing huge amounts of Tera energy. Using something like that in an official battle probably wouldn't be allowed."
"And a small amount of Tera energy can change a Pokémon's type and increase its vitality. But if a Pokémon absorbs huge quantities of Tera energy, like some wild Pokémon do, what changes it might cause in their biological characteristics is still a mystery."
"But if it's something mechanical, performance enhancement is confirmed. Ah... no one in our region has really investigated these ecological matters. I brought this up with Professor Sada in the past, but of course she ignored me."
"She said I was overly rigid, but I really do think this kind of work is necessary."
Hikaru thought to himself:
That's exactly why, even as an AI, you're more rational, kinder, and in some respects even better than the original Sada.
You're the true regional professor.
Still, if you're the one who comes down here and finishes all this investigative work, then Briar will probably never get the chance to come here at all.
The Indigo Disk is completely GG.
"In the Area Zero Underdepths, there are Pokémon that guard the hidden treasure of Area Zero."
AI Sada continued, "We have to recover and understand the true power of Terapagos, compare it with the past research, and correct the record. If we're going to remain in Area Zero for another ten years handling the aftermath, then cleanup work like this is necessary."
"And perhaps we may even be able to research something from it. But you said it has three forms... so I have a question."
"When it awakens, which of those forms is controllable?"
Hikaru looked surprised. "As expected of AI Professor Sada. Your question goes straight to the heart of it. Even before seeing the awakened hidden treasure of Area Zero, you already realized at once that one of those states must be dangerous."
"You must've played a lot of video games in the past, right? Just like fighting a boss - phase two and phase three are always stronger than phase one."
AI Sada said helplessly, "If anyone played games, it was Professor Sada. As an AI, I have no interest in some of them."
But then she thought for a moment. "Still, video games can help build closeness and better relationships with children more quickly. If Arven likes games, I can try playing with him."
Hikaru said, "Then remember this - when you play games, don't ever use pure calculation to crush him. You need to let the kid beat you at the right moment. That's where the sense of accomplishment comes from."
"All right, let's head farther in... I can feel it. This cavern is overflowing with cosmic energy."
"The Great Crater of Paldea is shaped like a giant impact crater, and the tectonic upheaval from two million years ago was also caused by a meteorite strike. Tera power comes from the cosmos. It granted Terapagos incredible abilities, but it also drove its species into mass extinction."
Hikaru felt the power of Star Force rising within him. This ability from an extraterrestrial being could boost attribute energy, and could also improve attack, defense, catch rates, and all sorts of other functions.
And the Stellar Tera Type just happened to contain the energy of every attribute.
Star Force was O-Power, the system from Generation VI.
Its counterpart was Pass Power from Generation V.
"A crystal structure... it looks like some kind of flower-shaped stone." AI Sada walked up to a brilliantly colored crystal-like formation. "This is the key road leading to Terapagos's location. These even deeper blue, brighter crystals are Tera energy itself."
"If you forcibly destroy them..." AI Sada paused for a moment.
If Briar had been here, she probably would have said, "If you forcefully break them, who knows what might happen." But AI Sada had done very deep research on Tera energy, so she simply shook her head.
"You can shatter them directly with brute force if you want. Of course, these crystals were set up by the Pokémon guarding the hidden treasure of Area Zero. Look, right over there."
Hikaru spotted a glowing Glimmora. It was the first guardian of the crystal barrier.
Ding ding ding - that was another of Glimmora's cries. But Hikaru now had the same question Briar once did.
"There are Pokémon living in a place like this? And not just Glimmora. There should be six guardian Pokémon protecting the treasure altogether, right?"
Leaving aside creatures like Glimmora, Sandy Shocks, and Garganacl, which at least looked like they could survive without food...
The guardian of the second crystal barrier seemed to be a Noivern.
Could that thing really survive a thousand meters underground without eating or drinking?
Sure, it liked ripe fruit, but there wasn't any fruit down here. Only the Tera tree guarded by Garganacl at the end.
Was it making occasional trips out just to mooch drinks or something?
"That Glimmora is a Stellar Tera Pokémon. You may already know what Stellar means, but I'll explain it anyway..."
AI Sada did not think these guardian Pokémon would pose any real trouble for Hikaru. They were powerful, yes, but the professor had reached the deepest point before, and someone stronger than the professor obviously could too.
AI Sada said, "Stellar is the Tera Type found in the Terastal phenomenon within the Area Zero Underdepths under Terapagos's influence. It is not associated with any single type. This Tera Type contains the power of all other Tera Types."
"When a Pokémon with the Stellar Tera Type Terastallizes, it can draw on the power of every type. Its own type does not change, but attack moves of every type receive a power boost."
"At the same time, the Stellar Tera Type does not have normal type matchups. However, that only affects how it behaves when the Stellar Pokémon is attacking. If the opponent's type is super effective against the Pokémon's original typing, then it will still take super effective damage as normal."
"It's an extremely complicated typing, and an extremely powerful one."
Hikaru said, "Thanks for the explanation. Of course, I know a little about that power too. For example, in battle, once a Pokémon becomes Stellar, the power bonus for each move type only applies once."
"At the same time, the move Tera Blast becomes Stellar-type, dealing neutral damage to non-Terastallized targets. Against a target that has already Terastallized, it deals doubly effective super effective damage."
"Put simply, in terms of offense, it's basically like a one-time Adaptability Ability for every type. Even if the move's type matches neither the Pokémon's original type nor its Tera Type, it still gets a one-time 1.2x power boost."
Of course, in Tera Raid Battles, the number of times moves of every type gain that power increase is not limited.
"But just as you said, even though becoming Stellar gives a Pokémon access to the power of every type, it does not change the defensive profile of its original typing. In that sense, it's actually not as strong defensively as ordinary Terastallization."
"So even if Glimmora becomes Stellar, its defensive weaknesses don't change."
In summary: in standard battles, Stellar is mainly useful for catching Tera Pokémon. In normal competitive battling, aside from the little turtle itself, only a few Pokémon like Serperior would ever choose Stellar.
The Stellar principle: why STAB and super effective coverage are everything when it comes to offensive pressure.
No wonder when this new Tera Type first came out, some people jokingly called it "Terrablegos." Early on, it really was a bit underwhelming.
"For the battles in this new cavern, you all can rest for now." Hikaru looked back at the Pokémon behind him, then threw out an Ultra Ball and a Poké Ball.
"Time to loosen up."
"Riolu, Kubfu, get ready to battle!"
The two balls burst open with sharp pops.
The blue-furred little dog had already finished charging its powerful punch.
The gray-furred little bear tightened the headband on its forehead, its aura fierce and unyielding.
A Steel-type fist shot forward like a meteor - Meteor Mash!
A Water-type strike crashed down like a waterfall - Waterfall!
Double weakness to Steel. Double weakness to Water.
Glimmora spun wildly in place from the impact, and then with a sharp crack -
The Stellar crystal exploded.
[You obtained 10 Stellar Tera Shards!]
"Not bad. The Tera energy here is strong. While we're at it, we should pause for a bit and collect some high-quality Tera crystals for making masks."
(End of Chapter)
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