On this day, all the Trainers on Victory Road were on the move.
Normally, they would be scattered across different areas - high in the mountains, beside waterfalls, deep in caves, in the rushing currents downstream, among ruined structures, and through swaying grass - all carrying out the same brutal training in different places.
Anyone who could enter this area was already a top-class Pokémon Trainer. After earning eight badges, they had chosen not to enter the League tournament, and had come to this road instead, because what they longed for was not the title of tournament Champion, but a realm even higher than that.
But today was different from usual.
Kiyoka said, "...An outside Trainer. A rookie. But he has battle techniques I've never seen before... I meant to use him as practice, but in the end, there really is always someone stronger out there."
Keigo said, "I was defeated in an instant. I didn't even have time to resist. An elite like me has a lot of pride, so I swore I wouldn't lose...! But I couldn't protect that pride. What a shame..."
Teruyuki said, "He saw through every one of my attacks and crushed me in return. I only saw two of his Pokémon, but they were absurdly strong. His strength feels limitless. It moved me so much!"
Those voices spread through Victory Road like the wind. Before Hikaru had even reached the deeper parts, the Trainers in the innermost reaches of Victory Road already knew he had arrived.
And so the battles came suddenly.
Or rather, the strong Trainers here had come to meet him on their own.
Hikaru said, "How strange. Do all of you communicate with Pokégear devices here too?"
Amid a fierce flash of electricity, Riolu's chain of Thunder Punches completely brought down the opposing Gyarados.
"Whew... it isn't just communication devices..." the veteran Trainer battling Hikaru answered during the break in the fight as he recalled his Gyarados.
At the same time, he sent out Gigalith.
The veteran Trainer said, "We've stayed on Victory Road a long time... Do you know the Pokémon Sneasel and Weavile?"
"You can only really encounter them in the cold northern lands. They're rare Pokémon in Unova."
"Their kind have razor-sharp claws. The claws they shed become items like the Razor Claw, Grip Claw, and Quick Claw. Those claws possess different powers, and that in turn is tied to their ecology."
"They usually move in groups of five. They leave markings on rocks and trees, carving strange symbols into the surfaces of trees and ice with their sharp claws, and then hunt prey through teamwork."
A sandstorm raged in front of the veteran Trainer.
"We Trainers on Victory Road are like Weavile! As soon as someone reaches this place and causes a stir, we can learn of your arrival through the wind, air currents, sound, communications, or even the restless chatter of the Pokémon around us!"
Hikaru's eyes lit up.
"You know a lot about Pokémon ecology too, sir! Did you use to work at a research institute?"
The veteran Trainer burst into laughter.
"This is nothing more than the ability I've developed by spending years and years living alongside Pokémon! Young man, you're strong. If you defeat me, then I should at least become fertile nourishment for you!"
"On this Victory Road, there's an incredible legend... They say the Trial Chamber is somewhere here."
"One of the legendary Swords of Justice, Terrakion, once trained here. It also tested the humans who trained in this place. That's why this giant nest excavated by Durant was used as the road leading to the Pokémon League!"
"My Pokémon and I were born on the same day and grew up together! It won't be so easy to defeat me!"
That line.
Hikaru's gaze suddenly sharpened.
"Your name is Taiga!"
Taiga threw out a fierce punch.
"Correct! Though I have no idea how you knew... But I came here chasing after Terrakion! I'm an admirer of the Swords of Justice!"
As his fist swung forward, it was as if he and his Pokémon had become one, sweeping through the battlefield without resistance.
"Gigalith, Sandstorm!"
Hikaru nodded.
Taiga. This character was actually one of the six people from Challenger's Cave.
After Challenger's Cave collapsed, almost all six of them vanished without a trace, but Taiga was one of the few whose whereabouts could still be found.
After the cave collapsed, he seemed to have gone to Wellspring Cave in southeastern Unova, the little cave you first visit with Cheren while chasing Team Plasma. There was basically nothing in it, just exceptionally clean springwater.
And Taiga was also one of the very few veteran Trainers in Unova who actually carried a full team of six Pokémon!
"Riolu, use Close Combat!"
At +6, Riolu's Close Combat almost one-shotted the painfully slow Gigalith, and Hikaru immediately realized that Gigalith's Ability was not Sturdy.
Since this was Unova, then it had to be Sand Force!
Though honestly, for a slow rock shield like this, Sturdy or Sand Stream would probably have been better.
The violent sandstorm roared through the cave. The instant Gigalith fell, Taiga recalled it and sent out Excadrill.
The sandstorm brothers!
Well... no Tyranitar, so Gigalith was filling in instead?
"Here we go!" Taiga roared. "Excadrill's Ability is Sand Rush! In a sandstorm, its Speed doubles!"
"After Swords Dance, use Earthquake!"
Hikaru's eyes lit up.
Veteran Trainers were stronger than Elite Trainers. They specialized in battle, and in every kind of challenge facility they appeared as absolute powerhouses. Even Giovanni's design looked almost identical to that of a veteran Trainer.
At the same time, they would use all kinds of unexpected and powerful battle strategies, along with absurd luck and impossible high rolls. They could even pull off something as ridiculous as landing three one-hit KO moves in a row!
But that could also be seen as the result of veteran Trainers synchronizing their own spirit and will with their Pokémon through years of relentless training. That was why they could put such enormous pressure on a challenger.
Under the sandstorm, Excadrill's Speed doubled. Its base Speed of 88 became 176!
And that wasn't all.
Swords Dance plus Earthquake. Excadrill's base Attack stat was an incredible 135!
"No wonder Challenger's Cave collapsed. With an Earthquake this powerful, it doesn't matter how strong the cave walls were - they were never going to survive!"
Since Hikaru only planned to use six Pokémon here, even though he had better answers for Excadrill, like Aerodactyl and Celesteela...
Ground-type moves would miss Flying-types like them entirely, while their Rock and Steel typings also made them immune to sandstorm damage. Aerodactyl could even benefit from the special defensive boost under sand.
"But just as players carefully choose their own partners to get through this road..."
"On this road, I'm also only going to use a fixed team of six!"
"Torterra, use Leech Life!"
Excadrill finished its Swords Dance. Thanks to its Ability, it now possessed tremendous Speed and a guaranteed first strike under the sandstorm. When the impact of Earthquake reached Torterra, however...
it was not very effective at all!
"Grass and Ground typing. Double resistance!" Taiga was startled. He hadn't expected to see a Pokémon like Torterra here. "Excadrill, dodge!"
He had wanted to say Dig, but then suddenly remembered that Torterra was also a Ground-type Pokémon. If Excadrill used Dig, then Earthquake's power would double!
Torterra's charge missed, and Excadrill escaped quickly, but in the very next moment, Torterra stamped down with all four feet!
Bulldoze!
The violent shockwave hit Excadrill and lowered its Speed by one stage. Then, immediately afterward, the effect of its shell cracking spread across Torterra's body!
Shell Smash.
Lower its own defenses, sharply raise its Attack and Speed. The increase was a full 100%.
And then...
Leech Life!
Excadrill lost its footing, and Torterra's rush was too fast. Its massive front limbs crashed into Excadrill's face like a mountain!
Taiga shouted, "Ha! You think I'll go down that easily? Even though it's my last one, I can still turn the tables in desperation!"
"Snorlax! Body Slam!"
As the Poké Ball opened, out came a gigantic blue-and-cream behemoth! It let out a tremendous roar as Snorlax made its heavy entrance, its enormous HP making it a true super-heavyweight contender!
As one of the most memorable Pokémon among the original 151, and also one of Ash's powerhouse partners, Snorlax was often seen as a symbol of strength. Even Red, the mountain god of Mt. Silver, had a Snorlax.
It was said that if it didn't eat 400 kilograms of food a day, it just wouldn't feel right. Once it was full, it would start sleeping. Snorlax's stomach could digest anything, and it would also block roads and obstruct passersby. That massive body contained terrifying power. It was a heavily armored warrior that could not be overcome easily.
Of course, unless a Trainer was very wealthy, they probably couldn't afford to raise a Snorlax. Ash could only support his bottomless-eating Snorlax thanks to Professor Oak.
"But sending it out now was a mistake!"
Hikaru recalled Torterra. The control bracer on his arm snapped open a Poké Ball at incredible speed and launched the Pokémon inside in a beam of light.
Hisuian Lilligant had already finished charging inside the ball.
"Use Low Kick!"
A Fighting-type move whose power varies. The user forcefully kicks the opponent's legs to trip them. The heavier the target, the stronger the move.
"Snorlax weighs 460 kilograms! Low Kick's power will reach 120, and with double effectiveness, the result will be devastating!"
Before the giant could even make a move, Lilligant kicked its legs out from under it. Snorlax crashed down with a thunderous boom, badly injured!
Taiga roared, "Stand up through sheer determination! Use Recycle!"
Hikaru watched with great interest as Snorlax used this unusual move.
Recycle.
Come to think of it, those Applin in the reverse world had learned this move too... Its effect was simple: it restored a held item the user had already consumed in battle, allowing it to be used again.
Like a Berry!
Snorlax gulped down a Mago Berry, and then, through the power of the move, the unfinished Mago Berry was restored to its original form, as if life had been breathed back into the fruit and its missing parts had regrown.
And then Snorlax ate another Mago Berry.
Hikaru said, "Its Ability is Gluttony!"
"Exactly!" Taiga answered proudly. "As expected of someone strong enough to push me into a hard fight. You know Pokémon Abilities and their capabilities almost completely... It's practically beyond mastery!"
Hikaru only answered with a smile.
Mostly because the Gluttony plus Recycle strategy, while a bit niche, really could catch a lot of people off guard from time to time, especially when paired with Belly Drum!
And the Berry options for it were pretty varied too. Figy Berry, Mago Berry, even Lansat Berry and Salac Berry.
Hikaru said, "Then next comes..."
"...Don't let it use that move!"
Generation V Snorlax might not have had Belch, but it did learn Belly Drum as early as level 17!
And just as expected, Taiga gave the command!
Taiga shouted, "Snorlax, use Belly Drum!"
Hikaru answered, "Encore!"
Light flashed in Lilligant's eyes. Snorlax was struck by the strange light, and its move became locked!
Snorlax's setup was cut off. It couldn't use Belly Drum, and while it was trapped into the move and had not yet switched over to using Recycle again, Lilligant kicked it flying!
The exploding shockwave hurled Snorlax far across the battlefield, and that was followed immediately by a barrage of fierce kicks!
Axel Kick, Axel Kick, Axel Kick!
Close Combat!
"Snooorlax!"
Snorlax crashed down with a roar, smashing a huge boulder apart and losing the ability to battle.
Taiga stared at his defeated Pokémon for a while, then burst out in loud, hearty laughter.
"So I became fertilizer after all...! You're strong. Too strong!"
"With strength like this, no one on Victory Road can stop you anymore. Go to the Pokémon League!"
Taiga tore off his trench coat, breathing hard as he looked at the victor before him, and then at his fallen Pokémon.
"Even though I lost, it was a joyful battle! Pokémon and humans live every day so happily, and from here on out we'll definitely become even happier!"
He slowly raised a thumbs-up toward Hikaru.
"The road ahead is incredibly harsh, but you're almost at the end. If you lose even once in the League challenge, you have to start all over again. You'd better be prepared."
"The Trainers you defeated here are all people who failed to complete the challenge. But now their convictions have gathered onto you."
"That's right. The convictions of every single person you defeated. Again and again, whenever a new Trainer arrives here, we always think the same thing -"
"You'll win this time. This time, you definitely will!"
"Will he win this time?"
Inside the Tower of Battle, one of the four great towers of the Pokémon League, Marshal opened his eyes from meditation.
Even from far away, he could sense that something dangerous was approaching. That was the instinct of a martial artist.
When an important moment, or an overwhelming threat, drew near... of course Marshal knew exactly who it came from.
He had learned of Hikaru's actions in Challenger's Cave from Bea's message, and Shauntal had informed him as well.
If all had gone smoothly, then today would be the day of battle.
"Master has prepared himself too... I never expected Master to return here on time. Was it because the Entralink told him?"
"The Entralink represents the dreams and ideals of the people and Pokémon of Unova. Challenging the League is naturally the ideal of certain people... Could that release an enormous amount of energy?"
"Shauntal's tower... lit up!"
A few dozen minutes earlier.
After the crackling collapse of falling rock, and after the strong Trainers of Victory Road had been defeated one after another, Hikaru had finally reached the very top of this gigantic nest.
And here, just like in the games, a Pokémon Ranger in a red vest was standing there looking out into the distance. Going by the whole "Durant nest" concept, this Ranger was probably specifically here to protect the ecological environment of the Durant.
Hikaru looked at the Ranger in the vest.
In the games, the Ranger here said he was too scared to slide down the cliff, and that even if there were items below, he still wouldn't go get them.
But now... the color of the vest was slightly off. It was not purely red. White was the dominant color instead!
"Yo! I've been waiting for you!"
"You're Hikaru, the Ranger-assisting Trainer, right? You handled some major trouble in Unova before. Sven told me about it, and he praised you a lot."
"Thanks to you, an incredibly talented young person joined our ranks too. Which is only natural. If someone wants to become a bridge between humans and Pokémon, then becoming a Ranger really is the best path, isn't it?"
Unlike in the games, the Ranger standing here was not a man, but a woman, and her hair was green too!
"What, surprised to see green hair? But I'm not from the Harmonia family."
Hikaru said, "Top Ranger Wendy, also known as the Flying Ranger."
"Oh my, am I really that famous?"
The female Ranger with long green hair, dressed in a red-and-white uniform, stood with one hand on her hip and a parcel tucked under her other arm.
She was around the same age as Sven, in her twenties.
Hearing Hikaru identify her, she closed her eyes and smiled slightly.
"I heard from Sven that, through certain channels, you'd begun challenging Victory Road. The intelligence network of a Top Ranger is very well informed."
Hikaru said, "Don't tell me it was those Trainers on Victory Road?"
"Partly." Wendy kept smiling with perfect confidence. "But there are also regional Rangers patrolling nearby. Did you really think we wouldn't notice the kind of commotion you'd cause entering a place as big as Victory Road?"
"I came here specifically to see you."
"Sven said you know a great deal about ancient legends, right? Even legends that we ourselves don't know. So I made a small detour. Following the advice of Professor Hastings and Sven, I obtained something special from a Ranger in the Fiore region."
Hikaru said, "Wait a second. From what I know, you're a Ranger from the Almia region. So why were you in Fiore?"
And besides, the incident in Fiore should already be over. While Team Galactic had not yet begun large-scale action, on the timeline itself, the events of Fiore happened very early. They were even tied to a movie.
Wendy said, "Exactly. That's why, after hearing that you knew so much about legends, I came here for this reason."
"Sorry for blocking you right in front of Victory Road. This is a very important matter, so they had someone with a little free time - me - handle the delivery. I made a slight detour. Unova really is advanced, and the Trainers here are endlessly impressive."
"But it doesn't seem like there are many people around here who specialize in raising Pokémon."
"Here." She lifted the parcel in her arms slightly. "Inside is an important treasure. It's a Pokémon Egg, and an unknown kind at that. We thought that a region with lots of Trainers gathered together, especially one with skilled caretakers and breeders, might make it easier for the Egg to hatch. It's said that this Egg has countless connections to a certain region, but it's still wrapped in mystery."
"So it has been designated for delivery to the Sinnoh region!"
"At the same time, we're searching for a Trainer who can be entrusted with this Egg!"
"Do you know the legend of Manaphy?"
The moment Hikaru saw the parcel in Wendy's arms, he instantly realized what event this was!
The Ranger Net mission.
The very first distributable Manaphy Egg from the Fiore region!
After the Go-Rock Squad disbanded, and its leader Gordor turned over a new leaf, while his four children formed a band and went on a world tour... this was what happened afterward!
Hikaru had already felt that this distribution event should happen soon, but he had never expected it to make a detour and come looking for him!
Hikaru said, "This is the first Manaphy Egg discovered in 150 years. That Pokémon is known as the Prince of the Sea...!"
Manaphy.
A Mythical Pokémon, one of the lead Pokémon of Pokémon Ranger and the Temple of the Sea. It possessed the power to communicate heart-to-heart with any Pokémon, and legends and myths about it had been left behind across many different regions.
And at the same time, it was also the first Mythical Pokémon that needed to be distributed through Pokémon Ranger!
Hikaru's murmured words made Wendy's brow rise slightly.
"I heard a little about this Egg from Professor Hastings, though most of that came from the remnants of the Go-Rock Squad... uh, that was a nasty organization that used to operate in Fiore. You can think of them as a bargain-bin Team Rocket."
"They said this Egg had the power to control the world... And what you just said completely stunned me. One hundred and fifty years?"
"You really do know more about this Egg, don't you? Please tell me!"
Hikaru said, "The power to control the world? In some ways, maybe you could say that. But its true power may not be quite what they imagined."
"The Go-Rock Squad should have disbanded already, right? So they're just remnants now? Their leader Gordor should have turned over a new leaf."
Wendy looked utterly baffled.
"Wow, that's incredible. The Fiore incident shouldn't be known to outsiders, should it? Fiore is very far away, and a little rural too."
Hikaru spread his hands.
"I met the Go-Rock Quads. They were participating in a music audition over in Unova."
"Oh, so that's what happened!" Wendy awkwardly scratched the back of her head.
At first she had thought it was strange that Hikaru had gone so far as to inquire into what had happened in Fiore.
But if he had met the former Go-Rock Squad executives, then that explained everything.
This was a destined encounter!
"All right." Hikaru glanced toward the entrance to the Pokémon League, then said to Wendy, "Would you like to hear about the ancient Sinnoh text The Sea's Legend, or the memories of the Water People from the eastern blue sea - or perhaps the Sea Temple Samiya?"
"Let's make this quick."
"But even so, this first Egg still has to be sent to the Sinnoh region... The Sea Temple has not yet come into its time. Its location still cannot be determined."
So the first Egg was inevitably meant for Sinnoh.
Judging from Misty and Brock's current state, they resembled their HeartGold and SoulSilver game versions, which meant there were subtle differences from the anime. If that was true, then May in Hoenn obviously would not be the AG anime May either, but rather the counterpart to Brendan from the games.
Which meant that they were the official pair after all... and the Ash-May pairing from the Prince of the Sea movie might not exist in this world.
At the very least, at this stage, game-May was far stronger in battle than Ash. If the same plot really happened, then the one stuffed into the submarine probably wouldn't be May at all - no, it would probably only be Pikachu.
And going by that logic, together with the Sinjoh Ruins incident, then the Dawn of the DP arc here would also be game Dawn, not anime Dawn. Cynthia had already arrived at the Sinjoh Ruins and completed her investigation, so no matter what...
Dawn, the game version, should already be setting out on her journey.
Come to think of it, the book The Sea's Legend was explicitly described in the DP remakes as something only "recently deciphered," and then there was also that mysterious hiker in the Canalave Library...
"Hm. I've really become a hiker now," Hikaru thought.
Wendy, meanwhile, considered it for a moment. She looked toward Unova's Victory Road, then suddenly smiled.
"No. I'll ask you in detail after you finish your challenge."
"If you don't mind... can you recommend a Trainer skilled at raising Pokémon?"
Hikaru thought about it for a moment too, then said to Wendy,
"I see. In that case, after my challenge is over, I'll ask around a little for you. I do know of a Trainer who would be very well suited to raising this Pokémon, and who can successfully hatch this Egg."
"She should be living in Twinleaf Town, in the Sinnoh region."
(End of Chapter)
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