"Zhongli?"
In the grand lobby of the research institute, Venti, who was at a critical moment in the finals of a "Winner Winner Chicken Dinner" Pokémon Auto Chess game, noticed Zhongli standing up from the sofa opposite him. The old emperor, who looked every bit like a man ready for a peaceful retirement, had an expression as if he had just discovered a vein of rare Cor Lapis. He strode toward the exit with purpose.
"Wait for me!" Venti chirped. "Really, having fun without bringing your best friend along? That's cold, old man!"
Venti's talent for multitasking was legendary. On one hand, he manipulated a wisp of the Anemo element to float effortlessly behind Zhongli. On the other, his fingers blurred across his Pokédex screen, spending his last 50 digital coins to refresh the shop for 5-cost orange cards.
Ding!
"Stable~!" Venti laughed as he synthesized two 2-star orange card Pokémon. "If I win this match, it means my luck is peaking! I can't lose!"
He finally minimized the game screen and looked around. Unknowingly, he had followed Zhongli deep into the forest sector of the Ecological Zone. This was the territory where the Forest Overlord, Chesnaught, had recently been throwing a temper tantrum. Of course, the two "fishing" gods had been paying attention even while gaming. When the "Jinlan Sisters"—Lurantis and Goodra—had stepped forward, the Overlord had been suppressed as naturally as water flowing downhill.
"Is this a hidden map?" Venti's interest piqued. He summoned a blue breeze, his ears twitching as if listening to the secret whispers of the wind spirits. "Oh? It turns out our Traveler has just descended into a cave."
"Zhongli, don't tell me you've been stalking the Traveler this whole time too!"
Zhongli remained silent, his amber eyes fixed on the narrow tree hole that served as an entrance to a massive underground cavern. As the Geo Archon, the ruling god of Liyue, this entire Ecological Zone sat upon his domain. His authority allowed him to "see" through the earth, perceiving the crystalline structures and hollow pockets beneath the soil.
"Hm?" Zhongli noticed that this cave was actually an extension of the Gengar cavern discovered by Hu Tao and Xiangling. However, this was a deeper, more secluded section.
Zhongli tried to peer further down, but his vision was suddenly obscured by a strange interference. He raised an eyebrow, increasing the resonance of the Geo element within his body. Even so, the subterranean world remained veiled, as if behind a thick silk curtain. He could only vaguely make out vast chambers filled with amber, ancient fossils, and nurturing treasures.
So, this is the 'Deep Secret' of the Ecological Zone?
Zhongli let out a soft chuckle. He realized the "seal" or cover-up was likely placed by Hiroshi. He could break it by force, but a gentleman does not barge through a friend's locked door. Instead, Zhongli turned his attention to a more accessible mystery.
He stepped down into the dark hole. Venti, ever curious, followed.
As they descended, they encountered flickering violet flames floating in the air at regular intervals. Venti watched as Zhongli reached out, carefully collecting each "ghost fire" into the palm of his hand.
"Zhongli, is there something magical about these flames?" Venti asked, poking one with a finger.
Zhongli stopped, a faint smile on his lips. He gathered more than twenty groups of the ghostly embers. Suddenly, in the oppressive darkness of the cave, the flames began to entwine, condensing into the erratic, swirling form of a Pokémon.
"Eh!" Venti's eyes widened. "Wait, are these fires actually pieces of a soul? Can they be reassembled into a Ghost-type Pokémon?"
Zhongli opened his Pokédex, referencing the message Hiroshi had posted earlier. Where there is a companion treasure, there is a corresponding Pokémon nearby.
A lightbulb went off in Venti's head. "The Keystone! The Traveler picked up the anchor for a Spiritomb!"
Venti immediately snapped a photo of Zhongli surrounded by flickering violet wisps and sent it to the group chat.
Venti: "@Lumine! Look at this guy! Beat him to death! He's trying to steal your Spiritomb!"
Lumine: "???"
Lumine: . "Venti, Zhongli, I literally just finished catching it using the Keystone. What are you two doing?"
Venti's expression froze. "Ah? She already got it? Then what the heck is Zhongli collecting?!"
"Zhongli... hello?"
The old emperor ignored him, his fingers gently brushing against a stray wisp of spirit fire. "Do these fragments carry distinct emotions?" he mused. "Good thoughts, evil thoughts, courage, cowardice... A Pokémon born from the gathering of 108 souls... it is truly incredible. The creative power of the 'Creator' of this era is magnificent."
Watching Zhongli's intense focus, Venti felt a shiver. It was clear—the Geo Archon was slowly transitioning from a "retired emperor" into a "Senior Pokémon Researcher."
No way, no way! Venti thought. The oldest of the Seven is going to get a second job in life sciences? That's way too dramatic! Researching sounds like way too much work. Lying down is still better.
Venti waved a hand dismissively and teleported back to the institute to finish his game. Lying down was his true calling.
Soon after, Hiroshi returned from the Hisui region. His space-backpacks were bulging with Poké Balls. The Research Institute had grown significantly; the magical saplings he had planted were now a lush forest encircling the inner ring park.
He summoned his "training commanders," Lurantis and Goodra.
"Take this new batch of cubs," Hiroshi commanded, gesturing to the Hisuian Growlithe and Hisuian Rufflet. "The naughty ones, the ones that try to bolt—don't be polite. A little physical discipline is the right path to growth!"
Cresselia floated down to report on the Overlord Chesnaught incident.
"Convincing people with 'bricks and mortar' (strength and kindness) is indeed the right path," Hiroshi smiled. He checked the group chat and saw the drama involving Zhongli and the Spiritomb cave.
"Hah! He's actually getting into Pokémon biology?" Hiroshi was delighted. If he could turn the oldest Archon into an equivalent of Professor Oak, the popularization of Pokémon would be unstoppable. "If Zhongli enters that door, he'll never want to leave. The lore of Mythical beasts alone will keep him busy for decades!"
Hiroshi's attention was then drawn to a new topic in the chat.
Yoimiya: "Mondstadt, Liyue... I'm going back to Inazuma soon! I hope we all meet again one day~"
Beidou: "Yoimiya will be returning on the Alcor."
Ningguang: "Truly... the lockdown of Inazuma and the Vision Hunt Decree... one wonders when they will end. [Sigh.jpg]"
Yoimiya: "Waaaah, thinking about going back feels like leaving a paradise and entering a desert. But it's home!"
Jean: "If Manager Hiroshi could find a way to bypass the decree, perhaps Pokémon could bring a leaf of change to Inazuma?"
Kazuha: "Impossible. The Raiden Shogun... she is far too terrifying."
Hu Tao: [Pick-nose.jpg] "How scary can she be? Is she scarier than our Rex Lapis?"
Xiangling: [Shadow of Arceus.jpg] "I took a photo of that mysterious shadow in the Ecological Zone. Posting it here to give you all the power of protection!"
Hiroshi looked at the messages and smirked. He remembered Ei—the shut-in goddess hiding in her Plane of Euthymia, obsessed with a paranoid philosophy of "Eternity." The "Raiden Shogun" outside was just a puppet, not unlike the replica units he used in his shop.
"In the torrent of the Pokémon Age, Inazuma cannot remain an isolated island," Hiroshi whispered. "Fate brought Yoimiya here to become my messenger."
Hiroshi opened the chat.
Hiroshi: "@Yoimiya, where are you exactly?"
Yoimiya: "On the Alcor, waiting to set sail!"
Hiroshi rested his chin in his hand. Since she was the "chosen protagonist" for his Inazuma mission, he had to act like a supportive "father."
"If she's going to make trouble, she needs the power to back it up," he mused. "Against the Kujou clan and the Fatui... and eventually the puppet general herself."
Hiroshi turned and stepped through the space-time gate to the Hisui region once more. When he returned, he held a heavy, dark-colored Ultra Ball. Inside was a Pokémon unique to the ancient lands of Hisui—an Ursaluna, the King of the Marshes.
Ursaluna (Heavenly King Rank)
Type: Ground / Normal
Ability: Guts / Bulletproof
Description: A peat-covered bear that evolved under the light of a full moon in the Hisui region.
Hiroshi had long wanted to bring one to the institute, and he had just successfully captured a dominant male from the Crimson Mirelands.
Liyue Port Pier.
The Southern Cross fleet was unfurling its sails. On the deck of the Alcor, Yoimiya was waving vigorously, tears of emotion in her eyes as she watched Hiroshi standing on the dock.
"I can! I WILL!" she shouted across the water. "I'll bring the message of the Pokémon Era to Inazuma!"
Standing beside her was the Ursaluna, looking like a massive, muddy mountain of fur. It let out a roar that vibrated the very wood of the ship, a sound of strength that signaled a new dawn for the Land of Thunder.
Hiroshi watched the ship disappear into the morning mist. "Now, little messenger... go and show them that 'Eternity' is just a word. The era of the Trainer has arrived."