After such a fierce battle, of course everyone needed a good rest.

His partners were all exhausted, but as their Trainer, Hikaru didn’t have the luxury of relaxing.

He hauled over a large quantity of luminous vegetables and Berries he’d transported from the Linking World, especially the Melody Berries he’d obtained earlier, which greatly boosted the power of sound-based moves.

Naturally, some of them would be given to Torterra to eat as well.

That way, the little tree on its back might someday produce new Melody Berries of its own. The effect probably wouldn’t be as outstanding as the ones made by Meloetta, but they’d be more than good enough.

Harvesting useful materials and using them to raise his own Pokémon—

That was the way of a true Breeder.

He was an unlicensed Evaluator, after all.

“The sound moves everyone’s got right now are: Snore, Hyper Voice, Bug Buzz, Roar (the big shouting kind), Disarming Voice, War Cry, Roar (the switch-out move), Metal Sound, Screech, and Whisper.”

Even if these berries powered up sound-based moves, Hikaru had no idea what would happen to purely “displacement” moves like Roar.

Maybe instead of scaring off one wild Pokémon, you’d end up scaring off a whole group at once.

If it were used by roaming Legendary Pokémon, they’d probably have a lot of fun tormenting Trainers who came running when the rumor spread.

Next, Hikaru took out his cooking gear and had Little Rotom-kun, who’d spent the entire battle slacking off, help with the cooking.

Before long, the top of Area Ten was filled with the rich aroma of delicious stew.

“Guu~”

Everybody was drooling, though there were still some who didn’t quite fit in with the group.

Hikaru looked around at his teammates and realized his Pokémon basically fell into three camps.

Those that ate energy.

Those that ate meteorites.

And those that simply ate food.

Aegislash, Lilligant, Iron Valiant, Gimmighoul, and Rotom were “energy vegetarians.”

They didn’t have mouths for normal food anyway; they got by on spirit power, photosynthesis, energy charging, emotional energy, or electricity.

Deoxys, Archaludon, and Celesteela were “meteorite believers.”

They were currently discussing the pile of meteorites that had rained down from space during the battle. The Warrior of Light kept smacking the stones like it was checking produce at the market.

And now that the team had someone who knew Meteor Shower, they could restock meteorites from space whenever they wanted.

All thanks to Drayden-sensei’s guidance.

Very cost-efficient. After all, space was never going to run out of rocks.

The last camp were the “normal” partners—the ones who genuinely liked eating.

Torterra liked Berries and medicinal herbs.

Walking Wake preferred Pecha Berries.

Riolu favored spicier dishes.

As for Larvesta, it ate anything.

The little big-bellied bug was in its growth spurt—its only fear was that there wouldn’t be enough food.

Their temporary partner, Entei, was a “bootleg” version of the Legendary Pokémon—but it still ate both normal food and energy, a two-way glutton.

However, perhaps because this big lion was merely a phantom made manifest, even though it had a physical body now, it didn’t eat much. It didn’t seem to need food.

Genesect, despite being a Steel-type bug, ate regular food too.

Naturally, it could also recharge—another dual-mode eater.

“Ahem. It looks like the energy gang is the cheapest to feed, but once you actually raise them, you realize their ‘food’ is the most expensive thing by far. Regular Berries and vegetables cost pocket change.

“Now that I’m rich, I don’t have to worry about affording them.”

So in the end, the most frugal bunch were the meteorite eaters.

And the absolute cheapest of all was Magearna—

She was still just a Soul-Heart.

Didn’t need food. Didn’t need anything.

Once she left the Hollow of Hearts, she fell back into deep sleep.

What a life. Just sleep forever, like Calyrex—

Knock out three thousand years in one go, everything you want appearing in your dreams.

“Me-la!”

Larvesta wriggled its body, full of pent-up energy. It couldn’t wait any longer.

I need food!

I need to grow!

The little bug cried its demands, staring pitifully at the big pot of stewed vegetables.

Riolu gave it a sideways glance, grumbling to itself.

I haven’t evolved either. Technically, I’m still growing too.

No need to bring up levels at times like this.

As far as it was concerned, it was still a baby.

“Woof!”

Ahem. Trainer. I’d like something nice and spicy, please.

“V-tini!”

Victini hopped in as well, gazing eagerly at the stew pot.

Just like that, a new trio of “tiny rice monsters” was born.

No tasks before dinner?

Then everyone, throw up a peace sign!

The newest member, Aerodactyl, had never seen anything like this before.

The so-called Sky King had already connected itself to the “Malphite Golem Network,” and it was like a little loading icon was spinning over its head.

It stared at the pot with glassy eyes, looking ready to leap in and guard the food the moment Rotom-kun let go.

Originally, that probably would have happened.

“Rooar!”

But Walking Wake bellowed at it from the side.

The two of them had already sparred a bit.

Walking Wake had come out on top, as expected from a noble Water/Dragon-type.

Aerodactyl was far from convinced.

But in Walking Wake’s eyes, Aerodactyl was just a freshly revived newbie from a cloned fossil.

What adult takes a kid seriously?

To it, their scuffle was nothing more than a bit of pre-dinner play.

Of course, if Aerodactyl really went all-out—flying up into the sky and spamming Rock Slide—Walking Wake would be pretty annoyed too.

Aerodactyl glared back.

They’re underestimating me.

Just wait until I primal-return and whip out my Dragon typing. Then you’ll see.

While the stewed luminous vegetables and Berries simmered, Hikaru suddenly had a thought.

Those luminous vegetables came from the Dream World.

They were crops Calyrex had planted.

“Hss… When you think about it, our entire household logistics are basically being handled by Calyrex.”

Everyone else just had to eat to their hearts’ content.

Kids, today’s head chef is King Calyrex.

Whatever you want to eat, just say so!

Say thank you to our head chef.

Whatever you eat, Calyrex will plant back with gusto later.

He was a Stardew Valley farmer now; if he wasn’t farming, what was he even doing with his life?

“Calyrex doesn’t care about Glimmering Blossoms at all anymore. All he thinks about is breeding new vegetable varieties… Next time I world-hop, if I can, maybe I’ll drop him off in Pelican Town.”

“And what does that make me? The grandpa who comes back after three years to grade the farm?”

After that random tangent, the stew was finally done.

Only then did Hikaru remember that Aerodactyl wasn’t actually in a Poké Ball yet.

But he still had some Balls on him.

“Orla AI gave me four Master Balls. Second-hand, sure, but they’re still usable.”

“Hmm. But the colors don’t match Aerodactyl at all. No need to use a Master Ball as a fossil pterosaur’s cozy little home.”

Thinking it over, Hikaru mentally ran through the Ball types his Pokémon were using.

Aegislash, Lilligant, and Torterra—

The original trio—were all in standard Poké Balls.

Walking Wake, Larvesta, and Entei were in Dream Balls.

Riolu was in a Great Ball; it suited the little blue dog.

Deoxys was in a Master Ball, mainly as a portable cultivation chamber.

Iron Valiant and Archaludon had started out in blue Poké Balls, then got transferred to Cherish Balls.

There wasn’t much difference from regular Balls besides the color.

Genesect, Rotom-kun, and the socially anxious lady Celesteela were in Strange Balls, used to seal away their overwhelming power.

Yes, Rotom-kun’s spiritual power counted as “power” too.

The little coin goblin, Gimmighoul, was in a Luxury Ball.

It liked that gaudy black-and-gold look.

Victini wasn’t his Pokémon, just a member of the Expedition Team, so it didn’t have a Ball.

As for the white dragon, Reshiram—it was a Ball.

And it was only traveling with him temporarily.

Once that old geezer from another world got deported back home, Reshiram would immediately tear back to Unova, shouting “Your one-year term is up!” and appoint a new Hero, ushering in a fresh chapter of Unova’s history.

“What color do you like?”

Hikaru asked the furiously eating Aerodactyl.

The pterosaur’s mind hadn’t quite finished syncing with the rock-brain network yet.

Cheeks puffed out, it looked lost.

Color?

Does he mean prey color?

If it’s my color… well, I think gray and black look great.

“Black… Luxury Ball? Gray would be a Heavy Ball.”

Luxury Balls weren’t exactly cheap.

Heavy Balls, meanwhile, were true “artisan works,” exclusive masterpieces of the Steel-type smith.

Before that busted counterfeit printer got invented, the only way to get Apricorn Balls was to commission them from the smith himself.

The Steel smith had invited Hikaru over to learn Apricorn Ball crafting too—but that was something to worry about at year’s end.

No need to go yet.

“How about this one, then?”

Hikaru rifled through his bag and pulled out some Balls he’d bought while shopping in Mistralton City.

A special Ball with alternating green and earthy-yellow patterns: the Nest Ball.

Its specialty was making it easier to catch weaker wild Pokémon.

More importantly, its design had a wild aesthetic to it.

It was basically the budget version of the limited-edition Safari Ball.

Safari Balls had an even more rugged color scheme—but no special effects.

They just looked like camo because it was cool.

“Gaa?”

Aerodactyl kept eating as it eyed the Nest Ball.

After thinking for a bit, it decided it liked the color.

Yeah, that works.

Wait. Are you… planning to put me in there?

Raised in ancient times, Aerodactyl had never seen a Poké Ball.

Just like Walking Wake, it was utterly baffled at first.

Instant confusion, instant 3 EXP.

But once Hikaru bonked it lightly with the Ball, caught it, and released it again, Aerodactyl went slack.

Then it frowned, the last traces of its rock-possessed brain linking up as it tried to figure out the principle behind it.

“What principle… Honestly, there isn’t much to it.

“The capture mechanic just takes advantage of how you all naturally shrink down when you’re weakened… then adds locking and life-support on top.”

Inside a Ball, a Pokémon could go a long time without eating and still stay in good shape.

So the only truly remarkable technology in a Poké Ball wasn’t containment—it was life support.

Aerodactyl furrowed its brow even tighter.

It didn’t understand a word.

Is he speaking Dragon?

“Oh, right,” Hikaru said. “Whenever I talk to Dragon Pokémon, it comes out in Dragon tongue. That’s part of the Dragon Tamer’s power.”

“But that’s the only way I can say it.”

Clap, clap.

Lilligant watched Aerodactyl’s hopelessly bewildered “illiterate” expression and felt like she’d found a kindred spirit.

She couldn’t read human writing either.

Aegislash had once called her a bookless bumpkin, but as long as she was having fun, who cared?

She handed Aerodactyl a Berry and patted it gently.

No need to figure out all that human stuff.

Don’t frown. Eat a Berry and cheer up!

Later, I’ll teach you how to dance.

Meanwhile…

Deoxys, busy “evaluating” the meteorites, suddenly felt a familiar aura from one of them.

[This batch is pure… Pure cosmic energy.]

[But it’s a little strange. The psychic imprint on this meteorite is…?]

Yes—familiar.

Almost like another self had left that power behind.

And not only that.

Up here at the peak of Black Skyscraper—the closest place to space in all this world—Deoxys could feel a thick, black cosmic power.

The heartbeat of space was drawing closer.

Bathed in such an environment, most ordinary Pokémon wouldn’t feel anything.

But for visitors from the stars—

For those blessed with heavenly power or the crossing-star light—

It was the perfect chance to raise their energy.

The Warrior of Light peered suspiciously through the ceiling, gazing at the far-off cosmos.

Beside it, Archaludon and Celesteela were already digging in.

“Guroa!”

C’mon, don’t overthink it.

If you can eat it, that’s all that matters.

Archaludon crunched happily through meteorite after meteorite.

Stones packed with cosmic energy only improved the flavor—

A truly “out-of-this-world” taste.

[The flavor… is very good.]

Seeing its two companions devouring the rocks without a care, Deoxys gave up on “melon inspection” for now.

At that moment, it heard Hikaru’s voice calling.

“Right, partner. There’s a move I want to teach you.”

Hikaru turned to Deoxys.

The move he wanted to pass on was Miracle Eye, obtained from the ancient city.

Through a special psychic transfer, Psychic-type Pokémon who normally couldn’t learn it would be able to acquire this secret technique.

Once they learned it, they’d never again have to fear Dark-types.

Miracle Eye analyzed and unravelled the aura of Dark typing, turning immunities into neutral damage so Psychic moves could land on Dark-type Pokémon.

“And you too,” Hikaru added.

He glanced over at the still-devouring Aerodactyl and pulled out the Prism Star.

This gemstone from the Radiant One also had a special effect:

It could expand a Pokémon’s movepool, and even teach them certain moves they were “connected” to, but normally couldn’t learn, via a special inheritance.

Hikaru figured this special transfer was basically like—

“Garchomp learning Dragon Dance.”

After all, the Dragon Dance TM was made from scales shed by the Gible line…

And yet even by Gen 9, the land shark still couldn’t learn the move.

Absolutely savage.

In that Gen 9 meta of complete madness, even if you gave Garchomp Dragon Dance, it wouldn’t have broken the game—

But they still refused to let it have it.

“If things work the way I think, an Aerodactyl that can already use Sky Attack should be able to learn Brave Bird and Dragon Rush too.”

“And maybe even go further—learn Double-Edge.”

As luck would have it, Aegislash already knew that high-power move.

With the Prism Star, Aerodactyl should be able to inherit the technique.

At that point, Aerodactyl would really take off.

No more lamenting its Rock Head Ability with no moves to exploit it.

STAB Double-Edge and Brave Bird…

If those landed, the damage would be absurd—

The kind you didn’t even want to imagine.

Hikaru started going through Aerodactyl’s movepool, flipping open his Pokédex.

And to his surprise—

“Oh, this move is…”

“Dual Wingbeat.”

A Flying-type lifesaver for comebacks, the emergency button for the Scyther line and Aerodactyl alike.

But in actual battles, how different was Dual Wingbeat’s attack pattern from the lowly Wing Attack?

Hikaru was mulling that over when a small interruption occurred.

His Poké-Device went off.

A message from Scott popped up, asking if he’d confirmed Giovanni’s identity.

“Yeah. Lambert is Giovanni. He’s even carrying the Green Emblem.”

Hikaru sent over a picture of the Green Emblem.

Once he had solid confirmation, Scott took a deep breath.

“Thank you very much for your help.”

“With this, the mystery of Area Eight is completely solved.”

“As per our agreement, I’ve already left Black Skyscraper and am on my way to Unity Tower.”

“From here on out, you don’t need to take any extra action. We’ll get the Lucario Mega Stone to Unity Tower as quickly as possible.”

“No rush,” Hikaru replied, glancing at the date and time and thinking to himself. “I might be leaving Unova for a while after this… How long can they hold the package?”

Scott wrote back:

“I’ll notify Unity Tower of your code designation within the Countermeasures Division. As long as you state your International Police codename, they’ll verify it. Until then, the package can be held indefinitely.”

“Of course, you’re also welcome to rest at Unity Tower first. Delivery is extremely fast. Our efficiency is nothing to worry about.”

“According to HQ, your newest code designation in the Countermeasures Division is…”

“Shield.”

“Welcome to the International Police. You’ll be part of the International Police Special Affairs Agency, UB Countermeasures HQ. Your superior’s codename is ‘Chief.’

“Until you meet her in person, all details remain classified.”

“Your ID credential will be printed along with the Mega Evolution stone and stored at Unity Tower.”

“As for your job description, it’s very simple.”

“Study the ecology of extradimensional lifeforms. Prevent potential danger from unknown lifeforms. Protect and contain extradimensional beings—or eliminate the dangerous ones.”

Chief.

The average person wouldn’t know who that was.

But Hikaru did.

It was Anabel, of course.

Not the Anabel from this world, but one who’d crossed over from another.

She was a good dozen years older than the local Anabel—she’d fallen through an Ultra Wormhole around ten years before the Sun & Moon timeline.

Anabel, the Salon Maiden of the Hoenn Battle Frontier’s Battle Tower.

The strongest Frontier Brain.

Well, in the anime, the strongest was Brandon, with Anabel in second place.

The Anabel who crossed over had lost almost all of her memories because of the Ultra Wormhole.

All she remembered was that she’d once been the strongest Trainer guarding some sort of tower.

After the International Police took her in, her tireless work earned her the position of head of the UB Countermeasures Division—and she became Looker’s boss.

And yes, Anabel was absolutely adorable.

Scott ended the transmission.

Hikaru took a breath and reined in his thoughts.

He might be International Police now, but he was only in the extradimensional countermeasures wing.

It didn’t involve cracking down on human criminals at all.

Put simply, he was a highly paid, world-class enforcer on the International payroll.

Not a bad deal.

One more source of income never hurt.

International Police salaries were extremely high—shockingly so.

They also had “special operations funds”—take as much as you needed.

In the Special manga, Anabel casually wired six million to Sun at one point, rich beyond reason.

Compared to that, the other international organization—the Ranger Union—really did look like they were working for love alone.

As for Ultra Wormholes, well, he’d already accepted Professor Burnet’s invitation.

This didn’t really count as extra work.

“Ahem. Anyway!”

“Let’s get Double-Edge down first.”

Hikaru aimed the Prism Star at Aerodactyl and had Aegislash use Double-Edge.

A strong light flared—

『Using the Prism Star, the move was mimicked and transmitted. Aerodactyl’s movepool has been expanded!』

『Rock-type energy gathers around Aerodactyl’s body in the form of light particles!』

『Aerodactyl learned “Double-Edge”!』

“We did it!”

“Gyaa-oo!”

Aerodactyl rubbed its head, utterly confused, then suddenly smacked itself in the forehead.

Wham.

A fierce rocky glow flared over its skull and gradually wrapped its entire head.

A Rock-type power-move—Double-Edge.

“Another illegal move acquired.”

“Still, not being able to learn it now doesn’t mean they’ll never release it later.”

So Hikaru thought.

Back in Gen 1, Lance’s Aerodactyl couldn’t even learn Rock Slide, and he still used it.

If Lance could do it, so could he.

After using the Prism Star, its glow dimmed.

Hikaru used his sunlight power to recharge it.

A new message popped up.

『Ambush chance has risen to 31%.』

“So this is…”

Necrozma’s ambush chance?

So the thing had a side effect.

Made sense.

The Prism Star originated from the Radiant One.

In the card lore, it was shaped like the Radiant One’s head.

But 31% was only a 1% increase.

Nothing to worry about yet.

[Hold on a moment…]

This time, it was Deoxys who cut Hikaru off.

The Warrior of Light’s gaze pierced through the top of the skyscraper, reaching into the endless void.

[You don’t feel it? The pulse of space… The heartbeat of the stars?]

(End of Chapter)

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