Chapter 645 - 642

To complete what had remained unfinished in the past.

No matter how powerful a living creature might be, it could only exist within a specific regional ecosystem.

Perhaps the earliest concept of "Regional Ecology" originated with the separation of Kanto and Johto. To introduce new Pokémon, the creators first had to establish a new region in which those Pokémon could appear.

However, it wasn’t until Hoenn and the third generation that Regional Ecology truly took center stage.

In Pokémon Adventures, after the Red and Blue Orbs shattered, Team Rocket fashioned their fragments into the Ruby and Sapphire. This connected them to the otherwise inexplicable stones found at Mt. Ember and passed down from ancient times in the games.

With an environmental amplification device, they could reproduce Hoenn’s environment within Kanto and the Sevii Islands, allowing Deoxys to undergo further Forme changes.

In truth, however, Deoxys had only required that assistance because it had not yet fully mastered its own power.

It had not yet... completed its growth.

As a result, it needed the local environment to change Formes. The Deoxys that appeared in the Fiore region, however, could freely switch between its Formes even in the manga.

It was still unclear whether that Deoxys was a fully matured individual, but it had undeniably appeared after the events associated with the Ruby, Sapphire, and Emerald.

And the greatest phenomenon produced by Regional Ecology was completing the Pokédex—ahem, no.

It was regional forms, Forme changes, and convergent evolution!

After hearing Hikaru’s explanation, the professors, researchers, and engineers began whispering among themselves.

Before the symposium officially began, each researcher had to rise from their seat and briefly introduce their area of study before sitting down again.

It was essentially an opportunity for everyone to become familiar with one another and confirm who was present.

After all, this conference carried exceptional importance.

Although professors such as Leanne and Krane had been unable to attend, even from their distant locations, they would undoubtedly pay close attention to the conference’s conclusions and find some way to obtain the relevant data.

"Regional Ecology..." Samson Oak murmured. "This is it. This is what we’ve been waiting for."

"What conclusion will they present?" Professor Birch wondered aloud. "I can hardly wait."

"Exactly!" Professor Kukui agreed. "The environments of different regions seem to influence the moves certain Pokémon can learn! I’ve experienced it myself!"

"Completing an investigation involving so many complicated subjects would be extraordinarily difficult," Professor Willow said. "Could two young researchers truly accomplish it? Young people are becoming more remarkable with every passing year. And that previous presentation was equally..."

"The issues Blue-kun raised regarding Egg Groups, combined with Regional Ecology, might even relate to certain human abilities," Professor Elm said. "I’m referring to people born with psychic powers and those who later develop spiritual abilities through ascetic training. It’s all rather fascinating, isn’t it?"

"There truly are four listed authors," Spencer Hale observed. "’Origins,’ ’Regional Ecology,’ ’Mythology,’ and ’Evolution.’ If even Professor Rowan has endorsed the research, it must also be closely connected to ancient writing."

He sighed.

"Unfortunately, as far as Unown are concerned... Hmm. I suppose all I can do is take extensive notes."

"You mentioned Unown?" Cynthia asked. "You can look forward to that section. Most information concerning those Pokémon is classified, but since you personally experienced certain events, you should be able to understand everything once we reveal even a small portion."

Spencer Hale froze. Then his eyes lit up, and he nodded solemnly.

"Thank you, Professor Cynthia. I will listen carefully to Sir Hikaru’s findings."

Hikaru was the last new researcher to introduce himself, and he had brought an exceptionally important subject with him.

Most of the renowned professors present were already familiar with the Champion Sage’s accomplishments, as well as the identities he held through official channels.

He truly was someone with close ties to several research institutes.

More importantly, his status as a descendant of an ancient people gave him a considerable advantage.

To investigate certain secrets, professors from many regions had personally placed themselves in danger. That was the greatest respect one could show scientific research.

"I can certainly relate to the portions involving myths and inherited traditions."

Sitting beside Professor Rowan, Professor Sycamore nodded enthusiastically.

"Mega Evolution!"

Research into the principles and mechanisms behind Mega Evolution was currently underway.

As one of Professor Rowan’s finest students in the field of Evolution, Professor Sycamore had decided to devote all his passion to the subject. That was why he had traveled to the Tower of Mastery in the Kalos region.

An elderly man known as the Mega Evolution guru lived in that tower.

His name was Gurkinn.

One particularly important question concerned the significance of Mega Stones.

Was there some connection between those stones and Pokémon?

Unfortunately, even an elderly man like Gurkinn—someone possessing both inherited knowledge and academic talent—had made little progress in understanding Mega Evolution.

"Have you developed a new theory about Mega Evolution?" Professor Rowan asked.

"Yes!" Professor Sycamore replied. "According to the Mega Evolution guru I visited, its true principles remain unclear. At present, only a small number of people who inherited the relevant knowledge and passed the necessary trials can use it."

"I suspect that the trust between a Pokémon and its Trainer awakens a form of latent power, which then resonates with the wavelength of the energy contained within the stone."

"Because it is a temporary evolution, it can also be viewed as a kind of Forme change. I wonder whether it might be related to Regional Ecology."

"Some Pokémon are incapable of evolving any further. We don’t yet know whether that’s because their stones haven’t been discovered or because they lack sufficient potential. That bears some resemblance to your research into whether Pokémon that do not evolve are already complete."

"That theory has already been overturned," Professor Rowan said. "Some Pokémon that were once believed complete have since been confirmed to possess new Evolutions."

Professor Sycamore’s eyes widened.

"What?!"

Wait!

I only just produced some new research, and now my teacher is telling me the previous findings have already been overturned?

What am I supposed to do with my paper?!

"It was overturned because of Regional Ecology," Professor Rowan continued.

"However, human culture and society are also important factors in shaping a region’s ecology. Perhaps Kalos... Ahem. You should calm down and listen to the presentation first."

Was Professor Rowan about to say that Kalos had a poor cultural environment?

Surely that wasn’t what he meant!

Still, if Professor Sycamore considered how human society might influence Forme changes and Mega Evolution, one thing immediately came to mind.

The legend of the Tower of Mastery.

Long ago, someone discovered a stone on the island. Soon afterward, the first Pokémon to Mega Evolve—Lucario—appeared.

People constructed the tower to protect that stone and subsequently adopted the title of "Successor."

Another version of the legend claimed that the Successor had originally come from somewhere else. After all, the story began with a traveler from a distant land arriving on the island.

Regardless, Professor Sycamore felt increasingly uneasy.

He had arrived brimming with confidence. Surely he wouldn’t have to rewrite everything his institute had produced?

New fields of research always came with risks. That was unavoidable.

He could only hope this didn’t turn into a public apology conference.

"Still, I’ve heard that it really is connected to a certain stone," Professor Rowan added.

Professor Sycamore froze and prepared to ask another question, but Rowan merely waved him off.

"Some findings cannot be publicly released. That is for everyone’s benefit. Perhaps this era is not yet ready for them. Or perhaps..."

"If you don’t hear the answer during the presentation on the Origins of Regional Ecology, why not ask Hikaru privately afterward?"

"Of course, I don’t know the details myself. I’ve merely heard that the origins of Mega Evolution are actually..."

"In the Hoenn region."

Professor Sycamore said nothing more.

He worked to calm himself, eagerly awaiting the presentations that would follow.

On Professor Rowan’s other side, another bespectacled professor was voicing his opinion. With his green shirt beneath a white lab coat, he looked as though he had stepped straight out of an anime from the 1990s.

This was Professor Mirror, who appeared in New Pokémon Snap.

He was responsible for investigating Lental, a largely untouched region that no one had explored in depth for a century. He also had close ties to a character from the original generation: Todd Snap.

Speaking of Todd, he had participated in the major operation at the Battle Frontier during the Emerald arc of Pokémon Adventures.

In the original anime, he had also appeared during the famous Aerodactyl incident in the Great Fossil Canyon.

The iconic line, "So you were the unlucky guy," directed at Ash, had been spoken by Todd.

That was also the episode in which Charmeleon became so furious that it evolved. Aerodactyl’s infamous lower-eyelid taunt had appeared during the same incident.

Professor Oak had developed the all-purpose vehicle known as the ZERO-ONE and given it to Todd for his island investigations.

In a later work, the vehicle received a comprehensive upgrade, becoming the NEO-ONE—a supermachine capable of traveling through the sky, across land, and beneath the sea.

"Nature..." Professor Mirror murmured. "In the relatively untouched Lental region, we can clearly observe the effects that different islands have on Pokémon such as Eevee."

"There’s also a unique phenomenon involving light. It’s incredibly mysterious. The first recorded discovery was made one hundred years ago..."

Professor Mirror naturally didn’t know the truth.

The source of the Illumina phenomenon in Lental was strongly connected to the Kalos region from Pokémon X and Y.

And yet, it was not the same individual.

As far as Professor Mirror knew, no one had ever completely investigated Lental. The only surviving information came from records left by explorers a century ago.

"Excuse me. Did you just mention glowing Pokémon?"

Sitting behind Professor Mirror was Briar, whose intellectual beauty made her stand out.

The moment she heard about glowing Pokémon, she became excited.

Luminous energy?!

"Have you observed any crystallization in the region you’re investigating?" Briar asked.

"No, nothing like that," Professor Mirror answered. "And you are...?"

"My name is Briar. I’m a researcher investigating energy. Two hundred years ago, an explorer named Heath discovered several mysterious glowing Pokémon in the Paldea region."

"Oh? That’s astonishing," Professor Mirror said. "One hundred years ago, an explorer named Captain Vince also discovered glowing Pokémon in Lental."

"Powerful energy readings can be detected throughout the Lental region, and they only appear at night."

"Lental also possesses a unique plant known as a Crystabloom. Its core resembles a gemstone, and at night, it gives off the Illumina phenomenon."

Professor Mirror had come to this conference precisely because he had discovered several scientific principles associated with that luminous phenomenon.

Besides, such an enormous conference was exceptionally rare. He was sure to obtain useful knowledge here.

His goal was to investigate a legendary Pokémon.

Of course, he didn’t mean the kind of Legendary Pokémon capable of destroying an entire region.

He meant the fabled "Illumina Pokémon."

"I once traveled with a young man named Todd Snap," Professor Mirror continued. "Eventually, we arrived in Lental."

"According to the explorer’s journal, the Illumina Pokémon that appeared one hundred years ago were enormous. Both their sizes and appearances differed considerably from those of Pokémon currently known to exist."

"Their bodies were also covered in glowing patterns."

"Why was that? Could it be related to energy and Regional Ecology?"

"Lental remained unexplored for a century, and scenes of Pokémon hunting one another can be witnessed everywhere."

"Food chains and natural predation exist even in places rich in resources and filled with unique Fluffruit."

"Perhaps these Pokémon behaviors are also influenced by Regional Ecology."

"In such a harsh, untouched environment, Pokémon competing with one another might behave very differently from Pokémon elsewhere."

"I’m uncertain whether the regional distribution of different populations affects ecological competition. That isn’t my area of expertise."

"Nevertheless, it fascinates me, and I eagerly await the answer."

"Besides, that new researcher mentioned another relevant subject during his introduction."

"Light!"

The Illumina phenomenon was also light!

What was the connection?

Professor Mirror’s investigation had only just begun, but perhaps he was about to make astonishing progress.

Even that brief conversation had greatly broadened Briar’s horizons.

"Crystabloom?!" she exclaimed. "Isn’t there a Pokémon called Glimmora in Paldea? Even their cores resemble gemstones!"

Their origins differed, yet mysterious phenomena discovered in distant regions possessed unexpected similarities—even when comparing plants to Pokémon.

Deeply intrigued, Briar gathered some of Professor Mirror’s data. Then she looked toward Professor Sada, who was seated near the front.

They were too far apart for Briar to approach her right now.

The professor who researched Terastallization had actually appeared here.

That was extraordinarily rare.

In fact, it was Sada’s first public appearance.

If only Briar could obtain more useful information.

It wouldn’t merely help her complete the Terarium Core.

It would also help her...

Briar still didn’t know that the mysteries surrounding The Hidden Treasure of Area Zero would gradually be unraveled in the future.

Nevertheless, the little turtle was already being carried by Professor Sada.

As an AI robot, Sada would malfunction without Tera energy. Unless she traveled through time, she couldn’t leave the research station without bringing the little turtle along.

"So that’s Professor Sada," Director Cyrano said. "I truly wish she would join Blueberry Academy."

"Director," Briar replied, "Chairwoman Geeta would be furious."

The professors’ brief conversations soon came to an end.

Lights illuminated the stage, and the person serving as the conference’s host and announcer was Roseanne, one of Professor Rowan’s researchers.

Roseanne was a professor’s assistant who appeared in Pokémon Platinum. She also made an appearance during the later portions of Pokémon Adventures.

She was an exceptionally rare and peculiar character.

She had no significant role in the story, no independent plotline, and no detailed background. Yet she possessed all three essential elements: a card, official artwork, and a name.

Perhaps Roseanne had originally been intended to receive a more important role during Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Shining Pearl. She was essentially a character left as a blank slate.

Unfortunately...

Judging by her card’s effect, Roseanne’s field of research was probably somewhat similar to Briar’s.

Both of them researched energy.

However, considering statements previously made by Professor Rowan and Lucas, Roseanne most likely specialized in Evolution energy.

The spotlight shone upon the stage researchers dreamed of standing on.

Roseanne delivered a brief opening address. Although she appeared slightly nervous, she completed it without any real problems.

She was still a researcher personally trained by Professor Rowan, after all—not to mention an exceptionally rare NPC who simultaneously possessed three things and lacked three things.

Hikaru suspected that Roseanne had originally been designed simply to make Professor Rowan’s laboratory seem more professional.

Otherwise, everyone there would be like Lucas’s father.

The man would deliver an Exp. Share to Dawn, yet his name was still listed simply as "Lucas’s father."

No, seriously.

What was his actual name?

Characters such as the Memory Girl used titles rather than names. Sometimes addressing someone directly by a title left a stronger impression than using their full name.

N, who operated under an alias instead of his real name, was one of the most prominent examples.

People like that certainly existed.

But Lucas’s father truly was just Lucas’s father...

"At least with Roseanne around, Professor Rowan’s laboratory doesn’t look like Professor Oak’s lab, where everyone seems to be a clone."

"Whatever. It’s normal for unimportant characters not to have names. There are so many researchers in the world. Who can guarantee that the researchers you encounter and battle on the road didn’t graduate from Professor Rowan’s laboratory or Professor Oak’s?"

"In any case, plenty of researchers certainly escaped from New Island."

An international academic conference would usually be opened by its chairperson or academic organizer.

After that, speakers presented their reports according to the established agenda. Important figures might receive priority, but seating and presentation order generally emphasized equality.

Applause thundered through the conference hall once Roseanne concluded her opening address.

She immediately gestured toward the stage.

"First, please welcome Professor Oak!"

Their opening speaker was indeed an exceptionally important figure!

Professor Oak’s New Theory: Shuffle your hand into your deck, then draw six cards.

That was the Trading Card Game version, of course.

"Professor Oak’s new theory and research must concern the classification of recently discovered Pokémon, right?"

"Recently discovered Pokémon? I heard Juniper, who studies Pokémon origins, intends to reveal several new species this time."

"And that Professor Sada... This is the first time I’ve seen her. I’ve heard she also..."

The researchers’ whispers quickly faded.

Like faint ripples across the surface of a lake, they gradually smoothed away.

"I’m very grateful for the opportunity to present the conference’s first academic report," Professor Oak began.

"There is quite a lot to discuss."

"In addition to adding newly discovered Pokémon to the Pokédex and confirming their Types, I would also like to discuss consciousness and the hearts of humans and Pokémon."

"Let us formally begin."

"For every human and Pokémon in this world, there exists a different way in which humans and Pokémon can live together."

Although the inclusion of consciousness and the heart in Professor Oak’s report sounded unusual, everyone present immediately thought of the incident on New Island.

They also remembered that Professor Hastings of the Ranger Union was supposedly the world’s foremost authority on the mind.

Professor Oak delivered a detailed report on the events that had occurred on New Island, along with the remnants of Team Rocket’s research.

Red, Blue, Leaf, and Green had discovered much of that evidence.

Although the information had caused some international unrest three years earlier—and although several attentive professors had already collected fragments of it—this was the first time the facts had been confirmed in such detail.

Professor Oak had also consulted Blaine regarding the genetic-engineering aspects of the project.

Both men had known the elderly Dr. Fuji, while Blaine had been a leading figure at the Cinnabar Lab. Consequently, Blaine was already aware of the information concerning Mewtwo.

The artificial creation of Pokémon had now been fully confirmed.

Mewtwo’s existence was officially registered in the Pokédex. Its ability to communicate with humans and erase memories, among its other formidable powers, had also been verified.

It was classified as a Psychic-type Pokémon, and its Ability and moves had been confirmed individually.

Professor Oak’s presentation included Dr. Fuji’s old research records and the rumors concerning Mewtwo that had circulated after the New Island incident.

"Mewtwo was developed as a weapon of war for Team Rocket," Professor Oak said. "Scientists once believed it possessed the most savage heart of any Pokémon."

"After the events on New Island, however, Mewtwo appears to have demonstrated extraordinary intelligence."

"It struggled with the distinction between originals and copies."

"Could this indicate that even a Pokémon born with a violent disposition can become gentle by developing an understanding of the world, humanity, and its own kind?"

"It is said that Mewtwo was constantly troubled by the philosophical question, ’Who am I?’"

"According to eyewitness reports, another Mewtwo may have been observed in a different region."

"However, we still do not know whether the researchers who escaped New Island returned and created a new individual or whether the sightings involved the original specimen."

"One thing can be confirmed: Mewtwo has acted to save others."

"Even though its genes were deliberately programmed, it possesses genuine consciousness, life, and emotions—just like us."

"How does Mewtwo perceive itself? As a human? As a Pokémon? Or as both?"

"Where is the dividing line between human and Pokémon consciousness?"

"Or were they always the same thing?"

"That brings us to another similar Pokémon—the one classified as the DNA Pokémon. It will be discussed later during the presentation on the Origins of Regional Ecology."

"Furthermore, registering Mewtwo in the Pokédex means that a physical specimen of Mew has also been observed and captured."

"Please examine this information."

"This is the data concerning Mew."

Professor Oak displayed the detailed information Leaf had transmitted concerning Mew.

An uproar immediately swept through the hall.

"The genuine Mythical Pokémon—Mew!"

For many scholars, investigating regional legends and discovering evidence of Mythical Pokémon was hardly unusual.

Canalave City, where the conference was being held, possessed legends concerning Darkrai. The shrine in Johto’s Ilex Forest had also been confirmed to have connections to the forest deity Celebi.

Compared with those two Pokémon, however, Mew had always seemed as elusive as a dream.

Scholars had searched for traces of it for decades.

Because Mew could transform into other Pokémon, confirming the location of its true body was nearly impossible.

This was the first time such comprehensive information had ever been released publicly.

Countless scholars wanted to uncover all of Mew’s secrets. Yet after so many years, not one of them had ever completed that research.

"I’ve heard Mew will only appear before someone with a pure heart and an intense desire to meet it."

"Correct. The accepted academic theory is that Mew is the ancestor of all Pokémon!"

"Wait. Didn’t Professor Oak’s grandson just mention transforming Ditto into Mew? I assumed he had reconstructed Mew’s appearance from academic illustrations!"

"There were reports of Mew appearing in Kalos approximately seventy-eight years ago and playing with local farmers. However, that artwork cannot be accepted as genuine evidence."

"Nobles and other powerful figures of that era often had Mythical Pokémon included in paintings merely to display their own status."

The professors’ discussions briefly became deafening before gradually settling down.

"At the same time, this was discovered in the Kanto region," Professor Oak continued.

The image on the screen changed.

A massive white stone covered in ancient writing appeared before them.

"I studied the writing carved into this stone. It seems to ask Trainers who have recently reached adulthood to inscribe words expressing their gratitude."

"However, the stone has already been used."

"According to information provided by knowledgeable sources, we should tentatively refer to it as the White Rock of Gratitude."

"It is associated with the legendary Gratitude Pokémon."

Photographs of Hikaru and Dawn appeared on the screen, immediately provoking another wave of discussion.

Hikaru had previously told Dawn about this legend.

Considering Professor Oak occasionally traveled through Sinnoh, it was perfectly normal for him to have confirmed the information with Professor Rowan or Dawn.

After all, the White Rock of Gratitude had first been discovered in Kanto.

Yet the stone couldn’t be found anywhere in the Kanto games, so its exact discovery site remained a mystery.

"That Pokémon is Shaymin," Professor Rowan murmured. "It’s associated with the legend of Flower Paradise."

"It’s said that a field of Gracidea flowers exists somewhere, and that the Mythical Pokémon will appear there. However, no one has encountered it yet."

The elderly professor turned to look at Hikaru, who was seated behind him.

"I never expected Professor Oak of Kanto to be the first to discover the stone and its writing."

Hikaru laughed. "That was Professor Oak’s field of research from the beginning."

It concerned the item known as Oak’s Letter.

The stone in Sinnoh had no writing carved into it, which meant it remained "unused" and in perfectly new condition.

The place where Shaymin had appeared in the past was the Floaro Gardens, not Flower Paradise.

As for the legendary flower field from Giratina and the Sky Warrior, very few people knew of its existence. It was probably somewhere near Snowpoint City.

That region had once been the Alabaster Icelands, after all.

The inscription on the stone truly was one of the discoveries Professor Oak had made while researching Sinnoh.

When Hikaru thought about it, Professor Oak’s research abilities were genuinely astonishing.

He appeared to be a professor specializing in philosophy, but his fields actually encompassed Types, moves, classification, ancient writing, and anomalous phenomena.

"We can give Dawn another assignment," Professor Rowan said, rubbing his chin. "She can travel to the stone and carve a message of gratitude into it."

"Once we’ve confirmed the information you provided, we can publish another set of findings."

"There would be exactly four listed authors again."

"Still, you aren’t going to tell me Shaymin is another Pokémon whose existence must remain classified, are you?"

"Not to that extent," Hikaru replied. "However, Shaymin is also associated with both Forme changes and Type changes."

"’When people rejoice at winter’s end as the seasons change and offer their gratitude to the heavens, Shaymin appears and covers the desolate land with flowers.’"

"It can decompose toxins in the atmosphere and transform barren land into a flower garden in an instant."

Professor Rowan’s interest was immediately aroused.

He wanted to hear more, but Professor Oak’s report wasn’t over yet.

"A Forme change... Does that alter its...?"

Hikaru laughed.

"Yes. When its Forme changes, its power—meaning its base stats—changes as well."

Professor Oak next presented several findings concerning the classification of moves.

Although Professor Kukui specialized in researching moves, he was still relatively young. He remained in the process of personally testing many of them.

How those moves should be categorized and arranged according to their Types remained unclear.

One proposed category consisted of moves that added or changed Types.

Such moves were closely connected to Professor Oak’s previous research into Pokémon taxonomy and Type theory.

However, before the Devon Corporation used the Devon Scope to properly observe Kecleon, the only confirmed moves capable of completely changing the user’s Type were Conversion and Conversion 2.

Both moves were products of research conducted on Porygon—a Pokémon regarded as the crystallization of modern science.

Consequently, they could hardly be considered moves that had evolved naturally. They were artificial abilities deliberately granted to a Pokémon.

After investigating documents and records from various regions, however, Professor Oak decided to establish a new move category.

In addition to those three examples, he included Roost, Soak, Reflect Type, and two strange moves passed down in the Kalos region since ancient times.

"The defining feature of these Type-related moves is change," Professor Oak explained.

"They can be divided into three categories."

"The first completely changes the Type of either the user or the target."

"The second adds a new Type to a Pokémon."

"The third causes a Type to disappear. At present, the only confirmed example is..."

"As everyone knows, Types are a means of classifying Pokémon and moves."

"They also represent the intrinsic natural characteristics of a Pokémon."

"A Pokémon’s primary Type usually reflects its fundamental nature. Its secondary Type generally represents another ability or a secondary aspect of its existence."

"If those Types change, it means a considerable external force has altered the Pokémon’s fundamental condition."

"Soak, for example, changes the opposing Pokémon into a Water type. In other words, Water-type energy completely covers the Pokémon’s original Types."

"I refer to this process as Type Overwrite."

"However, Professor Sada of the Paldea region should have far more authority on this subject!"

"This research is also closely connected to the Origins of Regional Ecology."

"It relates to the Type changes observed among regional forms—and to whether Pokémon are creatures easily influenced by external forces, simultaneously stable and unstable."

Good grief!

Every researcher had the same thought.

Professor Oak was setting the stage!

That meant the person appearing next would undoubtedly be...

Professor Oak’s report concluded, and thunderous applause swept through the conference hall.

Hikaru briefly straightened his documents before raising his head.

As the saying went, whenever the researchers started whispering among themselves, all one had to do was check who was missing from the audience to know who would present next.

Professor Juniper had been frequently mentioned by other researchers, and she would be the conference’s second speaker.

Naturally, she attracted everyone’s attention.

Researchers who didn’t understand her subject began quietly discussing the "Origins" of Pokémon.

That field of research was simply too abstract.

Of course, any sufficiently accomplished researcher understood what "Origins" meant.

It didn’t refer to the beginning of Pokémon history.

Nor did it mean searching for Mew, the ancestor of all Pokémon.

Well...

They had already found Mew!

"By ’Origins,’ we mean the cause behind the birth of each Pokémon species!"

"Everyone, I am Professor Juniper of the Juniper Pokémon Lab in Nuvema Town, Unova."

"The research I will now present was conducted in collaboration with Sir Hikaru—a researcher, investigator, Champion of Unova, and member of the Paldea Elite Four!"

"The other researchers contributing to this joint study and report are Professor Rowan, the foremost authority on Evolution from the laboratory in Sandgem Town, Sinnoh, and Professor Cynthia, a researcher of mythology from Celestic Town, Sinnoh."

The title "Professor Cynthia" sounded somewhat strange.

Nevertheless, Cynthia had studied mythology for many years. As Professor Rowan’s former assistant and Sinnoh’s true Champion, it wasn’t surprising that she had earned a doctorate.

The documents piled throughout her home were practically tall enough to form mountains.

By comparison, Sonia had padded her paper enough to earn the title of professor, even though she had once merely referred to herself as Professor Magnolia’s "assistant."

Hop, who later helped Sonia with her work, had also acquired the position of "professor’s assistant" at an early age, just like Lucas.

Consequently, there was no need to worry about whether someone possessed the proper degree or title.

Cynthia possessed academic accomplishments worthy of the title.

It simply seemed insignificant compared with her status as Champion.

"Here it comes... Regional Ecology!"

Professor Magnolia adjusted her reading glasses in the audience.

She had already fully accepted Regional Ecology Theory, so she was desperately eager to hear its most important arguments.

Professor Magnolia was far from alone.

Every professor who had interacted or exchanged information with Hikaru—or who had independently researched and contemplated the subject—had developed a powerful interest in Regional Ecology Theory.

The more they studied, the more contradictions and sources of confusion they discovered in their existing theories.

They could never identify the underlying cause of those problems.

Now, however, it seemed that a single theory was about to connect every previously incomprehensible phenomenon.

Right here!

"Let me begin with our conclusion," Professor Juniper said.

"As Researcher Hikaru explained during the opening introductions, Regional Ecology is the result produced when vast expanses of time and space are connected, revealing the true nature of all things."

"This presentation will involve a considerable amount of material, so please allow me to take up some of your time."

"Different regional ecosystems give rise to different Pokémon. They are even important causes behind the divergence of members of the same species."

"However, through the power of Regional Ecology, even Pokémon that have already developed into regional variants will produce offspring influenced by the ecosystem of their ancestral homeland upon returning there."

"Those offspring will immediately revert to the species’ original appearance."

"Yes—revert!"

"I’m certain everyone remembers the disaster that occurred in the Hoenn region two years ago."

"The phenomenon known as Primal Reversion!"

"Azoth—the return to one’s original form!"

"Differences in Regional Ecology can alter a Pokémon’s appearance and even produce entirely new Evolutions."

"First, I will publicly reveal every new Evolution discovered and investigated over the past year by myself and the members of my research team."

"These Evolutions belong to Pokémon that were previously believed to have reached their complete and final forms!"

"The organization that cooperated in this investigation—and the source that provided the relevant data—comes from the Paldea region!"

(End of Chapter)

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