Chapter 148

Chapter 148: Chapter 148

Professor Kukui continued his detailed explanation of Agile Style and Strong Style, breaking down what the research team currently understood about the two battle states and how Trainers might reproduce them through practical training.

"And that’s the method we’ve managed to summarize so far," Kukui finally said, releasing a long breath.

After talking almost nonstop for so long, his throat felt as though it had been put through a workout of its own.

Mike smoothly picked up where he left off. "I’ll also edit together the footage we recorded while training the Stantler and release it afterward so everyone has something visual to reference. We filmed quite a lot during the process, including some of the more entertaining moments that happened along the way, so keep an eye on my official account."

He smiled toward the camera before continuing.

"Now, I’m sure some of you are wondering, ’Mike, all these papers keep mentioning Hisui, but can you explain what Hisui actually was without making us read fifty pages of academic writing?’"

Mike nodded solemnly.

"Of course I can. And for that, there’s someone far more qualified than me. Let’s hand things over to Sinnoh Champion Cynthia, one of the world’s leading researchers in Pokémon mythology and ancient history."

With that, he enlarged Cynthia’s window on the livestream.

In truth, hardly anyone had actually asked the question.

The chat had become unusually quiet ever since the Professors joined.

That wasn’t especially surprising.

Professor Oak, Professor Rowan, and Professor Kukui were famous authorities throughout the Pokémon world, and countless Trainers had received their first partner Pokémon from researchers like them.

Viewers who had no problem teasing Mike mercilessly suddenly became model students the moment actual academic heavyweights appeared on screen.

Most of the remaining comments came either from unusually fearless viewers or from other researchers and Professors discussing the material among themselves.

Cynthia began with a brief introduction.

"Hello again. I’m Cynthia."

The image switched from her face to her computer screen.

She opened a prepared file, and her calm voice continued over the presentation.

"Based on ancient written records, archaeological evidence, Mike’s translations, and discussions with Professor Oak and Professor Rowan, we have adopted the name Hisui for the historical predecessor of what is now the Sinnoh region."

"As for precisely when the Hisui era began and ended, that remains under investigation. At present, my working estimate is that the term can reasonably be applied to a period stretching from more than a thousand years ago until perhaps one or two centuries before the modern era."

Cynthia advanced to another slide.

"For research purposes, we can also tentatively divide the Hisui era into earlier and later periods. In the earlier Hisui period..."

Her explanation continued at an even, unhurried pace, carrying the confidence of someone entirely at home in the subject.

The presentation changed again, this time displaying photographs of the murals Mike and Cynthia had documented in the ruins.

"These wall paintings were discovered by Mike largely by chance. As you can see, several Pokémon depicted here differ significantly in appearance from their modern counterparts."

She highlighted several figures.

"These images were one of the key inspirations behind the experiment that ultimately allowed Stantler to evolve into Wyrdeer."

Cynthia continued through the evidence.

"Based on what we currently know, people were already living in Hisui long before large settlements were established, but the population appears to have been sparse. Later, groups crossed the sea and settled permanently on the land, after which villages gradually began to appear."

"Other migrants arrived in later generations, bringing with them a substantial body of knowledge and their own religious traditions. Among these groups were people who came to worship Dialga and Palkia under the title Almighty Sinnoh."

She carefully explained the distinction between the ancient title and the modern name of the Sinnoh region.

Several of the most important pieces of evidence, however, remained absent from the presentation.

Cynthia did not reveal the illustration of Dialga and Palkia from Melodi’s inherited journal, nor did she display the mural connected to Enamorus that Mike had discovered in the ruins.

Those materials were being reserved for the upcoming Academic Summit.

Cynthia was confident that the research she had assembled would make a substantial impact there, and both Professor Oak and Professor Rowan had encouraged her to hold back several decisive pieces of evidence until then.

Mike had no objection.

He knew much of the historical truth from his previous life, but knowing the answer and proving it were entirely different things.

Cynthia could take scattered archaeological evidence, written records, myths, and modern Pokémon research and construct an argument that other scholars would actually accept.

That was something Mike could not accomplish merely by saying, ’Trust me, I know how this happened.’

Cynthia moved on.

"During the Hisui era, the land we now call Sinnoh—or more accurately, the Hisuian landmass of that period—appears to have experienced substantially lower average temperatures than it does today. Snow-covered mountains and prolonged cold conditions were far more widespread, while modern Sinnoh experiences much more distinct seasonal variation."

"This is one reason we suspect environmental change played a role in Wyrdeer’s disappearance."

The image shifted to a detailed photograph of Wyrdeer.

"Notice the thickness of its coat. That heavy fur would have been extremely useful in a colder environment. As the climate gradually warmed, Wyrdeer may have become less suited to the changing ecosystem, while surviving Stantler populations slowly lost both the evolutionary pathway and the ability to use their ancestral signature move."

Cynthia continued, "To distinguish those ancient environmental conditions from the present day, we refer to that historical period as the Hisui era. Likewise, Pokémon forms known to have existed during that period but no longer commonly seen today are provisionally classified as Hisuian forms."

"Professor Rowan, Mike, and I have already proposed several possible Hisuian forms in one of the papers released today. Anyone interested can consult that publication for the full list and supporting reasoning."

The presentation disappeared, and Cynthia’s face returned to the screen.

She gave Mike a small nod.

Mike understood that it was his turn again.

"As for the name Hisui itself," he said, "I think it fits an era associated with renewal—the beginning of life returning to the land."

He shifted Glameow slightly in his lap before continuing.

"Whether other Hisuian Pokémon still exist somewhere, or whether modern Pokémon can recover ancient evolutionary forms the way Stantler did, is something we’re still investigating. Maybe one day Wyrdeer won’t be the only Pokémon from that lost era to return."

Mike smiled.

"That’s only a hypothesis for now, though."

He glanced toward the rapidly moving chat.

"Oh? Some of you are asking whether people in Hisui could still form bonds with Pokémon even though certain ancient records referred to them as dangerous creatures."

Mike paused dramatically.

"That question is perfect for someone whose entire career has involved studying the relationship between humans and Pokémon."

He enlarged Professor Oak’s panel.

"Professor Oak, the floor is yours."

Professor Oak immediately brightened.

"Finally! Hello, everyone. I’m Samuel Oak, although most of you probably know me simply as Professor Oak."

His familiar, energetic voice filled the stream.

"The relationship between humans and Pokémon has always been one of the central subjects of Pokémon research. Friends, partners, family... Trainers watching this probably understand those bonds better than almost anyone."

Oak’s expression became more thoughtful.

"But what did that relationship look like before modern technology? Before contemporary Poké Balls? Before the systems and institutions we now take for granted?"

"The evidence strongly suggests that people were trying to understand and cooperate with Pokémon long before our current era."

He brought up an image of Wyrdeer.

"Wyrdeer itself is a good example. During the Hisui era, people apparently relied on Wyrdeer as a land-riding Pokémon for long-distance travel."

"Based on Mike’s analysis of the records, Wyrdeer was not the only species used in this way. Hisuian Braviary appears to have served as an aerial ride Pokémon, while Basculegion was used for travel across water."

Even Mike found himself listening more seriously once Professor Oak settled into his own specialty.

His knowledge of human-Pokémon relationships was far deeper than anything Mike could reproduce from memories of games and anime.

Oak continued.

"We can actually compare this with records from Paldea. People there formed a very close relationship with Cyclizar far back in their history, although determining whether that tradition predates Hisuian ride Pokémon is another question entirely."

He smiled.

"That’s why I find Wyrdeer’s return so exciting. It doesn’t merely prove that ancient evolutionary forms existed. It suggests we may be able to restore more Pokémon that disappeared from the modern world and allow them to experience this world again."

"If that happens, Trainers everywhere may eventually have even more Pokémon with whom they can pursue their dreams."

Professor Oak paused before addressing another subject that had clearly appeared repeatedly in the comments.

"I also see many people asking why Mike’s name appears near the top of so many of the papers and reports released today."

Mike immediately became wary.

Oak smiled.

"The explanation is simple. Nearly every stage of this research, from recognizing the possible existence of Hisuian Pokémon to successfully reproducing Stantler’s evolution into Wyrdeer, involved Mike directly."

"He was the one who first discovered evidence that these ancient Pokémon forms had existed. He then used Stantler as the basis for proposing that modern Stantler might still retain the potential to evolve into Wyrdeer."

"After that, he searched historical records, identified references to Psyshield Bash, organized researchers, proposed experimental procedures, and participated throughout the entire verification process."

Professor Oak spread his hands.

"In other words, he was involved in almost everything. That is why his name appears so prominently across the research."

Mike stared at the screen.

Oak wasn’t finished.

"Professor Rowan and I have both seen firsthand how deeply Mike understands Pokémon, and I imagine many of his viewers have noticed the same thing. I’m also quite fond of his series The Wide World of Pokémon. He includes a surprising number of small details that even I occasionally realize I haven’t thought about in years."

Professor Oak suddenly looked directly toward the camera.

"What? Some of you still haven’t watched The Wide World of Pokémon?"

Mike’s eyes widened.

Oak continued with growing enthusiasm.

"That simply won’t do! Make sure you find Mike’s official account. He has already released... let me check... three or four episodes, I believe. Plenty to start with!"

Mike’s face grew hot.

"Ahem. Professor Oak."

Oak looked at him.

"We’re drifting off topic."

"Oh!"

Professor Oak laughed.

Mike rubbed his forehead.

It was one thing for Oak to advertise his videos without warning.

It was another thing entirely for him to start copying Mike’s own promotional style while doing it.

The fan group was already losing its mind.

[Yopleasee: So THIS is why you invited all of us. You already had your promotional spokesman lined up.]

Yopleasee: If I’d known, I would’ve worked your channel into my section too.]

[Mat_tokki: Incredible. Not even pretending anymore. Man brought Professor Oak onto the stream to advertise his channel.]

[Juice Bro: FINE! I’LL WATCH IT! Happy now?! SquirtleCrying.jpg]

[Gholdengo Is Number One: You say that like you don’t already watch every upload.]

[...]

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Only 1 Chapter since i got lazy and doing nothing but playing apex all day.