Based on Professor Turo's conclusion:
Stellar Crystallization isn't like Terastallization, which changes a Pokémon's own type. Instead, it can provide a one-time boost to each move of any type that the Pokémon uses.
But since there's only one data sample, it's hard to make precise conclusions about the power of this boost.
Lucas thought it over in detail.
If Stellar Crystallization is just as Professor Turo described, then its application in battle seems rather subtle.
Not only does it fail to change a Pokémon's type like Terastallization does—which helps counter enemies the Pokémon is weak against—but the continuous type boost given by Terastallization becomes a one-time, consumable enhancement in Stellar Crystallization.
Even though strengthening all eighteen types of moves is cool to look at, no matter how much Lucas racked his brain, it still felt like Stellar Crystallization was rather underwhelming besides looking flashy.
Once the Glimmora finally wrenched itself free from the stone wall and wobbled away, Turo led Lucas deeper toward where the "Treasure of Area Zero" lay.
On the way, Lucas was amazed by what he saw.
Deep underground, nearly a kilometer below ground level, he saw a tree fully crystallized and shining with starry light.
He also found an underground pool whose water looked pristine and pure.
Professor Turo explained that these pools were also rich in Terastal energy, and that any Pokémon in contact with the water for long periods would experience spontaneous Terastallization.
This reminded Lucas of the time he encountered the Terastal Dragon Gyarados in the crystal pool atop Oni Mountain in Kitakami.
Was that crystal pool the same as these pools in the Great Crater's caverns? Lucas shared his thoughts with Professor Turo.
As expected, Turo showed great interest and said he'd definitely visit when given the chance.
If Terastal energy exists far away from Paldea, creating Terastal phenomena in Pokémon, maybe the pool in Kitakami is also linked to somewhere deep underground, where theoretical "extinct" Terapagos might slumber!
Thankfully, aside from the sudden Glimmora, no wild Pokémon blocked their way. After half an hour's walk, they reached the location of the Treasure of Area Zero.
Inside the cavern was a passageway, entirely crystallized, leading who knows where. Almost on instinct, Lucas took out the Terastal Orb from his pocket—which he kept along with the Terapagos crystal.
Even though the Orb was already fully charged, and usually looked completely ordinary except when used, it now trembled softly, radiating an unmistakable glow from within.
Swampert, having exited Mega Evolution form, curiously came over to examine the glowing Terastal Orb closely.
It was the first time Swampert had seen the orb glowing up close; usually, the glow would only be seen from atop its own head.
Swampert thought, "Dragonite and Gimmighoul would both love shiny things like this."
Holding the orb, Lucas looked at Professor Turo.
As one of the inventors of the Terastal Orb, Turo immediately understood the orb's odd behavior.
Without much hesitation, he explained with certainty: "The closer we get to the 'Treasure of Area Zero'—Terapagos—the higher the concentration of Terastal energy around us becomes."
"Right now, the Terastal energy is so dense it could recharge the Terastal Orb endlessly, letting a Pokémon Terastallize without restriction. There's no risk of it running out of energy."
"Because the 'Treasure of Area Zero' is such an extraordinary existence."
Lucas nodded in agreement.
Even though in his original world he'd only finished the main story of Scarlet & Violet and never experienced the DLC, he knew Terastallization spanned the entire Paldea region; you could find it in every corner.
Before this, the only Pokémon with this kind of all-encompassing, region-wide power was the "Interstellar Being" from space—Eternatus, the body of the Night.
Lucas couldn't really compare Terapagos and Eternatus; after all, Terapagos had apparently gone extinct 2 million years ago due to tectonic changes.
But aside from the one transferred by the prototype time machine (the one in his own pocket now), maybe it was precisely because the Area Zero "Treasure" Terapagos was so powerful that it managed to survive until modern times.
Pondering this, Lucas felt his own breathing grow heavier. Led by Turo, they walked down a sparkling, smooth crystal corridor into an even vaster chamber.
Here, crystals were not simply coating the rocks—they branched and intertwined everywhere, creating a surreal landscape.
It felt as if he'd stepped onto another planet.
Lucas felt a bit out of place.
If he hadn't crossed over into this world, he'd probably just be watching all this later on a screen after the DLC got released.
And in the center of the crystalline pillars, atop a not-so-tall crystal block, lay a hexagonal gemstone crystal.
Turo had been here countless times. He approached directly, resting a hand on the crystal and whispering, "This is the 'Treasure of Area Zero'—the sleeping Terapagos. The crystal in your hand and this one are likely of the same kin."
Accompanied by Swampert, Lucas took out the crystal from his pocket.
Although Professor Sada had promised to help set the stone in a pendant for convenience, for now the crystal kept its original appearance.
Getting closer, Lucas's gaze flickered back and forth between his palm and the crystal block.
He noticed many differences.
The crystal in his hand was smaller and thinner, and the color was obviously different: it was a gradient of blue-green and pale yellow, with a six-pointed star motif at the center.
Turo's crystal was larger, thicker, and simpler in color.
Sada had mentioned that the two Terapagos likely differed greatly in strength, and possibly even in gender—as, despite being classified as a legendary Pokémon, 2 million years ago Terapagos existed as a species.
"So much energy here, and it's still asleep?"
Staring at the crystal, Lucas murmured.
Turo heard clearly. After thinking for a bit, he took out his ever-present Violet Book, turning to a page he'd memorized since student days.
He'd never actually seen Terapagos in person; after checking together with Sada, the two agreed that this sleeping Terapagos would need more time before awakening.
The reason was—
"Look at this," Turo said, showing Lucas the open page.
As Lucas looked at the illustration, memories surfaced. He remembered seeing this in the library at Naranja/Uva Academy in the Scarlet/Violet games, flipping through the Scarlet/Violet Book as the player character.
"…Is this Terapagos?" Lucas asked tentatively.
"That should be it."
Turo leaned against a crystal pillar, looking up at the crystallized cave roof, as he shared with Lucas the findings he and Sada had made as a couple.
"Terapagos will need quite a while to wake up—maybe months, maybe years. We might not even live to see it."
"That begs the question: how did the Scarlet/Violet Book's author, Heath, know of Terapagos' appearance well enough to document it?"
"The answer: when he joined the Area Zero survey team 200 years ago, he personally witnessed it."
"In the Paldea region, 200 years ago—before anyone knew about Terastallization."
Turo's tale immediately captured Lucas's attention.
So, 200 years ago, Terastallization hadn't even appeared in Paldea?
Turo said that he and Sada had pondered it repeatedly, hoping for creative sparks.
In the end, they concluded that 200 years ago, Heath accidentally entered Area Zero, encountered a crystallized Terapagos, and managed to awaken it.
What happened between them is lost to time.
But one thing's certain: after awakening, Terapagos scattered Terastal energy across the whole region, then went back into slumber.
Thus, Terastallization began appearing all over Paldea, and with Heath's Scarlet/Violet Book, it inspired Sada and Turo back when they were still students.
It brought them together and even led to the foundation of the Zero Research Lab.
Turo was fully candid, and Lucas felt he'd learned a great deal—more than the games had ever revealed.
Next, Turo chatted about his and Sada's dreams.
"To create a paradise where all Pokémon can live together peacefully, with no violence, coexistence and cooperation…"
The "Treasure of Area Zero" was key to achieving this dream. They'd never let just anyone take its kin's crystal away.
But Lucas was different.
They believed entrusting the Terapagos that had traveled 2 million years to Lucas was the best choice.
After chatting a while longer, the two returned to the Zero Lab.
The return trip was uneventful.
By the time they got back, Koraidon and Miraidon had also woken up.
When Koraidon spotted Lucas, its eyes lit up. It wagged its powerful tail like a puppy and tried to beg a sandwich from him.
Miraidon, cool as ever, subtly hinted it wanted to be fed too.
It was obvious the two had grown to love sandwiches, and clearly enjoyed their flavors.
Lucas stayed at the Zero Lab for two more days.
After all, it was a rare reunion for Arven with his parents—leaving immediately would be a bit heartless. There was no pressing business calling Lucas, since this trip doubled as paid leave in the name of a mission from Geeta.
Before leaving, Lucas wrote down all three sandwich recipes on slips of paper to leave behind.
Even though he had a great relationship with Koraidon and Miraidon, they'd always remain under the professors' care, and could even serve as guards for time machine activation later.
Apart from the two particularly aggressive Paradox Pokémon from the original story, the rest could protect Sada and Turo just fine.
Lucas guessed that once Professors Sada and Turo completed the time machine and transferred out Subject No.2, Arven would already be fifteen or sixteen years old—which would take another three or four years.
And soon after the transfer of No.2, the two professors would meet their fate.
Before then, Lucas, as Arven's teacher, still had plenty of time to help train him to become strong enough to protect his parents.
…
November 4. Morning.
After some teary parting with the pitiful-looking Koraidon and an unusually clingy Miraidon, Lucas and Arven departed at noon, taking about a day and a half to leave the Great Crater and return to Medali.
As they walked the bustling streets of Medali, Arven suddenly felt as if a lifetime had passed.
After spending less than a week in Area Zero, it took a moment to adjust to the relative safety and normalcy of society.
Arven muttered, "I wonder if they'll be able to follow your sandwich recipes correctly, Brother Lucas."
These past two days, besides family bonding and playing with Koraidon and Miraidon, most of Arven's time was spent coaching the other researchers on how to make a decent sandwich.
"…Should be, probably, maybe it'll be fine?"
Lucas stopped mid-bite, blinking with clear uncertainty in his voice.
He'd dumped the teaching chore on Arven, spending his days playing with Koraidon and Miraidon upstairs, like a rich layabout showing off his pets.
Meanwhile, those wild and unruly Paradox Pokémon had to put up with his mischief and lived in constant unrest.
With a grudge, Lucas even rode Koraidon and Miraidon out to find the Roaring Moon that had ambushed Dragonite a few days ago, letting it taste what a real beatdown is.
Arven glanced at Lucas, sighing.
Sometimes, he felt Lucas was even more childish than himself. Who was the real kid here?
But… the reliable side was pretty cool, too.
After this adventure, the two became even closer. Arven now thought of Lucas like a real older brother.
Now, Lucas needed a necklace chain for his pendant.
Arven scanned the goods on nearby street stalls and eventually chose a simple, silver chain as a gift, paying from his own pocket.
Since it was a student's heartfelt gift, Lucas accepted happily, attaching it to the pendant Sada would set, then hanging it around his neck.
The crystal pendant swayed gently as Lucas walked.
No one would ever guess that the beautiful, six-sided crystal—apart from its looks—was actually the form of a Pokémon that went extinct two million years ago.
…
…
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