Chapter 662: Life is but a Tree in Bloom
Upon their departure...
They didn't execute the extraction of a single insectoid carcass. The biological matter was entirely abandoned within the Rocky Mountains, officially delegating the logistical distribution of the resources to the Tyrantrum patriarch.
Kazuya and his vanguard only transported the remains of their fallen Dragon Clan operatives.
Following the extraction, they charted a direct vector toward the grassland heartland.
Regigigas trailed behind the massive vanguard, processing a highly unique, unfamiliar psychological sensation.
This was the absolute first chronological instance it had ever mobilized in tandem with such a massive demographic of microscopic biological entities.
Historically, this operational dynamic had never materialized.
The primary variable was... the vast majority of biological entities were terrified of its sheer magnitude, completely refusing to permit its proximity.
Occasionally, it would override its own passivity and attempt to initiate friendly contact... only to trigger frantic, aggressive defensive measures from the other organisms.
One or two localized incidents were mathematically tolerable.
It would initiate internal diagnostics, calculate if its approach vector had been flawed, and attempt to recalibrate its behavior for the next encounter.
But as the frequency of these incidents compounded... the data became indisputable.
It was mathematically incapable of forging social bonds with other biological entities.
Consequently.
It voluntarily initiated a permanent hibernation cycle.
However, upon being violently awakened by the seismic tremors this time... the parameters appeared fundamentally altered.
It lacked the data to verify the shift.
But it desired to observe the outcome.
Regigigas didn't possess a specific navigational coordinate, nor did it particularly care regarding their destination.
The geopolitical landscape of this continent was entirely redundant data.
It had long since exhausted any visual interest in the topography, countless epochs ago.
Relocating to any specific coordinate yielded the identical outcome.
The only anomaly was...
Currently, it possessed companions mobilizing alongside it.
It could likely classify them as companions.
The vanguard finally arrived at the boundless expanse of the grassland.
Processing the visual data of the flat, intensely peaceful terrain, Regigigas detected a massive, positive spike in its internal emotional algorithms.
Perhaps this spike was directly correlated to the massive volume of biological entities currently flanking it?
It silently trailed the collective into a sprawling, vibrant flower field.
It observed the dragons systematically excavating several trenches into the earth.
Regigigas lacked the cultural data to comprehend their actions, but it nonetheless stepped forward, utilizing its massive frame to assist in the excavation process.
It quietly observed as the dragons gently, meticulously deposited the lifeless biological matter into the trenches... and watched as they utilized dark, mournful flowers to weave a delicate blanket over the remains...
The earth was heavily compacted back over the trenches.
Regigigas fundamentally failed to synthesize the logical utility of this procedure.
Until...
A chorus of low, resonant, mournful draconic roars began to echo around it.
It finally synthesized the data.
This was a formal protocol of farewell.
Whenever a companion biologically expired, the collective utilized the ancient roars of their species to guide their souls back to the ancestral earth.
This was a cultural algorithm the Dragon Clan had mathematically never allowed to degrade.
The surviving dragons utilized this specific frequency to transmit data to their fallen comrades:
We secured the victory...
The collective's biological integrity is stable...
You are authorized to execute permanent shutdown in peace.
"Flor..."
Florges leaned heavily against Kazuya's side, weeping silently once again.
Whenever this specific protocol was executed, she invariably wept.
And whenever this specific protocol was executed, she invariably issued the identical query:
Are you going to leave me too?
Kazuya didn't formulate a vocal response.
Regarding a query of this magnitude...
It was mathematically impossible to generate an absolute, definitive output.
And regarding the authentic truth of the matter...
Florges already possessed the data.
The translation was remarkably simple: As long as our biological engines continue to function, we absolutely will not leave you.
The absolute prerequisite being... our biological engines continue to function.
"Life is but a tree in bloom..." Kazuya murmured softly, his golden pupils reflecting the tranquil, peaceful expanse of the flower sea before them.
"Sometimes quiet."
[ "Alan..." — "Hmm?" — "Goodnight." — "Goodnight." ]
[ "Piplup~ Ensure you return to the base coordinate prior to dinner~" — "...Data received." — "Have a safe transit~" — "I am initiating deployment." ]
[ "Kazuya." — "Cynthia." — "Take me with you." — "Affirmative." ]
"Sometimes vibrant."
[ "Lord Kazuya... Have I mathematically achieved the parameters required to be classified as a qualified Aura Guardian?" — "I am not executing a permanent shutdown. I am merely initiating a return transit to Lord Aaron's coordinate." ]
[ "This specific coordinate is everyone's sanctuary! Evacuate immediately—!!" ]
[ "The Aura... is eternally anchored within my core!!!" ]
As the fragments of localized optical data flashed rapidly across his cognitive processors...
Kazuya couldn't suppress the urge to gently close his eyes.
"Flor?"
Florges turned her head, projecting a wave of intense anxiety toward Kazuya.
"Have you ever executed an internal calculation regarding the specific parameters of your own biological expiration?" Kazuya grinned sharply, looking down at her.
"Flor." Florges shook her head.
"Historically, I have processed that exact calculation. But I no longer allocate cognitive bandwidth to it. After all... until the absolute microsecond that permanent shutdown physically arrives... the vast majority of biological entities lack the authorization to choose their exit vector. And even those who possess that authorization... only realize what their choice is at the exact moment it must be made."
Kazuya raised a massive claw, gently patting Florges's head.
He executed an about-face and initiated a slow walk.
Charting a direct vector toward Regigigas's coordinates.
Leaving Florges standing alone, completely absorbed in bewildered contemplation.
In reality, prolonged contemplation wouldn't yield a concrete synthesis.
Exactly as Kazuya articulated: until biological expiration was imminent, nobody possessed the data regarding their ultimate choice.
Because a choice preemptively calculated... possessed zero guarantee of actually manifesting when the timeline arrived.
Therefore.
Kazuya fundamentally refused to squander additional chronological bandwidth on the query.
He turned his heavy skull to lock eyes with Regigigas, who was currently projecting an aura of profound bewilderment mixed with deep, localized sorrow.
Regigigas was experiencing sorrow...
Exclusively because its internal emotional algorithms had been passively infected by the collective grief radiating from the Dragon Clan.
Its cognitive architecture was incredibly pure, rendering it highly susceptible to external emotional contamination.
Throughout the duration of their return transit...
Kazuya had successfully synthesized a highly accurate psychological profile of Regigigas.
This entity was practically a flawless carbon copy of Regice!
Negative.
To execute a more precise classification...
It was the foundational prototype that Regice was modeled upon.
That was correct.
Kazuya was specifically referencing the Regice he had encountered within the Alabaster Icelands during his Third life.
During that specific timeline, Regice had utilized the glacial protrusions on its chassis to forge an Eternal Ice Plate.
It had utilized that construct to cryogenically preserve the shattered botanical specimen Sora had left behind.
That specific Eternal Ice Plate...
Should mathematically currently be in the possession of Meowscarada.
He distinctly recalled the parameters governing Regice during that era: because it mathematically lacked the capability to regulate its internal thermal output, it instantaneously flash-froze any biological entity it physically contacted.
Consequently.
From the absolute microsecond of its activation...
It had never successfully secured a single social bond.
To endure the agonizingly slow passage of chronological time, it had no alternative but to execute endless, continuous hibernation cycles.
Even upon awakening...
Its cognitive architecture remained intensely pure and deeply bewildered.
Similarly.
It harbored a profound, desperate desire to populate its psychological databanks; it deeply yearned to forge social bonds with other biological entities.
Regigigas was currently operating under virtually identical parameters.
However.
The absolute primary bottleneck currently stalling progress was their severe linguistic incompatibility.
Facing Regigigas...
It triggered a specific memory file from Kazuya's past—the chronological window prior to his acquisition of human linguistics.
During that era, interacting with unfamiliar humans was exceptionally frustrating. However, since the vast majority of operational scenarios didn't require him to initiate communication with random humans, the lack of an interface was largely redundant.
"I will initiate a tutorial protocol on Psychic capabilities. Once you successfully master basic Psychic output, you will inherently possess the capability to execute telepathic communication."
Kazuya led Regigigas to a secluded coordinate and instructed it to sit down.
He completely lacked the data on how to instruct another entity in Pokémon linguistics.
Within his own audio receivers, the concept of a "Universal Pokémon Dialect" didn't mathematically exist. He simply inexplicably comprehended the semantic output of other Pokémon, regardless of how radically their vocalizations differed.
Therefore, he lacked a standardized curriculum to teach it.
His only viable vector was Psychic instruction.
During his current reincarnation, Kazuya hadn't allocated a massive volume of chronological time to Psychic cultivation.
He essentially only executed the training protocols during periods of extreme logistical downtime, when the thought randomly crossed his processors.
After all, Psychic capabilities weren't a critical strategic asset for him.
Their priority classification had consistently been sequenced below the re-cultivation of his Aura manipulation and the logistical preparation required for Primal Reversion.
Furthermore.
The operational burdens he shouldered during this lifetime were exceptionally heavy.
His task queue was constantly overflowing.
Consequently, he had barely invested any genuine effort into Psychic mastery.
Even up to this exact chronological moment...
Kazuya's Psychic output was strictly limited to three highly rudimentary operational mechanics:
Telepathic Communication.
Basic Telekinesis.
Hypnosis.
Functionally, none of these generated a massive tactical advantage.
Hypnosis sounded highly formidable on paper.
But Kazuya's foundational Psychic cultivation was severely lacking.
Therefore, the authentic tactical utility of the maneuver during active combat was actually vastly inferior to the localized concussive effect generated by his Aura Sphere.
However, for the immediate objective...
This baseline level of Psychic capability was more than sufficient.
He merely needed to instruct Regigigas on how to actively synthesize telekinetic energy, and subsequently utilize that energy to broadcast its internal cognitive output.
This absolutely wasn't a highly complex operational hurdle.
Even an ordinary human possessing entirely average baseline potential could master the technique given sufficient chronological investment.
Furthermore.
Analyzing Regigigas's biological move pool...
Its specific species inherently possessed a highly optimized baseline affinity for Psychic capabilities.
If it could naturally acquire a highly complex maneuver like Zen Headbutt purely through level progression... then acquiring the mechanics for basic telepathic communication was mathematically guaranteed to be a non-issue.
"Regi."
Presented with Kazuya's proactive instruction, Regigigas projected a massive spike of intense anticipation.
It deeply desired to communicate with other Pokémon.
It would allocate absolute maximum focus to the tutorial.
"You should possess the biological capability to detect the latent Psychic energy localized within your core, correct? Execute the sequence exactly as I articulate..."
Kazuya nodded firmly.
He meticulously broke down the specific mechanics required to manipulate telekinetic energy for audio transmission, phrasing the instructions using the most simplified, highly visual analogies possible.
His objective was to drastically streamline the cognitive load required for Regigigas to execute the maneuver.
However.
Regigigas's cognitive architecture appeared severely deficient in abstract visualization capabilities. Its processing speed was exceptionally sluggish. Consequently, an entire chronological day passed without yielding any measurable progress.
This induced a wave of profound exasperation within Kazuya.
He began to calculate whether its excessively prolonged hibernation cycle had actively degraded its core cognitive processing functions.
Because analyzing the entity's historical performance documented within the franchise...
Regigigas absolutely couldn't be classified as a low-intelligence operative.
"I am going to assign you a formal designation. You will be designated: Tie Zhu (Iron Pillar)." Kazuya stated casually.
Given the current parameters...
He had entirely abandoned the urgency of the Psychic tutorial.
Evaluating the geopolitical trajectory, there was a remarkably high probability the Colossal Pokémon would seamlessly integrate as a permanent operative of the Dragon Clan. Therefore, rushing the timeline was entirely redundant.
Perhaps, after prolonged, sustained exposure to the Dragon Clan's social network...
Regigigas would organically absorb and master the Universal Pokémon Dialect on its own.
Although... Kazuya still maintained the calculation that instructing Regigigas in telepathic communication represented the most efficient chronological vector.
"Regi."
Regigigas rapturously accepted the newly assigned designation.
It lacked the data to synthesize the linguistic meaning behind the identifier.
It only possessed the data that it now owned a distinct designation. And the entity who assigned it—Kazuya—must have mathematically verified it as an ally.
"We will operate under this protocol for the immediate future. We are currently initiating a localized recuperation phase. Following that, we are scheduled to deploy to the tropical rainforest to execute an offensive against the Noivern clan. Do you intend to integrate into the vanguard?" Kazuya turned his skull to query Regigigas.
If Regigigas consented to deployment...
Kazuya calculated that within a single chronological year...
The Dragon Clan would achieve absolute, total jurisdictional control over the entire tropical rainforest.
"Regi."
Regigigas executed a horizontal shake of its chassis.
Regarding this specific query, its behavioral output was exceptionally rigid.
"Query?" Kazuya tilted his heavy skull in confusion.
For an entity possessing Regigigas's baseline... this operation would be astronomically simple.
It mathematically wouldn't even be required to execute specific combat techniques.
Relying entirely on its apocalyptic base stats, merely swinging a massive fist or executing a casual stomp would effortlessly neutralize countless hostile Pokémon.
"Regi."
Combat generates negative output.
Regigigas replied.
Historically, it had been subjected to unprovoked assaults by other Pokémon.
Although the kinetic friction was mathematically negligible, the internal psychological feedback generated immense discomfort. This friction had historically forced Regigigas into prolonged periods of isolated, depressed cognitive stalling.
Precisely because it had personally processed that "negative output"...
It absolutely refused to inflict that identical sensation upon other biological entities.
Kazuya obviously lacked the data to synthesize this historical context.
Regardless, since Regigigas actively refused to initiate combat protocols, Kazuya absolutely wouldn't force compliance.
Factoring in the Dragon Clan's current aggregate combat strength...
The presence or absence of Regigigas's kinetic output on the battlefield...
Would yield the identical tactical outcome.
The only fluctuating variable was the chronological velocity of the operation.
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