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Dragonspiral Tower—the oldest tower in Unova. Who built it, and when? No one knows anymore. And now, there is only one person investigating this tower.

After leaving Tubeline Bridge and blazing through Route 8, Hikaru reached the vicinity of the Moor of Icirrus. Many Pokémon Rangers patrol here—and Hikaru is one of them. Answering the call of nature's power, returning to the forest felt like returning home: free, unbound.

A wildfire once raged here, injuring countless Pokémon, Keldeo included. Many Rangers remain stationed to prevent such a fire from happening again.

Riding the D-Wheel to the wetlands near Icirrus, Hikaru stored the bike into the Link-In World. With one sweep of the C-device, even huge machines could be whisked away—it really felt like "opening the gate to the Digital World."

"Torterra!"

The big turtle bounded out. When it comes to forests, Torterra is in his element. Hikaru took a seat on his shell, settling beneath the sacred little Link-In sapling so he wouldn't crush the precious plants.

Torterra trilled happily.

Most of Icirrus City's buildings stand on high ground—the lowlands are damp and dotted with ponds frequented by wild Pokémon. Windmills spin to the south of town, a pastoral picture come to life.

Speaking of Icirrus: its Gym Leader, Brycen (known as "the Man of Ice Behind the Mask"), is famed for his martial skill. He's not a Fighting specialist, though—he's a master of Ice.

Once an action star in Pokéstar Studios, he resigned after an injury. Guided by Alder, he returned to Icirrus to serve as Gym Leader and hone himself.

(In Black 2/White 2, he ultimately goes back to acting.)

Torterra ran fast; the forest opened a path for him. When a cliff shelf blocked the way, he took another route—his claws suddenly extended, biting deep into the rock face.

"Oh—that's Rock Climb!"

It's Torterra's infamous "fodder" move—Ash's Torterra being the mascot of its woes, the "self-sabotage special." Ever since Ash's Grotle evolved and learned Rock Climb, its win rate practically flatlined.

"This move's really not great in battle."

"Torterr…" Torterra took that to heart.

So this rock-climbing trick isn't for fighting—got it, remembered! First time I've used it, too!

If the Trainer says it's bad, then it's bad. Besides, aside from climbing walls, it doesn't have much going for it. If I wanted to slam an enemy, why wouldn't I just use a proper tackling move like Take Down?

They crested the high ledge. In the distant forest, a towering, ancient spire flickered into view—and Torterra broke into a sprint!

"Hold up! You're headed for that old tower too?"

The sudden voice from the woods made Torterra slow. Hikaru turned; in its direction wobbled an elderly man holding a Pokédex and wearing a massive backpack, apparently surveying the forest.

Ah—that face!

"Professor Cedric Juniper?"

"Oh! You know me?"

The man who "popped up" in the woods was indeed Professor Juniper's father, Professor Cedric Juniper—often called "Old Juniper."

"Of course. I know your daughter, Professor Juniper; she gave me this." Hikaru produced the Pokédex—nothing more convincing than that!

"Hello, I'm Hikaru, a tool-crafter—and I'm on my way to Dragonspiral Tower."

Professor Cedric beamed. "I see! Wonderful—never thought I'd run into someone I know in such a remote forest!"

"Oho, a Pokédex! So she entrusted you to gather Pokémon data as well!"

He looked delighted. Only then did Hikaru notice the snack in his hand—Old Gateau.

This professor carries Old Gateau wherever he goes!

"I, too, came for Dragonspiral Tower!"

"This is the first time I've tracked down evidence of it. I found coordinates in old texts, then pinpointed the tower just north of Icirrus. Before my literature review, almost no one even remembered it."

"After all, to most it's just a relic."

Hikaru shot him a curious look.

"You're starting the Dragonspiral investigation already?"

Strictly speaking, shouldn't this be a year later, when the "heroes" set out?

"Ah—you don't seem familiar with my field," Cedric chuckled. "My daughter studies Pokémon origins. I study Pokémon distribution and ecology."

Hikaru recalled, "Hmm… Professor Birch in Hoenn works on that too, doesn't he?"

Cedric froze, coughed. "There are differences! Strictly speaking, his topic is habitats and distribution."

Hikaru: "…Isn't that the same?"

Cedric: "Therefore! To avoid overlapping with a brilliant junior…"

"It's impossible!"

Hikaru: "…"

That was Professor Cedric's trademark—dramatic gasps.

He waved a hand.

"Forget it. I started on this topic first anyway."

"Young man, understand: each region's ecological patterns differ. Topic overlap is normal."

"Besides, I don't only study ecology and distribution—I research legends and archaeology as well!"

"Hm? Your Torterra—this Pokémon really is Torterra, yes?"

He finally noticed that Hikaru's Torterra looked unusual; after a closer look he grew excited.

But first, the tower.

"Pardon me—could you give me a lift?"

"Of course—please hop on."

Professor Cedric settled beneath the little tree on Torterra's back. Spotting a pile of Revival Herbs and several plants he didn't recognize at his feet, even his squinty eyes popped wider.

"Revival Herb? I've never seen someone planting flora on a Torterra's back—no, I should say, never this many!"

"You're a crafter—an artisan. Not common in Unova."

"Ahem—back to the point. Why Dragonspiral Tower? Because of my research: to trace Unova's history and wellspring. Pokémon legends are tightly bound to that history—and Dragonspiral is a forgotten, yet pivotal, site."

"They say it's tied to Unova's founding myth—the birthplace and resting place of the legendary dragon."

A clear lake. A broken ancient bridge. Shadowed woods. Dense, dark grass.

Just like in dreams—Dragonspiral Tower stood before them.

Dratini lurked in the lake's waters.

On a broken pier in the lake, a man sat cross-legged in meditation. On the pier beside him sat a Beartic, seemingly "meditating" as well.

Beartic stand tall with white fur, living in polar cold. Fierce carnivores, they can freeze their breath into pathways across the sea, or forge ice fangs and claws for battle—their ice fangs are harder than steel.

"That's Brycen! No wonder he wasn't at the Icirrus Gym—so he came out here to train!"

Professor Cedric recognized the man by the lake at once. After that quip, he looked to the tower, face turning grave.

Hikaru also noticed: there was no visible entrance.

In the storyline, Team Plasma blasts a hole to get in.

As Hikaru and Cedric arrived, Brycen suddenly opened his eyes and fixed on Hikaru. He leaped from the broken column in a light-skill flourish, landing before them. His Beartic went one better, freezing a path across the lake and thumping over with booming steps.

Hikaru had to bite back a joke. Was this Beartic secretly Aokiji?

"Oh, Brycen—hello! I'm here to investigate Dragonspiral Tower!"

"And you…" Brycen tilted his head. "I know you're a Pokédex holder, but why have you come to the tower?"

"For a trial," Hikaru answered plainly. With both of them here, any challenge would be seen anyway.

And there was no reason to hide it.

"A trial… You intend to enter?"

Brycen's eyes sharpened. He sensed a distinct aura emanating from Hikaru.

No doubt—this man was a martial artist!

"Forgive the bluntness—are you a martial artist, sir?"

"More or less," Hikaru said after a thought.

He did possess a martial "profession" now, and the arts to go with it.

He'd never fought a true master hand-to-hand, so perhaps the "martial artist" title was a little watery.

But even if his technique lagged, his raw power didn't—sometimes brute force wins. A flurry of wild punches can drop even a veteran master. Call him a second-rate expert, at least?

"Just as I thought. Even restrained, that martial aura of yours shakes the heart."

"I am a martial artist as well. Pleased to meet you. I'm Brycen, Gym Leader of Icirrus. For various reasons, I've been training here at Dragonspiral—also keeping watch over the tower."

Hikaru blinked. "Keeping watch?"

"Yes." Brycen nodded, glancing around the woods. "Since yesterday, the Pokémon here have been terrified."

"There were violent tremors around the tower. I came to find out why—then, in that thick atmosphere of fear, I sensed a shift in my mindset, so I took the chance to train."

"This tower seems to be waiting. A force is brewing within—and above it, higher than the tower itself."

Brycen pointed skyward, then faced them again, solemn.

"So, forgive the bluntness—entering the tower right now is very dangerous. Moreover, we still don't know the entrance."

"To get in, you'd have to glide through a high window with a Flying-type."

"Professor Juniper, if you didn't bring defensive Pokémon, I advise you not to enter. And you as well… Even as a powerful martial artist, this tower holds hidden forces linked to its legend."

Hikaru smiled. "It's fine—I'm here because of that legend."

"The founding dragon?" Professor Cedric stroked his beard. "You're investigating it too?"

"No. I'm here to awaken one of them—and battle the other that lies in a far-off cosmos."

"???"

Neither of them could make sense of that. Cedric stared, stupefied; Brycen glanced from tower to Hikaru and back, muttering inwardly.

Another fool bewitched by the founding myth, thinking the dragon will answer just because he showed up?

"Sorry. If that's the case, I can't let you pass."

"This tower is an ancient relic—there can be no damage or desecration. It sounds like you're chasing something nebulous, and conditions right now aren't normal."

Brycen shook his head. Hikaru could only give a wry smile.

Telling the truth and not being believed—well, that tracks.

If he were the Gym Leader and some random walked up claiming he'd awaken Reshiram, he'd assume the guy had been hitting the fake liquor too.

"If you don't believe me," Hikaru said, "then let's battle. I was planning to take your Badge anyway."

"You're the last one."

Brycen froze.

"What?" He could hardly believe his ears.

Only one Badge left? His?

Hold on—Unova's official circuit has eight Gyms. If Icirrus is the last, then…

Then he saw it: the Legend Badge.

"Did you defeat Drayden?!"

Brycen was stunned. The strongest dragon master, gatekeeper before the Unova League itself—even he lost?

Aside from that one Psychic lady, how long has it been since anyone beat Drayden?

Is this man going to clear Victory Road and challenge the League straightaway?

"Show your strength and talk gets easier—classic Unova," Hikaru chuckled.

Brycen meant no harm, but the quip was irresistible.

"…I understand. You're clearly very strong. The eighth Badge, is it? Good."

Brycen straightened, spirit ignited. "I accept! Here and now—complete your final piece! Defeat me, and I'll let you into Dragonspiral Tower. If you have all eight Badges, your strength won't be in doubt!"

Could it be this man really has ties to the legendary dragon?

Brycen couldn't help thinking it. Badges are the most convincing proof there is.

"One more thing," Hikaru asked. "Brycen-san, will you be competing in the Iron Fist Tournament at year's end?"

"Iron… Fist Tournament?" Brycen blinked. "You as well?"

"Lianwu-sensei invited me," Hikaru said.

"!!!"

"Hah! You—!" Brycen broke into a grin. "So you're that caliber of martial artist."

"Ice is at a type disadvantage versus Fighting—but that's exactly why I've been honing myself to overcome it!"

"You're still young—that means you have years to deepen your art. Very well—I've decided. If you defeat me, and you truly have a bond with the legendary dragon…"

"I will teach you my secret art—a martial climax passed down from my homeland!"

(End of Chapter)

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