Chapter 174: The Genesis Core's Turmoil, An Anomalous World?

Kairos stood in place, taking a moment to steady himself.

The mild dizziness from crossing over quickly faded. He first checked his status—the system interface opened normally, the items in his backpack were all intact, and the Poké Ball containing his Chandelure was securely fastened to the portable belt at his waist.

This put his mind somewhat at ease.

"Let's first see what kind of place this is..."

Kairos muttered to himself, beginning to walk forward along this somewhat quiet street, constantly surveying his surroundings, trying to understand the basic information about this world.

The architectural style here was peculiar. Everywhere were massive glass walls, retro yet with a futuristic feel. The air was filled with a faint scent like a mixture of ozone and oil, not particularly pleasant.

What surprised him most were the pedestrians on the street and their Pokémon. A young person in fashionable, tight-fitting clothing was accompanied by a Metang with exceptionally smooth lines. Its metallic shell gleamed with silver light, and blue energy patterns flashed at its joints.

A Voltorb rolled past a woman's feet, its red and white pattern no longer ordinary paint but glowing like LED light strips, constantly changing patterns as it rolled.

This tech aesthetic is intense.

Kairos couldn't help but marvel.

No matter how you look at it, this seems like the Pokémon world many years in the future, right? Or is it, some strange world where the tech tree got bent in a weird direction?

He noticed many details showcasing this world's technology and Pokémon situation. Cleaning the streets were groups of Forretress that looked like small tanks, efficiently sucking up trash. Inside the lampshade of the streetlights lived glowing Tadbulb, their own soft light enough to illuminate the streets.

So, are all the Pokémon in this world like this? All connected with technology somehow?

Kairos walked up to a transparent machine that looked like a public information kiosk and touched the screen.

The screen immediately lit up, displaying a fairly simple interface with options for [City Map], [Real-time News], [Public Services], and a particularly prominent icon, a simple-style drawing of a Poké Ball with "Pokémon League Public Network" written underneath.

He hesitated, then clicked [Real-time News]. Several news headlines quickly scrolled past:

[Kanto Region's Vermilion City Port Completes Full Automation Upgrade, Sea-god Class Cargo Fleet Officially Operational]

[Hoenn League Announces Deepening Cooperation with Devon Corporation, Joint Research on New Pokéblock Types]

[Sinnoh Region's Mt. Coronet Signal Station Disrupted by Unknown Signals, League Officials Still Investigating]

[Unova's Castelia City Tech Expo Starts Next Week, Be Alert for Remnant Team Plasma Criminal Activities]

"Team Plasma remnants?"

Kairos's gaze stopped on this message. It seemed that in this world, Team Plasma was indeed a real organization, just that it had already been cleared out once, though some were still active.

He clicked on the "Pokémon League Public Network" icon. The interface displayed a prompt requesting identity verification.

Kairos naturally didn't have identification for this place, so he tried communicating with the system in his mind.

"System, can you set up a temporary identity for me?"

This kind of thing shouldn't be too difficult for the system.

Sure enough - [Ding! Host request received. Using the "Dimensional Communicator's" advanced privileges to simulate a low-level anonymous visitor identity generated.

Host can now browse basic public information on this network.]

The system acted quickly. The screen interface immediately switched, entering the League network's public area.

Here he could see basic introductions to Gyms in various regions, announcements for League tournaments, and Pokémon encyclopedia-type content.

Kairos scanned through quickly, trying to figure out what was going on in this world.

Just then, a small holographic ad screen next to the information kiosk caught his attention. The screen was looping a product ad showing a Trainer using something like a wristband to scan their Porygon2.

A data stream flashed, and the Porygon2 immediately used the move "Dazzling Gleam," which it originally didn't know.

The ad copy was particularly flashy: "Devon Corporation's Latest Black Tech—'Skill Sync Device' Trial Version! Break through the wall of learning moves, experience the thrill of instant power! Limited trial, first come first served!"

Skill Sync Device?

Kairos was stunned.

Isn't this just like a TM from the games?

Has technology in this world already reached this level??

At the end of the ad, a line of small text appeared at the bottom of the screen: "The core principle of this technology is thanks to utilizing a side effect of the 'Genesis Engine' project. 'Genesis Engine' Phase 2 public testing, stay tuned!"

"Genesis Engine?" This new term stirred something in his heart, giving rise to an indescribable feeling.

In his impression, anything that could be associated with "Genesis" was either Arceus or legendary Pokémon like Dialga and Palkia that controlled time and space.

Correspondingly, something with those two words in its name was probably no ordinary thing, possibly even the core of this world.

He immediately typed "Genesis Engine" into the information kiosk's search box.

Not many results came up, mostly brief official announcements worded carefully and cautiously.

To put it simply, this seemed to be a super-large-scale environmental regulation project led by the League and several top tech companies together, supposedly to deal with extreme weather and bring better living conditions for Pokémon and humans.

And today's public test location was right in this city's central Eternity Park.

Regulate environment—change weather—even alter terrain?

The more Kairos thought about it, the more wrong it felt. This kind of thing seemed more like power only legendary Pokémon possessed.

An irrepressible curiosity pushed him to make a decision.

Anyway, he didn't really understand this world yet, so might as well go check it out.

He immediately followed the map from the information kiosk toward the municipal Eternity Park. The closer he got to the park, the more people there seemed to be. Many citizens and Trainers were all heading in the same direction, their faces showing anticipation and curiosity.

In the air, there was a subtle energy fluctuation. The more sensitive a person's senses, the more they could detect it. Kairos's perception of this special energy had long been much stronger than ordinary people.

At this moment, a large lawn in the center of this so-called "Eternity Park" had already been blocked off by temporary barriers.

In the middle, a tech-aesthetic platform had been set up, covered with various precision instruments and a specially designed cylindrical device with a huge blue crystal embedded in its center.

That was probably the test platform for the "Genesis Engine."

Several hundred spectators crowded around, and quite a few media reporters were carrying cameras and filming. The crowd was noisy and chaotic.

Kairos squeezed into the outer ring of the crowd, finding a position where he could still see clearly.

He saw several researchers in white lab coats bustling about on the platform. Among them, a competent-looking, bespectacled brown-haired woman who seemed to be the spokesperson was holding a microphone and explaining the situation to everyone.

"Dear citizens, thank you all for coming to watch the 'Genesis Engine' Phase 2 test. This project aims to use controllable energy fields to fine-tune the environment of a small area, finding solutions to the increasingly troublesome global climate problems—" Her voice clearly spread through the speakers.

Kairos listened carefully, but his eyes were fixed on the device in the center. Inside that blue crystal, light seemed to be slowly flowing, emitting an energy aura that made him feel both somewhat familiar and somewhat uneasy.

This feeling—it's a bit like the oppressive sensation when approaching powerful legendary Pokémon in game cutscenes, but not quite as intense.

"Now, we will conduct the first small-scale environmental simulation test—'Rain Dance'." The female researcher announced.

Staff members operated the control panel a few times. The blue crystal in the center suddenly lit up, emitting a humming sound.

An invisible energy wave spread outward from the crystal as its center, quickly covering an area about the size of a soccer field above the platform.

Then, something miraculous happened: in that area covered by the energy field, the sunlight seemed to soften, small water droplets rapidly condensed in the air, and in the blink of an eye, a light drizzle began to fall, while outside the energy field it remained sunny!

Seeing this scene, waves of amazed exclamations and cheers erupted from the crowd.

"Holy crap, this really is impressive!"

"It can actually make it rain without relying on Pokémon power!"

"Success!" The researchers on the platform also broke into happy smiles.

At this moment, however, Kairos's brow furrowed.

On one hand, he didn't quite understand why the people of this world would create such a thing.

If it was just changing weather in a small area, logically speaking, relying on Pokémon power could achieve that. Wasn't this redundant?

Besides that, he could feel that the energy flow inside the blue crystal seemed to be becoming abnormal, and the sound was starting to become somewhat harsh.

The female researcher clearly also saw the abnormal readings on the instruments, but she didn't seem too concerned: "Currently there are some energy fluctuations, which fall within normal adjustments.

Next we'll test the 'Abundance' mode, simulating an environment that helps plants grow better"

Before she could finish speaking, disaster struck!

Piercing alarm sounds blasted from the instruments on the platform! The blue crystal in the center suddenly erupted with intense, blinding white light!

The gentle drizzle from just moments ago instantly turned into fist-sized hail, crashing down with a thunderous roar!

At the same time, lightning crackled wildly within the energy field on the platform. Several bolts of lightning appeared out of nowhere, striking viciously at the protective shield around the platform, creating violently rippling circles of waves!

With the platform as the epicenter, violent energy turbulence swept outward in waves.

"Ahh?!!"

"What's happening?!"

"Run!!!"

The crowd instantly exploded into chaos. Screams and cries rang out as one. Everyone hugged their heads and retreated backward. The scene completely spiraled out of control.

The researchers on the platform were even more panicked, frantically trying to shut down the device, but the control panel seemed to have malfunctioned. The berserk energy kept spewing outward, and the range of the hail and lightning was clearly expanding!

Seeing this scene, Kairos felt slightly alarmed.

He could clearly sense that the energy originally controlled by the machine was now like it had gone mad, full of destructive power.

More importantly, now that such a major accident had occurred, not one of these researchers had called out their own Pokémon to counter the rampaging, out-of-control force...

Even though this kind of power wasn't particularly strong, only at a level below Elite Four!

If this continued, not only would the platform be finished, but the expanding energy field would also sweep up the surrounding crowd, naturally including himself!

Watching as a bolt of lightning came crashing toward him— "I'm counting on you, Chandelure!" Kairos hesitated no longer and threw out his Poké Ball.

A flash of ghostly red light, and his Chandelure suddenly appeared. The red flames in its lampshade immediately began jumping violently upon contact with the surrounding berserk energy!

And that dazzling bolt of lightning was instantly incinerated by the flames Chandelure spat out, exploding thunderously in midair.

"Chandelure, use Will-O-Wisp to interfere with that energy field, and be careful not to get hit by lightning yourself!"

Kairos immediately ordered.

This Genesis Core gave him no simple feeling. If it could be avoided, it was better not to destroy it.

So he didn't dare have Chandelure use high-power moves, but instead wanted to see if they could suppress this force.

Chandelure floated into midair. Its lamp-like body generated a pulling force, beginning to draw the chaotically running ice and electric energy toward itself. The purple flames on its body also began flickering intensely.

At the same time, countless deep ghostly flames suddenly burst forth from its body. These cold flames seemed to have come alive, drifting toward the berserk energy field, mutually canceling out and interfering with it.

Clearly, this interference was very effective.

The speed at which the nearby energy field expanded noticeably slowed. The hail's falling speed decreased, and the number of lightning bolts appearing suddenly reduced.

Although this couldn't completely solve the problem, it bought precious time for people to escape and for researchers to repair the core.

At the same time, Kairos's actions naturally attracted quite a bit of attention.

"Wait... that's, what kind of Pokémon?" Amid the chaos, the bespectacled female researcher noticed Kairos and his Chandelure.

She appeared extremely surprised by this Pokémon she'd never heard of or seen before, yet which could influence the Genesis Core's energy field.

While having her assistant continue trying to cut off the machine's current, she fixed her gaze on Kairos and his Chandelure with an unusual look.

During the time Chandelure was countering the violent energy, those staff members finally managed to cut off the engine's main power supply. The light in the central crystal quickly dimmed, and the berserk energy field dissipated with it.

Only leaving behind a complete mess on the platform and a ground pockmarked with hail craters.

The crisis had temporarily passed.

The female researcher let out a long sigh of relief and immediately led two assistants down from the platform, walking briskly toward Kairos.

"You there... young man, thank you so much for just now!"

She extended her hand toward Kairos. "I'm one of the people in charge of the 'Genesis Engine' project, just call me Dr. Lila. If it weren't for you and your Pokémon helping in time, I wouldn't dare imagine the result."

"Um... may I ask boldly, is this... a Pokémon?"

"Or is it something like... a spirit entity?"

Hearing this, Kairos was instantly stunned.

Spirit entity??