Chapter 656: These Guys Aren't Dragons
The absolute first day Kazuya had officially verified for his younger brother that the Altaria was, in fact, a Dragon-type Pokémon...
His brother had violently seized the Altaria by the throat, frantically shaking her, furiously demanding to know why a literal bird mathematically qualified as a dragon, while he—an entity literally classified as a Charizard—did not.
And now, evaluating the current chronological scenario.
Kazuya was explicitly confirming that this bizarre palm tree was a dragon.
His brother narrowed his eyes, locking a highly intense, predatory glare directly onto the Exeggutor.
Under that suffocating scrutiny, the Exeggutor broke out in a massive cold sweat, casting a profoundly helpless, desperate gaze toward Kazuya.
"That's enough. Honestly, I should be the one interrogating you. You've been operating within this sector for an entire chronological year, and you mathematically haven't successfully recruited a single viable clan?"
Kazuya smoothly redirected the conversational parameters, effectively neutralizing the intense psychological friction burning within his brother's core.
"Rua!"
His brother frantically shook his head in denial, then proudly raised a claw, pointing emphatically toward a specific vector.
The explicit translation:
The clans I've successfully developed are garrisoned right over there.
He merely hadn't authorized them to transit to the grassland heartland to formally meet the collective yet; he had been meticulously planning to present them to Kazuya as a massive, unexpected operational surprise.
"Lead the way. And you, follow us."
Kazuya commanded his brother to execute navigation, then turned his massive skull to address the Exeggutor standing beside him.
He had to admit.
Initiating vocalization with the Exeggutor was a remarkably efficient process.
He mathematically wasn't required to physically lower his posture; Kazuya could comfortably maintain a hovering altitude and converse with it face-to-face.
In fact, if both entities were grounded, Kazuya would actually be required to tilt his head upward to initiate communication.
Across the entire demographic of the Dragon Clan...
This was a completely unprecedented operational dynamic.
Consequently, Kazuya's cervical spine felt an immediate, profound surge of approval toward the Exeggutor.
After all, he was constantly forced to aggressively lower his head to communicate with the other members of the collective; over an extended timeline, he was mathematically guaranteed to develop severe cervical spondylosis.
The Exeggutor waddled clumsily, swaying back and forth as it trailed behind them.
Along their transit vector, an astronomical volume of native Pokémon were profoundly terrified by the sight of a massive, mobile palm tree.
Their initial cognitive processing didn't even classify it as a Pokémon; they genuinely synthesized the data as having encountered a supernatural anomaly.
Exactly mirroring Kazuya's initial reaction.
It was a textbook manifestation of the Pokémon World's Uncanny Valley effect.
Factoring in this specific variable...
Kazuya calculated that the baseline survival rate of the Exeggutor species within this tropical rainforest was likely exceptionally high. There was a high mathematical probability that this jungle housed a substantial demographic of Exeggutors available for recruitment.
This was highly optimal data.
Evaluating the sheer vertical dimensions of the Exeggutor...
They were functionally engineered to operate as biological "watchtowers." Merely standing stationary, they possessed the capacity to simultaneously execute wide-area visual reconnaissance across both the skyward and terrestrial sectors. Furthermore, their camouflage ensured other Pokémon wouldn't visually synthesize them as living entities, drastically nullifying the probability of attracting unprovoked assaults.
If the Dragon Clan could significantly expand its Exeggutor demographic...
The logistical burden of executing routine perimeter patrols across their sovereign territory would be exponentially reduced.
However, Kazuya temporarily archived those operational calculations.
He intended to follow his brother's lead and visually verify the data.
He needed to confirm exactly which specific clans his brother had successfully subjugated over the past chronological year.
Kazuya calculated that even if the demographic of draconian-appearing Pokémon within this rainforest was negligible, his brother should have mathematically managed to recruit at least two viable clans.
Upon arriving at the designated coordinates...
Kazuya fell completely, absolutely silent.
His brother had indeed successfully recruited two clans.
One clan...
Was a flock of Kommo-o native to the tropical rainforest.
There was zero logistical friction regarding this acquisition.
This specific demographic, consisting of over fifty dragons, had already been smoothly integrated into the primary Kommo-o clan currently garrisoned in the grassland.
The critical anomaly lay with the second clan.
It was... a flock of Tropius.
Kazuya tilted his heavy skull upward, staring blankly at the herd of leaf-covered giraffes standing before him. He then turned his head to stare blankly at the giraffe-like Exeggutor standing directly behind him.
Both species shared the biological classification of being "Walking Tropical Rainforests."
Furthermore, both species permanently inhabited warm, southern ecological zones.
It could be analytically stated that they shared a massive volume of overlapping physiological and ecological parameters.
"Exeg~"
Under Kazuya's intense, sustained scrutiny, the Exeggutor flushed a deep shade of red and shyly lowered its heads.
Absolute bullshit.
Kazuya's cognitive processors were genuinely redlining.
Why mathematically is the Exeggutor classified as the Grass Dragon?!
And why mathematically is the Tropius NOT classified as a Grass Dragon?!
That was correct.
Despite possessing the suffix "-saur" (often translated as dragon/dinosaur in various localizations) in its name...
Tropius was strictly classified as a Grass/Flying-type Pokémon, and its biological Egg Group completely lacked the Dragon classification.
It could be definitively, analytically stated:
The Tropius was mathematically NOT a draconian species.
At the absolute maximum, they might possess a microscopic trace of latent draconic DNA, which governed their physical resemblance to biological entities like sauropod dinosaurs.
But within the rigid classification parameters of the Pokémon world, their biological proximity to true dragons was functionally zero.
"Rua!"
His brother's incredibly proud, triumphant vocalization echoed out.
Kazuya turned his head to execute a visual check.
This kid was currently standing with his claws planted firmly on his hips, covertly shooting sidelong glances at Kazuya's face, clearly, desperately anticipating a profound expression of joyous surprise from his older brother.
You executed the operation exceptionally well, however...
Kazuya reached out, gently patting his brother's massive skull.
Receiving the physical validation, his brother was instantly overcome with intense, overwhelming joy.
However, Kazuya's subsequent vocalization instantly shattered that joy, plunging him back into a state of bewildered paralysis.
"These guys mathematically aren't Dragons."
Kazuya raised a claw, pointing directly at the entirely innocent herd of Tropius.
The Tropius turned their long necks to look at his brother, blinked their large eyes slowly, and casually ripped off a mouthful of leaves from a nearby branch, munching leisurely.
We possess absolutely zero data regarding this situation.
Do not involve us in your internal friction.
"...Roar?"
His brother pointed a trembling claw at the long-necked tree standing next to Kazuya, and then pointed a claw back at the leafy dinosaurs standing next to himself.
"That is mathematically correct."
Kazuya nodded firmly.
His brother was completely, absolutely out of processing options.
He genuinely, fundamentally lacked the cognitive algorithms required to accurately differentiate what mathematically constituted a dragon anymore.
In this chaotic era...
Entities that physically resembled dragons weren't actually dragons.
While a literal, biological tree could successfully secure the classification of a dragon.
How the hell was he supposed to execute recruitment operations under these parameters?!
He expends a massive volume of chronological bandwidth and physical effort, only to ultimately recruit a massive demographic of non-draconian biological entities.
Ultimately.
Factoring in the sheer volume of grueling effort his brother had expended on the operation, Kazuya finalized the decision to systematically integrate the Tropius clan and relocate them back to the grassland.
Leaving aside all other combat metrics.
The innate biological capacity of the Tropius to passively synthesize and produce high-quality fruit was an exceptionally valuable logistical asset.
During the League Era...
Precisely due to this highly optimized biological utility...
It was practically impossible to locate a commercial agricultural facility in the southern regions that didn't employ a massive demographic of Tropius.
It could be analytically stated that within the agricultural sector...
The Tropius, much like the Miltank, functioned as an absolute, gold-standard asset.
Kazuya was mathematically certain that Florges would exhibit a profound, intense interest in cultivating a botanical pseudo-dragon like the Tropius.
By systematically cultivating the Tropius clan...
They could drastically optimize the Dragon Clan's internal dietary logistics.
It would guarantee that the juvenile dragons within the collective possessed reliable access to premium, tropical rainforest-flavored fruit.
Currently, the demographic scale of the Tropius clan was relatively modest, hovering around forty individuals.
This data point was somewhat regrettable.
Logically analyzing the parameters...
Although Tropius possessed a relatively low baseline velocity and mathematically didn't classify as high-tier combat Pokémon, they did, at the very minimum, possess the biological capability to execute aerial maneuvers.
Furthermore, the innate camouflage provided by their leafy epidermis was in no way functionally inferior to the Exeggutor's camouflage.
Their baseline survival difficulty within this tropical rainforest mathematically shouldn't have been exceptionally high.
Yet, their population scale remained remarkably constrained.
Therefore, only one mathematical probability remained.
This specific species inherently suffered from catastrophically low biological productivity rates.
This could be translated into various parameters: severe logistical friction during the mating process, a biologically suppressed reproductive drive, a catastrophically low success rate regarding fertilization...
In summary, the specific variables driving this outcome were incredibly diverse, and the underlying root causes were equally complex.
Any combination of these factors was mathematically possible.
But this wasn't a critical logistical bottleneck.
They merely needed to allocate sufficient chronological bandwidth and wait for the demographic to naturally expand.
The Tropius absolutely didn't represent a vital, core strategic asset for the Dragon Clan; their integration was entirely a psychological placebo Kazuya was administering to console his younger brother.
"Moving forward, upon visually acquiring an Exeggutor, prioritize its immediate acquisition. For daily operations, permanently attach this specific Exeggutor to your vanguard; it should possess the sensory capabilities to detect the coordinates of other Exeggutors."
Kazuya patted the Exeggutor standing beside him, delivering the updated operational directive to his brother.
Compared to the Tropius...
He anchored a vastly superior strategic evaluation on the Exeggutor.
Although Pokémon like Tropius were exceptionally popular and highly valued within the agricultural and breeding sectors...
In this ruthless, Ancient Era...
Pokémon possessing a significantly higher baseline combat output were far more likely to secure Kazuya's operational approval.
While the Exeggutor's baseline velocity was low, its dual offensive stats (Attack and Special Attack) were highly formidable.
It functioned flawlessly as a stationary, dual-blade (mixed attacker) artillery emplacement.
Given that the Dragon Clan currently suffered absolutely zero deficits regarding aerial combat assets, the Tropius's flight capabilities completely lost their strategic luster.
"Roar..."
His brother provided an exceptionally weak, entirely unenthusiastic audio confirmation.
"What is the current operational status regarding the Noivern clan?"
Kazuya turned his head, initiating a query on a vastly more critical strategic variable.
The Noivern clan.
They commanded a massive demographic scale, mathematically guaranteed to exceed eighty operatives.
Their Alpha patriarch possessed a highly formidable combat baseline, solidly entrenched within the lower-tier Champion echelon. Ignoring raw combat output and focusing purely on numerical levels, the patriarch might actually possess a slight mathematical advantage over his brother.
They were the undisputed, absolute Overlords of the rainforest.
If they could be successfully subjugated...
Annexing the remainder of this rainforest would become an exceptionally streamlined operation, perfectly mirroring the logistical reality they had established at the volcano.
However, Kazuya lacked precise data regarding the current tactical situation.
After all, his operational bandwidth had been entirely consumed by the grueling campaign within the Rocky Mountains.
"Roar..."
Upon processing his brother's query, his brother's expression instantly contorted into a grimace, and he began delivering a highly frustrating tactical briefing.
After absorbing data for roughly fifteen minutes...
Kazuya locked his brow into a severe frown, pinching his chin as he synthesized the parameters:
"So that's the current equation."
This specific Noivern clan operated with a vastly superior tactical caution than his initial calculations suggested; they possessed a flawless understanding of their own asymmetrical advantages.
Consequently, they absolutely refused to break cover during daylight hours. They remained entirely entrenched within the deep, inaccessible crevices of the sheer cliff faces, completely neutralizing any attempt by the Charizards to force an engagement.
And once night fell...
The Noivern's pitch-black, light-absorbing epidermis, coupled with their absolute, biological mastery over echolocation...
Instantly transformed them into the invincible, absolutely dominant Overlords of the night.
Conversely, the Charizard clan...
During nocturnal combat, they were functionally reduced to utterly helpless, brightly illuminated target practice.
The roaring flames anchoring their tails practically served as massive, high-visibility beacons, desperately screaming their exact coordinates to the enemy.
This specific asymmetrical disadvantage was the primary bottleneck preventing his brother from successfully executing the subjugation of the Noivern clan.
Fundamentally...
The biological potential of a Noivern was mathematically no lower than that of a fully evolved Starter Pokémon.
In a rigid, head-to-head League Era tournament format...
If a Noivern and a Charizard possessing identical numerical levels engaged in combat, guided by Trainers possessing identical tactical acumen...
It was genuinely impossible to mathematically guarantee which entity would secure the victory.
And in the current operational environment...
The Noivern were flawlessly exploiting their innate species advantages, successfully manipulating the environmental parameters to heavily subsidize their combat output.
Meanwhile, the Charizard clan was forced to operate within a highly humid, southern climate, which inevitably inflicted a degree of systemic degradation upon their baseline combat mechanics.
As one side's combat output surged, the other's degraded.
Naturally, the Noivern effortlessly asserted absolute martial dominance over the Charizard clan.
If these specific environmental constraints were removed...
Given his brother's sheer combat power, if the engagement occurred during daylight hours, there was a high mathematical probability he could successfully defeat the Noivern Overlord.
It could be analytically stated:
Unless Kazuya personally intervened and broke the deadlock...
At this current juncture, his brother genuinely couldn't synthesize a viable tactical solution to defeat the Noivern during nocturnal operations.
But while his brother couldn't synthesize a solution...
Did anyone genuinely believe that Kazuya—an entity who had transited across multiple historical eras and orchestrated countless massive military campaigns—couldn't instantly calculate a flawless counter-strategy?
"There is absolutely zero tactical necessity to engage them in a brutal, head-on collision during nocturnal hours. I will deploy the Flygon and Garchomp vanguards. We will violently flush them out of their subterranean fortifications during broad daylight, forcefully dictating the terms of engagement and compelling them into a head-on collision."
Kazuya had already finalized the operational blueprint.
It perfectly mirrored the exact protocol executed against the Druddigon clan.
Violently force them into open combat.
The Noivern weren't the Tyrantrum.
There was absolutely zero necessity to prioritize "honorable combat" and defeat them during their optimal nocturnal window. If the Noivern were genuinely a species that prioritized martial honor, they wouldn't meticulously hide during the day and exclusively launch treacherous sneak attacks at night.
Once they were successfully defeated...
He would transport them back to the heartland and systematically bombard them with ripe, exceptionally juicy fruit.
That specific stimulus would instantly, radically rewrite the Noivern's psychological disposition, rendering them exceptionally docile and profoundly affectionate.
This was the absolute, gold-standard, tried-and-true protocol utilized by League Era Trainers to successfully acquire and tame Noiverns.
This data was entirely derived from verified, empirical experience. Although Kazuya hadn't personally executed the acquisition of a Noivern, he had absorbed a massive volume of intelligence regarding the process from Drasna.
However...
Facing a Noivern clan commanded by a Champion-tier entity...
Deploying merely the Flygon vanguard might mathematically lack the kinetic output required to successfully flush them out. Therefore, Kazuya resolved to supplement the operation by deploying the Garchomp vanguard.
Across the entire Dragon Clan...
The absolute final variable they currently lacked was heavy assault troops capable of executing high-velocity maneuvers across both the aerial and subterranean domains.
The only operational theater they currently lacked dominance in was the deep ocean.
Presently, only Kazuya, the Dragonites, and Dragalge possessed the biological capability to execute deep-sea operations.
But that parameter was strategically irrelevant.
The Dragon Clan harbored zero intentions of expanding their sovereign territory into the oceanic sectors.
"For the immediate operational window, your primary directive is to prioritize the systematic acquisition of Exeggutors. Once I return from the Rocky Mountains with the necessary reinforcements, we will immediately initiate the offensive against the Noivern clan."
"Roar."
Having successfully transmitted the updated operational directives, Kazuya executed an immediate about-face and initiated his return transit.
Completely unaware...
That at this exact chronological moment, within the Rocky Mountains...
A brutally violent, catastrophic bloodbath was actively unfolding.
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