How strong exactly is Darkrai...
Some Legendary Pokémon and Phantom Elves possess special abilities, of which Fang Yuan was aware.
For example, both Ho-Oh and Dream can bring other beings back to life after death, including humans.
Even more impressively, some Legendary Pokémon can even create other Legendary Pokémon.
Ho-Oh caused Emperor Yan, Shui Jun, and Lei Gong to appear in the world.
Regigigas, a little more awesome, used rock, icebergs, and molten lava to craft three eternal Pokémon in its own image...
Besides, Fang Yuan also suspected that Di Anxi's mutant form came into existence because of Zhenyas...
However, Darkrai's special ability was something Fang Yuan was learning of for the first time.
"Do fossils... also have dreams?"
"Or are these... remnants of memories on the fossil that Darkrai has awakened?"
Fang Yuan knew that fossils contained ancient memories; in the anime, Unova Doctor mentioned that to revive a Fossil, one had to extract the Pokémon's genes from the fossil and reassemble it according to the fossil's memory into a form close to its precedents and then use Dream Energy to turn the fantastical ancient factors from illusion to reality.
However, although fossils in their state contained ancient memories, once revived into new life, the memories would be gone, and the appearance of the resurrected Pokémon wouldn't be exactly the same. This could possibly be due to the incompleteness of the fossil's memories or because being sealed within the rock for a long duration had altered the Pokémon genes to some extent.
"Since fossils can be resurrected, then entering the dreamland of a fossil is also normal... normal my foot!" Fang Yuan sighed, then let it go...
Thinking of some Pokémon's special abilities like "traversing time and space," "reversing time," "reviving life," "creating worlds," the special ability of Darkrai, the Nightmare God, although it shocked Fang Yuan, it didn't seem so hard to accept anymore.
The few Pokémon around Fang Yuan accepted this much more easily than Fang Yuan himself did, without thinking as much, including Rotom, the most knowledgeable member of Fang Yuan's Team, who didn't analyze as comprehensively as Fang Yuan.
At this time, the Pokémon had already gone to appreciate the ancient scenery, with Monferno even starting a PK with a MEGA fossil wing dragon. After a moment of silence, Fang Yuan realized that if Darkrai had this ability, it indeed would not be too lonely. So many ancient fossils within this relic could offer Darkrai experiences in the ancient dream worlds.
Soon, the dream world shattered, and Fang Yuan and his companions returned to the inside of the relic.
Now, every Pokémon understood.
This ability was no less impressive than Luo Kuo's Illusion Technique and Eevee's imagination power-ups; it was totally self-entertaining!
"However, don't you think it's a bit of a pity?"
Darkrai had thought that after its explanation, Fang Yuan and his team would understand, but as soon as Fang Yuan emerged from the dream world, his words bewildered Darkrai.
A pity for what?
As Fang Yuan spoke, Eevee, Self-detonating Magnetic Monster, Monferno, Glutton, Milotic, Dragonite, Rotom, and other Pokémon stiffened for a moment, staying quiet without speaking up or giving opinions. Was it starting? What was Fang Yuan planning this time...
"They have accompanied you through so many boring times, but they can only exist in a fantasy dream world..." Fang Yuan sighed.
Upon hearing this, Darkrai fell silent. Due to the special nature of its abilities, it could only befriend these fossils, but it understood that all its experiences were dreams, and the Pokémon in its memories were all illusory. Now, mentioned by Fang Yuan, Darkrai couldn't help but feel a tinge of sadness.
"Darkrai, do you want them to be revived?"
"???" Darkrai.
Darkrai raised its arm slightly, then lowered it again, confused and not understanding what Fang Yuan meant.
Fossils? Resurrection?
Could it be that Fang Yuan is still dreaming and hasn't woken up?
However… revival…
If these fossils that have accompanied him for so long could be revived, to converse with him in the form of true life… with this thought, Darkrai actually felt some anticipation.
But the next moment, Darkrai had a puzzled look on its face. Revival, is it possible? After all, they have been dead for so long.
"Actually, I'm currently researching a special technology, Fossil Resurrection Techniques," Fang Yuan began.
"If this technology is successful, it will be possible to revive Pokémon that lived in the distant past, in the form of fossils."
"Darkrai, would you like to give it a try?"
"Rotom…" Next to him, Rotom had a strange expression. This technology, Fang Yuan had discussed it with it, and they had analyzed it thoroughly, currently only lacking practice.
For Fang Yuan and his team, two key conditions are currently missing, one of which is Dream Energy.
Initially, Fang Yuan had identified Munna as the target Pokémon because Munna can create dream smoke, which materializes the illusory dream into reality, a phenomenon used in the animated series to revive fossils, turning the fantasy of ancient genes real.
However, due to the scarcity of Munna in the Asia region, they were hard to find… Was Fang Yuan now considering using Darkrai??
On the other hand, Darkrai displayed a fascinated expression, resurrection of fossils...
It looked at Fang Yuan with great interest, its expression earnest, because Fang Yuan seemed like a human who wouldn't lie. It wanted to see what Fang Yuan was planning to do.
This time, it took the initiative to communicate with Fang Yuan using Mind Induction, "Is there anything I can help with?"
"Rotom."
Fang Yuan called Rotom and said, "Describe Munna's abilities to Darkrai and ask if it can do the same, or simulate it."
After all, Darkrai is a Dream God. Its control over Dream Energy couldn't possibly be weaker than Munna's.
"Roger that, Rotom!"
With the video function, Rotom explained the concepts of "dream smoke" and "materializing the illusory dream into reality" to Darkrai. Darkrai slightly lifted its head and wore a contemplative look, seemingly pondering Munna's capabilities.
A moment later, Darkrai nodded, indicating that perhaps it could try. However, it would not leave the island; the process had to be carried out here.
"Then… pleasure to collaborate," Fang Yuan said with a smile, as one major problem with the Fossil Resurrection Techniques was thus solved.
In addition to Dream Energy, resurrecting fossils likely also required Life Energy.
In the Pokémon World, Red Lotus Research Institute in Red Lotus Town of the Kanto region and the research group of Devon Corporation in the Area of Fragrant Fate in the Hoenn region were the first to develop Fossil Resurrection Techniques, nearly simultaneously.
Besides Fossil Resurrection Techniques, Devon Corporation was also researching ∞ Energy, a special Energy derived from the transformation of Pokémon's Life Energy, also known as Vital Energy. From this, Fang Yuan inferred that Devon must also have extensive research on Life Energy.
Since the revival of a life is impossible without Life Energy, Life Energy Granting Technology might also be a critical factor. Fang Yuan believed the resurrection of fossils couldn't be achieved without the granting of Life Energy, and for this, he had already thought of a solution.
Now, with Darkrai willing to help… along with Rotom's research capabilities… perhaps Fossil Resurrection Techniques could indeed become a reality in Fang Yuan's hands. Even if it fails, he would surely gather many experiences leading to success.
If successful, not only could he fulfill one of Darkrai's wishes, but Fang Yuan was also very aware of what this technology signifies…