>>55454257Ever notice how the region of Paldea looks an awful lot like a giant Terapagos in its Terastal Forme? That's because the entire region of Paldea is, in actuality, the long-deteriorated corpse of the first Terapagos that landed on Earth millions of years ago. Area Zero is the result of its true body, its core, lodging itself into the Earth to create a relatively safe habitat for its offspring, the Terapagos we see in-game, to flourish. as a result of concentrating all of its energy into its core, the rest of its body lost power and became regular stone.
The "Great Crater" we see from the surface is actually just a bunch of massive stone walls, erected as the first line of defense to ward off predators. The cloud barrier acts as a form of aerial camoflauge mixed with a mirror, it both prevents its crystalline light from getting out and drawing attention, and allows the area to remain lit up by reflecting the crystal's light so its offspring can better navigate their new home. The numerous Pokemon found within exist in a form of symbiosis: They get to live safely in the crater whilst acting as a sort of unofficial militia for the Terapagos', a way to weaken down intruders and force them away
The Depths of Area Zero act as a false bottom, a way to deter predators from the Terapagos' true home: The Underdepths. The final line of defense comes in the form of their "Crystal Doors', bound to select "Guardians". They absorb the life force from these guardians, which allows them to remain standing in perpetuity. The Crystals offering power itself can also be seen as a form of defense, distracting outsiders by allowing them the means to make their dreams a reality, such as providing the means to create a machine that can capture Pokemon from alternate timelines or providing them with herbs that cure any ailment or allow you to cook up sandwiches that make shiny Pokemon more common
