The collar modifies essence patterns: It's the same concept that was used to create the first augmented 'mon, but much more advanced than those primitive techniques: It has much greater levels of control and finesse. Enough, in fact, that it is able to interact with the essential remnants to be found in the descendants of hybrids. Despite appearances, our subject here is at least ten generations removed from any "True" hybrid, by the scientific definition; and outwardly, you couldn't even tell that, up until about ninety minutes ago.