Aoki didn't know whether Xerneas had left this horn intentionally or accidentally.
But as a divine, fairy-type Pokémon, and a Legendary at that, even a single fragment of its body held immense power.
It was like the fluff shed by Mew, which could amplify Slowking's psychic abilities.
Of course, the fluff mainly derived its power from traces of Mew's essence.
This horn was clearly far more potent—comparable to Mew's blood itself.
Its value was beyond measure.
After Aoki retrieved the horn, Ralts and the small Carbink stared intently at the object in his hand.
The Carbink was shy and didn't react much, but Ralts looked ready to lunge forward and snatch it.
Aoki smiled but didn't hand it over.
Its exact purpose was still unclear, and Xerneas's intentions remained a mystery.
With Xerneas's power, it wouldn't have left this behind without reason. There had to be a purpose.
But since Aoki couldn't see Xerneas, he had no way of asking.
Though Xerneas was a Legendary Pokémon, it was known for its gentle nature. It usually avoided humans without hostility—unless provoked.
Yveltal, the other Kalos Legendary, was far less approachable.
One represented life, the other destruction—polar opposites.
Legends said Yveltal had once ravaged forests before being sealed away by Xerneas, now slumbering somewhere in Kalos as the Cocoon of Destruction.
No one knew exactly where.
After lingering a while longer, Aoki confirmed nothing else remained and departed on Flygon.
Once he was gone, another Pokémon appeared by the spring.
Two blue eyes with cross-shaped pupils watched Flygon vanish into the distance, deep in thought.
Xerneas's appearance had diverted Aoki's path, so he decided to press on without rest.
By dawn, he reached Slateport's outskirts.
With Ralts in his arms and Carbink glowing faintly on his head, he headed straight for the Pokémon Center.
After renting a room, he collapsed onto the bed.
Exploring the place could wait.
As he lay there, Aoki pondered Xerneas's motives.
Suddenly, it hit him.
He bolted upright, startling Ralts and Carbink.
Aoki studied Ralts briefly before shifting his gaze to Carbink.
If any of his Pokémon could interest Xerneas, it was this one—undergoing a rare mutation.
Both were Fairy-types, and Carbink's evolution, Diancie, shared Xerneas's life-giving power—albeit limited to crystals.
At first, Aoki thought Ralts's exceptional talent might have drawn Xerneas, but surely a Legendary had seen countless gifted Pokémon.
That left Carbink's mutation as the only explanation.
To test his theory, Aoki produced the horn.
Ralts and Carbink perked up immediately.
In daylight, the horn resembled polished white jade, no longer glowing as it had at night.
Activating his system's scanning function, Aoki placed the horn against Carbink.
Ralts's face fell with envy but no resentment—just childish disappointment.
The moment the horn touched Carbink, a dormant energy within it stirred.
Aoki's system displayed real-time data: the mutation progress bar, precise to 0.001%, was climbing ten times faster than before.
"So that's it."
Xerneas must have sensed Carbink's evolving energy and left the horn to aid it.
Whatever the reason, Carbink was benefiting immensely.
The horn accelerated its mutation and purified its Fairy energy.
While Ralts could have gained from it too, the horn was clearly meant for Carbink.
One question lingered:
Why help Carbink?
The Kalos region supposedly had a Diamond Domain—did Diancie exist there?
No answers came.
For now, Xerneas's appearance was just a fortunate accident.
The ranch expedition had yielded more than just Skiddo and Gogoat captures—his team had grown stronger.
Blaziken had improved the fastest.
With its type advantage against Grass-types, it had taken the lead in battles, surging to Lv. 39—nearly Elite-tier.
Lairon and Pupitar weren't far behind at Lv. 35 and Lv. 36, respectively.
Their evolution thresholds were close. Once they crossed them, their power would spike.
Though their levels neared Blaziken's, the gap in battle prowess was evident.
Both knew it. They were the last of Aoki's second-tier Pokémon, and the unspoken pressure drove them.
Meanwhile, Swampert remained stuck at Lv. 49, just shy of Quasi-Champion strength.
Politoed had reached Lv. 43.
Overall, the second-tier team was catching up.
Soon, they'd stand independently.
And after Blaziken could Mega Evolve?
It would become Aoki's ultimate wild card—a burst of power when it mattered most.