[It's all over! Now—choose the power you desire!]
The Ancient Crown's inner voice rang out. The sudden battle had ended; the dream-bodies of the Forces of Nature faded away. Just before Landorus vanished, it worked hard to throw Hikaru a thumbs-up.
Yo, nicely done, partner! I'd call you the strongest!
Let's have another fun match next time.
Don't stop!
As long as you keep moving forward, the road keeps extending!
"If there's a next time… I'll swing by the Abundant Shrine with an offering for you," Hikaru muttered.
He'd walloped Landorus twice now and felt a little bad about it.
As for Tornadus and Thundurus? Smacking those two brothers around came with zero guilt.
Enamorus glanced up at the dais, then abruptly yanked down the Reveal Glass and tossed it to Hikaru. By now she had returned to her Incarnate Form.
"For me?"
Enamorus nodded. The Ancient Crown fell silent for a beat, then said:
[Take it. For you it's a collectible—you've been chasing these, haven't you?]
[The Four Gods' trial has ended. The next time the Abyssal Ruins reappear will be… when that unworthy descendant returns.]
[Even if you take the Reveal Glass, the trials won't stop. The Ruins have other mechanisms the King used for testing. Don't underestimate the King's collection.]
Hikaru muttered to himself.
So—no Reveal Glass? Maybe the Ruins still hide something like an AR Searcher—open a seam in dreams, which might actually be the King's own power.
Also—who says there's only one Reveal Glass? Relics this precious don't come in singles.
"Alright then—I'll accept it."
[Mythic Craftwork: Reveal Glass!]
[Description: A mysterious mirror that reflects the true form and returns Pokémon to their original state!]
[Effect: Toggles the Forces of Nature between Incarnate Forme and Therian Forme. In the right hands, even empowers them in Therian Forme.]
『Special Vocation: Mirrorwright!』
『Description: A craft vocation that forges special mirrors! Can create mirror-related tools, including Prism Armor!』
[You defeated Ghetsis / Team Plasma / the Four Gods / Genesect… Emergent Power greatly strengthened!]
[Your and your Pokémon's EVs and growth skyrocketed! Their potential rose sharply.]
[New moves learned.]
[Lilligant: Charm — Torterra: Heavy Slam — Walking Wake: Waterfall — Larvesta: Morning Sun!]
[Deoxys: Trick — Duraludon: Mirror Coat — Iron Valiant: Misty Terrain!]
[Rotom: Electroweb — Entei: Eruption!]
Hikaru's eyes lit faintly.
A nice batch of highly usable moves.
But… Aegislash and Riolu—
He probed deeper into the Emergent Power spike—and nearly jumped.
Riolu, for felling Ghetsis, had earned a free any-move learn slot—one totally "illegal" magic skill. And now it had grasped something else.
As for Aegislash—absurd!
[Unusual moves learned!]
[Aegislash: Glaive Rush!]
[Riolu: Extreme Speed!]
Extreme Speed—sure, that tracks: Lucario can learn it; Riolu learning an evolution move early isn't new for this high-level little master.
We've already got two team members with Extremespeed.
But Aegislash learning Glaive Rush? How?!
That's the signature of a certain ice dragon.
Could it be—because Kyurem is also an ice dragon—after gaining a Swords of Justice mantle and using Sacred Sword so much, Aegislash internalized "sword-school" techniques?
Hikaru shot Aegislash a baffled glance, then refocused on the Ancient Crown.
Alright, it's a boon. The move's recoil is huge, but paired with King's Shield, the results might… differ?
"Actually, I also want the red stelae, or at least how to make them."
He coughed lightly.
They're mythic craftworks, too. If he could learn the process—even if it didn't see immediate use…
The Ancient Crown seemed to get it.
[The "red inscriptions" that bear the historical text? Want the method? Very well—take it. It's not especially important.]
[As a craftsman, you're the only one across history to reach this place. Giving it to you is fine.]
By the Crown's grant, Hikaru obtained the engraving method—an unexpected windfall.
[Obtained: Red Stelae Engraving (S+)!]
[Description: Carve the so-called "historical text," red stone that never wears. Requires special red ore related to Origin Ore or Beast Secret Stone!]
[Effect: Carvings never erode, are nearly indestructible, and influence their surroundings.]
[Now craftable!]
[Indigo Plateau Ruins!]
Hikaru drew a sharp breath!
He'd got it—an unexpected surprise within an unexpected surprise!
"Stone that resists time and space… so it was here!"
"Thank you, ancient King!"
He lifted the Ancient Crown in both hands.
[Mythic Craftwork: Ancient Crown.]
[Description: A crown from a civilization ~3,000 years ago, found in the Abyssal Ruins, once housed the King's soul. Enthusiasts would pay a fortune!]
[Effect: All Creation · VSTAR!—Unprecedented artistic force. Heightens your affinity with all attributes; can strip and bestow energies to transfigure Pokémon into special individuals. Each use consumes massive mental power.]
『Gained Special Vocation: King.』
『Description: An ancient ruling vocation. Authority +100%; seems to control certain ancient devices. Other benefits… unknown.』
Unexpectedly, the moment he took the Crown, a second Ancient Crown rose from beneath the altar.
"…?"
[Of course there's more than one crown. It isn't some unique legendary weapon.]
"So the crucial thing isn't the crown—it's the King's Heart."
[The crown is merely a vessel. The Heart's capability lies in the holy remains and the soul. Now—choose your virtue and power. The lady there may choose as well—you both cleared the trial.]
Mercy, Dream, Hope, Courage…
It felt like the choice might alter one's disposition—and Courage was probably the least intrusive.
[The cruel become kindly rulers, the lost brim with dreams, the despairing see hope, and the timid become truly brave.]
[Which do you choose?]
"Adventuring Spirit."
After a short think, Hikaru answered.
"Adventure begets returns. Traveling everywhere for rare materials is fun to me."
"And at critical moments, adventuring spirit helps me sidestep disaster—or so I believe."
[I see. As expected.]
Without delay, the Crown bestowed that power.
[Gained: King's Heart (Adventuring Spirit)!]
[Description: One facet of the King's Heart—one of the Harmonia King's powers. The King possessed eighteen virtues and forces. With peerless adventuring spirit, he met the First Dragon God, forged a friendship, and with that power founded Unova.]
[Effect 1: Encounter +100%, Exploration +100%, Bestowal +100%, Mystery +100%!]
[Notes: Encounter draws more beings to you, triggering chance events.]
[Exploration yields more special materials / Bestowal lets you share life-force / Mystery earns the favor of peculiar powers.]
[Effect 2: While invoking the King's Heart, your Pokémon erupt with inconceivable might—cannot be struck by critical hits; your critical hits deal ×2 power (vs. other Pokémon or humans); all your moves become never-miss and ignore Shell Armor / Battle Armor.]
Hikaru's heart soared.
Version-rollback buff!
From Gen II through Gen V, crit damage was ×2 (i.e., +100% power). It was only later reduced to ×1.5 (+50%).
The Abyssal Ruins are a Gen V thing—handing me a ×2 crit buff is perfectly appropriate!
The sheer number of abilities the Harmonia King held shocked him, too.
Eighteen… matching the Arceus plate count. Among the "ancient kings," the Sea King of Unova might be unmatched—only Sinnoh's mythic hero stands shoulder to shoulder.
As for other regions' ancient rulers…
Paldea's old king collapsed his empire chasing endless treasure; Galar's royals buried the Sword & Shield heroes and themselves.
Kalos's king built the Ultimate Weapon—one blast erased nations, an "immortal contribution" to modernization.
Alola's four isle kings feuded alongside the Tapus, leaving the isles barren until sun–moon gods from another world fixed it.
Almia's king spawned endless darkness; Oblivia's king raised a techno-fortress just to oppress the people.
In Hoenn, two Primal sovereigns brawl near Sootopolis each millennium—roads and realms worn to dust.
In short—none of them were normal.
Granted, Unova isn't not abstract either—the twin heroes are the poster children for "abstract," warring over ideals; their heirs even flipped the whole nation into oblivion.
[Quest complete.]
[Released Orbs ×30, Dream Link (III), Spiral Power ×1!]
[Dream Link (Bridge of Ideals): World compatibility rises; differences shrink.]
[Spiral Power: People's dreams gather like a spiral, birthing vast force. You may connect to the Tree of Link at will and crystallize Released Orbs yourself.]
[Craftable: Wireless Link Bridge.]
[Note: Thank you—truly, thank you.]
Hikaru: "So I've become a tree now?"
A human avatar of the Tree of Link?
Caitlin thought a moment, then spoke clearly:
"I choose Dream."
"Yes—dreams."
As a child, she had none. Meeting Darach opened her sealed heart; after encountering Cynthia, she finally found a dream.
Thus she set out to travel.
Since meeting Hikaru, her longing for a dream grew day by day. That ideal projection… she, too, wished for such a journey.
So—she needed Dream.
"I want to become a better person…" Caitlin poured out her heart. "This expedition was delightful—and dangerous. Honestly, from childhood until now, I've never faced anything so perilous."
"More often, the danger came from me."
"But I don't dislike the feeling. In battle under crisis, I felt my control over ESP sharpen—and my mind grow tougher. That's the joy of exploration; exploration serves the dream."
"I'm still far from my ideal self. But I will become a Trainer who wins with elegance and splendor."
"When I reach that ideal, I want someone there to witness my growth."
"The people I cherish."
She touched the Crown. Power suffused her—the endless dream spun like a vortex, birthing thoughts she'd never known.
For instance: train herself… and become Champion.
She was already an Elite Four member, but the tempering was far from done. If she became Champion, she could go further.
"How do you feel, ojō-sama?" Hikaru asked.
"Wonderful. I think I know what I want to do." Caitlin tucked a golden lock and smiled sun-bright.
"I feel like I can see again—that scene I can only see when you give me strength."
"In the dream: green field, tree shade, blue sky, distant city and lake… and the people sitting with me, and…"
She smiled and left it there.
The Ancient Crown sent its closing thought:
[You have received your rewards. Leave the Abyssal Ruins.]
[When the unworthy descendant returns, great waves will rise in Unova. Then you must bring the True Dragon back here.]
[Whether as hero yourself or by entrusting the Light Stone to another, you will inevitably return.]
"You know I'm carrying the Light Stone?"
Hikaru was curious—then realized: with the Ruins' mystic force, of course it could sense the Dragon Stone.
"In that case, call on me then. I'll bring the Light Stone back," he said.
(End of Chapter)[Get +20 Extra Chapters On — P@tr3on "Zaelum"][Every 500 Power Stones = 1 Bonus Chapter Drop][Thanks for Reading!]