Ding~!
[Analysis complete. This is one of the Infinite Gems—the Floating Gem. The wielder will gain the ability to float!]
Ding~!
[New system mission detected: Locate the Infinite Gems. Time limit: None. Rewards: Unknown.]
After over a minute of system analysis, Ash finally understood what the octagonal gem pulsating with blue energy truly was. In fact, it was a fragment of the meteorite that struck the Earth!
"A system mission… So the entire purpose of your existence is to help me collect these gems?" Ash muttered, momentarily overwhelmed. Did this mean that he was being turned into a gem-seeking avatar?
"You just said this is one of the Infinite Gems. That means there are more out there, right? Could they be related to the Plates of Arceus?"
Though Ash now grasped the system's overarching goal, the reason behind it was still unclear. His first step was to fully understand the nature of these gems. The mention of an Infinite Gem reminded him of the Plates carried by Arceus—the Creator Pokémon. They seemed to have a similar energy signature.
"There's no connection between the Infinite Gems and the Plates of Arceus. The powers that Pokémon possess in this world are actually the result of evolutionary genetic restructuring caused by the influence of the Infinite Gems," the system responded promptly.
"So it's like evolution after unlocking a genetic lock... Some creatures evolved into humans, and others into powerful Pokémon!" Ash mused.
"How many Infinite Gems are there? And how can I acquire them?"
Ding~!
[There are twelve Infinite Gems in total, each possessing unique powers. They can only be acquired by the host through discovery or by purchasing them from the system store. Due to their immense effect on the laws of the world, most of them are forcefully expelled into outer space by those very laws.]
"Right, the system store! Open it!" Ash exclaimed, suddenly remembering. Now that his system had reached Level 2, he could access the store and purchase items native to his world. That should include Infinite Gems!
A virtual screen materialized in front of Ash, visible only to him. After a quick search, he found the listing:
Floating Gem – Grants the ability to float and control levitation of self and objects. 10 million attribute points.
Strength Gem – Bestows unmatched strength. 15 million attribute points.
Speed Gem – Enhances speed tremendously. When combined with the Floating Gem, allows high-speed flight. 15 million attribute points.
Invisibility Gem – Masks the user's presence entirely, rendering them undetectable. 30 million attribute points.
Yin-Yang Gem – Balances opposing forces within the body, stabilizing inner energy. 50 million attribute points.
Energy Gem – Vastly accelerates energy regeneration. Nearly limitless stamina. 70 million attribute points.
Transformation Gem – Allows perfect mimicry of any seen object or form. 80 million attribute points.
Healing Gem – Grants an immensely regenerative physique; immune to poison; instant recovery from all non-lethal injuries. 90 million attribute points.
Soul Gem – Enables attacks on the spiritual plane; grants astral projection. 130 million attribute points.
Life Gem – Empowers user to breathe life into inanimate objects. 150 million attribute points.
Undying Gem – Grants eternal youth and invincibility to fatal wounds. 200 million attribute points.
Divine Gem – Fuses the powers of all 11 other gems. The wielder is recognized as a divine being by the world itself. 500 million attribute points.
"Damn! These are insanely expensive. I barely have over 30,000 attribute points right now… not even 40,000! Becoming a god isn't going to be easy!" Ash muttered, his eyes nearly falling out at the prices.
"The Infinite Gems first appeared in this world, so the store currently has them available," the system explained. "However, as more accumulate, they may be expelled into other dimensions. That's likely why clone cards exist—to access those other worlds."
"So the system's true function is to guide me on a divine path. Looks like I've been underestimating it all this time. The mission sounds simple, but the attribute cost is outrageous!"
Ash frowned as he scrolled through the listings. Earning attribute points was difficult enough, and he knew he couldn't ignore the temptation of power forever. He wanted those gems.
But if he couldn't amass a significant number of attribute points in his lifetime, crossing into other worlds would be pointless. After all, he was still human—powerful, yes—but mortal.
"To complete this nearly impossible mission, the first priority is to get the Healing Gem and the Undying Gem. At the very least… the Undying Gem."
Ash considered the implications. The Undying Gem prevented death from fatal injury—but his natural recovery rate was still human. If his head were severed, he wouldn't die, but he'd be immobilized. Surgery would be needed to reattach it.
However, with the Healing Gem in tandem, his regeneration would be instantaneous. Broken limbs, even a shattered skull—none of it would matter. If he wanted time to gather all the Infinite Gems, he'd have to achieve immortality first.
"System, how do I absorb the Floating Gem in front of me?"
[Simply touch the gem], the system replied.
Ash reached out and touched it. Instantly, the gem merged into his body. A strange sensation flooded his mind—his mental strength surged. Before, he could only project mental energy through Sharingan-like illusions. Now, it was a tangible force, much like Sabrina's psychic powers.
"That was it? Just a touch? Then why didn't any of the ancient humans absorb it?" Ash asked curiously.
Ding~!
[The system exists to help the host absorb Infinite Gems. Without it, others would be unable to unlock the gems' true power—they'd remain nothing more than decorations.]
"I see. That explains why the Floating Gem survived until now. Its power—levitation—must not have been strong enough to trigger the world's protective mechanisms and get ejected into space."
Ash nodded thoughtfully. What he didn't realize was that, in the very moment he learned of the Infinite Gems, something within him changed. His ambition… began to grow.
Who wouldn't be tempted by such power?
He had already died once. Now, having been given a second life, the desire to live forever—together with his future family—burned even brighter.
And with the Infinite Gems… that dream just might become reality.
It seemed that the appearance of the Digletts wasn't actually caused by the presence of the Infinite Gems. The real issue remained unresolved.
Though Ash had made significant progress, the Diglett outbreak still hadn't been addressed. Without hesitation, he released his Steelix and had it dig into the ground.
"Steelix, go!"
After tunneling for a while, Ash recalled Steelix and turned back toward the tent. Just as he was about to return, he heard familiar squeaking sounds. Following the noise, he spotted a trio of Dugtrio in the distance. Behind them was a large group of Digletts, each with a small sapling balanced on its head.
Curious, Ash followed them. It didn't take long before he reached a wide open clearing filled with Digletts. The Dugtrio were furrowing the land while the Digletts planted the saplings with practiced ease.
"So that's it... this place is their field. No wonder they've been resisting the construction of the reservoir. They're protecting their farmland," Ash murmured, realization dawning.
He immediately reported this to the site's foreman.
"That explains everything," the foreman sighed after hearing Ash's explanation. "If we try to build a reservoir here, the Digletts will definitely retaliate. And now it makes sense why the trainers we brought in failed to deal with them. It's not that they couldn't defeat them—it's that they understood why the Digletts were fighting."
"I was also wrong to jump to conclusions," Ash admitted. "Diglett may be weak individually, but no other Pokémon can replace their role in an ecosystem. They're highly social and incredibly industrious. If you leave them on a barren island, they'll farm until the entire place becomes a forest."
Looking back, Ash felt a little embarrassed. He should have noticed the signs earlier, but with everything else going on recently, he'd overlooked many small details.
"That's a shame… I guess our reservoir plans are done for," the foreman said with a sigh. "The townspeople will be devastated. Without a reservoir, the town might not survive much longer."
Ash frowned. Then something clicked in his mind—the ancient ruins. He had been worried about how to protect them… but wasn't this his opportunity?
The ideal solution would be to buy the mountain outright. But in this world, land ownership—especially of islands and mountains—was tightly monitored. And Ash wasn't just anyone; he was the heir of the Oak Family and the Dragon Clan. Any sudden land purchase from him would raise red flags across the entire Alliance.
If Ash tried to buy this mountain personally, other families would definitely interfere. They'd assume he had some secret purpose, and he'd never get his hands on the deed in time.
But then he had an idea.
"Uncle," Ash said, turning to the foreman, "this mountain… it already belongs to the town's residents, doesn't it? Otherwise, there's no way you'd be allowed to build a reservoir here."
"That's right," the foreman confirmed. "The residents pooled their funds to buy the land and start construction. Fortunately, the Alliance approved it quickly, or we wouldn't have gotten anywhere near completion. But now, with the Digletts here, the whole project is at a standstill."
"Perfect," Ash said with a smile. "Then how about this—I'll have my grandfather buy the mountain from the townspeople. Don't worry, I'll make sure the offer is generous. In return, I'll personally fund the construction of a new reservoir on another nearby hill. You won't have to worry about money."
"That way, the townspeople are compensated, the Digletts keep their land, and you still get your reservoir. How does that sound?"
Although directly purchasing the mountain would still draw attention, buying it through the town residents would appear as a simple land resale. With that workaround, there'd be no need to get the Alliance involved—or any other meddling forces.
"Are you serious, Master Ash?" the foreman asked, stunned. "If that's the case, I'm sure the townspeople will agree. I'll contact them right away!"
Ash smiled calmly at the man's excitement. "No rush. Let's settle everything tomorrow. It's getting late, and I need rest too."
With this approach, not only would the townspeople's concerns be resolved, but Ash would gain access to the ancient ruins hidden beneath the mountain. It was a win-win.
After all, even if the townspeople owned the ruins, they wouldn't know what to do with them. But Ash… he could make the most of it.
...
TN:
⚡ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin