Dragapult saw the passage appear and couldn't wait to fly in.
Natsuhiko and the group of Pokémon followed closely behind.
The massive tunnel seemed built for giants.
And as they walked, they could clearly feel the tunnel extending downward beneath the volcano.
Uncertain whether this extinct volcano might erupt again for unknown reasons, Natsuhiko had Yujira leave a psychic "anchor" at the entrance to guard against any sudden changes.
As they ventured deeper, the light grew dimmer, and visibility lessened. Reluctantly, Natsuhiko lit a torch.
They didn't know how many meters deep they were.
But it was clear that the surrounding temperature was much higher compared to outside.
Maybe it wouldn't be long before Natsuhiko and his group saw the calm volcanic lava.
The only fortunate thing was that there were no Wild Pokémon activities within the cave.
Perhaps because the entrance was too high and covered with thick snow, or for some other reason.
"Baluya!"
Finally.
Amidst Dragapult's cries, they reached the deepest part of the tunnel.
A rock cavern dozens of times larger than the tunnel itself.
Bubbling hot lava occupied half of the cavern, the crimson firelight illuminating the cave.
And when Natsuhiko fully saw the scene inside the cavern, he was shocked.
He only saw.
A massive... let's call it a furnace, forged from unknown materials.
Standing silently in the lava, it was at least five meters tall and nearly eight or nine meters wide.
This was just the part visible above the lava, not considering the submerged section.
The furnace was engraved with mysterious patterns, emitting a faint red glow.
Moreover, with the flow and boil of the lava, the dark red patterns on the furnace pulsed with the movements of the lava.
This Pulsating Furnace operated by absorbing the terrifying heat of the lava!
In fact, this volcano might have become extinct because the furnace absorbed the intense heat, calming the lava's eruption.
Additionally.
On the ground, there were also some massive tools, like a hammer the size of a person and a forging platform several times larger than the hammer, both adorned with flowing and flickering dark red patterns.
It was like a forge for a towering giant.
And this giant used the power of the volcano to forge some utterly astonishing creations.
Considering that this Alternate Space was likely Regigigas's domain, Natsuhiko couldn't help but think...
Could this be Regigigas's territory?
And it used the immense power latent within this volcanic mountain to forge the legendary Regi Trio: Regirock, Registeel, and Regice.
The possibility was high.
Otherwise, he couldn't imagine who else could make use of such a place and these tools, nor any other Pokémon fitting the bill.
"Aha!"
Doublade pointed to a piece of metal in the corner reflecting the lava's firelight, as if flames were dancing on its surface.
"Metal Film."
Seeing this metal, Natsuhiko hesitantly said its name.
It was likely a Metal Film, yet probably not an ordinary one.
If this were one of the materials to create Registeel, it wouldn't be just an ordinary Metal Film.
"Chikas!"
Togetic was hugging a stone nearly its size, coursing with a thick earthen yellow hue.
"A shard of the Heart of the Earth."
This time, Natsuhiko was somewhat certain.
The Heart of the Earth is the main ingredient for crafting the "Earth Membrane" and "Hard Stone," a highly scarce and precious material.
Materials of Metal and Rock Type had been found.
Now for the last one...
"Yongji."
Yujira's psychic power pulled out an Ice Crystal wedged in a rock crevice.
Being in such high temperatures yet retaining its original state without any sign of melting indicated it was certainly "Ten Thousand Year Ice," the main material for creating Regice.
The remnants of materials for creating Registeel, Regirock, and Regice had all been found.
So, the owner of this place was starting to become clear.
As Natsuhiko had guessed, this was Regigigas's domain.
Countless years ago, Regigigas created the Regi Trio right here!
The materials it used were exceedingly rare and precious, the only kind that could bear the power of Registeel, Regirock, and Regice.
But the main factor in creating them wasn't the materials, it was Regigigas's power — it was Regigigas that endowed the Regi Trio with life and strength.
Yet in terms of Steel, Rock, and Ice Types, it seemed unrelated to Dragapult.
So why did Dragapult feel summoned to this place....
"Baluya!"
As soon as this thought arose, Dragapult held a palm-sized stone in its hands, dark red with streaks of deep purple shimmering.
And this...
"Dragon Crystal!"
The purest Dragon Energy Crystal, something not yet publicly known throughout the league, held only by dragon Pokémon families or factions with ancient heritages like the Dragon Taming Race and the Meteor People.
Anything related to Dragon-type Pokémon becomes exceedingly precious.
And without doubt, this Dragon Crystal was more valuable than the other three items.
This reminded Natsuhiko of another legend about Regigigas, one not even passed down by the Divine Hall of Snow Peak.
Legend has it that when Regigigas was creating the Regi Trio, it wasn't just those three it intended to create.
Regigigas also attempted to use the purest Dragon Energy Crystal, the Dragon Crystal, as the main material to forge an even more powerful Dragon Divine Pillar than the Regi Trio.
However, because the pure Dragon Crystal was so rare, Regigigas only crafted a head.
Nonetheless, even with just that, this Pokémon was born, and its mere head possessed power not weaker than the Regi Trio.
And the name of this Pokémon was...
Thud!
Within the Pulsating Furnace, a muffled sound suddenly echoed.
The sound originated from inside.
"Baluya!"
Dragapult exclaimed, nervously flying above the furnace.
Natsuhiko quickly followed, using psychic power to join Dragapult, peering into the furnace.
What they saw.
Were two enormous black skulls resembling those of a Western dragon; the right was a black upper jaw and skull cap, with horns, eye sockets, and teeth clearly visible, while the left was a lower jaw with black, sharp serrations.
In the center of these two black skulls was a dark red sphere engraved with jagged patterns, below which two short and stocky legs, like boot-wearing black jagged scales, were set.
On the dark red sphere, seven deep blue gemstone-like eyes were densely packed.
Flickering with an irregular brilliance.
As Natsuhiko and Dragapult gazed at it, its gaze landed on them.
"Regidrago!"
Natsuhiko instinctively called out the name of this Pokémon.
And it was the legendary Regidrago, the Dragon Divine Pillar that Regigigas failed to fully forge!
The ancient people, fearing its potential to be completed and endowed with world-destroying power, chose to seal Regidrago!
Simultaneously, his body shuddered as if struck by Electric Shock, his mind recalling an illustration he had recently encountered.
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Early in the month, seeking monthly votes!