Larry raised an eyebrow and held the Dark Sonata thoughtfully. Gengar had just mentioned that this Dark Sonata could increase the strength of ghost-type skills, which made sense since the Dark Sonata is similar to ghost-type moves.
As a piece created by the Demon King, the Dark Sonata is always surrounded by deathly aura, so it's reasonable that it would have such an effect. But then Larry thought about it, the Dark Sonata is just a piece of paper, yet it amplifies ghost-type powers.
This reminded him of the cursed talisman from the Pokémon world, a paper charm with red dots that radiates a ghostly aura and boosts ghost-type moves by 20%. According to Gengar, the Dark Sonata's effect matches that of the cursed talisman!
This was the second time Larry had come across something resembling a Pokémon item. The first was the light stone, which could reduce gravity by channeling aura. But the Dark Sonata was different, Gengar didn't need to use any aura to boost its skills.
The light stone's effect was active and required energy to work, while the Dark Sonata's effect was passive, working as long as it was carried. So, while there are similarities to Pokémon items, this world is still very much Hunter x Hunter.
Still, this gave Larry more confidence about the future. As he continued exploring, and even ventured into the unknown Dark Continent, he was sure to encounter more magical items, many of which could serve as powerful Pokémon items.
Since the Dark Sonata is so useful to Gengar, it was only natural to entrust it to him for safekeeping. Without hesitation, Gengar opened his mouth and swallowed the Dark Sonata, storing it safely in his stomach.
This action would activate the amplification effect of the Dark Sonata. The piece of music wasn't just valuable, it had many practical uses for Gengar. It could boost his power and serve as a trump card in critical moments.
Additionally, it had the ability to help breed Pokémon, possibly even the mythical Meloetta. Truly, it was worthy of being a composition by the Demon King himself.
This trip to Carter Port turned out to be incredibly rewarding, so much so that Larry couldn't list everything all at once. First, he had acquired many strange and unusual items like water beads, and the Dark Sonata itself.
Second, the overall experience of his Pokémon had increased significantly. Most importantly, both his Hydreigon and Gengar had leveled up. Now, he had three S-level Pokémon under his command! With Gengar's Mega Evolution, it could reach S+ level, making it the strongest Pokémon in his team.
But the greatest gains were the two new Pokémon he bred. One was a water-type mount, a Lapras from Carter Port, which filled the gap he had for an ocean mount. The other was even more astonishing, Shedinja from the Demonic Realm. This sturdy Shedinja shared Snorlax's devouring ability, and when merged with Larry, it could grant him a form of immortality.
This raised Larry's survivability to an unprecedented level, practically impossible to kill. Of course, if an enemy was significantly stronger, they might imprison him instead. In that case, immortality would turn into a curse worse than death. So, while he wasn't invincible yet, he knew he had to keep getting stronger by acquiring more powerful Pokémon.
Meanwhile, in the southeast corner of the Republic stood the city that housed the Sky Arena. The streets leading to it were busier than ever, packed with tourists from all six continents.
Shops on both sides of the street had thrown open their doors, eager to cash in on the excitement. The reason? The Sky Arena Martial Arts Tournament was about to begin, a true opportunity for everyone to make a fortune.
The martial arts tournament is a well-known event that draws attention from all six continents every time it takes place. This year's tournament is especially popular because nearly everyone is eager to see one particular person, the Invisible Larry. He first appeared in public just last year and quickly rose to fame by defeating the reigning champion of the previous tournament.
It's no exaggeration to say that ninety-nine out of every hundred attendees have come just to watch him compete. The organizers even invited Larry despite his relatively low rank, knowing his presence would make or break the event. If word had gotten out that Larry wouldn't be participating, this tournament would have been considered the worst in history.
It's been a year since Larry last appeared in the Sky Arena, and during that time, the ranks of the floor owners have changed significantly. Many who once fought Larry, like "Tennis Queen" Sally, "Plant Queen" Lina, have all left, some to chase their own dreams, others to explore the world and seek stronger opponents.
As a result, the overall strength of the floor owners has weakened, making their positions less valuable than ever. Even Zhixi, a newcomer just recently introduced, has become a floor master. Without Larry, this year's tournament would feel even less exciting.
Though Larry defeated the previous champion and earned recognition from both the public and the officials, his rank remains at the 251st floor owner, an exception made by the organizers. Everyone is eager to see him claim the true championship title, and the officials have been careful not to upset him, knowing how crucial his participation is.
Thankfully, Larry accepted the invitation, planning to gain valuable experience from competing. This decision thrilled the senior executives, who quickly invested heavily in promoting the news. They wanted to make sure everyone across the six continents knew that Larry would be competing.
In fact, the Sky Arena even confirmed through the Hunter Association that Larry is the strongest fighter in the new world, adding even more excitement to the upcoming tournament.
This title was featured right in the propaganda: "The Legend of the Sky Arena! The Strongest in the New World! Larry is about to enter the martial arts competition!"
Thanks to the Sky Arena's relentless promotion, the martial arts tournament, which might have been overlooked, became far more popular than in previous years. Both the competition and the entire city reaped the benefits, as the steady stream of visitors boosted the local economy.
There's a particular stall that stands out from all the others, it doesn't quite fit in with its surroundings, yet it's by far the most popular and generates the highest sales. This stall, set up by the Sky Arena, sells peripherals related to popular players.
Among them, the one with the largest collection is the Sky Arena's shining star: Invisible Larry. The difference is striking. Most of the items on display are Larry's peripherals, while peripherals associated with other top players are few and far between.