Naturally, having finally returned to the Dream World, Hikaru wanted to test out his newly acquired Dream Projection ability.
Through projection, he could manifest creations from his mind or dreams into others' dreams and minds, and even create unique items that could materialize in reality—a superior ability for any Dream Treasure Seeker.
With this, the previous limitation of only being able to bring out one item from a dream was virtually eliminated. The key now was projecting special items.
Focusing his mind, Hikaru soon formed a ticket in his hand.
[Item: Quick Start Ticket]
[Description: Looks very much like a supermarket shopping card, with a red and white Poké Ball design on it.]
[Effect: Usable only once per battle. The holder will always move first, ignoring the priority of the opponent's moves.]
An item to seize the first move in battle, superior in stability to Quick Claw. After projecting it through dreams, it could be crafted in reality using mysterious inscription techniques, increasing available inscriptions.
Hikaru then casually projected several other special items:
[Item: GB Player]
[Description: A music player that plays special tracks. Has a switch to change songs.]
[Unique Effect: Super Music – can play special tracks to gain buffs or enhancements. Performing these songs might attract the favor of musicians.]
[Note: This dream version GB Player contains nearly all regional special tracks, vastly different from the normal player.]
[Through special performances, concerts, or conversations with certain musicians, one can gain "knowledge of music and rhythm."]
[Usable to craft: Metronome, Ukulele, Sky Music Box, Flute of Devotion, Infinite Flute, Sun Flute, Moon Flute, Mysterious Music Box, Singing Stone, Tambourine, Electric Guitar, and more, granting special melody knowledge.]
[Item: Letter of Encouragement]
[Description: A letter mailed to someone, filled with encouragement and hope.]
[Effect: Confidence +100%, Tenacity +20%, Determination +20%. When held by a Pokémon, if HP drops below 1/3, the power of moves of its primary type greatly increases.]
[Item: Shiny Charm]
[Description: A mysterious charm that makes it easier to encounter Shiny Pokémon.]
[Effect: Increases the chance of meeting Shiny Pokémon.]
[Note: Its special effect can be unlocked in Nacrene Town. This is Fennel's latest research, deeply tied to Pokémon origins. Said to be made from a meteorite, it emits an incredible wavelength.]
Hikaru tested these items, giving the Letter of Encouragement to Riolu and the Quick Start Ticket to Swanna, then watched them spar.
Riolu used Quick Attack!
However, Swanna, holding the Quick Start Ticket, swiftly flicked its big head, releasing a powerful blast of steam from its mouth!
The steam attack was so fast that Quick Attack couldn't even react, striking Riolu head-on. Riolu's small body was in danger from a single hit. Hikaru noted that the Quick Start Ticket's power gradually faded.
Usable only once per battle, it was an artifact born from a blend of science and mysticism.
The battle continued!
Soon, a surge of powerful energy rose from Riolu's body!
Its Fighting-type moves were boosted by ×1.5!
"In other words, with the Letter of Encouragement, any Pokémon can activate a 'last stand' mode similar to Blaze, Torrent, or Overgrow."
Riolu unleashed an Aura Sphere. Enhanced by the powerful Star Aura, it directly pushed back Swanna's attack, shocking the big swan. The little blue puppy was one of the strongest Pokémon it had ever faced!
Stronger than that Zoroark by far! Though its body was too frail.
"All right, test battle's over. How are you both feeling?"
"Woof awooo! (I feel amazing!)"
"Awo~ (Indeed, it's awesome!)"
The two Pokémon stopped fighting.
Meanwhile, Deoxys, guided by Calyrex, had gone to the Meditation Maze, a place originally designed for Mewtwo's psychic training.
When the test battle ended, Riolu's body began turning translucent—a sign that their dreamtime was ending.
"By the way, has Mewtwo visited recently?"
Calyrex returned from the Meditation Maze and answered. Since Mewtwo left for the Oblivia region, it hadn't reentered the Dream World, likely still seeking eternal life.
It was time to say goodbye.
"Looks like it's time to leave again. But with Dream Smoke, until it's fully consumed, I can come here freely, without restriction."
He glanced at the surrounding sky islands. The connected minor islands were increasing, and the main island, thanks to Calyrex's constant invitations, was expanding like a floating continent in the Dream World.
All the Pokémon were busy with their tasks. While some watched battles or trained in mazes, most focused on their own work.
Grass-types tended vegetable fields. Rock and Fighting-types built stone huts on a nearby clearing, erecting many stone houses.
Steel and Electric-types carried items from other islands. Hikaru even saw sparking Tourmaline, indicating some Pokémon came from Chargestone Cave.
Flying and Normal-types planted trees. Ice, Water, and Ground-types dug pits, creating lakes, fountains, and cold caves.
Hikaru warned Calyrex that Team Plasma was searching for the Dream World. Remember N's Zoroark? Hikaru worried Team Plasma might use its dreams to invade.
Even if N himself saw the Dream World as Pokémon paradise, his subordinates were not like him.
『"Hmm! I will stay vigilant. Although the strongest forces on the Sky Island are gone, I am Calyrex, the King of Bountiful Harvests who ruled Galar. I will never let a mysterious organization run rampant here."』
Calyrex had regained some strength, bolstered by the faith of many Pokémon.
"Here, take this."
Hikaru handed Calyrex the GB Player. "This plays wonderful music. It's loaded with… well, tons of songs, and listening gives positive buffs."
"How to use it is—"
The dream faded, that beautiful world vanishing like an illusion.
Hikaru woke up at dawn, stretching. Beside him, Riolu also woke up.
Today he needed to continue helping Fennel develop the C Device.
In the Dream World, Calyrex was curiously fiddling with the GB Player. Following Hikaru's instructions, it pressed play.
Oooooh! What is this sound? What is this feeling?
My mission… my destiny?!
Such heroic, epic music…!
Eternatus, I shall come to slay you now!
The song playing was Unova's Route 10 theme!
[Music: Unova Route 10]
[Effect: Raises all stats by one stage, All Stats +25%, Willpower +50%, Action +100%!]
————
『Your bond with Professor Fennel and Professor Juniper has greatly deepened!』
Three days passed swiftly, and C Device development progressed rapidly!
Fennel confirmed that, at this rate, the test version could indeed be finished within ten days.
The remaining work fell into Fennel's domain.
How to synchronize with Connected Aura, bridge dreams and reality, and use Dream Smoke as energy—all required days of precise calculations, aided by Fennel's sister, Truffle.
As known, prototype models often surpassed mass-production ones. Fennel had countless ideas she wanted to implement in the C Device, passionately outlining her grand blueprint.
Wi-Fi connectivity, wireless and infrared connection, real-time communication, Entralink sync, emotion testing, radar scanning, even compatibility with the Miracle Shooter.
"With so many functions, testing them all would take more than ten days. Plus, I don't know how most work."
Hikaru massaged his forehead, suggesting to Fennel that they temporarily "trim down" unnecessary features.
For some reason, working with Fennel granted him:
[Acquired: Global Communication Knowledge]
[Description: Knowledge that enhances communication and exchange between people. You can act as a 'communication device,' enabling trade evolutions without machines. Also allows communication across different worlds, and is essential for C Device development.]
[Craftable Item: Link Cord]
[Note: Cannot acquire complete C Device knowledge from Fennel due to restrictions by a mysterious time-space force. Upon completion, additional information may be unlocked.]
Additional information… limited by a mysterious time-space force… Hikaru pondered. Unova was filled with mysteries, and the C Device, enabling travel between worlds, was theoretically linked to Dialga's and Palkia's domain powers.
This was the first time Hikaru encountered knowledge protected by space-time itself. Intellectual property indeed untouchable!
If the C Device's Entralink function was an artificial Aura… then theoretically, by switching Auras, they could traverse more worlds, even time-travel?
Perhaps to protect the timeline, only Fennel could develop this device?
Regardless of the process, the outcome must remain. Perhaps it was the Dream Tree that protected Fennel's intellectual rights.
Could the C Device become the precursor to the Arceus Phone?
Fennel sighed. "Ehh, really? I wanted the first prototype to be perfect… but fine, let's do it your way."
"I'll install more systems later if I get the chance. Ah, my dreams just keep expanding! I can barely think straight!"
"In any case, thank you! Your technical skills are incredible! If only I had an assistant like you, all my dreams would come true so much faster!"
Fennel's gaze was gentle, but it wasn't romantic affection—it was pure desire to recruit Hikaru as her development slave:
"If you're ever free, why not join my research team?"
Hikaru: "No, that won't do."
"Ehh~~! So heartless." Fennel sighed, though she'd expected this answer. Patting her cheeks, she quickly regained her energetic demeanor:
"Never mind! If you change your mind, come find me anytime! I'll put all your knowledge and techniques to good use. Come pick up the C Device in ten days!"
After bidding farewell to Fennel and Truffle, Aegislash flew back from the distant sky.
Using his spiritual senses, Hikaru confirmed no Team Plasma agents nearby. That ninja-like guy was probably one of the Shadow Triad.
He'd been tailing him since Nimbasa City, but must've stayed far away to avoid Aegislash's detection.
The blue crystal also gave no warning, meaning no enemies were near.
Riding in Professor Juniper's car, they passed through Accumula Town. The town had two musicians and was a Team Plasma speech site in the games, but currently, Plasma hadn't targeted such small towns, focusing on big cities.
Hikaru wondered if he should visit those two musicians on his way back…
Swiftly, they passed Accumula, finally arriving at Nuvema Town.
The hometown of heroes, the place where everything began. In the manga, there was an unnamed village beside it where the protagonist Black moved from.
Here too, Nuvema Town was surrounded by many small villages, located by the sea, with gentle ocean breezes blowing through this distant town.
"These Pokémon can live here without worries. The backyard has many berry trees, diverse terrain, and a river leading to the sea. It's an ideal habitat."
"Oh, I have two things I'd like to entrust to you."
After bringing the Pokémon to the backyard, Professor Juniper handed Hikaru two items.
"This is a Pokédex. It's like a recorder and handheld database. It aids Trainers on their adventures, allowing them to look up Pokémon data via scan or manual search."
"We entrust Pokédexes to Trainers to gather and compile data, creating detailed entries for each Pokémon. That is our work as Pokémon Professors."
"And this is my latest research – the Shiny Charm."
"Holding this makes it easier to encounter Shiny Pokémon. After studying many Shiny Pokémon, especially in nature reserves, I developed this. Whether it truly works… well, Shiny Pokémon are simply too rare."
"I believe their appearance is linked to magnetic field fluctuations, so the charm utilizes that principle. It essentially detects the special wavelength unique to Shiny Pokémon, attracting them to the holder."
[Item: Shiny Charm (Reality)]
[Description: A mysterious charm gifted by Professor Juniper that increases the chance of meeting Shiny Pokémon.]
[Effect: Increases encounter rate of Shiny Pokémon.]
[Additional: The Dream World's Shiny Charm projection has merged with the real-world charm, unlocking its unique effect!]
[Unique Effect: By projecting the Dream World's Shiny Charm onto the real one in the correct place, the real charm gains special power. Using abilities like Psychic Power/Creation Power/Aura on it allows a Pokémon to be 're-evaluated,' switching its color between Shiny and normal.]
[Note: Shiny Pokémon yield special materials like Red Gyarados scales or Volcarona's golden powder. This re-evaluation does not affect eggs.]
Huh?
This… sounds pretty amazing?
A new unique function – "Dyeing"? Quite practical. It allowed the collection of rare materials without affecting the Pokémon itself, and the color could be reverted afterward.
Can't get a Shiny? Just modify one myself.
Hikaru tested it on Aegislash, activating the Shiny Charm.
In an instant, Aegislash's body turned black, changing from golden to a black greatsword, with its white blade edge turning a fearsome blood-red!
"Geh-eh?! (Why did my body change color?!)"
"Eh?!!" Professor Juniper was dumbfounded. "It… it turned Shiny! What did you just do?!"
"Just… used a little psychic power." Hikaru brushed it off casually. The Shiny Charm re-evaluated Aegislash, returning it to gold.
Aegislash touched itself, confirming no changes.
But that black form… was cool!
It raised its ribbon hand, giving a thumbs-up!
"Wait, psychic power alone can't explain this! I developed the Shiny Charm myself. Shiny Pokémon may not be stronger, but their forms result from natural stimuli. This has major implications for Pokémon origin research…!"
"Anyway, can you demonstrate again? What psychic power was that golden ripple?"
At that moment, the research lab door opened.
"Sorry! Is Professor Juniper back? I've come to collect my Pokémon as agreed!"
A bold, ponytailed girl strode in, freezing upon seeing Hikaru.
"Ah!" Her eyes lit up.
"It's the famous reporter!"
(End of Chapter)
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