Three days later.
Southern Area One, Paldea Region—a secluded coastal corner.
"This should be the place… Grasswither Shrine——"
Riding atop Miraidon, Aiden dismounted and pulled out his phone, opening the detailed map Chairwoman Geeta had sent him. After comparing it with the surroundings for a while—tracing the screen with his finger and scanning the landscape—he finally confirmed he'd found the right spot.
"Come to think of it, not only is the shrine's location incredibly hidden—the stakes are even more deviously concealed than in the game. No wonder they're not worried about students stumbling in by accident."
When constructing the shrine and placing the anchor stakes, that ancient tamer must have deliberately chosen such remote locations to prevent ordinary people from discovering them.
Still, recalling the cleanup work he'd done along the way, Aiden couldn't help but feel a flicker of admiration for those hyperactive students.
How did they even find most of these stakes? Just how much free time do they have to wander around these desolate wilds? It's not like rare Pokémon will spawn after circling a few times like in the game!
Following the map's guidance, Aiden soon climbed a small hill—and spotted the unassuming Grasswither Shrine nestled in a nearby ravine.
Upon the green circular seal, faint purple patterns glowed with enigmatic light. Wrapped around it hung chains wreathed in black mist—just from a distance, it was obvious something extraordinary lay sealed within.
Originally, four chains should have bound the seal tightly. But after Aiden removed seven stakes along the path, the outer seal had grown unstable—nearly ineffective.
If one listened closely, a faint roar could even be heard emanating from within.
"The last stake… should be nearby."
Aiden scanned the area, confirmed the direction, then turned to Miraidon behind him—pointing toward a slope.
"Counting on you, Miraidon~"
"Gaaao——"
Seemingly displeased at being assigned work, Miraidon let out an irritated snort.
But its body proved more honest than its attitude—scaling the indicated slope in a few agile bounds before kicking the final anchor stake loose with its foot.
Watching Miraidon—now brimming with vitality, its physical condition restored to peak form—Aiden felt a sudden warmth, like a parent watching their child finally grow up.
As Miraidon acted, a crisp crack echoed behind Aiden. Turning back, he saw the last chain binding the seal shatter and dissipate.
With the layered chains gone, he could now sense a subtle aura emanating from within the shrine—as if inviting him to enter.
"The Treasures of Ruin——no, Wo-Chien specifically."
Aiden murmured softly, already forming expectations for the battle likely to unfold.
Beyond victory and capture, the true challenge lay in complete purification.
Before touching the seal, Aiden recalled the "resurrected" system interface that had flashed before his eyes three days ago—right after hanging up with Chairwoman Geeta.
[Hidden Quest Triggered: True Path of Legends]
[As a Gym Leader, battling Area Zero's Titans posed little difficulty. Yet through these encounters, you gradually realized one truth—]
[How could mere Titans possibly bear the title of "Legend"?]
[By chance, you encountered Paldea's millennia-old legend of the Treasures of Ruins—and curiosity stirred within you.]
[Four artifacts from the mysterious Eastern Lands: Vessel, Sword, Tablet, Bead—strangely familiar to you.]
[Perhaps only by accomplishing what none have achieved in a thousand years can one truly walk the "Path of Legends."]
[With this thought, you made your decision—]
[Quest: Defeat and purify all four Treasures of Ruins, restoring the true forms of these Eastern mysteries.]
(Current Progress: 0/4)
[Note: This quest requires submission of special items.]
[Reward: Designated Item ×1 (4 total), The Family Chef's Guide: Master 100 Home-Cooked Dishes with Ease!]
Aiden hadn't been particularly surprised by the system's sudden reappearance after so long—only mildly impressed that hidden achievements still remained undiscovered.
After all, the system wasn't dead—merely dormant. It would naturally resurface when needed——
Right?
Since the quest aligned with his own goals, completing it alongside his mission seemed reasonable.
And if successful… with this reliable culinary guide from the system, he might just reclaim half the kitchen from Indeedee~
The hearthfire—I have returned!
As delicious as it is, he'd grown tired of Western cuisine. It was time his Pokémon tasted food with other flavors! Soy sauce from East Asia, fish sauce from South East Asia, spices from the Middle East, harissa from Africa.
Imagining everyone praising his dramatically improved cooking skills, Aiden felt a surge of confidence.
Though—to be honest—he still hadn't figured out what "special item" the quest required.
One step at a time.
Taking a deep breath, Aiden recalled Miraidon—then reached out to touch the shrine's outer seal.
According to Chairwoman Geeta, this was the true hurdle in confronting the Treasures of Ruins.
Unless one possessed a pure, untainted heart, the moment they touched the seal, they'd be overwhelmed by negative emotions—and instinctively recoil.
And once that single opportunity was wasted… entry would become impossible forever.
But——
As Aiden closed his eyes and made contact with the icy seal, only one thought crossed his mind:
Honestly—Wo-Chien's garbage typing is unplayable without Terastrallization.
Even he was startled by his own instinctive thought.
The next moment, an overwhelming force of attraction seized his body.
When he opened his eyes again—he stood within the shrine.
The vast space was dimly lit, the floor carpeted with withered yellow leaves. In the distance loomed a bizarre snail-like creature roughly 1.5 meters tall—its body composed of dried leaves and blackened wooden scrolls—silently observing him.
The moment Aiden met its gaze, he felt pure malice radiating from it.
Along with it came an atmosphere thick with decay and resentment.
Though he'd never seen it in reality before—there was no mistaking it.
Before him stood one of the four calamities that had destroyed Paldea's ancient capital a millennium ago—the disaster Pokémon known as Wo-Chien!
Aiden's eyes narrowed instinctively, his guard rising.
Battles with Legendary Pokémon demanded utmost caution whenever possible.
Moreover, based on existing intelligence——
That body of scrolls and withered leaves was merely a manifestation—an aggregation of desires absorbed over centuries. Defeating it temporarily would accomplish nothing.
From the start, his goal had been to locate its true core—and purify it!
Executing his pre-planned strategy, Aiden pressed his Poké Ball's release button.
"For now—do your best, Sylveon!"
The Four Calamities were troublesome opponents. Each possessed an absurd ability akin to an aura—indiscriminately affecting all nearby life.
Wo-Chien's corresponding "Tablets of Ruin" ability suppressed the Attack stats of all other creatures on the field.
Uncertain whether close contact might trigger unforeseen effects, Aiden opted for caution—deploying Sylveon first to engage the opponent.
"Syyyl——"
The moment Sylveon appeared, it recoiled at the nearly solidified hatred permeating the air—its voice trembling with fear.
So scary… this opponent is truly terrifying!
Yet despite its terror, Sylveon didn't retreat a single step. Instead, it arched its back—tense and vigilant toward the giant snail in the distance.
Precisely because this opponent is so powerful—I must protect my Trainer now more than ever!
I won't let him down!
On the other side, Wo-Chien—composed purely of concentrated malice—observed the human and the pink creature blocking his path with its twin orange-green eyes resembling tentacles.
Soon, an invisible wave emanated from its center—rippling outward through the ground, stirring countless fallen leaves into the air. The ancient scrolls on Wo-Chien's back began glowing with eerie green light.
Under this mysterious power, the leaves caught in the wave rapidly withered and decayed—disintegrating into ash before vanishing entirely.
"Sylveon—Protect!"
Though Aiden had anticipated this, witnessing the move's destructive power firsthand still startled him.
Reacting instantly, he commanded Sylveon to intercept the invisible assault.
"Ruination"—a signature move all four Calamity Pokémon could learn. In-game, it halved the opponent's HP like a weaker version of Dragon Rage.
But in reality, Ruination's effects ran far deeper.
When Wo-Chien used this move, the vitality of all living things in the vicinity would drain away at a terrifying rate.
Perhaps Paldea's ancient capital had been destroyed precisely by the Four Calamities unleashing Ruination in unison.
"Sylveon!"
Sylveon instantly erected a transparent barrier—blocking Wo-Chien's indiscriminate attack.
Meanwhile, Aiden—still holding a Poké Ball—glanced backward with his peripheral vision.
The faintly glowing seal—about ten meters behind him.
If things go badly… recalling Sylveon to avoid damage should allow a safe escape from this perilous shrine.
With an exit secured, he decided to test whether he could inflict damage.
"Sylveon—try attacking with Blood Moon."
Having just narrowly escaped Wo-Chien's assault—too startled to even process fear—Sylveon instinctively followed Aiden's command, gathering power.
I'll—I'll fight you!
"Sylveee! (#`)/"
As Sylveon closed its eyes, the pitch-black shrine—saturated with hatred—suddenly filled with strange pink energy. Radiating from Sylveon's body, it rapidly expanded outward.
Though the shrine remained dark, a full moon inexplicably manifested overhead—casting moonlight downward.
The pink aura emitted by Blood Moon forcefully expelled the surrounding hatred—allowing both Aiden and Sylveon to breathe easier.
Not far away, Wo-Chien's tentacle-like eyes blinked unceasingly—as if trying to comprehend what was happening.
Only when the pink moonlight descended upon its head did an invisible pressure finally trigger panic within it.
Its body instantly disintegrated upon first contact with the moonlight—shattering into countless withered leaves and over a dozen wooden scrolls that scattered across the ground.
"Syl?!"
When Sylveon opened its eyes to see the opponent's "corpse," it let out an involuntary cry.
Huh? I… I just OHKO'd it?
But soon, it accepted reality—proudly lifting its chin.
Truly worthy of me—I'm just that strong!
"Be careful. The battle isn't over yet."
Just as Sylveon's tail threatened to curl skyward with self-praise, Aiden's calm voice came from behind.
His full attention remained fixed on the ground where Wo-Chien had disintegrated.
From his perspective, the scattered scrolls began trembling—then rapidly coalesced under an invisible force.
"S-Sylveon?!! ∑(°△°)"
Sylveon's smug expression instantly froze. A horrifying thought flashed through its mind:
'Th-th-this—this thing can't be an undying demon, can it?!'
'How am I supposed to fight this?!'
As a gust of wind lifted the remaining leaves from the ground, they swiftly recombined with the scrolls—reforming Wo-Chien's shape once more. New yellow-green eyes emerged from the base of the withered leaves, regarding Sylveon with mocking amusement.
As if to say: Is that all?
Indeed—not so simple.
Aiden sighed inwardly.
Chairwoman Geeta's intelligence was accurate. It seemed impossible to eliminate the Four Calamities through combat alone.
And logically—if brute force could solve this, the ancient Paldean Empire would never have chosen to exhaust national resources sealing them away—indirectly causing the empire's decline.
A troublesome opponent indeed.
Still, Sylveon's attack hadn't been entirely useless.
At the very least, Aiden had confirmed one crucial fact: Wo-Chien's true core must reside among those scattered wooden scrolls!
"Sylveon—use Moonblast to attack again."
Aiden made his decision instantly.
This time—as Sylveon began charging its move—Wo-Chien mirrored its action.
Clearly, while Aiden probed its "mechanics," Wo-Chien observed their behavior too—quickly reaching the correct conclusion.
Trading blows was acceptable for itself—but likely not for the human and his Pokémon.
Thus—as Sylveon launched a concentrated orb of Fairy energy toward Wo-Chien, it simultaneously extracted countless purple poisonous powders from the withered leaves—unhesitatingly scattering them toward Sylveon.
If this move connected, time itself would begin working in its favor.
Wo-Chien—possessing a degree of intelligence—thought this as it regarded its opponent with derision moments before Moonblast struck it back into fragments.
Yet——
Its previously confident expression twisted into fury the moment Aiden moved.
What is that human doing?
From the battle's start, Aiden's focus had remained locked on Wo-Chien. The instant it acted, he recognized the move it intended to use.
His motion to throw a Poké Ball halted. His other hand dove into his pocket—retrieving a Pecha Berry.
Prepared, Aiden swept Sylveon into his arms—shielding it as he popped the berry into his own mouth just before the poison powder arrived.
Though this would unquestionably be a rules violation in any official tournament outside Kanto and Johto——
His opponent was a Legendary Pokémon demanding absolute caution. This was no time for sportsmanship!
The Pecha Berry instantly neutralized the poison effect upon contact with his skin—allowing Aiden to exhale in relief.
Admittedly, his action felt odd—tossing the berry to Sylveon would've achieved the same result. But at least it gave him greater involvement.
Don't underestimate the physical resilience of humans in our Pokémon world!
Originally, he'd planned to throw the Poké Ball he'd prepared—to have another Pokémon use Protect as cover for Sylveon.
But upon confirming Wo-Chien's move was Poison Powder, Aiden made a bold judgment call.
And it was precisely this unconventional action that granted him a perfect opening.
"Now—Indeedee!"
Confirming Wo-Chien had been struck by Moonblast and scattered into leaves and scrolls once more, Aiden spoke—tossing his Poké Ball.
The slightly plump female Indeedee landed gracefully—her feet immediately emitting an invisible Psychic field that swept across the shrine's floor.
"Use Trick—swap Wo-Chien's core with what you're holding!"
Aiden pointed toward where Wo-Chien had vanished.
From Wo-Chien's seemingly casual behavioral shifts, Aiden had discerned it possessed a degree of intelligence.
Thus—as planned—they needed to end this swiftly.
Otherwise, once dragged into a protracted war of attrition, as his Pokémon's stamina waned and his trump cards were revealed, Wo-Chien would inevitably grow familiar with his patterns—his chances of victory dwindling to nothing.
Indeedee would only get one surprise attack. The moment she appeared, Wo-Chien's attention would lock onto her.
Of course, Aiden's improvisation carried risk.
He hadn't identified which scroll was Wo-Chien's true core.
But unlike him, Indeedee was exquisitely sensitive to emotions. She would succeed!
And even if she failed—no matter. If the opportunity was wasted, they could simply retreat.
"Ind——"
Hearing Aiden's command, Indeedee—who'd just pulled a Mental Seed from her pocket and instinctively moved to eat it—halted her action.
She glanced uneasily at the scattered scrolls—then instantly locked onto her target.
Such concentrated hatred——
What could have happened to it… to generate such staggering negativity?
If my appetite equals one Kangaskhan's… the hatred saturating this space rivals the total volume of Paldea's entire ocean!
Had I followed Trainer's original plan and tried absorbing this negativity… I'd likely have gotten stomach cramps after just a little.
Trainer must have realized this too—that's why he only asked me to locate its core.
This part… isn't actually difficult.
"Indeedee!"
Indeedee no longer hesitated. Using her Psychic power, she locked onto the scroll emanating the strongest negative emotions—and employed the move "Trick" to swap it with the Mental Seed in her hand.
Suddenly deprived of its core's guidance, the other scrolls' coalescing motion faltered—scattering back to the ground alongside the withered leaves.
In Indeedee's hand now rested a bizarre scroll wreathed in eerie black mist, its surface carved with crimson characters resembling blood.
Merely holding it—Indeedee, hypersensitive to negative emotions—was instantly flooded with countless foreign memories. Her face turned deathly pale.
S-so terrifying!
Has human society truly witnessed such darkness?!
Noticing Indeedee's expression, Aiden immediately snatched the scroll from her grasp.
Perhaps my initial plan was too reckless.
For Indeedee's well-being… she shouldn't handle the Treasures of Ruins.
But strangely——
Though Indeedee reacted so intensely… Aiden felt nothing holding it himself?
As Aiden pondered this, his peripheral vision caught the scrolls and leaves writhing toward his feet. He glanced at Indeedee beside him.
Still shaken, Indeedee instantly understood—unleashing the Psychic-type move "Expanding Force" to blast all the scrolls away.
Sylveon too swung its ribbons—rapidly firing Swift to clear the area.
Yet the seemingly fragile scrolls remained intact after repeated attacks—persistently inching toward Aiden.
Leaving cleanup to Sylveon and Indeedee, Aiden focused on the black-misted crimson scroll in his hand.
Step one is complete… but the next challenge feels infinitely harder than the battle itself.
Unless the negativity within this scroll is completely purged… taking it away would be meaningless. It might even recreate the tragedy of a millennium ago.
But——how?
Thinking of purification, several Pokémon came to mind:
The move "Purify" learnable by Mareanie? Or status-cleansing moves like Haze or Clear Smog?
No… none of those would work.
Beyond similarly named moves, he could only think of more… unconventional options:
The Sacred Fire only Ho-Oh and Entei could wield? A Legendary's flames would render human malice insignificant.
The emotion-specialized Lake Guardians—Uxie, Mesprit, Azelf?
Shaymin—capable of conveying gratitude after awakening?
Darkrai—absorbing nightmares, perhaps sharing common ground with scrolls?
Celebi—able to rewind time, restoring the scroll to its unpolluted state?
Many options existed—but all shared one trait: summoning them now was utterly impractical.
Though Aiden had encountered numerous Legendaries… none of these were remotely familiar to him.
The most feasible short-term solution might be contacting Entei through Marshadow lurking in his shadow.
But since Marshadow hadn't appeared… the Three Beasts were likely unreachable for now.
After much thought, Aiden seemed out of options.
Yet just as he focused on the scroll in his hand——
A line of small text suddenly flashed before his eyes.
[Calamity Tablet (???)]: An ancient Eastern treasure passed down for millennia. After absorbing excessive human negativity, it transformed into a disaster Pokémon inherently brimming with malice.]
The system can even identify this thing?
Aiden's eyebrows lifted—he instantly realized he'd fallen into a misconception.
Though the system had reemphasized purifying the Treasures of Ruin… it never specified he had to do it himself.
Which meant——
Could I just… submit it directly?
Worth a bold attempt.
After brief deliberation, Aiden stopped hesitating. He focused his mind—accessing the system interface—and submitted the Calamity Tablet through the quest panel.
The next moment, the black-misted scroll vanished from his hand. The system interface before him transformed anew.
[Detected Quest Item: Calamity Tablet]
[Quest Item Upload Successful]
[Hidden Quest "True Path of Legends" Updated]
[Current Objective: Defeat and purify all four Treasures of Ruins, restoring the true forms of these Eastern mysteries. (Progress: 1/4)]
[Reward: Designated Item ×1, Dispensing——]
[Reward: Calamity Tablet (Purified) ×1]
As the notification arrived, the oppressive malice saturating the air instantly vanished. The pitch-black shrine brightened slightly.
Even the scrolls Sylveon and Indeedee had blasted away disintegrated into dust alongside the withered leaves—dissipating on a sudden gentle breeze.
Then—a faint tactile sensation in his palm drew Aiden's attention back from surveying the surroundings.
There—in his hand—lay a Calamity Tablet identical in form… yet utterly devoid of black mist.
That's it?
Aiden's heart jolted—he instinctively furrowed his brow.
Somehow… this low-key system seems far more powerful than I imagined.
Even Ho-Oh—capable of wielding Sacred Fire that incinerates all—would presumably need to subject the scroll to flame to purify it.
But just now… nothing happened. I merely submitted the item to the system—and instantly received a fully purified version.
Compared to purification… this feels more like a factory reset——
But now wasn't the time for such thoughts.
Under Sylveon and Indeedee's curious gazes, Aiden focused on the newly purified Calamity Tablet for several seconds—before two more lines of text abruptly appeared:
[Calamity Tablet (Purified)]: An Eastern treasure nearly three thousand years old. It records a historical episode long buried in dust.]
[In the 25th year of Duke Xiang's reign, Cui Zhu assassinated his lord——]
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