?
After reading the text that had appeared before him, Aiden slowly typed out a single question mark.
Is this… correct?
Why would such a straightforward historical record appear within the Pokémon world's framework——
Still, events from a millennium ago were impossible to verify in the present. Aiden—familiar with this particular history—merely pondered it briefly before refocusing on the ancient wooden tablet in his hand.
[Calamity Tablet (Purified)]
[With a millennium of accumulated human desire erased, this Eastern treasure has regained the noble spirit and integrity of its ancient creators.]
[When held, automatically triggers the "Tablets of Ruin" Ability—lowering the Attack stats of surrounding creatures.]
[Note: Throwing the tablet will temporarily restore Wo-Chien's power, making it your loyal ally. (Exclusive to Aiden)]
Oh wow—there are illegal items like this?
Aiden was momentarily speechless—his expression growing complex.
But then again—considering his system had previously produced absurd items capable of manipulating real-world weather… perhaps a tamed Treasure of Ruin wasn't that unreasonable.
Since he hadn't yet left Grasswither Shrine, he might as well test the tablet's effects right here.
Aiden thought for a moment—then gently tossed the tablet forward.
It clattered against the ground—emitting a crisp sound before glowing with yellow-green light.
In an instant, the very same Wo-Chien reappeared before him.
"S-Sylveon?!"
Sylveon—who had just breathed a sigh of relief at the opponent's disappearance—immediately recoiled at the renewed oppressive presence, whipping its head around in terror toward Wo-Chien.
'Th-this thing… why won't it stay dead?!' (((°□°;)))
And it was standing so close to its Trainer!
Was its earlier disappearance a trap all along? A ploy to lower their guard before striking Aiden directly?
As this possibility dawned on Sylveon, its fear instantly transformed into steely resolve.
If that's the case—then you must be eliminated!
No one who threatens my Trainer will be forgiven!
The next second, the vanished pink full moon reappeared overhead—the atmosphere once again shifting to rosy hues.
But just as Sylveon prepared to unleash Blood Moon—Aiden reached out, placing a calming hand before it.
"Relax, Sylveon."
"It won't attack us anymore."
Aiden's voice carried quiet certainty.
Sylveon hesitated—then, meeting Aiden's earnest gaze, chose to trust its Trainer's judgment.
True to Aiden's words—until the Blood Moon aura fully dissipated—Wo-Chien remained completely still. It simply gazed upward, seemingly fascinated by the moon Sylveon had summoned.
"Indee?"
Indeedee—exquisitely sensitive to emotional energies—tilted her head in confusion, observing the docile Wo-Chien with furrowed brows.
How did Trainer do this?
Just moments ago, its body radiated terrifying hatred… yet after vanishing briefly, it now smells… delicious?
Hmm—no better word for it really.
If Wo-Chien's previous malice resembled spoiled leftovers that'd give me stomach cramps… this purified version smells like gourmet cuisine.
Just the aroma makes me hungry—I want a bite!
But… its body seems made of withered leaves. Eating it would definitely cause digestive issues——
Indeedee's expression grew conflicted.
Seeing Wo-Chien completely ignore Sylveon's hostile display, Aiden felt further reassured.
Just as the system described—purified Wo-Chien no longer harbored malice. In fact, it now seemed inclined to protect him.
If I collect all four Treasures of Ruin… would I gain several elite bodyguards?
Aiden couldn't help but muse.
Just then—as if sensing no threats remained—Wo-Chien, having fulfilled its purpose, quietly vanished. Only a single tablet remained hovering in midair.
"Indeedee—you hold onto this."
"Dee?"
Aiden's soft command made Indeedee's eyes widen in pleasant surprise. Without hesitation, she reached out and grasped the tablet.
Simultaneously, the drooping horn-like tufts on either side of her head—normally resembling buns—curled upward with palpable excitement.
Watching Indeedee's delighted expression, Aiden smiled gently.
Keeping it himself would've been fine too—but entrusting it to Indeedee might actually maximize the item's utility.
After all—this was Paldea, not Kanto where Trainers regularly joined battles themselves~
Aiden turned toward the glowing seal ahead.
With Wo-Chien resolved, it was time to return to the Gym.
But first—a progress report to Chairwoman Geeta.
"You actually solved the Treasure of Ruin issue?"
After leaving Grasswither Shrine, Aiden promptly reported his "feat" to Chairwoman Geeta—and unsurprisingly received a tone of utter disbelief.
Aiden understood completely.
After all—this was a problem Paldea had failed to resolve for a thousand years. Previous Champions had simply left it alone. Chairwoman Geeta entrusting him with this matter had been partly impulsive.
Still—problems getting solved was always a good thing.
"I'm starting to feel that once you become Elite Four… any trouble handed to you will be effortlessly resolved."
Soon, Chairwoman Geeta's voice returned—laced with cheerful amazement.
Could it be that anyone with the surname "Swift" is inherently reliable?
"This time you've truly gone above and beyond. If it's convenient, tomorrow I'll send Rika and a research team to Cabo Poco to document Wo-Chien's data."
"As promised—since you resolved this, I have no concerns about Wo-Chien remaining in your care."
"And… if you're willing—the other three Treasures of Ruin are yours to handle as well~"
Clearly, Aiden's unexpected success had greatly pleased Chairwoman Geeta.
Truly—Aiden is Paldea's blessing. With him here, the League's restoration—and even full development of Area Zero and Terastalization—must be inevitable.
Just then—a bold thought flashed through Chairwoman Geeta's mind:
What if Aiden succeeded me as Paldea's Champion? Would that benefit regional development?
But the notion vanished as quickly as it came.
Becoming Elite Four within a year was already extraordinary. Pushing him further would multiply his pressure exponentially.
A Champion wasn't merely an honor—it carried the weight of an entire region's future. Too heavy a burden for a young Trainer.
Until Paldea's mess is fully resolved… let us elders shoulder the load first. This will give him more time to find his own path as a Trainer.
Keep striving, Aiden!
With this thought, Chairwoman Geeta exchanged a few more pleasantries—then hung up.
—
Night soon fell.
Back in Cabo Poco, Aiden initiated a video call with Cynthia.
Curious about the tablet's inscription, he quickly recounted the day's events.
"So Paldea actually has this kind of legend——"
Through the Rotom Phone's hologram, Cynthia—dressed in pink loungewear—raised an intrigued eyebrow, her gaze fixed on Aiden.
"Four mysterious treasures from a millennium ago… this could greatly aid research into long-lost ancient history!"
"As for the script on the tablet—and these Treasures of Ruin from the distant Eastern Lands——I suspect Master Mustard of the Isle of Armor's Dojo would know more. Access to regions outside the Pokémon League remains quite limited."
"I've heard Master Mustard traveled extensively in the East during his youth. After acquiring those two immensely powerful Urshifu, he went on to win multiple consecutive Galar Championships."
As a rigorous mythologist, Cynthia offered professional insight.
"If opportunities arise, I'll certainly inquire."
Aiden nodded.
He was fairly acquainted with Master Mustard—but realized he'd never actually exchanged contact information with the elder master.
Surely he couldn't make a special trip to the Isle of Armor just for this question?
Best to satisfy my curiosity after collecting all four Treasures of Ruin.
"By the way—has anything unusual happened in Sinnoh recently?"
After chatting awhile longer, Aiden recalled the primary reason for Cynthia's recent "disappearance"—and asked casually.
Research on the Spear Pillar ruins was undoubtedly Sinnoh's most significant event in recent years. Beyond Professor Carolina's specialized team, even Professor Rowan's institute and numerous Gym Leaders/Elite Four members had joined the effort.
Naturally, Cynthia's workload had increased substantially.
Though—compared to her Champion duties—she might actually prefer this kind of scholarly work? (smile)
"Hmm——progress is slightly slower than hoped. But Grandmother is right—we're dealing with legendary deities here. No amount of caution is excessive."
Discussing her field, Cynthia's expression shifted to a blend of exasperation and confidence.
Truthfully—she and her grandmother believed not further investigating Spear Pillar's hidden secrets would be the safest approach.
But other researchers' perspectives couldn't be ignored. The ruins' existence was already public knowledge. Halting research now would only create openings for malicious organizations. Better to press forward decisively—reestablish contact with the deities themselves—to prevent crises altogether.
After all—until just 150 years ago, Sinnoh's predecessor (the Hisui region) had maintained direct communication with the gods. The Temporal and Spatial deities surely weren't as volatile as Hoenn's duo—they must be approachable.
Ultimately, they'd decided to continue the research.
And regarding unlocking Spear Pillar's hidden sections—they'd already gathered most necessary intelligence.
But precisely because of this—the real work was only beginning.
According to the murals, Spear Pillar was where ancient Sinnoh people directly communicated with Dialga and Palkia.
If they couldn't achieve absolute certainty——
Even a minor mishap could plunge Sinnoh into unprecedented catastrophe.
After all—beyond the openly acknowledged Temporal and Spatial deities, Sinnoh had long circulated the legend that "the Creator Deity Arceus slumbers within Mt. Coronet."
Beyond the Spear Key and the orbs corresponding to the three deities… the Lake Guardians—who occasionally approached humans to prophesy impending disasters—might also serve as crucial bridges to the divine.
Cynthia vaguely sensed this—and shared her thoughts with Aiden.
"If that's the case… why not simply visit Lake Verity, Lake Valor, and Lake Acuity to find them?"
Aiden responded promptly.
If memory served—like most Legendaries—the three Lake Guardians normally slumbered beneath Sinnoh's three geographically dispersed lakes.
In the anime, they'd even been captured by Team Galactic—who exploited their power to forge crimson chains connecting time and space.
They were undoubtedly connected to Spear Pillar.
So if they secured the Lake Guardians before Team Galactic acted… wouldn't that prevent the crisis?
"It's not that simple. Not everyone can encounter Legendary beings as easily as you, Aiden——"
Cynthia suddenly felt subjected to humblebragging—puffing her cheeks as she poked Aiden's holographic image.
Mid-sentence, her eyebrows lifted.
A bold idea struck her—Right! Aiden encounters Legendaries wherever he goes. Why not recruit him to help?
Even if no "serendipitous encounter" occurred—Aiden's insight might reveal details everyone else had overlooked!
Thus—as Aiden prepared to protest that he wasn't some "Legendary magnet"—Cynthia spoke first, her gaze burning with fervent hope.
"Aiden!"
"Come help in Sinnoh!"
"Even if you become Elite Four in Paldea—what does that matter? Return to Sinnoh and I'll immediately hand you the Champion title~"
Aiden scratched his head—baffled by Cynthia's sudden "abdication" offer.
"So the Sinnoh Champion title is just a hot potato that can be tossed to anyone without proper trials—simply by the current Champion's whim——"
Though knowing Cynthia was joking, Aiden promptly declined.
Everyone knew that while Champions often seemed idle—when true crises struck, they were always first on the front lines.
So… hard pass.
"If it's just helping out in Sinnoh for a few days… that wouldn't be a problem."
The Victory Road wouldn't open until July. For the next month-plus, beyond his Gym Leader duties, he'd only need to handle the remaining three Treasures of Ruin—and that wasn't urgent.
As for more critical matters like Area Zero exploration… those were all scheduled after the Victory Road.
So sparing a few days to assist in Sinnoh… seemed feasible.
"Then it's settled! No taking it back~"
Cynthia's cheerful voice rang through the call.
She'd known all along—phrasing it this way would guarantee Aiden's agreement.
Plan successful!
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