Read advance chapters for both of my work, exclusively on Patreon at - www.patreon.com/Sniperwoof
-----------------
At 11:10 AM, Sato finally emerged from Kade's room.
The joyful grin he had been wearing inside quickly faded from hi face, replaced by a calmer demeanor. Still, a trace of delight lingered in his eyes, clearly indicating that he was in an excellent mood.
It wasn't surprising—anyone would be thrilled after gaining a greats mentor and receiving an extraordinarily generous gift as a disciple's tribute.
Even someone with less composure might have been dancing with joy by now.
Sato had received an exceptional variant of a Sky Splitting Stone from Kade. This gem, roughly the size of a baby's fist, was diamond-shaped and emitted a greenish-blue glow.
Occasionally, white air currents swirled around it, giving it a mystical aura.
The Sky Splitting Stone is intrinsically linked to Rayquaza, one of the legendary Pokémon of Hoenn.
According to the system's appraisal, this stone is a crystalline formation produced within Rayquaza's body after it consumes meteorites.
Such stones are typically found only atop Sky Pillars scattered across the globe and are exceedingly rare.
While its origins might not sound appealing, the stone is essentially the condensed remains of meteorite debris expelled from Rayquaza's body.
It gains its final form after absorbing an immense amount of Flying-type energy at the summit of a Sky Pillar. Its rarity and value, however, are beyond dispute—it is a relic born from the body of a true, legendary Pokémon.
The Sky Splitting Stone greatly enhances a Pokémon's affinity for Flying-type energy, making it an extremely precious artifact.
The one Sato received from Kade was a top-tier specimen. Perhaps even Sato or Kade himself did not fully understand just how rare and valuable that stone was.
This particular stone had remained within Rayquaza's body for centuries and had absorbed untold amounts of Flying-type energy atop a Sky Pillar, undergoing profound changes.
Mutated Supreme Sky Splitting Stone Effects:
- Enhances the wearer's affinity with Flying-type energy.
- Grants the effect of the move Agility permanently, allowing the Pokémon to move at high speeds without expending any energy.
The downside of this stone is similar to that of the Mutated Supreme Blue Water Stone—it can only be used by Flying-type Pokémon. While this limitation restricts its versatility, it pales in comparison to the stone's benefits.
Undoubtedly, any Flying-type Pokémon wearing this stone would dominate in terms of speed, gaining an unparalleled advantage in aerial combat.
For now, Sato's Golbat and Shiny Wingull could both use it. Whichever Pokémon he chose to give it to would see their combat capabilities leap to a new level.
From Sato's current perspective, the stone could compensate for any potential weaknesses the Shiny Wingull might have after evolving into a Shiny Pelipper.
However, Sato felt that leaving such a valuable item with the Shiny Wingull would be wasteful. Only a Pokémon that could serve as a core ace of his team deserved such a treasure.
"Dragonite or Salamence… Only these two Pokémon are truly worthy of this Mutated Supreme Sky Splitting Stone," Sato thought as he sat in a small auction hall, wearing a white mask crafted from a Ditto.
Gazing at the glowing stone in his hand, he clenched his fist. When he opened it again, the stone had disappeared without a trace.
Next, Sato pulled out a thick book from his spatial equipment. The cover bore a title written in flamboyant characters: "The Encyclopedia of Stones."
Apart from the Sky Splitting Stone, this book was the most valuable treasure Kade had gifted him.
Authored by Kade himself, the book contained his lifetime's research on various stones, making it an invaluable compendium of knowledge.
To put it bluntly, anyone who mastered even a fraction of its contents would already be a professional stone expert. For Sato, this book represented a form of inheritance, a priceless treasure.
Sato had begun to understand Kade's intentions. Kade had laid out his entire collection of stones, and Sato had recognized every single one.
Clearly, Kade had been impressed by his passion for and knowledge of stones. The gifts of stones were merely a pretext—what Kade truly wanted was a successor to pass on his life's work.
He didn't want his entire life's efforts to go to waste and couldn't bear to give it to someone who didn't truly understand it or appreciate its value.
Why didn't Kade pass this inheritance to Steven?
The answer was simple: Steven, as the most outstanding son of the Devon Corporation president, was destined to inherit the company. Even if Steven were reluctant, taking over Devon was inevitable—a matter of course.
Kade's expertise in stones wouldn't hold much significance for Steven, who had no shortage of wealth or resources.
Realizing this, Kade saw Sato, a humble young man with a deep passion for stones, as the perfect candidate to carry on his legacy.
Kade was confident that even if Sato could only learn a fraction of the knowledge within the book, it would be enough to ensure a comfortable life.
The book not only contained detailed information about various stones but also subtle hints about where to find rare ones—knowledge and experience that were invaluable.
In fact, Kade had originally intended to pass this book to his son or grandson. Unfortunately, neither of them shared his enthusiasm for stones.
Giving it to them would only allow it to gather dust. In Sato, a promising kindred spirit, Kade had found the ideal recipient.
The book was still incomplete. Kade's only request to Sato was that he help fill in the blank pages and, if possible, write a sequel to "The Encyclopedia of Stones."
"Such dedication… Rest assured, as long as I'm capable, I will fulfill this wish," Sato vowed solemnly, staring at the thick blank section in the middle of the book.
Naturally, disciple tributes go both ways. The only item Sato possessed that might interest Kade was a top-tier Premium Water Stone.
Although it pained him to part with it, he decided to offer it as his tribute.
However, Kade didn't accept the Premium Water Stone. Instead, he only asked Sato to help complete "The Encyclopedia of Stones" in the future.
Kade's generosity and enthusiasm for stones deeply moved Sato, leaving him profoundly grateful. This was not just a mentor's kindness but a significant one at that.
Sato earnestly agreed to Kade's request.
Surprisingly, agreeing to this request triggered a new system side quest for Sato.
...…
[Ding!]
[Side Quest: Kade's Legacy]
[Objective: Help Kade complete "The Encyclopedia of Stones."]
[Current Completion: 51%]
[Reward: All of Kade's treasured stones.]
[Penalty for Failure: None.]
...…
The sudden appearance of this side quest both shocked and delighted Sato, solidifying his resolve to honor Kade's wishes.
Compared to another troublesome side quest, Sophia's Mission, this one seemed like a blessing.