A B-rank crafting technique!
Hikaru was pleasantly surprised. So far, all the crafting techniques he had obtained were either C or D rank, but this was his first B-rank skill. He was eager to find out what incredible artifacts he could create with it.
And sculpting, huh? One of his family's traditional skills happened to be carving, so this technique would surely improve his craftsmanship.
As for the mysterious artifact recipe, it did not disappoint. The Clear Bell was a legendary item in the games, used to summon Suicune or Ho-Oh, and it was considered a precious ancient relic. However, the materials needed to craft it made Hikaru fall into silence.
How do you create the Clear Bell? → Find Suicune and Ho-Oh.
How do you find Suicune and Ho-Oh? → Create the Clear Bell.
…Was this some kind of infinite loop?
As for the crafting technique itself, it would probably unlock automatically once he gathered the necessary materials or obtained related knowledge.
In the game, Ecruteak City did not have a known bell craftsman, but if anyone knew something about it, it would probably be the five Kimono Girls at the Ecruteak Dance Theater.
Alternatively, the mysterious young man Eusine, who relentlessly pursued Suicune, or the elder in Pewter City, who held the Silver Wing, might also know something.
As the flood of new information settled, Hikaru's vision returned to normal. He stood up.
"I'm heading to the ruins to take a look."
"Oh! You've bought quite a lot of supplies, but you haven't seen the ruins yet, huh? Well then, allow me to accompany you!" Volo grinned. "As I said before, I'm currently staying here as a merchant and guide."
Volo never missed an opportunity to gather intelligence and enthusiastically volunteered to join Hikaru. He then suggested,
"In fact, why don't we have a Pokémon battle in front of the ruins? Who knows? Perhaps Arceus itself is watching us."
Yeah, sure… He probably says that to everyone who visits the ruins.
However, Volo suddenly grew nostalgic.
"A long time ago, I had one chance—inside a shrine in my homeland. I battled someone there, and something extraordinary happened."
"Hmm… I want to recreate that moment. Maybe you're a Trainer chosen by the gods."
Hikaru glanced at the mountain elder, wondering how he would react.
The old man simply chuckled.
"In the legends of Shinto, there are indeed tales of heroes challenging the gods and receiving their blessings. According to our myths, people received their lives from Pokémon and entrusted their lives to them in return. Perhaps this refers to Pokémon battles."
Hikaru had never battled before, nor was he a registered Trainer in the League. He truthfully responded,
"I'm a craftsman, not a Trainer. I came here to search for materials, not to battle."
Then, he turned to the mountain elder and made a request.
"I'd like to take some stones from the ruins—collapsed bricks or fragments from the site."
The old man opened his eyes slightly and replied with a calm voice,
"The ancients established a quarry in this valley, including the area where this cabin stands. This place was originally meant for stone extraction. When the ruins collapsed, large amounts of debris scattered throughout the area. Over time, they blended into the land, becoming indistinguishable from regular rocks."
"Whenever researchers visit, they take a few stones for study. If you're looking for materials, you should check the fallen pillars at the ruins."
The ruins' collapse could have been caused by many things—natural disasters, human interference, or even a Pokémon's wrath.
"Thank you," Hikaru said sincerely.
...
Arrival at the Ruins of Shinto
Hikaru and Honedge set out toward the ruins, with Volo eagerly tagging along.
Along the way, Volo enthusiastically shared information about the ruins, Sinnoh's myths, and ancient verses he had discovered.
This confirmed Hikaru's suspicion—Volo had indeed found several ancient verses, but he admitted he had only read five so far.
Before long, the two of them—and a floating sword—arrived at the Ruins of Shinto.
The massive pillars stood broken, eerily similar to Spear Pillar on Mt. Coronet. Meanwhile, the flat-topped temple strongly resembled the Ruins of Alph in Johto.
The legendary stage for summoning gods was said to be inside, but Hikaru did not enter right away. Instead, he searched the surrounding area and found several square-shaped ruin stones.
Immediately, new system information appeared in his mind.
[Rare Material: Ruin Stone (From the Ruins of Shinto)]
Description: Debris from an ancient ruin, possibly useful for crafting.
[Crafting Technique Unlocked: 1]
[Ruins Carving Technique (B-)]
Allows the creation of relief carvings, stone etchings, architectural features, statues, and talismans with an ancient ruin aesthetic.
Studying ruins in person allows for quicker mastery of their carving styles.
Different ruin styles grant different buffs.
[New Craftable Item: Symbolic Plate]
Another B-rank crafting technique!
Hikaru hadn't expected Ruin Carving to be a B-rank skill, but now he was even more intrigued by the Symbolic Plate it could create.
What kind of artifact could it be?
He collected five ruin stones and stuffed them into his backpack, feeling their weight.
For an ordinary human, this would be excessively heavy, but as someone born in the Pokémon world, this level of burden was manageable. Still, he felt he should train more to improve his endurance.
As they entered the ruins, Hikaru couldn't help but marvel at his own strength.
Seriously, carrying all this weight and only feeling "a little heavy"?
And then there was Volo, a man from ancient Sinnoh, who wandered everywhere carrying an enormous backpack—he was either a weightlifting master or had pocket-dimension powers.
"That is the legendary Stage of Light," Volo said as they stepped inside.
The triangular platform bore dim, ancient markings, and each of its three corners was inscribed with a massive symbol.
"These symbols correspond to mythical Pokémon—Dialga, Palkia, and… Giratina."
Unlike Cynthia, who had needed extensive research before recognizing these patterns, Volo identified them instantly.
"I've studied this place for some time now. The researchers from Johto also suggested that bringing the Pokémon matching these emblems to the stage might trigger something—but that's just wishful thinking. Ah, I must be getting sentimental."
Volo returned to his usual cheerful demeanor, while Hikaru secretly criticized the misleading stage design.
It made people think they needed to bring those three Pokémon, but in reality, none of them were required.
The ruins carried a distinctive architectural style, unique to ancient Shinto. As Hikaru walked around the stage, nothing happened—just as expected.
However, by observing the engravings and reliefs, he unlocked the Shinto Ruins Art Style.
[Crafting Style Unlocked: Shinto Ruins Aesthetic]
Effect: Slightly enhances the mental power of humans and Pokémon, while also reducing accumulated fatigue.
"You've been staring at everything thoughtfully. Did you discover something?" Volo asked eagerly.
Hikaru shook his head. "I was just studying the sculpting techniques."
"Ancient ruins… ancient artistry… Wouldn't it be fascinating to recreate this in modern times?"
"Oh? Sounds like you're planning to rebuild a shrine or museum!" Volo's curiosity was piqued.
But Hikaru had already stepped off the stage, while Volo began to ponder deeply.
So… he wasn't chosen by the gods either.
But a battle would make things clearer.
Regardless, befriending a skilled craftsman had no downsides.
Volo's thoughts concluded. He returned to his usual grin as they stepped outside.
"Since you've never battled before, isn't this the perfect opportunity? Don't worry, I won't use anything too strong."
"After all, as a craftsman, you'll run into wild Pokémon during fieldwork. Learning how to battle will help you survive."
"As a bonus, after our match, I'll offer a discount on rare materials next time—20% off!"
Hikaru sighed. He had to admit, Volo had a point.
"Alright. Since you're so insistent, I accept."
Volo smirked and pulled out a Poké Ball.
"Show your power before Arceus! My Pokémon is… come forth, Gible!"
(End of Chapter)
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