Chapter 147: The Black Metal Ruins are a Smelting Plant

Rare stones again! Mr. Daigo's eyes lit up first, but seeing Xiang Guangtai's speechless expression, he immediately reined himself in and coughed a few times in embarrassment.

It couldn't be helped; he had just heard news of precious stones. His instincts as a gemstone collector were urging him on!

Moreover, there was news of the Steel Titan and the legendary Black Metal. Mr. Daigo was very eager to see it. If possible, buying it with money would be the most cost-effective way—wasn't it just a matter of defeating Registeel?

Mr. Daigo looked away, but soon fixed his gaze on the pile of "gift stones" Xiang Lei had brought.

What kind of stones were those? He hadn't seen them before either!

Mr. Daigo was truly overjoyed. He had harvested more new stones in this one trip to the Divine Capital than he had digging in Hoenn for half a year!

He crouched down to study the strange stones. Xiang Guangtai also took a look and found that they seemed to be... they looked like ordinary stones on the surface, but now that he had mastered the Dao of Rock and advanced petrology knowledge, he could tell at a glance that these stones were different.

Xiang Guangtai walked over and picked up a stone.

【Rare Material: Grit Stone】

【Description: It looks like an ordinary stone on the outside, but it possesses magical power. It is an incredible rock that can raise a Pokémon's Grit Level.】

Xiang Guangtai: "This... this is a Grit Stone?"

Mr. Daigo: "Eh? You recognize this too?"

Xiang Guangtai: "... I recognize it again. It is indeed a magical stone that can raise... well, its effect is similar to the wooden carvings I sell in my shop!"

Mr. Daigo's expression turned solemn.

"In that case, these stones are quite valuable!" He began to ponder; he didn't seem to have any "goods" in his possession that could match the value of these stones.

He had to exchange for some of these stones to take back to Devon!

Moreover, Xiang Guangtai's knowledge was truly profound, and he always encountered such rare stones. Could it be that his luck in digging for stones was maxed out?!

His meeting with Xiang Guangtai was truly fated.

Xiang Guangtai was also deep in thought.

The Grit Level raised by Grit Stones could be viewed as an increase in Effort Values plus base stats; they were extremely powerful special stones!

Xiang Guangtai clicked his tongue. He hadn't expected the Ursaluna to bring such things from the depths of the forest. If Grit Stones were used as precious stones and gifts for Regirock, then what kind of thing would that larger stone Xiang Lei described so abstractly be?

It wouldn't be a giant Grit Rock, would it?

Xiang Guangtai couldn't judge what it was, but he could be certain it wasn't any kind of Evolution Stone.

As for Mossy Rocks and Icy Rocks... it didn't look like those either.

"Alright, just to be safe, let's go ask Registeel first and see if it's willing to help," Xiang Guangtai and Mr. Daigo formulated their plan. They also asked Xiang Lei in confusion why the Steel Titan wasn't willing to help restore the land, or if there was some reason it hadn't revealed.

"Gau-chi!"

Xiang Lei scratched its head.

Of course it had said so, but the Titan just kept hammering away with meaningless rhythms and muttering strange things about how if one wanted something, one should come and take it. In short, it just wasn't willing to help.

"Regi..." Regirock began to think.

Although Rock-types were generally considered to be brainless, Regirock often thought about useful things. For instance, it now guessed why the Steel Titan wouldn't hand over the Earth Plate.

Perhaps it was because... it wanted to "create ore and change the geological environment nearby."

Registeel had done this a long time ago; after all, it was the one that taught the ancient humans how to enter the Iron Age. However, its personality was very stubborn; perhaps it was reminiscing about the past settlements, or perhaps it just wanted to forge something.

"Smelting high-quality steel?!"

This time, it was Xiang Guangtai's eyes that lit up!

High-quality steel was a necessary item for raising Steel-type Pokémon. If Registeel really had such an intention, wouldn't its Black Metal Shrine be a natural steel mill!

Perhaps it could even produce a unique metal—not Black Metal, but an item called "Composite Metal"!

"I must become friends with it!"

Xiang Guangtai muttered. Regirock's shrine could become a place for trading stones, helping him create various ancient rocks and mine different minerals, while the Black Metal Shrine could process these minerals quickly. Then, what kind of ability would the Icy Shrine have?

Would Regice be an ice sculptor? Or was it really just a giant refrigerated warehouse?

Xiang Guangtai thought of the Craft of Ruin.

Couldn't this craft be put to use right now?

He could fully survey the surrounding terrain. If the Earth Plate could change the geological environment, could it even move the land or the locations of buildings? Just like in the myths and legends where the Titan Regigigas dragged continents with ropes...?!

With various crafts and special items combined, they could create incredible effects. Xiang Guangtai was already fantasizing about such results, or perhaps by using labyrinth-building techniques, he could create a few "shortcuts."

If he could capture a Melmetal, that would be even better! This Pokémon had been worshipped since ancient times for its power to produce iron!

Black Metal Ruins.

Registeel was organizing the various "relic facilities" inside the shrine. Unlike the crude Rock Shrine of Regirock, the Black Metal Ruins contained a large number of forging and smelting tools, such as anvils, giant hammers, crucibles, files, iron tongs, fire pits, casting molds, and ancient charcoal that had long since turned to ash.

The giant statue in the center had been transformed into a massive steel furnace. Despite being a Steel-type Pokémon, it didn't fear fire, which would make any other Steel-type Pokémon who saw it exclaim that it was impossible.

Placed beside the Giant's Furnace was a palm-sized, light-brown stone plate—it was the Earth Plate, radiating power. Registeel stared at the plate, thoughts swirling in its mind.

This was an item passed down from the age of myth, originating from the Divine Capital Temple, though that temple should also be in ruins by now.

Only by having this plate could it continuously catalyze the birth of forging minerals around the shrine, even though the people who once loved forging were no longer there... but the shrine was still here!

Registeel felt a trace of loneliness.

The lifespan of an Eternal Pokémon was too long, while the lives of those humans were too short. All the friends who had learned forging from it had passed away after one long sleep. That sense of emptiness, anger, and helplessness struck its heart, leaving it on the verge of losing control!

The Steel Furnace couldn't burn either; all that charcoal was useless. It had to make this shrine operational again.

Without humans needing it, without work, without being needed...

The forest here would be burned into charcoal, and the land would be turned into iron-ore strata suitable for smelting!

It would wait until those humans returned! No Pokémon was allowed to approach this land!

"Bip-bip-bip—!"

The symbols on Registeel's face flashed. Sensing a familiar, powerful aura, it immediately grabbed its iron hammer and walked out of the shrine, seeing the Ursaluna that had returned, only this time, the giant bear had brought a bunch of helpers!

Humans!

Registeel discovered Xiang Guangtai and Mr. Daigo, but its attention quickly focused on Xiang Guangtai, because Xiang Guangtai gave it a feeling that was quite familiar—that's right, the same feeling as those blacksmiths!

You, are you also a blacksmith?

"That's Registeel, and it's really carrying an iron hammer!"

Xiang Guangtai was also slightly shocked by this fact.

This "Giant Hammer" of yours probably isn't legal, is it?

"Bip-bip-bip—Regi—"

Registeel looked at Regirock beside Xiang Lei. It was very surprised, questioning Regirock why it hadn't seen it for so long, yet it was now hanging out with a wild Pokémon and intending to attack its shrine?

And what was up with Regirock's look? It was covered in glowing moss—was it cosplaying as Regigigas?

"Registeel, we want to borrow the Earth Plate from you. We can exchange it with special items. What do you need?"

Xiang Guangtai stepped forward to negotiate. Regirock also helped to persuade it from the side, but after the light points on Registeel's face flashed frequently, it gripped its hammer even tighter!

If you want it, come and take it with your own strength!

"Regi—" Regirock spread its hands.

Well, the negotiation failed. It still intended to decide the outcome with force; after all, it had a stubborn personality and wasn't easily swayed.

"Mr. Daigo, do you have any suggestions for fighting a Steel-type Pokémon?"

Xiang Guangtai looked at the Steel-type expert beside him.

"Most people only think Steel-type Pokémon are good at defense, but if they convert that defensive energy into offensive power, it becomes a terrifying force." Mr. Daigo stared closely at the strange giant before them:

"A Trainer I know also has a Registeel. Registeel concentrates its Steel-type energy when it fights. Its body is very sturdy and won't take damage from most attacks, but it is slow. Steel-type Pokémon fear Ground, Fighting, and Fire-type moves. But from what the Ursaluna said earlier, this Registeel is extraordinary; Ground and Fire moves don't hurt it."

"As for Fighting..." Mr. Daigo looked at the giant hammer again.

There was a high wall between fighting bare-handed and fighting with a weapon.

"Thump, thump—" Regirock suddenly stepped forward. It showed a desire to fight, the first time since it had met Xiang Guangtai.

"Rock... Steel-type Pokémon aren't afraid of Rock-type moves; they have little effect... Wait, that's it! Regirock knows Hammer Arm!" Mr. Daigo's eyes lit up.

Xiang Guangtai also nodded:

"I choose you... no, I'm counting on you, Regirock!"

"Regi—!"

Regirock raised its arms high. After spending so many days in the workshop, its strength was completely different from what it had been a thousand years ago. Facing a giant of its own kind, Regirock decided to fight it personally!

"Take this." Mr. Daigo took a special stone from his belt. It looked like it had burn marks on it. Xiang Guangtai was a bit confused, and Mr. Daigo smiled and explained:

"Regirock has the power to dig for stones to repair itself. It can absorb the energy within rocks, so I think this stone should have some effect on it. This is a Meteorite Shard. At Devon Corporation, Meteorite Shards obtained from Meteor Falls are used as sources of powerful energy."

Xiang Guangtai took the Meteorite Shard; it felt warm to the touch. This was also an item from the games.

"Then, just to be safe, let's use this too." Xiang Guangtai took out a "Life Orb"!

(End of chapter)