Chapter 2: The Lone Scabbard!

Knowledge is a shorthand for learning ability and level of understanding, used to make accurate judgments and perform tasks based on acquired information.

Craft and technique, needless to say, are the hallmark skills of artisans.

“This feels like a game I used to play.”

“A simulation management game where you gather materials, craft items, unlock knowledge, and obtain mysterious crafting notes by building different workbenches and equipment. You can also hire assistants to help with production and upgrade your workbenches and equipment to improve efficiency and product quality.”

In Guang Tai’s mind, the sudden surge of knowledge continued to unfold:

【By completing a new task for the first time, you randomly gain a material acquisition clue and a piece of knowledge. Repeated tasks yield additional new knowledge.】

【Obtaining materials of varying rarity grants useful knowledge and craft techniques.】

【Obtaining materials of Precious rarity or higher unlocks unique craft paths, potentially revealing crafting clues for unique/legendary/mysterious items.】

【Certain craft items trigger hidden events; completing these events yields special rewards.】

【When Pokémon assist in work and gain knowledge, they experience incredible growth.】

“There are six craft paths: carving, forging, cultivation, painting, sewing, and machinery.”

“Materials… common and uncommon, rare and precious—what else?”

Guang Tai muttered to himself, feeling as if his dead memories were attacking him!

This ability felt like it was meant for researchers. Through prolonged work, vague knowledge could be solidified into special abilities. Guang Tai felt a flicker of joy.

Though he was neither a Trainer nor a researcher, the special abilities gained from increasing knowledge would undoubtedly improve his living conditions.

Guang Tai stared at the strange stone, a peculiar feeling rising within him, and its status appeared—this was a power granted by the former “Ancient Treasure Hunter.”

【Precious Material: [Rough Natural Strange Stone].】

【Description: A rare stone found in nature, seemingly linked to evolution. Even unpolished, it slightly enhances a Pokémon’s Defense and Special Defense. This unworked strange stone has yet to unleash its full power.】

【Must be used with a Pokémon capable of evolution but not yet evolved. The stone’s power resonates with the Pokémon, unlocking its latent potential.】

【Acquisition Clue: Dig in places where many Pokémon gather and live long-term—forests, rocky mountains, caves, etc. In some ancient kingdoms, this stone was regarded as a natural gem and inlaid in artifacts; perhaps it can be found in ruins.】

“.I can see the basic information of items in my hands.”

Guang Tai touched each other craft item and tool in the warehouse, including the stone. He saw some information, but no new knowledge was triggered.

To gain more knowledge, must he actively gather and excavate materials in the wild?

Probably?

Or perhaps knowledge growth is tied to Pokémon of corresponding types? Or maybe he should polish all the stones in the warehouse?

In any case, there are still many opportunities to test this power.

Look again at the ancient sword:

【Craft Item: [Ancient Sword].】

【Description: An ancient sword found in an unnamed ruin, covered in dirt and rock. The scabbard is rusted, its original form unrecognizable. Faint patterns on the surface appear foreign in style. Perhaps it should be donated to a museum.】

【Craft Item Effect 1: Hidden clue—something may happen.】

【Craft Item Effect 2: While held, stamina gradually drains (minor)—legend says ancient swords absorb human life.】

Drain stamina!?

What a defective piece of ancient craftsmanship!

He felt fine until he looked—now his body felt weak, uncomfortable everywhere.

Though the craft has flaws, it carries a hidden clue—unknown what it triggers. In a game, this would be a key item.

Guang Tai quickly fetched a craftsman’s set: hammer, chisel, apron, mask, and work gloves, then began prying the natural strange stone off the sword.

Though the stone looked like low-quality jade, once carefully polished to reveal its luster, it instantly transformed into a precious stone symbolizing miracle—a powerful battle item.

This strange stone first appeared in the fifth generation, the Unova region. Long ago, people mistook it for ordinary jade and ignored it, but recently, some began discovering and researching it.

Evolution Stone: When a Pokémon carrying this item evolves, its Defense and Special Defense increase by 50%! Among stone items, the Evolution Stone is among the rarest.

Weak Pokémon using this stone gain extraordinary durability.

Though this is an extremely valuable item, Guang Tai hesitated to part with it—but he had no choice. His funds were tight; to live well, he couldn’t afford to keep special items idle, especially since he had no suitable Pokémon to use it on.

If a battle item sits unused, isn’t it completely wasted?

Better let it shine where it belongs.

After removing the stone, Guang Tai truly felt weak. Once he let go of the ancient sword, the feeling eased. He shook his head and decided to store the sword in the basement for now, to study it later.

After Guang Tai left the basement, a pair of… eyes seemed to appear on the far wall.

A black circular eye, shaped strangely, slowly emerged from the wall. Its overall form resembled a black “E,” with the eye centered in the middle.

A chilling aura suddenly filled the basement. The E-shaped eye flickered, as if frightened, then quickly pressed back against the wall and vanished.

The source of the chilling aura was the ancient sword, now stripped of its Evolution Stone.

“Crack!”

The blade began to vibrate unnaturally, emitting faint crisp sounds. As the outer layer of dirt and rock peeled away, the blurred patterns on the scabbard gradually glowed with a dark luster and became clearly visible.

Until the entire layer of dirt covering the ancient sword was completely stripped away, turned to ash by a silver-white energy. Before mourning the lost earth, what now stood in the basement was—

The ancient sword slowly slid off the shelf, then gradually rose upright.

The scabbard was brown, patterned—now clearly visible: the lower half featured raised, interlocking sharp ellipses; the upper half resembled a ghostly face with three round eyes.

At the pommel end hung a long blue ribbon, its tip pale blue and split like fingers.

Now, at the top of the ghostly face, within the hollowed-out design embedded in the guard, a blue eye opened!

“Yoo~!”

A hollow, eerie voice echoed through the basement.

Who awakened me? Who infused me with life energy?

Answering the call, you are my…

Where is he?

Why did that human pry off my gem? So rude!

“Yoo~?”

The Dujianqiao floated upward. Though its trait isn’t Levitate, in the Pokémon world, some Pokémon naturally fly—most Ghost-types hover, nothing surprising.

It swayed its blade, scanning the surroundings. The basement had no light. The Dujianqiao blinked its eye, expressing confusion.

Where is this place? Looks like a warehouse.

The Dujianqiao drifted around the basement, trying to escape. Soon it bumped into the door, spinning twice midair, realizing this door was the exit.

Though it has Ghost typing, its body is an ancient short sword—solid, unable to pass through the door.

It twisted the blue ribbon around the doorknob—locked. Naturally. Who leaves a warehouse door unlocked?

“Yoo.”

The Dujianqiao ’s single eye fixed on the closed door, thinking.

That human stole my gem and awakened me.

The Dujianqiao is thinking!

Its blade spun in place!

The Dujianqiao surveyed the room, spotting the craft items and materials—suddenly, an idea struck!

“Yoo!”

Knock on the door or make noise to draw the human’s attention—hide among the crafts, then strike!

Though this violates knightly code, not knightly—

A weakling, a junk collector, dares treat me as a collectible?

This warehouse is full of strange stones and craft items… Ah, this human is probably a treasure collector. I’ve seen such people in the royal palace.

That merchant owned many treasures: swords like me, giant cauldrons, magical jade…

(End of Chapter)