Chapter 2: Honedge!

Knowledge is the abbreviation for learning ability and knowledge level. By applying the knowledge obtained, one can make accurate judgments and work on the things one comes into contact with.

As for craft and technique, they go without saying; they are the bread and butter of a manual craftsman.

"This is like a game I played before..."

"Simulation management, collecting materials, making artifacts, unlocking knowledge, obtaining mysterious production notes... by building different workbenches and equipment to make various items... one can also hire assistants to help make products, and upgrade workbenches and equipment to improve production efficiency and product quality."

In Guang Tai's thoughts, those suddenly emerging knowledge pieces are still presenting themselves:

【By completing a new task for the first time, randomly learn a clue for obtaining a material and a piece of knowledge. By repeating work, one can obtain additional new knowledge.】

【Obtaining materials of different rarities will yield useful knowledge and craft techniques.】

【Obtaining materials above precious rarity will open unique craft routes, with the possibility of obtaining production clues for some unique/legendary/mysterious crafts.】

【Some crafts will trigger secret events; completing events will have special rewards.】

【When Pokémon assist in work to obtain knowledge, they will reap incredible growth.】

"There are six craft paths: carving, forging, planting, drawing, sewing, and mechanical."

"Materials... common and uncommon, rare and precious, what else?"

Guang Tai mutters to himself, feeling that dead memories are attacking him!

This ability feels like it should be prepared for those Professors. Through long-term work, one can fix ethereal knowledge into some special abilities. Guang Tai feels a little happy in his heart.

Although he is neither a Trainer nor a researcher, the special abilities brought by the growth of knowledge can undoubtedly improve his living conditions.

Guang Tai looks at this Eviolite, and a strange feeling arises in his heart. The status regarding it also appears; this is the ability brought to him by the previous "Ancient Treasure Hunter."

【Precious Material: 【Rough Natural Eviolite】.】

【Description: A peculiar stone rarely seen in nature, seemingly linked to the power of evolution. Even without polishing, it can slightly strengthen a Pokémon's defense and special defense. This unprocessed, strange stone has not yet released its full power.】

【Must be used on a Pokémon that can evolve but has not yet evolved. The stone's power will resonate with the evolvable Pokémon, thereby guiding out the Pokémon's inner potential.】

【Obtaining Clue: There is a chance to obtain it by digging in places where large numbers of Pokémon gather and live for long periods, such as forests, rocky mountains, caves, etc. In some ancient kingdoms, this stone was also used as a natural gemstone and inlaid in utensils; perhaps it can be found in ruins.】

"... Can see the basic information of items in hand."

Guang Tai touches the other crafts and artifacts in the warehouse, including stones, one by one. Although he can see some information, no new knowledge is triggered.

If he wants to obtain knowledge again, does he need to actively collect and excavate materials in the wild?

Probably?

Or perhaps the growth of knowledge is also related to the corresponding type of Pokémon, or maybe he should go back and polish all the stones in the warehouse to see?

In short, there are many opportunities to test the golden finger.

Let's take a closer look at this ancient sword:

【Craft: 【Ancient Treasure Sword】.】

【Description: An ancient sword found in nameless ruins, already covered by soil and rocks. The scabbard is rusted, making it impossible to see its original appearance. The blurred patterns on the surface seem to be of a foreign style. Perhaps it would be better to donate it to a museum.】

【Craft Effect 1: Secret clue, something might happen...】

【Craft Effect 2: When held, energy will gradually deplete (small) — legend says ancient swords absorb human life.】

Deplete energy!?

What kind of defective product of ancient handicraft is this!

It would be fine if he didn't look, but once he did, he suddenly felt his body a bit weak, and everything felt uncomfortable.

However, although this craft has problems, it actually comes with a secret clue. He just doesn't know what it will trigger. If it were in a game, it would definitely be an important item.

Afterward, Guang Tai hurriedly fetches the craftsman's set, hammer and chisel, puts on an apron, mask, and work gloves, and immediately starts prying the natural Eviolite off the sword.

Although the Eviolite looks very much like inferior jade on the outside, as long as it is carefully polished to let it bloom with brilliance, it will immediately become a precious stone representing miracles, and even a quite powerful battle item.

This magical stone only made its first appearance in the fifth generation, which is the Unova region. Long ago, this stone was thought to be some kind of jade and was ignored, but in recent years, people have gradually discovered the existence of this stone and started researching it.

Eviolite, its effect is: if a Pokémon holding this item can continue to evolve, its defense and special defense will increase by 50%! Among stone-type items, Eviolite belongs to the rarest tier.

Weak Pokémon using this stone gain durability beyond reason.

Although this is a quite precious item, Guang Tai is even a bit reluctant to sell it. But there's no way; he is currently short on funds. If he wants to live well, he doesn't need to consider these special items for the time being, let alone he doesn't have a Pokémon suitable for using it.

If a battle item is left unused, wouldn't it be completely wasted?

Better to let it go to the position where it should shine.

And after Guang Tai removes the stone, this time he really feels a bit weak. After letting go of the ancient sword, this state improves. Guang Tai shakes his head and decides to leave this sword in the basement and come back to study it later.

After Guang Tai leaves the basement, on the wall in the deepest part of the basement, there seems to appear... an eye?

A black, circular eye with a strange shape gradually emerges from the wall! The overall image looks like a black "E", and the eye is right in the middle of this letter E.

A cold aura suddenly permeates the basement. The E-shaped eye shakes, seemingly a bit scared, and then quickly sticks back to the wall and disappears again.

The source of the cold aura is the ancient sword that originally had the Eviolite inlaid in it.

"Crack!"

The sword body begins to vibrate unnaturally and emits a faint crisp sound. Along with the peeling off of the outer layer of gray soil, the blurred patterns on the scabbard gradually glow with a dark luster and become clear and visible.

Until the soil layer covering the entire body of the ancient sword is completely stripped away and turned into ash by a silvery-white energy. Before there is time to mourn the lost soil, what appears in the basement now is—

The ancient sword gradually moves horizontally from the shelf and then gradually stands upright.

The scabbard is brown with patterns—now it can be seen clearly: the patterns on the lower part are protruding and consist of three sharp ovals nested within each other, while the upper part is a pattern resembling a ghost face, as if it has three round eyes.

A long blue ribbon is tied to the end of the hilt, with a light blue end that has splits like fingers.

Now, at the very top of that ghost face pattern, in the center of the circular cutout inlaid on the sword guard, a blue eye opens!

"Yo~!"

An ethereal and strange sound echoes in the basement.

Who awakened me and injected life energy into me?

Following the call, you are my...

Where is the person?

Speaking of which, why was the gemstone on me pried off? How rude!

"Yo~?"

Honedge floats up. Although its ability is not Levitate, in the Pokémon world, some Pokémon have innate flying skills; for example, most Ghost types will float in the air. This is not a shocking thing.

It shakes its sword body to observe the surroundings, but there is no light in the basement. Honedge's eye blinks, expressing its confusion.

Speaking of which, where is this? It looks like a warehouse?

Honedge wanders around the basement, trying to leave the space it is in. Soon it bumps into the door. The sword body spins twice in mid-air, realizing that this door is the exit leading to the outside world.

Although it possesses the Ghost type, its main body is an ancient short sword, so if it has a physical form, it cannot pass through this door.

It twists the doorknob with its blue cloth strip and finds it locked... This is a matter of course; whose warehouse wouldn't lock the door?

"Yo."

Honedge's single eye stares at the closed door and starts to ponder.

This human pried the gemstone off it and awakened it.

Honedge is thinking!

Its sword body spins in place!

Honedge observes the surroundings and sees those handicrafts and materials, immediately thinking of a good idea!

"Yo!"

Knock on the door or make other sounds to attract that person's attention, hide in the crafts, and wait for an opportunity to attack!

Although this violates the knight's code and is not a knight...

But a guy without strength, a junk collector, also wants to treat it as a collectible?

This warehouse is full of strange stones and handicrafts... Ah, this human is probably some kind of treasure collector. It had seen this kind of person when it was in the royal palace before.

That merchant owned many treasures, swords like itself, huge tripods, magical jade...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 3 =====