Chapter 235: The Voice of Another World and the Strange Ball

【Task Completed!】

【Your sincerity has resonated with the Connected Tree! The Connected Tree has sensed a new will—the decaying branches are slowly growing!】

【Obtained: Release Jade ×2, Artistic Talent ×1, Insect Inspiration ×1!】

In the instant two more jade stones appeared in his backpack, Guang Tai felt certain flashes of insight surging, bursting, and sparkling within his mind.

Deep understanding of all things, and further, the ability to express them in unique forms—this is the vital role Artistic Talent plays in creation!

Changes in creativity, imagination, emotion, and inspiration were profoundly evident.

In that moment, the world before him seemed entirely different.

【Obtained: Artistic Talent—Color Artist!】

【Description: —Do you know why this world has so many colors—white, black, red, green, blue, yellow? They exist to collide and mix with a thunderous roar, birthing new hues! The world is a painting of countless colors!】

【Effect: Color Application +200%. You can express your emotions and imagery through color, gaining unique power in depicting light and shadow, and becoming acutely sensitive to the subtle, ever-shifting world of light and shade!】

【Note: Talking about color in a black-and-white world? Combined with Mythic Painting Craft, it may trigger unusual phenomena.】

【Obtained: Insect Inspiration—Pure Heart!】

【Description: A unique power from the Insect Artist, allowing better observation of Bug-type Pokémon and drawing unusual inspiration from their daily behaviors. Art is a pure thing, merging with nature, free of all distractions.】

【Effect: Worldly Echo +10%. Insects can consume impossible psychic energies; even weak insects sense natural sounds and presences more keenly, for living by instinct, they can transcend conventional limits.】

Effect: Insect Favor +50%. When entering a Bug Catching Contest, Bug-type Pokémon are more likely to approach you voluntarily, and your partnered Bug-type Pokémon grow stronger.

【Note 1: There is a 10% chance of obtaining strange items unobtainable or uncraftable in the main world. If focusing intensely and channeling strong mental power, you may also hear “echoes” and “whispers” leaking from other dimensions—through the Connected Tree’s influence, this power can be temporarily shared with your partners.】

【Note 2: Your bond with the Connected Tree has grown slightly tighter. Insects must cling to trees to live.】

【Craftable Item: Strange Ball.】

【Description: A ball derived from certain Poké Balls, seemingly craftable without Poké Ball manufacturing techniques. In capture, it appears identical to ordinary Poké Balls. Its true effects remain a mystery.】

“Amazing! Inviting you to challenge me was absolutely the right choice—I gave it my all, with no regrets.”

“My Pokémon performed brilliantly too—their entrance poses, the instant their moves clashed with yours, their roles in battle, even their final defeat—if this were a script, every moment could write a heart-pounding story.”

At this moment, Arti was in the throes of an inspiration explosion, his excitement impossible to contain. As he gave his three Pokémon basic care, Guang Tai handed him a useful potion.

Arti: “What’s this?”

Guang Tai: “Super-effective healing ointment—exclusive to me. Medicines are also battle tools, vital for post-battle recovery.”

“Emergency Jelly. It’s bitter, but an extraordinary remedy.”

If anyone else said this, it might sound like boasting—but from Guang Tai, it carried undeniable weight. Arti, curious, gave the Emergency Jelly to his three Pokémon—and astonishing things happened immediately!

Within three minutes, all three Pokémon’s five stats, HP, and PP recovered to peak condition!

Better than any Revive Shard or Power Item available in stores!

“Oh! My artistic partners—you’re alright!”

Arti embraced his three Pokémon, stunned beyond words. Others descending from the audience also murmured in awe.

President Shinno: “Hmm, while our company hasn’t focused much on healing potions, the difference in efficacy is visible! This is clearly stronger than Power Items! This potion must be extraordinary.”

Guang Tai: “Yes. It requires many rare herbs, high-quality Energy Cubes, Bananaberry, Vital Root—and most importantly, the Lost Four-Leaf Clover.”

“Of course, the potion has side effects—but if we develop a diluted version, the side effects would lessen. Still, the side effect is merely a three-hour period of physical fatigue afterward.”

“After all, this potion infuses Pokémon with life energy for emergency healing. Afterwards, their bodies must adapt to this vibrant energy—that’s why they need ‘rest.’”

Arti: “Lost Four-Leaf Clover?”

He muttered twice, suddenly recalling a peculiar lucky clover he’d once seen.

Huh? Could it be…

“Why call that grass the Lost Four-Leaf Clover?” Nari asked, puzzled. Guang Tai replied seriously: “Because the four-leaf clover you found differs from ordinary lucky clovers, yet looks identical to them.”

“Four-leaf clovers are already variants of three-leaf clovers—rare to find. A four-leaf clover with miraculous medicinal power is even rarer—a gift from the forest. It appears before people’s eyes, yet its power remains unknown, like a phantom herb forgotten by the world.”

Nari’s eyes lit up, clapping her hands:

“I think that name’s perfect—let’s call it the Lost Four-Leaf Clover.”

“Also, congratulations on defeating Young Master Arti! I enjoyed watching immensely—I learned a lot, and so did Scyther.”

Scyther nodded beside Nari, its eyes still glowing with unspent excitement.

Whether challenger or challenged, both had shown tremendous power—when would he and Nari ever possess such strength?

Only long, relentless training and refinement could bring it.

But someday, he and Nari would surely become the ultimate Steel duo—this was Scyther’s conviction.

“Wait—the Lost Four-Leaf Clover? Is that a special plant in Yashira Forest?”

Arti stroked his chin: “I think I’ve seen it before—a four-leaf clover glowing with a faint light. I thought it was strange, but a Bug Pokémon snatched it away. I never realized it was such a precious herb?”

“Forest’s gift…” President Shinno’s squinted eyes grew troubled.

If it were an ordinary herb, the company’s wealth might secure it from plantations or Arti’s Fly Cloud Gym—Arti’s gym, after all, was practically a botanical garden, bred for Bug Pokémon.

In fact, most Bug-type gyms and Elite Four members liked to decorate their bases this way. Rumor even said the Bug-type prodigy from Johto did the same.

But if it’s a gift from the forest, large-scale cultivation is impossible.

Yashira Forest has will—it has voice. President Shinno, an old man who frequently traveled between Yashira Forest and Fly Cloud City, regarded the forest as sacred.

For within it dwelled the legendary Sword Saint.

Long ago, President Shinno had witnessed Biliqiong’s emergence—he knew Biliqiong had awakened in Yashira Forest. That ancient forest always thought in silence; the older he grew, the more he felt its invisible power.

“Hmm… we can’t obtain the Four-Leaf Clover. But high-quality Energy Cubes are also valuable—only top-tier Breeders or Evaluators can craft them. Our company probably can’t hire such masters.”

In the Pokémon world, if battling was the primary profession, then breeding and healing were second only to it.

Of course, a Pokémon Professor was true T0.

“President, Hoenn has a powerful machine for crafting Pokémon Cubes—no Evaluator needed. Full name: ‘Poké Cube Set’—composed of a Portable Berry Mixer and Poké Cube Container. We could import Berry-growing pots from Johto. According to research, this machine makes berry cultivation remarkably easy.”

“And there are large Berry-mixing machines—apparently, every Hoenn Grand Festival venue has several, for contestants and staff to craft Pokémon Cubes.”

Miss Hui whispered the suggestion into President Shinno’s ear.

She was well-traveled, having learned much from the Black Market, where goods from other regions constantly circulated.

Moreover, due to the Black Sky Tower’s existence—corresponding to the White Hollow—powerful Trainers from overseas came to challenge and hone their strength. It was a city of desire, where news and items updated daily.

But Unova lacked such machines because… it had no Grand Festivals at all!

No demand, no market!

Before Plasma Group appeared, Unova’s residents lived for “battle thrill,” each with Ash-level intelligence.

This frenzy for battle was a key reason Plasma Group thrived—Ghetsis gathered Pokémon harmed by humans, feeding them N’s belief that humans were evil, making Big N’s childhood tragic.

Though globally renowned Pokémon Hollywood and BW Entertainment Company existed, “performing arts” and “Grand Festivals” were entirely different directions.

“Oh! There’s such a great machine? I know—it must be a Dewin product!”

“We must import it immediately!”

President Shinno smelled opportunity. Yes—battle items had always been essential. Healing Pokémon also healed humans.

Even if we couldn’t replicate Guang Tai’s Emergency Jelly, developing a “diluted version” of new healing potions could make the Battle Company a fortune…!

But money meant little to President Shinno. What mattered was keeping the Battle Company’s core focused on “battle”—its founding principle. If everything turned toward profit, better to enter energy.

Most powerful corporations in this world began with energy.

“Thank you both! This Gym battle truly dazzled me!”

After entrusting these matters to his business assistant, President Shinno shook Guang Tai’s and Arti’s hands vigorously—his excitement was genuine.

“Battle items wielded unparalleled power, actively guiding matches toward certain outcomes! Even Berries do! Hmm—I have new development ideas and directions. The Battle Company’s future is brilliantly bright!”

Guang Tai: “No, battle outcomes are uncertain. More items make battles more strategic. Some items are obvious, easily seen; others are hidden.”

“After items became digital, people can no longer see item traces on digital Pokémon—making battles mysterious and unpredictable.”

“That’s my view.”

President Shinno stroked his beard: “Oh! I only saw the surface. Regardless, these new items have indeed overturned part of battle mechanics!”

Natural items enhancing type power, even some developed items like “Power Bands” boosting move strength, weren’t rare. Gem items were pricier but still purchasable.

Yet mechanism-based items were extremely scarce. If we added these…

Guang Tai thought—this didn’t even include dungeon items. If we added those bizarre dungeon items, like the Phantom Cloak I mailed to Agatha, when the opponent uses Dragonite, it could pull off an illusion.

Entering with a cloak of the same color and brand, making the opponent believe it carries the Phantom Cloak, thus avoiding Ice-type moves.

Then it becomes rock-paper-scissors—psychological warfare becomes vital in Pokémon battles. But reckless Trainers? No need to worry about them—pure fools like Ash have their own unique style. In short—it’s all about presence.

Still, item proliferation is inevitable. Though now rare, only simulated in digital battles, if time stretches infinitely…

For example, the genius boy from Galar invented the Machine Hound—a device for recycling items.

And Unova, one of the Pokémon world’s most technologically advanced regions, later developed the “Item Printer” at Blueberry Academy—an incredible machine. Its design was Blueberry Science Society’s secret; at the time of the Blueberry Academy incident, the Society was patenting it.

At this moment, the age of artisans officially ended. An ancient era closed. Humanity entered the age of technology and extreme innovation.

Guang Tai: “The future…”

President Shinno: “Hmm? What’s on your mind?”

Guang Tai: “Nothing. I was just wondering—what will Pokémon battles look like in the future?”

Arti: “Ha! It’ll be an unimaginable era! Clashing battle items will birth entirely new forms of art!”

“And as proof of your victory over me, this must be given to you!”

Arti pulled out a green, shimmering badge shaped like an insect’s wing!

【Obtained: Beetle Badge!】

【Description: Symbol of defeating Fly Cloud Gym. Designed as an insect’s wing—beautiful. Holder of the Beetle Badge! Fight bravely, like an insect!】

【Effect: One of the proofs to enter the Pokémon League—a reward item. No other effects. Perhaps usable as decoration. Striking all eight badges in sequence produces a C major tone.】

【Note 1: The Connected Tree congratulates you on completing this Gym challenge. Though Young Master Arti strongly invited the battle, this Gym match differed from ordinary ones. As a genius artist and Fly Cloud Gym Leader, Arti used his main Pokémon—and still lost. Yet in the process, he gained countless rays of artistic light! These are priceless treasures, beyond victory or defeat!】

[Note 2: The Connected Tree has linked to the Bug Badge! Acquired knowledge—Insect Friends!]

[You can summon wild Pokémon insects; they will instantly understand your heart, regard you as a friend and leader, and assist you with simple tasks, functioning similarly to a "Hunting Cursor." Insect Pokémon friendship increases by 100%, respect by 30%.]

"My heart is now brimming with inspiration! Yes! I’ve caught it! This time, I’ve truly caught it! I will create a great work!"

"The Dance of Ashes, The Forest of Light, The Brave of the Storm, The Tyranny of Fury, The Strike of the Divine—there are so many paintings I must create!"

"Ah! I’m getting excited, but before painting these works, I want to see the piece you plan to create—the one about the Burning Insect! The ancient-feeling artwork set to be displayed at the Feiyun Gallery!"

(End of Chapter)