Chapter 242: The Cosmic Meteorite of the Nacrene Museum

The fluctuations of the Trial Rock subsided.

After Xiang Guangtai left with his Pokémon, this ancient boulder returned to its original, simple appearance, causing no impact on anything around it...

Except for those martial artists who had become fanatical.

Having witnessed the powerful power released by the Trial Rock with their own eyes, they felt that training near this rock was definitely more useful than going to the "Cave of Training"!

"The next person to be acknowledged by the Trial Rock will be me!"

Someone shouted such a slogan, using twelve percent of their strength to continuously beat the Trial Rock, but the feedback they got was just blood-filled hands.

"I heard that in a distant region, there is a super move that allows the trainer's heart and the Pokémon to become one, thereby achieving unity of body and mind. Although such a move doesn't exist in Unova, if it comes to being of one heart and mind with Pokémon, I won't lose."

Kentaro gripped the medal in his hand.

Just as they were parting ways, that Psychic had handed this unique medal to him, saying it could slightly hear the echoes of the world and oneself. The other martial artists around also received medals.

He said that the number of these medals was already running low, but fortunately, materials had been obtained not long ago, so they were slightly more abundant...

Well, the materials needed by a Psychic must be extraordinary, but it also shows the preciousness and importance of the medal in hand, which cannot be placed casually.

Then this medal is useful to me!

Kentaro watched the stone in front of him with all his heart, recalling his nearly ten years of training, the ups and downs he had walked through from childhood to the present. That was the ideal, and the truth, which turned into power at this moment!

Felt it, heard a slight fluctuation!

Under the surprised gaze of the martial artists around, Kentaro and Timburr unleashed a Brick Break almost simultaneously!

Boom! The Trial Rock crumbled into countless fragments and emitted a powerful fluctuation in response to Kentaro's attack!

The power of transmission manifested from history, ideals, and truth, born within the attack!

————

That guy is handing out medals to passersby again; what exactly is he trying to do?

One of the Shadow Triad, who had been tracking Xiang Guangtai, appeared near the Trial Rock with incredible teleportation ability.

He had of course changed his attire, looking just like an ordinary martial artist. From the time Xiang Guangtai left Castelia City and crossed the Skyarrow Bridge, he had been able to walk a tightrope on top of the bridge with his super strength to approach quickly.

But once he entered Pinwheel Forest, he lost the other party's trail, as if the forest had its own will and rejected his prying. Helpless, he could only wait on the outskirts of Pinwheel Forest, and sure enough, he saw Xiang Guangtai coming out from inside the forest.

It's just that his Pokémon's appearance had become increasingly strange. Did that Torterra that looked like maple leaf color evolve in Pinwheel Forest? That weird-looking Grass-type humanoid Pokémon also had an extra floral crown on its head.

Because getting too close would be sensed by Aura, he could only track from a very far distance, so he couldn't know what Xiang Guangtai did at the Trial Rock. He only knew that he distributed some medals, and the martial artists around became quite fanatical...

"Can I borrow your medal to see?"

The Shadow Triad member, disguised as a martial artist, requested from a martial artist. The other party generously gave him the medal. The moment that medal with special material was in his hand, the feeling of self-questioning that had arisen in his heart before was born again.

It was as if some power was "transmitted" from the martial artist in front of him, through the medal, into his body and soul!

What is this power... This power?!

The Shadow Triad member looked at the medal in his hand in disbelief.

At the same time, the Pawniard he released beside him also felt something and looked up at its "master" in astonishment.

"... What's wrong? Do you have something you want to say?"

Although he was smiling on the surface, in fact, this master of his was "expressionless." Pawniard immediately lowered its head in nervousness and fear, but it also had curiosity.

What was that echo just now? It seemed to have heard a little bit of its master's inner voice?

And this question was also the problem that the Shadow Triad member was thinking about at this time.

That guy who was paid attention to by Lord N—his medals were indeed not distributed randomly!

There is a problem with this medal!

It can make people and Pokémon's thoughts gradually approach!

It can slightly deepen the bond between humans and Pokémon!

The material looks like copper or iron, but in fact, it is not.

This matter is very important and must be reported to Lord Ghetsis. But on second thought, this thing can only slightly influence people's hearts.

There is no need to be afraid of such things. Even if it is given to more people, confusion still occupies the upper hand in people's hearts in this world. Team Plasma only needs to guide it slightly, and then use Beheeyem's memory manipulation to very quickly overwrite this little bit of bond.

"Ah, this medal is truly incredible; I seem to have deepened my bond with my Pokémon... Here, give it back to you."

The Shadow Triad member handed the medal back. He didn't directly take the martial artist's medal. This wasn't because he didn't want to be a robber, but because doing so would easily attract attention.

Before stealing, one must make full preparations. If the situation of Team Plasma were to be investigated because of a small matter, it would be a loss that outweighs the gain.

"Buddy, your Pokémon is Steel-type, so it can't attack the Trial Rock."

"Ah, it's okay, it's okay. In fact, I'm going to Nacrene City, just came here to take a look." The Shadow Triad member said goodbye to those martial artists, then took Pawniard, turned around a tree, and disappeared immediately.

"I have my own way to get a real medal, Nacrene City..." The Shadow Triad member began to plot. He felt strange himself; in the past, he would carefully follow the leadership and orders of Ghetsis and N, and would never do anything outside the plan, but now he longed to get a medal of his own.

Perhaps he would hand this medal over, let Lord Ghetsis secretly send people to attack, slander, or interfere with that outsider, or perhaps he would keep it himself. The Shadow Triad member thought so, and couldn't help but glance at the Pawniard beside him.

This Pawniard was not his original Pokémon.

It was a Pokémon distributed to him after he pledged allegiance to Ghetsis. At that time, the Shadow Triad, including himself, were all like this. Pawniard was their identity proof and appearance symbol. This Dark/Steel-type Pokémon made them very satisfied.

A strong person walking in the darkness, a blade as hard and sharp as steel.

For so many years, he had taught this Pawniard very well. Even if he let it block a fatal blow at a critical moment, it would not have the slightest complaint. Pokémon are like this; they are very useful tools at necessary moments, and they are loyal and powerful.

"You, you did well last time; the timing of blocking the attack was very accurate."

The Shadow Triad member suddenly whispered, and only realized it after he finished speaking. Pawniard looked at its master in surprise.

Eh... was that a compliment just now?

However, no matter how much it looked at the Shadow Triad member with longing eyes, the latter would not say another word.

Pawniard lowered its head in disappointment and continued on its way.

It must have been an auditory hallucination just now.

Probably.

I am a tool; no one will praise a tool, because doing the job well is the tool's duty.

But in fact, the Shadow Triad member was also surprised.

As a tool himself, how could he praise another tool?

It must be the power of that medal; it is influencing... no, perhaps he had already been secretly influenced when he approached that person. Like Acroma's Beheeyem, that target human must also have Pokémon or tools that influence others' will!

"My loyalty will never waver; all your actions will be observed by me and then summarized to Lord Ghetsis and N."

"Then... I must find out where the gap in my heart comes from, where that feeling of waking up from a nightmare comes from..."

————

【The Tree of Connecting has sensed a new will and is growing slowly!】

【People's will has been transmitted, and a "Power of Transmission" has been born!】

Xiang Guangtai of course did an important thing: distributing some medals to those martial artists. After all, he had obtained new Release Orbs through the Gym battle before.

As for the shattered Trial Rock, Xiang Guangtai also took it away. These rocks have unique life power, just like the stones around the Trial Rock; even if they leave the main body, they can continue to exist and will not lose energy because of this.

Xiang Guangtai decided to use the rock's mystery to cultivate these stones well, so he embedded part of the stones into the soil on Torterra's back.

And the remaining part was packed in his backpack, so that it could be made into the three types of amulets he had just learned about.

Hard Amulet, which can reduce damage from all sources.

Power Amulet, which can increase the damage of all attacks.

Fragment of Time, which is the Cosmic Amulet. The effect is unknown, and it cannot be made with just Star Pieces; it also requires an Adamant Orb.

Pinwheel Forest is not far from Nacrene City, and since setting off from Castelia City, it was already evening when he arrived in Nacrene City.

People in the city were talking to each other, and other "backpackers" who came from outside were excitedly running around the city.

"Nacrene City is a very fashionable city. Properly grounding it will make the city's temperament even better!"

"Speaking of Nacrene City, the well-known Soco Café, which is fashionable and has a rustic atmosphere, is a must-visit check-in point! I heard there are discounts on Wednesdays and Saturdays!"

"There are painters, artists, musicians, designers, poets, singers, maids here..."

"A group of young people full of hope transformed unused old clothing factories and warehouses into art studios. This is the origin of Nacrene City being called the City of Art."

People talked and passed each other. Sometimes they would look at Xiang Guangtai, who was with a group of Pokémon, with surprised eyes, but after seeing Xiang Guangtai carrying a large backpack, and even the Pokémon carrying things, they didn't pay too much attention.

What is it? Turns out it's just a backpacker!

So the topic shifted slightly...

"It is said that Professor Juniper, who is famous in Unova, and her father were also backpackers before..."

"Eh? Then maybe I can become a professor too!"

Voices like this rose and fell, gradually fading away. Of course, some people came up to talk because Xiang Guangtai's Pokémon were too rare, which allowed Xiang Guangtai to gain a lot of information about Nacrene City.

"Nacrene City, 'Nacrene' means seven treasures. It is a revitalized town built using warehouses from about 100 years ago. From the tracks scattered around the town, it can be seen that Nacrene City may have been an important transportation and freight hub in the Unova region, which is why there are railways and a large number of warehouses."

"At the same time, because the idle warehouses were opened to artists, it is also called the City of Art. Burgh of the Castelia Gym is actually from Nacrene City. When he is free, he will return to a warehouse here to create art..."

Unlike the exaggerated colors in the animation, the Nacrene City in front of him was indeed closer to the color scheme in the game world. Only that kind of retro-ism + classical style could be called architectural art.

One of the purposes of coming to Nacrene City was to find the furniture designer, Miss Miss Zitan. She could make dream furniture. Although I don't know how she did it, and she probably doesn't have that power now, at least it can show one point: she is not an ordinary person.

Some NPCs with specific functions in the game will become characters with unique powers when they come to reality.

Miss Miss Zitan should be easy to find. Xiang Guangtai remembered that she should have a warehouse studio, as long as he asked around a little...

There is also a second purpose, which is Mesprit's request.

Is there a Pokémon trapped in a nightmare in Nacrene City?

This is content that has never appeared in the game, and it has not been mentioned in the animation.

However, speaking of nightmares, one must mention Darkrai.

In the entire Black/White generation, although there are records of Darkrai in the game, there is no way to obtain it. However...

In the distribution of the Black/White era, there was indeed a card pack called "Dark Explorers," and Darkrai was distributed for this card pack.

At the same time, a Darkrai was distributed for an airline...

Why is it an airline?

Airline and nightmare...

There is only one aviation point in the Unova region: Mistralton City.

And the location reached by Skyla's plane in Mistralton City is Lentimas Town.

On the edge of this town, which is famous for pottery, there is a lonely fifth-generation haunted house, which is the Strange House.

At the same time, the prototype of Lentimas Town is the Pueblo people of North America...

Speaking of tribes, what is important is of course "soul"!

Hmm, it looks very suspicious. Perhaps there is really an unknown Darkrai in Unova, but Mesprit mentioned that there are two Pokémon related to nightmares?

"Although I was asked to go to the Nacrene Museum, at this time the museum is already..."

Xiang Guangtai planned to follow the address given by Burgh to find that special art warehouse. That was the rest house where Burgh created art here before. Of course, it doesn't matter if he doesn't find it. Finding a place to use Secret Power, the space created might be more comfortable than a hotel.

This is a move unique to the Hoenn region, a must-have trick for traveling away from home.

"Did you see it? The museum lit up with aurora in the evening before..."

"How could this be? Isn't aurora a natural phenomenon that only appears at the poles?"

Aurora, aurora, if it's not at the poles, why do you call it aurora?

"Actually, it's not. As long as... atmosphere, magnetic field, high-energy charged particles..."

"Ah, that kind of thing couldn't appear casually, I didn't feel any high-energy particles..."

The passersby's conversation reached Xiang Guangtai's ears. Although it was night, the streets were still full of people. They excitedly talked about the peculiar celestial phenomenon they had just seen and began to pull out various ancient legends about Nacrene City.

Something about famous paintings in the warehouse being spirit-connected, something about ancient ghosts reappearing, or the town itself possessing the power of time, etc. Nacrene City has a long history, so there are many legends.

Soon, Xiang Guangtai found the "Art Warehouse," near the railway, and there was an empty warehouse being prepared next to it. Several guys were discussing whether to open a warehouse store here. However, the Pokémon Center is next door. If it opens in the same location, can the business get better?

And Xiang Guangtai also saw someone with something like a duel disk tied to his arm, as if he was about to start "My turn" and draw a card in the next second!

In fact, that is the "Wonder Launcher"!

Using this device, you can consume the points of the Wonder Launcher to use items during the battle. It is a form of battle unique to the Unova region. Of course, this form of battle has not become popular in other regions.

At this time, according to the guys on the side of the road, the Wonder Launcher is not yet perfect and can only launch items such as accuracy boosts and power boosts. However, the most attractive ones are the three launchers: "Ability Summon," "Ability Guard," and "Item Knock Off."

"This device feels very promising... If it is a product developed by the Battle Company, I should go to President Shinnosuke to ask for one."

As long as you use mechanical knowledge to modify it slightly, there are many things this thing can do in battle.

Ah, it's better to make it directly into a TCG card launching item. At that time, you can really have a "duel" on the spot!

Using the radio technology of Team Plasma and Team Galactic, you can make the item "Red Card," and naturally you can also make more card items.

Xiang Guangtai pondered these interesting things and arrived at Burgh's warehouse. Other people also live in the rooms in this warehouse. Although the inside of the warehouse is a large room in the game, it has been modified now, and everyone has their own private cubicles.

Xiang Guangtai walked into the room.

This warehouse is quite large, full of graffiti, but there are also many famous paintings!

And the other residents in the warehouse seem to be away. According to the warehouse manager, they all went to Castelia City to see the art exhibition.

"Miss Miss Zitan didn't go too, did she?"

Xiang Guangtai pondered, and decided to look for her tomorrow.

Then, the work tonight is...

Derusting the Giant's Key, cultivating clover on Torterra's back, making special medicines, and at the same time using the Trial Rock's Star Pieces to make two amulets, making more medals, and some machines.

So... Xiang Guangtai first took out a die. The die was thrown on the table, quickly unfolded and extended an antenna, emitting layers of yellow ripple barriers.

【Mechanical Product: Radio Shield.】

【Description: An item used by the International Police for anti-interference and anti-signal tracking. It can interfere with abnormal radio waves and block harmful information when necessary.】

【Effect: Release a radio shield, say no to bad information!】

"To prevent Team Plasma's tracking machines, using a radio shield is necessary."

————

Inside the Nacrene Museum, which is both a history museum and the Nacrene Gym, Gym Leader Lenora is staring at a cosmic meteorite.

Her husband, Assistant Curator Hawes, described in detail the incident of the anomaly before.

"The meteorite from the universe has cosmic viruses attached to it, but investigations show that those viruses should have... died."

"And these cosmic viruses will not have any impact on humans or Pokémon, which is why it is exhibited here as an exhibit. This meteorite has 'deactivated.' Theoretically, it is impossible for it to emit high-energy particles."

Lenora is making a video call to Professor Juniper, explaining the situation here. Aurora appeared over the Nacrene Museum, which might attract the attention of some thieves. They might think there are treasures in the museum and come to steal...

So Lenora asked her husband to strengthen the security around the museum.

【"Since it came from the universe, it must carry some cosmic energy. Perhaps that energy was just dormant before."】

【"It's possible that there are Pokémon that came from outer space along with the meteorite. Regarding this type of Pokémon, there is already a lot of evidence to support it. The universe is also one of the origins of Pokémon, and the origin of some Pokémon is closely related to meteorites..."】

Professor Juniper in the video call does not seem to be in her own laboratory, but is exploring somewhere in the wild:

【"If you are really worried, let me come and help you study it. It just so happens that I am investigating Pokémon in the Wellspring Cave near Nacrene City. Speaking of which, although this cave is a bit small, it gathers incredible power. I found Mystic Water here, and also..."】

Having received Professor Juniper's guarantee of help, Lenora breathed a sigh of relief, but at this time, Assistant Curator Hawes was surprised again:

"Honey! Look! The meteorite is reacting again!"

"Its surface is emitting light. The fluctuations of these light waves are very intense. Is it transmitting any signal outward?"

Now, Professor Juniper also saw the activity of the meteorite in the video call. She pinched her fair chin, her expression lost in thought.

【"... Reacting to some signals? But there was no abnormality just now, right?"】

【"... Lenora, what's wrong with you?"】

Professor Juniper in the phone looked nervously at the Gym Leader in front of her, while Lenora, as the Gym Leader, was holding her head in great pain, and her husband Hawes was the same!

"I have some memories appearing, memories of history... Why? I saw a strange Pokémon, yellow head, gray body, two tails, it gave us memory and wisdom... I, what am I saying?"

"No, it's that meteorite, that meteorite is trying to 'speak'!"

"Dream... dead dream... resentment... the dream that was not born... I saw the cosmic starry sky... Why refuse..."

Professor Juniper was very nervous: 【"Hold on, Gym Leader Lenora! I'll come to you right away!"】

【"Related to dreams... this is a terrible incident!"】

(End of Chapter) ===== CHAPTER 243 =====