Chapter 36: Attack IV Has Been Raised to Maximum!

“There’s also move learning.” Guang Tai’s gaze rested on the Arceus sculpture he had carved.

The Arceus sculpture allows Pokémon to learn powerful moves only obtainable after evolution—technically illegal in battle.

But in reality, it doesn’t matter at all!

However, Guang Tai did not immediately take the Arceus figurine outside. Instead, he paused to think, then selected a fine stone and began carving a new image: Lilligant.

Not just a stone carving—he would make a wooden one too.

Guang Tai wanted to see if there was any difference between stone and wood carvings.

“Wood carving…”

Though he wished Lilligant could assist in carving, in truth it had no moves suitable for carving—not even physical traits: no sharp claws, no sturdy blades. In battle, no one ever used Lilligant.

Its pure Grass-type move coverage was simply too weak, with too many weaknesses, and its move pool was dismal. No matter how you looked at it, Lilligant was not a viable battle Pokémon.

So, she could only tend herbs and farmland—through cultivation and farming, she could still gain ability boosts and shed the label of “weak.”

And if she could obtain a Sun Stone and evolve into its Hisui form, Lilligant, everything would improve!

Time passed second by second. Guang Tai worked on carving, his movements growing more skilled, his speed increasing.

Guang Tai already possessed exquisite carving skills, enhanced further by the two ancient crafts—Ancient Carving and Ruin Carving. Making these small stone statues was effortless.

Of course, the main reason was that Lilligant’s shape was simple—far less intricate than the patterns and hollows required for Doublade or Swordfish.

Soon, the carving was complete.

“Craft: Small [Ancient Stone Statue]—Style of the Divine Capital Ruins.”

“Description: A stone statue carved in ancient style, depicting Lilligant. Enthusiasts will pay high prices for this design.”

“Craft Effect: Vitality—The statue enhances the growth of nearby plants; withered, decaying trees sprout new buds.”

This was the stone statue.

Guang Tai nodded, approving this miraculous effect. Reviving dead wood was useful for Grass-type Trainers—ideal for gardens, meadows, and forests—and useful to him too.

But it was useless to Lilligant.

Then Guang Tai began carving the wood.

Wood carving differed from stone carving, but it was also a family skill. Compared to stone, wood carving was simpler and more convenient—at least, that was how Guang Tai felt.

Yet, since no logging had been done recently, most wood piled in the house consisted of branches cleared during past tidying. Guang Tai had to search the storage for a while, retrieving old timber once stored there.

“Maybe old wood gives extra carving bonuses!” he thought.

Then he carved. After a while, a lifelike wooden sculpture was finished.

“Craft: Small [Ancient Wood Carving]—Style of the Divine Capital Ruins.”

“Description: A wooden carving made in ancient style, depicting Lilligant, embedded with fragments of ruin stone. Enthusiasts will pay high prices for this design.”

“Craft Effect: Prayer—Praying to the wood carving will cause it to respond to only one specific Pokémon, revealing a power to it.”

“Oh? Different! The wood carving doesn’t say ‘Ancient’—it says ‘Ancient’!”

Reveal power through prayer?

The effect seemed vague, but it responded only to one specific Pokémon.

“Let’s try it out!”

That day, training outside continued as usual.

Rain had fallen for two days, shifting from light drizzle to heavy downpour, then back to light rain.

Doublade had high faith in Lilligant’s potential, and Lilligant had persistently trained. Only when the rain subsided and clouds began to break, revealing patches of clear sky, did their battle finally end.

“Lil—”

Lilligant found it miraculous: training near this land always restored her stamina and energy faster. That was why, when weak, she was drawn here.

Doublade danced proudly, its two blades spinning midair, signaling that Guang Tai was a miraculous person—he crafted items with strange powers and knew knowledge others didn’t. Yet, the land’s fertility also owed much to the work of Diglett and Dugtrio!

Only now did the two blades stop fighting—because Guang Tai’s miracle was jointly acknowledged by both minds!

“Oww! (Pikachu!)”

This land was cultivated by all of them—that’s why it was so fertile!

Creak

The cabin door opened. Guang Tai stepped out, carrying the wooden carving, and placed it on the muddy herb field.

“Lil—?”

Lilligant tilted her head.

The wooden sculpture was clearly her own form—but why place it here?

“Do you have a power you wish to gain?”

Guang Tai didn’t know how to explain, so he simply asked: “This is my new carving. Its effect… well, if you have a wish, try praying to it?”

“Lil?”

The request was odd, but out of curiosity, Lilligant obeyed.

Her prayer was simple: defeat Hisuian Voltorb, reclaim her territory, and grow stronger.

As she prayed, the wooden carving of Lilligant began to glow faintly. Under the sun, the glow seemed brighter.

“Wah! O(≧ Kou ≦)O!”

Lilligant saw this, stepped back two paces in shock—and the next moment, the carving’s light, responding to her wish, bathed her in radiance.

“Oww! Oww!” Doublade was stunned too, eyes wide open on both sides, utterly confused.

Vast sunlight gathered, forming a curtain like the sun itself, converging around the wooden carving.

Intense, overwhelming light nearly blinded Lilligant.

Guang Tai squinted. The sunlight was strong, but not painfully blinding—after all, the carving wasn’t facing him directly. Still, this effect was beyond his expectations. Then, suddenly, information about the carving flooded his mind.

“The ancient wood carving responded to the Pokémon’s wish, revealing a power to it.”

“Power revealed: Lilligant’s Attack IV has been raised to maximum!”

(End of Chapter)