Chapter 75: The Giant

In the forest, scattered light fell upon the ancient giant.

A towering figure stood quietly not far from all the Pokémon.

Regirock, the Rock Mountain Pokémon.

Its entire body is composed of gray and orange rocks, with a “H”-shaped pattern of seven orange dots on its forehead.

It has two thick rock arms, each hand formed from massive gray stones, shoulders built of tall, spiky orange rock protrusions connected by fragments of rubble.

Its torso is a columnar rock, uneven and rough, with two orange patches above the left chest and right leg; its legs are short. Three sharp spines of orange rock rise from its back.

According to legend, it was one of the Pokémon created by Regigigas using crystallized rock energy.

Like Guang Tai, all the Pokémon—whether Skitty, Bellossom, Plusle, or Minun—grew tense!

“Mamaru!”

Sinnoh Minun recognized the stone giant before it—the very creature that had caused the forest’s recent commotion!

It had been digging up rocks, hauling stone, and invading many Pokémon habitats, but fortunately, it cared nothing for the habitats themselves—only took the rocks and left. As long as the Pokémon didn’t attack first, it wouldn’t retaliate.

Double-Edge translated Minun’s words to Guang Tai, who kept his gaze fixed on the rock giant.

Just as the stone slab had foreseen—the legendary giant had truly come!

Add to that, when he had visited the Rock Mountain Ruins earlier, he had already noticed Regirock was not there.

And those stones within the Rock Mountain Ruins—Guang Tai now understood.

Dammit, he had taken many stones from the ruins. Though only a small portion, would this legendary giant grow angry because of it?

But he had once pulled out the statue of Celebi—would that effect, reducing attack probability, work on legendary Pokémon?

Rock-type Pokémon are extremely weak defensively, yet the legendary giants’ power cannot be underestimated. In every region, legendary giants exist—though the Sinnoh region seemingly lacks legends of them.

In the Kanto region, three legendary giants dwell within the World’s Origin Tree; perhaps those three are Kanto’s giants, never having encountered humans, thus never sealed, remaining active within the tree to this day.

“Sinnoh’s giant? Or Shen’s giant?”

In ancient times, the people of Sinnoh and the people of Shen had interacted; they lived in the Shen region and built many temples. Perhaps at that time, three giants had followed Sinnoh’s people here and once lived alongside Shen’s people.

“Regi.”

Regirock stood motionless like a statue, its entire body covered in scars, as if it had just endured several battles.

Then, it raised its right arm toward Guang Tai.

Guang Tai thought it was about to attack; Double-Edge immediately stepped forward, ready to block!

Here it comes!

Steel-type has an advantage over Rock-type. Even if it’s a legendary Pokémon, at least I can hold out for a few rounds?!

But the expected attack never came.

Embedded in Regirock’s raised right arm was a very beautiful flower.

“Regi—”

Regirock made a sound, and at that moment, Guang Tai suddenly sensed Regirock’s thoughts.

It was the ancient crystal’s knowledge: “Crystal Heart”—capable of communicating Xinling with ancient Pokémon.

In Guang Tai’s perception, the forest fell utterly silent. Sunlight scattered across the giant’s form; its raised right hand offered him a bouquet, and within its mind echoed one phrase repeatedly.

After giving the flower, we are friends. Don’t worry—I mean no harm. A flower is a symbol of friendship.

“The legendary giant wants to be friends with me?”

“No hostility?”

Guang Tai thought of the ruined Rock Mountain Ruins—and a wild idea suddenly struck him.

Come to think of it, had this legendary giant been searching for him all these days?

Could it be?!

“Regi—”

Regirock, seeing Guang Tai hesitate, made another sound, reaffirming its lack of hostility.

At the same time, it seemed slightly agitated.

Finally found it—it said!

Guang Tai stepped forward. Double-Edge faintly understood Regirock’s words; though surprised, it remained cautious and hurried after Guang Tai. Bellossom also immediately bounded over, tense!

The two Pokémon and the human Guang Tai reached the giant’s front.

Guang Tai took the flower—it was truly beautiful.

The ancient giant offering a flower to a human—this scene gave Guang Tai a strong sense of déjà vu from Castle in the Sky. And the flower was—

【Rare Material: Grassia Flower.】

【Description: On birthdays or anniversaries, it is sometimes tied into bouquets to express gratitude—a rare flower symbolizing thanks.】

【Crafting Skill Obtained: 1】

【Special Crop Cultivation (C+): Enables better cultivation of rare crops you’ve seen. Flowers grown through this technique emit wondrous fragrance, greatly increasing Pokémon friendship.】

Guang Tai took the flower, stunned. Regirock lowered its arm.

The ancient giant had a massive rock body, but Guang Tai noticed many gashes and cracks across its surface. Regirock seemed to sense Guang Tai’s confusion, but did not answer immediately. Instead, it removed a piece of orange-red stone from its chest.

The orange-red stone was embedded in Regirock’s chest. Since that area was naturally orange, Guang Tai had not noticed it was a repair.

It offered the stone to—Bellossom.

“Wawa?!”

Bellossom jumped back, unsure what the giant intended. Regirock’s H-symbol flickered—it noticed Bellossom’s hesitation, so it offered the stone to Guang Tai instead.

It was a gift.

It had seen the battle just now.

To fight to protect its kind, to understand the meaning of guardianship—this is good. Therefore, this stone will help Bellossom grow stronger.

Guang Tai sensed Regirock’s intent and suddenly realized something—he quickly took the orange stone!

【Rare Material: Sun Stone.】

【Description: A magical stone that triggers evolution in certain Pokémon, like the sun itself.】

【Crafting Skill Obtained: 1】

【Environmental Carving Craft (C+): Enables carving unique patterns into caves or temples, calming Pokémon. When combined with soil from different regions, it creates localized “terroir environments.” Different carvings influence resident Pokémon.】

“This is the Sun Stone!”

Though Sun Stones can be mined from strata, only wild Sunflora carry them naturally.

Thus, some speculate Sun Stones, like Moon Stones, are rare meteorites fallen from beyond the sky.

The legendary giant Regirock digs up stones everywhere to repair its body—so finding rare, unique stones is entirely normal!

Regirock’s H-symbol flickered.

“Sasha, shali, sha”—Regirock made a different sound than before.

Regirock trusted Guang Tai, for Guang Tai had been blessed by the Forest God.

“The craftsman blessed by the Forest God”—Guang Tai understood Regirock’s words and paused in surprise.

Regirock was making a request.

It truly had come for him!

Having seen Celebi’s shrine repaired, it began searching for him—but never left the forest, so it didn’t know where he had gone.

Until today, it found his footprints and arrived at this ruin orchard!

Earlier, battles among forest Pokémon caused the temple to collapse. So it awoke, drove out the intruders—the giant bear, the black giant, the mantis.

After driving them off, it began gathering massive stones to rebuild the temple. But along the way, it was constantly dragged into fights. That mantis kept showing up to challenge it—each time beaten off, yet returning soon after.

That mantis knew the move “Karate Chop,” which is why so many rock fragments were missing. But the creature wasn’t very strong.

“Karate Chop is a Fighting-type move. The Three Pillars, including Regigigas, are weak to Fighting—so being damaged like this is normal. But since the mantis isn’t a Fighting-type itself, its Karate Chop has limited power—it can’t defeat Regirock.”

“But a mantis, quadruply weak to Rock, dares challenge a legendary giant? Is it that reckless? Could it be the boss mantis?”

Though the Three Pillars are weak, they’re still legendary Pokémon. A mere quadruply weak boss mantis trying to brawl with a rock pillar? It’s practically asking for death!

Come back after evolving into a Scizor!

And the black giant—was it Umbreon?

The huge bear—was it Ursaring? Or—

Guang Tai thought of an unbelievable answer—but then he remembered: this was the vast, ancient Shen Forest! If a “Moon Bear” appeared, it would be perfectly normal!

Regirock’s awakening had made forest Pokémon uneasy. Though it only wanted to repair the temple, it was constantly obstructed.

Its repair method was to block the collapsed temple wall with massive stones—it couldn’t fix the statues inside.

The people who once lived here had long dispersed. The settlement near the temple had become forest. Only tombstones remained. Former homes lay in ruins. Under these conditions, repairing the temple was clearly difficult.

But Guang Tai appeared—and repaired Celebi’s shrine.

Since awakening, Regirock had noticed the ruined shrine—and recognized it.

It was built a thousand years ago by the people of Shen for Celebi.

A craftsman who could fix the shrine could surely repair the temple!

“So you want me to help you rebuild the temple!”

Guang Tai had never repaired a temple before, but he had just gained a new craft from the Sun Stone. Combined with the ancient architecture craft he already had, perhaps he could try?!

Ancient architecture craft + ruin carving + environmental carving—this knowledge said it could fully recreate ancient structures!

Regirock made another sound.

“Regi—”

Regirock added that Guang Tai wouldn’t be disadvantaged—its temple held many fine stones and materials. If repaired, any leftover materials would be his for the taking!

And moving heavy, massive stone blocks was no problem for it—Guang Tai only needed to handle the carving!

“You’ve searched for me so earnestly, and I’ve received something from your temple—I have no reason to refuse your order!”

“Alright! I can try, but you’ll have to wait a few days—I’m waiting for a friend.”

Guang Tai agreed to Lei Jiaisi!

“And before that,” Guang Tai looked at Lei Jiaisi’s body, “your body is quite damaged—if you don’t mind, let me repair it for you?”

The H symbol on Lei Jiaisi’s face flickered.

“Lei Jiaisi—?”

Body repair?

Ah—many years ago, someone had once helped repair his body. It had been so long!

(End of Chapter)