Chapter 86: Lei Guan Wang Doll

In the instant the word was spelled out, the surrounding environment showed no change whatsoever!

Guang Tai glanced at the luminous mosses in the flowerpot, then opened the window to examine the nearby land.

The earth bathed in sunset remained exactly as it was, with no sign of “premature harvest.”

Whoosh—the wind rose, blowing through the window and carrying in a single white herb. Guang Tai held the herb, speechless, unsure whether it had been summoned by his scholarly ability or by Lei Guan Wang’s power.

“So it’s Lei powerless after all.”

Lei Guan Wang was the legendary king who once ruled ancient Galar, classified as a King Pokémon, possessing great wisdom and said to perceive all things past, present, and future. It was also called the King of Fertility, endowed with the power to heal hearts and spur plant growth. Legend says that when it raised its right hand, flowers bloomed and grass turned lush; when it raised its left, fields grew fertile and crops flourished.

Moreover, Lei Guan Wang differed from many other Legendary Pokémon in that it drew power from belief—if belief faded, its strength waned.

As for its appearance—a standing rabbit with a giant cauliflower on its head?

Of course, other Pokémon shared similar powers: in the Johto region, the forest deity Celebi was revered; in Sinnoh, the mythical Pokémon Shaymin could turn barren lands into seas of flowers. Yet in crop cultivation, Lei Guan Wang was far more specialized than either.

But over long centuries, the people of the Crown Tundra forgot the existence of the Legendary King. The loss of belief caused Lei Guan Wang’s power to plummet—even losing control of its two beloved steeds, let alone blessing the land with harvests.

Meanwhile, the wooden carving of Lei Guan Wang in the Crown Tundra had lost its head. Its statue, worshipped in this distorted form as a local tourist attraction, went unnoticed in its error—a key factor in Lei Guan Wang’s loss of power.

“In Johto, Celebi’s power still works better. But since I’ve spelled out Lei Guan Wang’s name, I ought to do something.”

Guang Tai murmured softly, offering a sincere prayer:

“Legendary King of Fertility, protect the land of Shen Du!”

This might provide Lei Guan Wang with some belief. Yet in Guang Tai’s view, what Lei Guan Wang truly needed was not traditional faith, but “remembrance.”

Someone had to know it existed, know its form, call its name, believe in its power, and remember its deeds.

But one person’s belief was utterly insufficient. Guang Tai had thought of another way.

A client had once suggested he make plush toys, placing an open-ended order for a Lapras doll, and also inquired about Ice-type items.

Items like Non-Melting Ice were unavailable here; perhaps the traveling merchant Wang Luo might have some.

But making plush toys posed no problem. After restocking from the village, the workshop had more than enough materials to sew a batch of dolls.

Now was the time to use “Strong Weaving Craft.”

Though he mostly used this craft to make qi scarves, it could also produce special fabric items with powerful effects!

“Making a simple Pikachu or Piplup doll might be dull. The client ordered a Lapras doll—so before that, I have a bold idea.”

“Let’s make a Lei Guan Wang doll first!”

Guang Tai fetched needle, thread, cotton, and sturdy fabric, then paper and brush. He first sketched Lei Guan Wang’s general form, then followed the drawing precisely to reduce error.

“My memory is still clear. Done.”

This was a simple sketch—not a work of art—but Guang Tai found his drawing skill decent, and his drawings always carried an ancient ruin style. Perhaps, as he’d suspected, the carving style he’d gained from the Shen Du Ruins aided not just sculpture, but painting too.

Guang Tai began sewing the fabric according to the sketch. Village fabric came in few colors, but luckily, Lei Guan Wang’s colors were few too.

Green, blue, gray, white—these basic fabrics were cut into specific shapes, stuffed with cotton and Pokémon materials. Since Lei Guan Wang was Psychic/Grass-type, Guang Tai chose Koffing’s fur, Miss Mime’s leaves, and other Grass-type materials for stuffing.

The sun sank lower; the light beyond the window faded. The Pokémon sat in the fields, watching sunrise and moonrise, stars rising, calling joyfully, growing closer to one another.

And Guang Tai finished the doll!

“Stuffing complete! Final stitching done!”

Guang Tai gazed at the doll in his hands—about twenty centimeters tall, a small doll, made of sturdy fabric, not plush, so the surface felt slightly firm, yet the craftsmanship was exquisite. Then thoughts surfaced in his mind:

【Artifact: Pokémon Doll — Design: Lei Guan Wang.】

【Description: A doll sewn to match the appearance of the Legendary King of Fertility, crafted with unique techniques and infused with Pokémon materials of corresponding type, generating spiritual resonance and granting the doll unique abilities.】

【Effect 1: Soul Healing — Lei Guan Wang’s doll heals wounded spirits, alleviates psychological barriers, and strengthens mental power.】

【Effect 2: Faith of Fertility — Lei Guan Wang’s doll causes plants to sprout and flowers to bloom. The more one believes it can do this, the faster the plants grow; if one disbelieves, it has no effect.】

【Effect 3: This item attracts Pokémon attention. May help escape from wild Pokémon battles.】

“Believe and it works, disbelieve and it doesn’t—truly a Lei Guan Wang doll. Come to think of it, the first two effects are exactly its own powers.”

“But honestly, a doll made of stiff fabric looks unappealing. Plush fabric would be better. My goods haven’t arrived yet—I’ll buy more plush fabric. I still have some funds left.”

As for the third effect—don’t all plush items have this? It’s just a distraction tactic to draw wild Pokémon away!

Then Guang Tai decided to send a message to the Unova client.

“Psychic Glass Whistle,” “Gravity Bracelet,” and “Lei Guan Wang’s Doll”—these three items should satisfy the client’s needs to some degree!

At the same time, promoting Lei Guan Wang’s doll would expand its belief, restoring its power. Guang Tai helped Lei Guan Wang to forge a bond and reap benefits—but there was another crucial point!

Lei Guan Wang could make a plant called Luminous Flower bloom. Fabric woven from Luminous Flower and the manes of the King’s two steeds was known as “Fabric That Shines Under Light”—a dreamlike material essential for crafting the key item “Bond Reins!”

“I’d truly love to see that material with my own eyes!” A rare look of longing appeared in Guang Tai’s eyes.

————

Southernmost Galar region: Crown Tundra.

Just as Guang Tai remembered, Lei Guan Wang—a small, upright rabbit with a giant crown bud atop its head—opened its eyes from its weakened state.

A faint pulse of belief reached it from distant lands—precise, unmistakable. Someone still remembered its form, perhaps even its story.

Unbelievable!

Even the descendants of the humans it once protected—the villagers of Dongning Village—could no longer accurately describe its form or name. Though the fairy tale of the King of Fertility still circulated on this ancient land, its true name? They called it “Lei Guan Yang” and “Lei Gan Tang!”

That was far too far off—absurd!

Now it had lost belief, lost power, and even its two beloved steeds had abandoned it. How long must this sorrow last?

Lei Guan Wang sensed the distant pulse of belief, and sorrow welled within it.

‘So lonely… I miss my steeds, my belief, my reins…’

As it moped, it used its faint strength to sense the direction of belief—and through distant space and time, glimpsed something… Was that its own?

A doll?

Lei Guan Wang stared through time and space at its own doll. For some reason, its inner depression lifted considerably, and its spirit improved slightly.

Undoubtedly, though separated by distance, Lei Guan Wang had a gut feeling: the change in its spirit had come from seeing its own doll!

‘Who… are you? This power seems to come from me, yet it’s not quite the same…’

‘…Even if I ask here, you cannot hear me. If only we could meet somewhere…’

‘Too far. If only you were in Galar…’

Lei Guan Wang closed its eyes again, burdened by regret. It remained weak, needing more rest.

The dreams… seemed slightly pinker now.

(End of Chapter)