Chapter 254: Time and Space Rift, the RageState King… Is It Finally Starting?

Huo La put away the Fighting Z-Crystal he was playing with, and took from the inner pocket of his bag the "Fist Plate" that Majamu had given him.

The Stone Tablet was entirely suffused with a warm jujube red, its surface covered with uneven patterns that bore rich marks of age, yet the spots touched by his fingertips were smooth as new, without any uneven resistance, and instead exuded a faint warmth that slowly seeped into his body through his fingertips.

"Beep— System has unlocked Stone Tablet storage function," the system's unprompted mechanical voice rang in his ear; Huo La froze for a moment, then immediately opened the system interface.

Most functions on the interface remained gray‑locked, but beside the Badge panel a faintly glowing icon had appeared—a miniature Stone Tablet shape, its edges surrounded by a soft red halo that matched the color of the Fist Plate.

He furrowed his brow, his gaze shifting between the system's Stone Tablet icon and the Fist Plate in his hand; a thought flickered, and he whispered experimentally, "Store!"

The moment the words left his mouth, the Fist Plate in his hand transformed into a Red Light, instantly soaring into the system interface and merging with the Stone Tablet icon.

Huo La stared again and clicked the icon; the "Fist Plate" was now clearly displayed within it, with a small caption behind it reading "Pokémon Fighting-type skill permanently +5%".

A pleasure rose in his heart, and he tried another thought: "Retrieve!"

Red Light surged again from the icon, re‑forming in his palm into the shape of the Fist Plate, its feel identical to before.

"Interesting," Huo La caressed the plate, murmuring, "System, system, what are you trying to do? You were on the brink of energy depletion before, looking ready to strike out at any moment—how come you've suddenly become so user‑friendly?"

"Arceus's Stone Tablet… can provide… energy recovery…" the system's mechanical voice crackled intermittently, now with a faint tremor, as if Sheer Force were forcing the transmission.

Huo La glanced at the plate in his hand, then at the system.

No wonder the storage function opened suddenly—it was after the Arceus Stone Tablet!

These tablets are not only the source of Arceus's power, but can also replenish the system's energy; it seems this system is truly inseparable from Arceus.

Holding the Fist Plate, he felt the warm, gentle heat radiating from his palm, and a calculation instantly formed in his mind.

He had previously worried about the system's insufficient energy and a potential failure at a critical moment; now it seemed that gathering the tablets was not only Arceus's request but also the necessary path for the system to regain functionality.

"So that's it…" Huo La's mouth curved into a smile as he once again stored the Fist Plate into the system.

Huo La closed the system interface, walked to the window, and gazed at the Time and Space rift still faintly pulsating in the sky. The purple light along its edge seemed richer than before, and a faint crackle of thunder could be heard emanating from within.

————

"You saw that spatial rift in the sky, didn't you?" Xingyue entered, cradling a stack of documents, steps light, voice as calmly as always, though a subtle weight lingered in her brows.

Huo La nodded, his fingertips unconsciously rubbing his palm: "Saw it, it's in the sky to the northeast of the village, looks off."

"After the rift appeared yesterday, we immediately sent people to investigate on site," Xingyue placed the documents on the table, opened a page, "The source of the rift is near Deepwood Forest, and the Giant Tree Battlefield there is the domain of the King under the Pearl Team's jurisdiction."

She looked up at Huo La, her tone deepening: "According to reports from the investigators, when the rift appeared yesterday, a purple bolt of lightning shot out from it, striking the Axe Mantis King that dwells in the Giant Tree Battlefield. Affected by the lightning, the Axe Mantis became unusually RageState, extremely aggressive, and the Pearl Team's members could not approach at all."

Huo La furrowed his brow: "Axe Mantis… King?"

"The area around the Giant Tree Battlefield is the habitat of Flying Mantises, and the king of the whole tribe is an evolved form—an Axe Mantis—of a Flying Mantis, which should be wielding an Arceus Stone Tablet in its hand."

Xingyue continued, "Field Master Ju Yi, who is responsible for watching it, has already asked the Galaxy Team for help. I discussed with Captain Majamu, and we'd like you to go over there and see the situation."

She paused, then added, "If you can calm the Axe Mantis King's RageState and resolve this crisis, it might be grateful for your help and voluntarily give you its Stone Tablet."

"Also, Dr. Laben has already rushed over ahead; he'll be waiting for you on the outskirts of the Giant Tree Battlefield to help with some preliminary preparations."

Huo La heard this, instantly rose, his gaze sharpening in an instant—it was the perfect opportunity for him to collect the tablets.

"Understood," he nodded, reaching for the backpack on the table, "I'm heading out now; the Fire Rock Mice are already prepared as well."

Xingyue watched his swift movements, a barely perceptible nod of approval on her face: "Be careful. Although the mission you were given last time was handed to someone else, I still need to warn you that a Pokémon in RageState sees a massive boost in power, let alone it's the king of its tribe."

Huo La replied, turned, and briskly walked out of the room.

Under the village's cooling shed at the entrance, Wang Luo was still sunbathing, though this time he wore no straw hat, instead looking up at the rift in the sky, his thoughts unknown.

Huo La walked to the entrance of the cooling shed, halted, and stood directly in front of Wang Luo, blocking the sunlight that fell on him.

Wang Luo squinted, rose from the lounge chair, looked at him, and said lazily, "Hey, Huo La, what do you need?"

"I want a Leaf Stone," Huo La said straight to the point, without any extra words.

"Leaf Stone, huh," Wang Luo raised an eyebrow, sat up straight, rummaged in the canvas bag under the cooling shed, pulled out a stone shimmering with emerald hue, and waved it, "Got one. One‑off price, twenty thousand Pokémon yuan."

"I have no money," Huo La said bluntly, with not a hint of embarrassment.

The few Pokémon yuan left in his pocket had been spent yesterday after he finished his tasks and went to learn skills from Bei Li La.

"No money?" Wang Luo's smile faded slightly, his tone teasing, "Huo La, are you pulling my leg?"

"I just think you'd lend me one," Huo La said calmly, his gaze steady, "After all, I'm about to face the Pokémon King; my strength is insufficient, and I might not obtain the tablet, which would also affect the deal we previously arranged, right?"

Wang Luo stared into Huo La's eyes for a long while, a flash of calculation in his sharp gaze, then suddenly laughed heartily, tossing the Leaf Stone over: "You're right; consider it my investment."

Huo La caught the Leaf Stone steadily, his fingertips feeling its icy chill, nodded at Wang Luo, turned, and waved his hand: "Thanks."

Having said that, he kept moving, heading straight toward Deepwood Forest.

Wang Luo watched Huo La's receding silhouette, leaned back onto the lounge chair, a knowing smile curling his mouth, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, murmuring softly, "Time and Space rift, the RageState king… is it finally about to begin…"