Iron Valiant looked a little dejected.

Walking Wake had declined her "praise." As a teammate… did it not wish to accept her?

So she went back to Hikaru's side, seeking comfort.

"Your compliments are way too weird—you've still got a lot to learn," Hikaru chuckled.

Pixels flickered in Iron Valiant's eyes as she computed and logged:

Record:Thistypeofpraise=ineffective.Continuelearning.Record: This type of praise = ineffective. Continue learning.

"Phew—this battle ends here. The Draco Meteor tutoring went very smoothly as well, so I'll bestow this to you."

Drayden produced a pitch-black, dazzling reward and handed it to Hikaru—the Legend Badge!

[Obtained: Legend Badge!]

[Description: A symbol of victory over the Opelucid Gym. Its design motifs are a dragon's head and a medieval scepter. Bearer of the Legend Badge—prove yourself a legend as well!]

[Effect: One of the keys (proofs) that opens the door to compete in the Pokémon League. A reward item.]

[Note: The Tree of Interlink has connected to the Legend Badge and has acquired special knowledge—Dragon Transmission!]

[Description: A dragon-related psychic faculty that elevates a Dragon Pokémon's mindset and power, a special art that takes years to refine.]

[You can comprehend the flow of Dragon energy, understand Dragon-type move usage, and perform "move transmission" for Dragon Pokémon.]

Hikaru: "…Seventh one—the Legend Badge."

"Seventh? I thought it was your eighth," Drayden blinked, then laughed. "Looks like you're just about ready to challenge the Unova League!"

Hikaru: "I still need Icirrus City."

He hadn't planned to go to Icirrus at first, but after hearing the summons of two great dragons, it was now a must-visit.

Drayden nodded slightly. "Your strength is beyond dispute… so, there's still something else for you to learn, yes?"

"Yes," Hikaru looked toward the gigantic dragon effigy. "Please—teach me."

Drayden gestured them along, leading Hikaru beneath the massive statue. Unlike the games, he obviously couldn't be fighting on the statue's head—there wasn't that much room up there.

"The stone effigies of Opelucid City have a history going back thousands of years. In Unova, when it comes to statuary craft, only the elder stonemasons of Village Bridge can compare."

"My ancestors were both master dragon-stonemasons and legendary dragon tamers. They spread the carving craft of dragon effigies, and so Opelucid became home to many sculptors. In the modern day, some stonemasons moved into the arts proper and became sculptors."

"I wouldn't call myself an artist, but I haven't let the ancient craft die. Of course, time is short—I can only teach today. How much you learn depends on your own skill."

He had raw stone brought in and released his Haxorus. After a Revive, Haxorus had its vigor back.

"Borrow the power of dragons to carve the effigy!"

Haxorus rumbled. Verdant light gathered on its claws—Dragon Claw—and it lowered its head so the ax-blades neared the stone.

Haxorus's tusks had tremendous destructive force and were sharp beyond compare, easily hewing even thick steel pillars. To keep them strong, it licked soil to replenish minerals.

Hikaru watched, rapt. At the same time, Aegislash and Lilligant popped from their Poké Balls, staring intently at Drayden and Haxorus at work.

Every blow was perfectly measured, cutting facets precisely and swiftly refining toward the elder's envisioned form.

Drayden murmured constantly to Haxorus while his own hands never stopped, using special tools to dress the regions Haxorus had hewn.

At first it didn't look like much, but the more they refined, the more a strange "charm" emerged naturally.

Judging purely by the "naturalness" of the piece, Hikaru had to admit—Mayor Drayden's craft was indeed above his own!

As if born complete!

The instant Drayden and Haxorus finished, Hikaru fully understood the "demonstration."

[Learned: Statue Fine-Carving Craft (A-)! All your carving precision +150%! Stone statues made with this fine-carving craft are regarded as "Valuable" grade! You can use different effigies to create unique atmospheres, adding artistic taste while bearing culture and history!]

[Extra: Artworks' "Timeless Allure" +100%, Depiction +100%!]

[Extra: Your understanding of stone deepens. Rock-related crafts advance to extraordinary tier. Sculptures become lifelike, filled with vitality. Stone sculpture is an art as splendid as heaven!]

[Learned: Opelucid Carving Style. Shock +50%, Uplift +50%, stirs the heart!]

"This piece is an improvisation of mine—it has no name."

Drayden regarded the "dragon effigy" before them: a sculpted Hydreigon head rather than a full body.

"Did you understand?"

"I did," Hikaru said after a pause, and made a request. "I'd like to sculpt a statue to place in your gym."

"Oh? I'm honored. Let me see how much this genius artist has learned." Drayden was intrigued. Iris and Burgh whispered to each other; it was Iris's first time seeing Drayden carve, and she was thrilled.

"Grandpa can do this too? As expected of Opelucid's oldest Dragon Master!"

"I'm excited for big-bro's work!"

Seeing the statue also reminded Iris of her hometown, the Village of Dragons, where two gigantic dragon effigies stood.

Hikaru chose to sculpt Walking Wake's head—to commemorate the battle.

Aegislash and Lilligant stepped forward. Hikaru linked minds with his two Pokémon, sharing all his insights before the work began.

Aegislash's blade shone with a psychic edge; Lilligant's leaves glimmered with a green keen.

Behind them, Iron Valiant watched her teammates at work. Her eyes began scanning and modeling the stone, and, guided by Hikaru's murmurs, she inferred the intended "subject."

Compute, analyze, model, implement… Iron Valiant ran through every step in her system, and her eyes brightened.

This job—she could do it too.

She had Lilligant's cutting "light-blades," Aegislash's psychic edge, and analytical power beyond both.

At first she thought so—but gradually she found the emerging statue didn't quite match her modeled projection.

Beyond minor deviations in detail, a strange "feeling" propagated into her core.

Just staring at the statue stirred uncanny emotion—as if it would come alive the next second and roar straight at her. Her systems flagged alarms, but by reality-check, Iron Valiant knew it was only an "imagination."

"The statue's 'charm'! It's fully there—worthy of a genius creative artist." Drayden stroked his beard as Hikaru's piece neared completion, even Iris and Burgh—usually indifferent to art—wore looks of awe.

One needn't "know" art to tell beauty from ugliness and be shaken—that's the most basic appreciation!

Charm?Charm?

Iron Valiant captured the unfamiliar term. The purely computed, modeled statue lacked precisely this lifelike presence…

She tilted her head, puzzled.

Perhaps she'd try making one herself another time?

"Done."

Hikaru exhaled lightly at the finished piece.

[Item: Dragon-Head Effigy (Valuable) — subject: Walking Wake's head, sculpted with a special "Ruins" carving style!]

[Description: A commemorative statue for the gym battle, its craftsmanship reaches the grade of a treasured valuable—unprecedented in stonework. It wrings the essence from stone so completely that the effigy seems truly alive!]

[Effect: Dragon's Ambience — this effigy radiates a power-field for Dragon Pokémon. Dragon-types' mental and physical stamina +30%. Helps Dragon Tamers better feel a Dragon's intent and emotions, promoting heart-to-heart resonance for greater power. Dragon Tamer Training +50%, Communication +50%.]

[Extra: May draw Dragon Pokémon to venerate the statue, increasing its renown.]

"Uh… that's quite the effect. Looks like you've become a legendary dragon," Hikaru muttered.

From behind, Drayden's voice rang out:

"Magnificent! The refinement far surpasses my expectations! Your craft is superb—my eyes can scarcely keep up!"

"Using Psychic to make the initial cuts, Grass techniques for precision engraving, then fine edits to heighten the 'idea'—the water dragon rears and roars… We'll place it in the most prominent spot in Opelucid Gym!"

"I faintly sense there's more power to it as well. Statues born of special craft often harbor peculiar energies—you know this, yes?"

Hikaru blinked. "I do—and the ancients passed down similar techniques."

"Ahh, that explains why your effigies are unique," Drayden clasped his hands behind his back. "You're right—the ancients infused their life's blood, spirit, and wisdom into works, so the works echoed with something akin to a soul."

"I mentioned Village Bridge—built centuries ago. Human and Pokémon spirit poured into the great stones to assemble it; people took to the vast span to escape tsunamis and floods, and so the craft survived."

"But legend also says the bridge is older than 200 years—older than Unova itself—raised in the era of Unova's founding."

"I've seen special statues elsewhere too. In faraway Almia, at the Ranger School, there's the ancient 'Vow Statue.' They say vows made with comrades there will be fulfilled…"

"Other regions have similar effigies—different sculptures bring different powers and steer future paths."

"I feel it—your piece brims with colossal Dragon power." Drayden looked to his Haxorus, and suddenly he could sense Haxorus's heart—and further still, it was as though they'd merged.

"Deeper communion with Dragon Pokémon—heart to heart. You feel it too, don't you?"

Iris and Burgh, wide-eyed, nodded again and again. Even with their Dragon Pokémon still in their balls, feelings were being conveyed!

For Iris, who possessed Dragon Heart, this was wondrous but still below her usual "heart-of-dragon" link. For Burgh, the toothpaste-kid artist was floored; he'd never imagined he could feel something like this.

A budget version of Dragon Heart?

"The dragon's intent, its power, its emotion… As long as this effigy stands here, it'll help trainers open their hearts to Dragons and unify in spirit. That in turn accelerates Dragon Tamers' progress," Hikaru explained the statue's effect.

"If so, all the better!" Drayden laughed. "Many Dragon Tamers lose heart because they can't understand a Dragon's feelings. Dragons are mighty and do not open their hearts lightly. But once trainer and dragon resonate, power beyond imagination erupts!"

"Unova has been intertwined with dragons since its birth. Our line has guarded the chronicles of the legendary dragons for generations…"

Reshiram, Zekrom… and even the third legendary dragon, together with the item that corresponds to it.

Drayden fixed his gaze on Hikaru. "To be frank, after you came to Opelucid and spent a night here, something odd happened. I wondered: could you be a trainer chosen by the dragons?"

"If you go to Icirrus, then head for the great mountains and forests north of the city. In those woods—so our lore says—is the place where the legendary dragon was first born."

"Bro…" Burgh sidled over, waggling his brows. Hikaru got the hint and handed him a few Focus Sashes.

"Heh! Thanks. I'm winning for sure now. Bro, you'd better take the Unova League too!" Burgh threw a thumbs-up, already daydreaming.

The golden age of pummeling Iris draws near?

"Focus Sashes are fragile. Don't waste them," Hikaru warned.

"Hehe, relax. I won't use one unless it's critical." Burgh lowered his voice, shot a glance at a baffled, head-tilted Iris, then whispered to Hikaru, "Add me—when I break mine, I'll buy more from you. Mail 'em to me, yeah?"

Hikaru gave him a look. "Chickening out before the fight?"

"Lies! I'm not scared—this is called 'being prepared!'" Burgh huffed.

With that, the Opelucid challenge drew to a close. Hikaru bid farewell to the grandfather and granddaughter and their friend, then prepared to depart for Icirrus.

[Art Progress: The design you obtained in Opelucid has been merged into "Unova Art" and "Conflux Art." Your overall popularity in Unova has risen to 90%!]

Riiiiing—

Leaving Opelucid, Hikaru swapped into travel gear.

The road from Opelucid to Icirrus was a wide-open thoroughfare. Cars and bikes zipped by; from Route 9 to Tubeline Bridge, bicycles or motorcycles were the fastest way!

He couldn't waste Unova's premier "speedway"—time to savor it!

Though he had schematics for special bicycles, an aero-cycle still couldn't compare to a bike with an engine. Bicycles belonged on bicycle paths, not highways.

Following a certain idea, Hikaru bought a cheap motorcycle in Opelucid and modded it!

[Item: D-Bike!]

[Description: A budget motorcycle refitted into a fresh riding machine. Colorway modeled after the Pokémon "Miraidon." The base performance was ordinary, but after modifications, durability and output rose dramatically!]

[Extra: While mounted, you gain the role "Street Racer," boosting riding technique. You've mastered driving skills across vehicle categories.]

[Effect: Hyper-Speed World—further increases bike speed while heightening rider focus and control, and it even boosts your Pokémon's Speed in battle!]

Nice. Hikaru rubbed his chin, patting the "bootleg Miraidon."

Now it was truly a riding duel!

But as he rode toward the west gate of Opelucid, the world dimmed a shade.

At the gate stood an elderly man with hair like a blazing sun. He wore a half-cape, with many Poké Balls at his neck and belt.

"Yo! Been waiting a while! Getting warped in from someone else's world is no small feat!"

"Thanks to your help, the spatial distortion over Unova has stabilized. 'That fellow' also left these parts… I owe you much."

Hikaru blinked in surprise.

The man before him was…

Alder!

The Champion he'd been searching for—trapped in another world, constantly aiding others—Unova's Champion now stood right here!

"Champion Alder?! You're back?" Hikaru blurted. "You know me?"

"Mm, back for a short while," Alder laughed heartily. "But of course! Though we never met directly… guess this is our first formal meeting!"

"Let me introduce myself properly—I'm Alder, current Champion of Unova! I was also searching for the Interlink Forest at your request, though I found a different one. Looks like you've already reunited with your companions."

"I didn't help as much as I'd hoped—quite shameful, really."

He scratched his head. Hikaru exhaled in relief. "I'd feared you were missing, but a Pokémon told me where you went."

"Azelf, I'd wager," Alder crossed his arms. "I saw it in White Forest as well—astonishing. A legendary Pokémon of Sinnoh, they say, though I don't know much of its tales."

"The world's connections are mending, and the Tree of Interlink is working hard to grow. There was no sense of time in the other world—I've no idea how long I wandered."

"Like a dream… which means most of Unova's ancient legends may well be true."

"You're headed to Icirrus, yes? From the master of space I heard of Dragonspiral Tower… I reached it once in my youth, but no one truly knew what lay there. Rumor says it's where the legendary dragon was born—and sleeps."

"No need to explain—I already know," Alder raised a hand to forestall Hikaru. "You intend to fight the master of space? Then this will be your trial."

"Though it twisted time and space near Unova, I sense no malice—more like it was waiting for something to take shape. And now… it seems that something has arrived."

"Oh—and I haven't thanked you for the first matter! Thanks to your medicines, my Volcarona survived!"

Alder gazed into the distance.

"I'd fallen into despair, but once Volcarona recovered, my conviction returned with it. How fragile the human spirit is."

"When it lay near death, I finally understood: just as every story ends, every life must end one day. I learned then that 'strength' is not immutable."

"Only the time and space we share with Pokémon—the joy there is real."

"After helping the lost—people and Pokémon alike—in that other world, I've become more certain. About the bond between humans and Pokémon. I feel renewed in spirit and strength."

"And so I returned—to thank you, and to give you something important."

"When I was lost, fallen, even as I traveled other worlds, this pendant passed down from my ancestors protected me. Truth be told, I never expected something so powerful to be on me. It seems connected to that dragon who governs space and mind."

"When you came to Opelucid, my pendant began calling to you. You must have something similar—perhaps the same."

"When I saw you, I felt a response—as if we'd known each other long ago. I don't know if it's the pull of the pendants… or a change arising simply from being human."

Hikaru drew out his Miracle Diamond. The pendant in Alder's hand was—

[Mythic Craftwork: Mystic Pearl (Pendant)!]

[Description: A pendant crafted by artisans of the Age of Myth, set with the core of a great white gemstone. It bears the power of Palkia, the god of space! The chosen bearer is said to wield power that surpasses mind and guides space! After the Sundering of Deity, it lay dust-choked for ages, but the Miracle Diamond's arrival reawakened its might.]

[Requires: Lustrous Orb or "Lustrous Globe" as its energy medium! Chance to obtain upon defeating Palkia!]

Hikaru offered his pendant for Alder to examine.

"As I thought," Alder smiled and placed the new pendant in Hikaru's hands.

"I believe this heirloom has waited long enough to reach its rightful bearer. Perhaps my duty—meeting you, knowing you—was all for this moment."

"Wear it. In your hands, it will surely act as it should."

"And your badges—nearly complete, yes? Good! Let's meet again at the Unova League!"

"It's been many years since a challenger climbed all the way to the Conference… I'd like to give a proper conclusion to my travels and training, too."

"Honestly, that other world was convenient! No need to cross mountains and rivers—just step through the right gate and you're instantly in a far-off town!"

(End of Chapter)

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