The Dusk Stone, as dark as the night itself, is a mystical stone capable of evolving certain Pokémon.

Hikaru took the Dusk Stone.

[Rare Material: Dusk Stone]

[Effect: A mystical stone that allows certain Pokémon to evolve. It is as dark as the night itself.]

[Acquired Craft: 1]

[Soul Forging Craft (C+): The ability to incorporate Ghost energy into forging, creating items with supernatural properties. The Dusk Stone is one of the primary materials used for this craft.]

[By using this craft and collecting the corresponding Pokémon materials, one can create the “Cursed Armor” or “Cursed Shovel.”]

Cursed armor and tools!

The Cursed Armor is an evolution item for Charcadet, allowing it to evolve into Ceruledge.

The Cursed Shovel, on the other hand, is an item from the Pokémon Trading Card Game. It is a red, ominous-looking iron shovel imbued with eerie supernatural energy, resembling the small shovel carried by Palossand.

In the TCG, when a Pokémon with this item attached is knocked out by an opponent’s attack, the top two cards of the opponent’s deck are discarded.

“Hmm, its effect seems similar to moves like Destiny Bond or Grudge,” Hikaru mused.

Destiny Bond causes both the user and the opponent to faint if the user is knocked out by an attack. However, using it repeatedly will result in failure.

Grudge curses the opponent when the user faints due to their attack, reducing the move’s PP to 0.

However, this particular Dusk Stone couldn’t be used as forging material just yet!

“Yooooooh—!”

Doublade’s eyes gleamed with excitement upon seeing the Dusk Stone!

This was it—the stone that would allow it to evolve into its final form!

“Oh? So, this stone is for your Pokémon, then?” Steven turned his gaze to Doublade. “I’ve seen this Pokémon before in the Kalos region. If I recall correctly, it’s called Doublade, a Ghost- and Steel-type Pokémon.”

“This one has been raised exceptionally well! Far superior to any Doublade I’ve encountered before!”

Steven did not hold back his praise. Now that he had laid eyes on a second Evolution Stone, his mood had visibly brightened. He finally took the time to carefully examine Doublade.

Doublade, in turn, unsheathed its blades, proudly allowing Steven to inspect it. The more he examined the gleam on Doublade’s blade, the more astonished he became.

For Steel-type Pokémon, their condition could be judged at a glance by their luster. A well-raised Steel-type should be smooth, free of rust, undamaged, and without noticeable warping or deformations.

The blade was polished to a mirror-like shine. The scabbard was sturdy and elegant. Its twin eyes gleamed like gemstones!

Even though it was part Ghost-type, its ribbon-like appendages lacked the usual tattered appearance of Ghost Pokémon. Instead, they were pristine, ornate, and elegant!

Steven nodded in admiration.

As expected of a mysterious craftsman living in Shinto, even his Pokémon-raising skills were extraordinary!

Before arriving in Shinto, Steven had been curious about Hikaru. After all, Hikaru’s presence was enigmatic—his existence seemed almost out of place. Living in a hidden location further fueled speculation that he was a descendant of an ancient lineage.

If this were a game, Hikaru would probably be the “Hidden Blacksmith” who upgrades equipment, a secret NPC that could only be unlocked by completing special quests before crafting unique items!

Since Devon Corporation had some involvement in the gaming industry, Steven had played his fair share of RPGs. He couldn’t help but make such an association.

To raise a Steel-type Pokémon to this level… Hikaru’s breeding techniques were definitely superior to his own!

Although Steven specialized in Steel-types, he wasn’t an expert in Pokémon breeding. His close friends Wallace and Adam, the Gym Leader of Sootopolis City, often helped him train his Pokémon, as their breeding expertise was remarkable.

Unlike most Trainers who focused solely on battles, professional Pokémon Breeders and Professors had their own systematic methods for raising Pokémon.

They prioritized body maintenance, dietary balance, and training tools while also ensuring Pokémon were raised in suitable environments to optimize their growth.

In many places, breeders maintained large farms with multiple Pokémon species or even ran Pokémon Ranches.

Top-tier breeders could even customize enhancement programs for Pokémon based on their type and species. Their knowledge far exceeded that of the average Trainer. In fact, some of the world’s greatest breeders were also Pokémon Professors, such as Professor Oak from Kanto and Professor Elm from Johto.

As for Professor Birch from Hoenn, his research focused on Pokémon habitats, distribution, and ecology rather than breeding. Compared to Oak and Elm, Birch wasn’t as specialized in raising Pokémon. However, in terms of Pokémon natural habitats and ecological studies, he was one of the most respected experts in academia.

Steven then shifted the conversation:

“I recently saw some Pokémon breeding items in a store, and I was planning to purchase a few special products—especially ones related to Steel-types!”

At this point, Steven’s expression subtly changed, his smile carrying a trace of bitterness.

“Two years ago, Hoenn experienced a major crisis—you may have heard of it. The Magma Team and Aqua Team, driven by their own ambitions, tried to expand the land and sea, respectively. This ultimately led to the awakening of the Ancient Pokémon. Fortunately, the situation was resolved thanks to two exceptionally strong Trainers.

That incident made me realize my shortcomings.

“As a Trainer, I had been too complacent. I neglected certain aspects of Pokémon battle training. So, after that event, I began purchasing high-quality minerals to feed my Pokémon.”

“But simply consuming these minerals isn’t enough to convert them into real strength. If it were, then Pokémon Breeders wouldn’t even need to exist.”

“Food is just one part of the breeding process. After seeing your Doublade’s condition, I’m convinced that your breeding skills rival those of Wallace!”

Contest Trainers often possessed breeding knowledge, as making a Pokémon strong, beautiful, and intelligent required understanding their habits, diet, training, and even psychological well-being.

Hikaru was caught off guard.

His breeding skills were on par with Wallace’s?!

“That’s quite the compliment! I’ll take it as recognition of my craftsmanship!”

“You need Steel-type breeding tools? Perfect timing! Come inside with me.”

“My workshop just received a fresh batch of materials, and I was preparing to craft some items. Also, I’ve got the Ancient Rock you requested ready for you.”

The Secret Workshop of Shinto…

Steven gazed at the ancient building with curiosity.

What kind of mysterious items awaited him inside?

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep