Earth Power—a special Ground-type move that releases subterranean energy beneath the opponent’s feet, occasionally lowering their Special Defense.

“This kind of move channels the energy veins of the earth to attack. When used in ruins, it causes very serious damage—especially to ruins with special properties,”

Steven explained.

The first thing Hikaru thought of was the “giant bear” that Regirock had mentioned.

From the description provided by the stone pillar, that giant bear was most likely the already-extinct “Ursaluna” from Hisui. Whether it was a regular boss-type Ursaluna or the special “Bloodmoon” form remained uncertain.

However, Hikaru believed the chances of it being a Bloodmoon form were low.

Bloodmoon is a special form of Ursaluna. No—rather than calling it a form, it was more like a unique individual. Long ago, one had left Hisui, crossed the sea, and arrived in a land called “Kitakami,” surviving in the harsh environment there.

Because the yellow moon pattern on its forehead turned red, it was called “Bloodmoon.” It protected its body with iron-like hardened soil and had a left eye that could see through darkness.

Kitakami was located near Sinnoh. In a sense, the land of Shinto and Kitakami were connected. However, the distance between them was still quite vast.

“Ursaluna?”

Steven was confused by Hikaru’s guess, as he had never heard of such a Pokémon before. Come to think of it, Hikaru was always followed by a Pokémon he didn’t recognize, but due to his intense focus on rocks and Hikaru himself, Steven hadn’t paid it much attention.

Judging by how Hikaru usually addressed it, the Pokémon was called “Lilligant,” but it looked completely different from the Lilligant he knew.

Hikaru said, “It’s a unique species from ancient Sinnoh. Ursaluna is the evolved form of Ursaring, but it requires a special type of soil. Similarly, my Lilligant is also from ancient Sinnoh. Because the environment of Shinto is very similar to that of old Sinnoh—back then it was still called Hisui—they can thrive here.”

“Regi—” Regirock looked toward Steven at that moment, asking a question with visible concern.

Hikaru translated, “It’s asking if the energy flow of the ruins can be restored after being damaged.”

“There’s no problem,” Steven replied. “With psychic powers, we can realign and correct the energy flow of the land. Though it will require some crafting techniques as well. I’ll first etch out the path of the earth’s energy lines on the ground.”

Steven crouched down and began scratching markings into the earth with a rock, drawing straight intersecting lines like a map.

Hikaru stared intently at Steven’s technique, and soon, information began to converge in his mind—!

[You have actively acquired a new piece of knowledge.]

[Acquired: Guiding Pattern Drawing Knowledge]

[Description: This is knowledge on how to accurately draw guiding paths and patterns. When combined with spiritual or psychic powers, one can create terrain maps and work plans with auto-guiding phantom lines. Requires ‘Mapping Craft’ skill.]

[This knowledge works in tandem with Advanced Geology and is vital for exploring ruins.]

“So that’s how it works. I understand completely.”

Hikaru crouched down and, after concentrating on observing Steven’s technique, quickly picked up how to draw the patterns.

Steven was slightly stunned, then a look of admiration appeared on his face.

“As expected of Hikaru-dono. Just one glance and you already understood what I meant. Anyway, just guide things according to these markings. I’ve explored many ruins, and most of them seal away some sort of artifact. I’ve also encountered energy disturbances, though those were mostly accidental.”

“For example, there’s a ruin in Hoenn called the Ancient Ruins. Inside is a stone chamber, rumored to contain a gateway linking the ancient and modern Pokémon worlds. To open that chamber, you need to gather four unique orbs from various places and embed them into the chamber’s walls.”

“That’s a classic example of using energy alignment—guiding the correct energy to the correct location. Many ancient ruins use similar methods of sealing.”

“But when the ruin was finally opened, the truth behind the legend turned out to be this—there was groundwater inside, connected to the ocean, and ancient relic Pokémon like Relicanth lived there. Team Magma believed it was Groudon’s resting place and tried to open it, only to be sorely disappointed.”

Steven recounted this amusing incident. Later, he was invited to help investigate the ruin and made some interesting discoveries about the four orbs—after all, they were “special stones.”

Team Magma had been obsessed with Groudon and didn’t care for these valuable gems, which Steven thought was downright foolish.

This helped Hikaru realize the difference in ruin exploration goals between Steven and Cynthia.

Steven focused on the stones within ruins, their crafting techniques, and their special mechanisms. Cynthia, on the other hand, studied ruins to unravel their origins and the legends associated with them.

From a practical standpoint in ruin restoration, Steven might even be more effective than Cynthia.

Although thinking of friends as tools sounded a bit… off.

Hikaru’s expression turned slightly awkward.

Alright then—time to get to work!

“Thank you, Steven. I’ll take it from here!”

“Everyone, get ready!”

Doublade unsheathed its twin blades, Lilligant’s leaves glowed with a sharp green light, Turtwig shook its leafy head, Metagross’s eyes lit up with psychic energy, and Unown… blinked and stuck itself to a nearby wall.

Steven glanced at Unown, stroking his chin with a contemplative look. Unown E immediately got annoyed!

What the heck!

You’re looking at me with that suspicious face! But I can’t even help with ruin restoration, so what else am I supposed to do if I don’t stick to a wall?!

I’m just useless, aren’t I!

“Unown’s Hidden Power can be really effective in ruins. Although Hoenn doesn’t have Unown, I’ve heard they can sense people’s thoughts and manifest them. When I visited some ruins in Johto, I encountered them and saw them activate mechanisms using Hidden Power.”

“Why Unown’s Hidden Power is different from the standard version is still a mystery.”

Unown E was stunned for a moment, then its eyes sparkled.

So you were praising me, huh! And I can actually help with the ruins after all? Why didn’t you say so earlier?!

“Anone~”

Its mood instantly brightened.

“So Unown can also play an important role in ruin restoration… The environment, the land, the spirit of the ruins…” Hikaru murmured. Looking at the collapsed walls and the large stones piled around, he focused his mind and used his newly acquired drawing knowledge to construct a mental sketch of what the ruins looked like when intact!

This would massively improve his efficiency in constructing and repairing buildings!

Hikaru pulled out some paper and began drawing. The paper he used was “Haunted Paper,” which normally induces hallucinations in readers, but also had other uses.

Ripples formed on the paper’s surface. When the final stroke was drawn, the paper flared with a bluish-white phosphorescence!

For instance, right now—after sketching the structure from his mind and handing the drawings to the other Pokémon—they immediately fell into a trance, and fully understood the “ruin layout” shown in the hallucination!

“3D modeling complete.” Hikaru raised the paper above his head, and the sketched outline of the ruin was projected over the entire ruins. The pupils of the Pokémon lit up with hallucinatory blue light—the ancient building’s structure was being engraved into their consciousness!

This would help them assist much more effectively!

“Yoh~uu!” Doublade understood it instantly. Being a Ghost-type, illusions didn’t bother it at all. It immediately memorized the images, and psychic energy gleamed on its twin swords!

The next to break free was Lilligant. Her leaves swayed. Though she wasn’t as skilled in carving as Doublade, as long as they worked together, there was no problem at all!

Now was the time for Psycho Cut / Leaf Blade!

Hikaru looked toward Metagross and saw that it too had already shaken off the illusion. It nodded slightly at Hikaru, indicating it had understood the patterns.

Metagross’s brain possessed a complex neural network—smarter than a supercomputer. With four brains working in parallel, it could complete any calculation in an instant!

These simple diagrams? Child’s play for the brain!

Next came the task of transporting the giant stones. That was what Telekinesis and Psychic were for!

Metagross activated its psychic power and began moving the stones according to Hikaru’s designs. Its psychic beams simultaneously pulled in scattered debris for cleanup.

Regirock used Rock-type moves to produce new stones and joined Metagross in hauling them from nearby the Rocky Mountain Ruins.

With the help of these two large Pokémon, the usable stone materials increased rapidly. Seeing this, Steven released a Metang and instructed it to help with Telekinesis as well!

Turtwig shook its head, using Razor Leaf to cut the stones into the right shapes!

Lilligant followed up with Leaf Blade, slicing the rock layers. Her emerald-green energy blades wove a grid across the boulders.

As she spun in elegant dance, her leaves automatically adjusted the precision of each cut. Doublade’s twin swords traced overlapping psychic edges, replicating the illusion’s decorative carvings with perfect accuracy.

Hikaru focused all his attention on the work.

The walls were being rebuilt, stones set in their proper places, compressed tightly with psychic energy. Psycho Cut and Leaf Blade rapidly shaped the rough outlines on the stone, and Hikaru’s tools followed up to finish the carvings. The style of Shinto gradually re-emerged within the once-destroyed ruins.

The aura of antiquity slowly spread. The patterns on the surface of the walls became clear and sharp at a speed visible to the naked eye!

This ruined temple was being brought back to life at an astonishing pace!

“What is this feeling… This ruin is…!?”

Steven had been carefully observing the restoration of the Rocky Mountain Ruins, but gradually he began to sense something unbelievable happening within them!

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep