[White Forest has bestowed sacred power upon you and your Pokémon—your mental capacity has increased dramatically!]

[Acquired: Holy Aura!]

[Description: A blessing from White Forest. You and your Pokémon possess a sacred aura, rendering you immune to darkness and disruptive forces! You can grant this aura to newly caught Pokémon.]

[Effect: Greatly boosts health and five physical attributes for you and your Pokémon. All damage (including your psychic power) is increased by 50%. Strong purification effects against Dark Matter / Dark Pokémon / Shadow Pokémon, and disables their attacks.]

[Bonus: Psychic Ability — Mirror Reflection (Divine Counter · Advanced).]

[You can now create a shield against abnormal energy waves and dark-type invasions using Divine Counter, purifying and reflecting them back! Special damage from an opponent will be returned at double the power!]

Holy shield and reflect force?

Hikaru could feel this newly awakened psychic power. Mirror Reflection was indeed a psychic-type ability. Most Pokémon capable of learning it were Psychic-types, and human psychics could learn similar skills as well, depending on compatibility and difficulty.

[Item: Moon Stone (Moonlight)]

[Description: Unlike ordinary Moon Stones, this one fell from the cosmos and landed on Mt. Rose. It’s imbued with mysterious moonlight. Give it to certain Pokémon to evolve. This is the key to the Kingdom of the Moon. Best suited for Ground, Fairy, Psychic, or Normal Pokémon—greatly boosts their power.]

“Yato~!”

Torterra’s voice caught Hikaru’s attention.

The little Tree of Connection growing on Torterra’s back had changed color. The spiraling vines had taken on a white hue—not the pale of decay, but a divine brilliance.

[Acquired: VSTAR Heavenly Power ×1! Though you didn’t defeat White Forest’s guardian, you’ve received its blessing! You may give this power to any Pokémon that can connect to the heavens!]

[Acquired: ex-Time Shift Power!]

[Description: ex-Time Shift Power comes from ancient and future times. Through White Forest’s gift, this energy (from the ancient past) enhances your Pokémon into a mightier form! The powers of the past and future are eternal!]

[Torterra gained new abilities: Forest March and Jungle Hammer!]

[Forest March: The more Grass-type Pokémon on the field, the more powerful Grass moves become. As Torterra walks and connects with nature, move power increases. Flowers bloom, greenery thrives—welcoming all.]

[Jungle Hammer: An enhanced version of Wood Hammer. Power is increased to 150, no longer causes recoil, and heals ⅓ of damage dealt.]

[Torterra learned the move Wood Hammer!]

[Torterra’s base HP stat has significantly increased!]

Torterra couldn’t see the changes to the tree on its back, but it could feel the difference. Most notably—its body had grown a whole size larger!

White Forest, as a symbol of nature, life, and ancient power, had bestowed the strength of the past. Thanks to the little Tree of Connection on its back, Torterra could now connect with forests all around. It had become Torterra ex (Ancient)?

“Oh wow, Torterra got bigger!”

The other Pokémon crowded around, marveling at its new form. The white mini-tree radiated a sacred aura, purifying the air. It now possessed some of the Divine Tree’s power.

And not just Torterra—

As a Grass-type herself, Lilligant also received White Forest’s blessing!

While watching Torterra, the crown of flowers on Lilligant’s head changed. The soft pink hue shifted to a divine blue-and-white. Her body also began to glow like a shiny form!

[Hisuian Lilligant gained a unique ability: Dream Dance!]

[Dream Dance: When Lilligant sleeps, the opposing Pokémon also falls asleep.]

[Hisuian Lilligant learned Healing Wish!]

[Hisuian Lilligant learned Role Play!]

[Her max HP stat greatly increased!]

The White Forest’s gifts were generous, even granting moves not normally available to Hisuian Lilligant!

Role Play, which copies the opponent’s ability, was originally exclusive to the regular Lilligant. Now Hisuian Lilligant had it too.

“As expected of White Forest… this is magic.”

Hikaru spun the white key in his hand. Though he didn’t receive a branch, the Treehollow Key could now be considered his magic wand from White Forest.

That said, with Torterra’s new size, it definitely couldn’t fit through the door now—not that it ever could.

Hikaru recalled the now-happy-but-slightly-disappointed Torterra and walked up with his team to knock on Professor Fennel’s door.

“Who is it?”

Being woken up in the middle of the night made anyone wary. Fennel’s excitement was instantly replaced with suspicion.

“It’s me! I’m back,” Hikaru called.

“Eh?! Hikaru?! Why are you back all of a sudden? Wait—text me, just to be sure!”

Hikaru let out a helpless laugh.

But considering how important the C Device was, he used the PokéGear to send a message. Fennel double-checked it, holding a baseball bat for safety, and finally cracked the door open. Seeing it really was Hikaru, she sighed in relief.

“Whew! Who knocks at midnight? That scared the life out of me!”

“Quick, get inside! You’re just in time—the C Device is finished!”

From Striaton City to White Forest had taken less than five days.

But returning normally should’ve taken time, especially without a Pokémon that knows Teleport.

Hikaru explained, “It was pure accident. After reaching White Forest… I got sent back early by a certain Pokémon.”

“A Pokémon?”

“Long story—let’s head in first.”

Lilligant, Riolu, Larvesta, and twitchy Rotom all entered one by one. When Aegislash followed, its giant shield-like body got caught in the door and had to slide in sideways.

“You got bigger too?”

“Geueh~ (No idea!)”

Aegislash was pleased with its larger form. Bigger size, bigger pressure. But Torterra, now even bigger than Aegislash, didn’t feel the same.

Sigh… navigating town like this is going to be tough. If only it could learn how to grow and shrink at will.

Wait—it does exist! The move Minimize!

Where could one learn it…?

“You won’t believe this, but I saw a strange person after you left,” Fennel said as she plopped down by the machine.

From her half-sleep, Truffle raised his head and blinked at Hikaru.

“Still dreaming…?”

“It’s really me,” Hikaru smiled. “Go back to sleep.”

Truffle nodded sleepily and dozed off again.

Fennel continued, “This guy looked normal but gave off a weird malicious vibe. He was lurking around here, like he was searching for something. It wasn’t until the Striaton Triplets saw him that he left.”

Hikaru was surprised. “A Plasma agent? I ran a scan before I left—he still slipped past our psychic detection?”

Had to be one of the Shadow Triad. He was probably tracking Hikaru from the Dreamyard. Now that Hikaru had been teleported, he likely lost the trail.

“Let him stay in White Forest wondering why I never came out of the tree,” Hikaru muttered.

“Huh? What was that?” Fennel asked.

“Nothing. Let’s test the C Device already!”

“Right! I was going to message you anyway once it was done. Ten days should’ve been enough for return prep, no matter what city you were in…”

“Now, let’s begin the connection! I’m nervous—this is my first world-jumping experience! I can’t believe I just said that out loud!”

“The Dream World… after years of research, we’re finally at the verification stage!”

“Theoretically, anyone can enter the Connected World through the C Device… as long as we have Dream Mist,” she added.

[Hikaru received the C Device!]

It wasn’t installed in a Gear like the original game. Instead, it was a mechanical box.

The secret to world travel—inside this small device.

“Wait! Let me give a proper explanation! I’m nervous—it’s a historic moment!”

Fennel looked both thrilled and a little anxious. If this failed, it’d be embarrassing… but she shook it off quickly.

“The C Device links to other worlds! Note: in areas where wireless is forbidden, please power down the device to avoid accidents!”

“…That’s just a disclaimer. Technically, there’s no such forbidden area.”

Hikaru powered it on. A beep sounded. The screen, pitch black at first, displayed a special word transcribed from GEAR.

It read: Gear.

A hollow hexagon appeared on screen, followed by numerous hexagonal shapes flooding the display.

“Look, the C Device startup screen!”

“Now we need a sleeping Pokémon. By extracting its memories, we’ll use its dream wave to enter a hidden world—a place that…”

“…connects us to others’ worlds,” Hikaru finished for her. He gave the tense Fennel a thumbs-up.

“Don’t worry. You’re a genius scientist!”

“And our dreamer is… Aegislash!”

“Geuh?”

“Awooo?”

Even Riolu was confused.

Wait, shouldn’t it be me? I’m the one linked to aura and the Connected World!

“If this device really works, then any Pokémon and human should be able to enter the Connected World. That’s why I didn’t choose you,” Hikaru reassured him.

Aegislash’s single eye lit up.

Yes! Time to fight that pompous dragon again—this time, I won’t lose!

Everyone had grown during this journey. And that opponent, the one known as Walking Wake, was the most legitimate rival yet.

Aegislash promptly used Rest!

Aegislash used Rest!

ZZZ…

The kingly blade entered deep sleep, and the C Device detected dream waves.

Strange Dream Mist projected Aegislash’s memories onto the screen—backgrounded by the sleeping Musharna.

Then, slowly, the silhouette of a peculiar dragon Pokémon emerged, entering Aegislash’s dream.

Hikaru activated the dream sync function.

The Connect button lit up.

“Wait, isn’t this something you can only do on open streets?”

“Huh? No, there’s no such restriction,” Fennel said, puzzled.

Hikaru chuckled.

Then, before everyone’s eyes, he pressed the button.

Ripples distorted the space-time continuum. In an instant—Hikaru vanished.

Connected World: Connected Forest.

Moments earlier, Walking Wakelay belly-up, drooling in its sleep.

Suddenly, it jolted awake, flipped over into a defensive posture—eyes barely open—gnashing its teeth sleepily.

Only when a surge of powerful energy flooded the forest did Walking Wakefully awaken.

RRAAAGH! What’s going on?!

Since entering this forest, it had been a quiet place of dreams and mist. Even finding berries meant rummaging through dreams. But today, something was different.

Someone was calling.

It tilted its head, gazing down the corridor of trees. Then it let out a delighted growl.

“Hurururu!”

It started toward the corridor—but stopped.

Its twin tails beat the ground anxiously. It couldn’t wait.

Come on… come in already! I’ve waited far too long!

“Mm! So you’ve arrived!”

Another deep voice echoed from the darkness—Phantom Entei opened its eyes.

A breeze rustled the grass, waving emerald blades in gentle rhythm.

Ruins lay in crumbles. A spiral-shaped, decayed ancient tree stood in the center.

The Tree of Connection. The Ruins of Connection.

In front stood a blue stone monolith—crystallized willpower.

Beyond the tree: the boundless depths of the Connected Forest.

And deeper still… The Forest’s Heart.

Hikaru greeted the Tree of Connection, then ventured into the forest’s heart.

The area seemed empty—but the air was alive with dream energy, the sleeping thoughts of countless Pokémon.

Then came a confused roar.

Pushing through the tree-formed corridors, Hikaru arrived at the forest glade.

Waiting atop the emerald field was a legendary dragon from ancient times—Walking Wake!

And a mountain of treasure.

RAAAHHH! Walking Wake roared and galloped toward Hikaru, nuzzling him happily, then proudly gestured to the pile of loot.

Not only had it collected dream treasures—it had realized them into the forest!

Somehow, dream energy made this possible.

Walking Wake was beaming.

Look, Trainer! These are all the treasures I gathered across Unova for you!

By the way!

Walking Wake told Hikaru that Zoroark had come back several times, still fooled into thinking it was a legendary dragon. Walking Wake had tricked it into offering all sorts of items in tribute!

Hikaru was amazed. That Zoroark, loyal to N, may have seen through the lie, but still gave everything it had for its trainer’s cause.

“Alright, alright—I get it! You’ve been lonely. But the C Device worked!”

Hikaru patted Walking Wake’s crystal crown.

Time to make the capture official.

He picked up the Dream Ball atop the loot pile and aimed it at Walking Wake.

The Dream Ball opened. Walking Wake turned into light and was absorbed!

“Now… all my teammates are together!”

“I caught Walking Wake!”

『Walking Wake, the Pokémon from a distant ancient past.』

『Somewhat hasty.』

『Met in the Forest’s Heart of the Connected Forest.』

『Loves sweets, hates bitter flavors.』

『Loves to eat and is full of curiosity.』

Meanwhile, Hikaru looked into the shadows of the forest.

Phantom Entei slowly stepped forth, gratitude and joy in its eyes.

“What an unbelievable world… As a creature born from dreams, to have a real body… if I now possess the same form and power as the real Entei…”

“Then perhaps Ho-Oh played a part in shaping me?”

“I did see… a strange, rainbow-colored light flashing across the canyon in the black-and-white world…”

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep