“Huh? A problem beneath Twist Mountain?” Hikaru asked.

Clay nodded with a troubled look. “Yeah… That mountain’s one of my mining zones. The ore we dig up gets shipped all across Unova, even overseas. It’s loaded with resources.”

“Mining top-grade ore from Twist Mountain—that’s what my company does. And me, well, I’m known as the King of the Mines! Though maybe that’s just me tooting my own horn…”

“By the way, Trainers often head into the mountain for training.”

“But the deeper we dig, the colder it gets. Lately it’s gotten so bad that not even insulated suits are helping the workers stay down there. The Trainers have started avoiding it too. Some folks even claim they’ve seen strange flashes in the caves—crackling lights and eerie roars.”

“Because of that, we’ve halted excavation. It’s really put me in a bind.”

Clay’s words reminded Hikaru of something important.

The depths of Twist Mountain housed a bizarre chill. In the games, a giant Ice Rock lay deep within the mountain, with an ancient chamber at its core.

Inside that chamber… slept the King of the Titans.

And those strange flashes—could it be the space-time distortions like the ones from the Hisui era? Similar, but not quite the same. Twist Mountain’s phenomenon was known as the “Gate of Time.”

“The lost link of time connecting past and present.”

But the space-time distortion itself wasn’t the issue. It was a naturally occurring time tunnel.

“I’ve got my reasons for wanting to go into the depths of Twist Mountain,” Hikaru said. “Please let me assist with this investigation.”

Clay beamed. “Ha! I knew a Psychic like you’d have a sixth sense about this sort of thing! Then it’s settled!”

“But you’ve traveled far. Why not take a break here in Icirrus City first? I’ll head to Twist Mountain ahead of you. Here, take this town map—just follow the route on it.”

“To be honest, this shutdown’s costing me big time. I even hired other psychics, but having you here is like playing a trump card!”

“Hm… that feeling again.”

Clay sensed a strange connection between them—something like what he’d felt before in the Desert Resort. The resonance between descendants of the Ancient Union…

“Isn’t that how psychic powers work? Or am I remembering wrong… ah, who knows. I don’t really get this psychic stuff. But anyway, your payment for this job won’t be small! I’m off to Twist Mountain. Even the Gym’s been closed down over this, but luckily there aren’t any challengers right now.”

“…You’re not here for a Gym challenge, are you?”

Hikaru smiled wryly. “Actually, I am.”

“Didn’t expect that! You were invited by Burgh and Elesa before, right? So you finally decided to challenge one on your own, huh? Find it interesting?”

Clay didn’t seem upset. He laughed heartily, then tugged on his hat with a helpless sigh. “Well, as you heard, the Gym’s closed for now. But if you insist, how about we battle underground in Twist Mountain once this is over?”

“I’ll bring the badge with me. If you win, I’ll hand it over right there. That mountain’s my turf anyway, so it’s just like fighting in the Gym!”

He handed Hikaru a card. “This is a stay pass for a well-known hotel in Icirrus. Stay as long as you want—but don’t keep me waiting too long!”

“Thanks. I’ve got a few things to do here in Icirrus anyway.” Hikaru accepted the card. With a nod, Clay turned to leave with his workers, heading straight for Twist Mountain—on foot.

Not because they didn’t want to drive—vehicles couldn’t get through Chargestone Cave. It was like a natural maze. That’s why, years later, they carved out the direct “Clay Tunnel.”

In the Special manga, Clay also traveled on foot with Black to Mistralton City.

“The southern cities of Unova are well-connected, but traveling north is rough. Two great mountains divide north and south.”

Arriving in Icirrus, Hikaru knew exactly where he wanted to go—its unusual church.

The church was easy to find. You could see the huge raised platform it sat on from anywhere in town. The church stood atop it, surrounded by forest and hill, right where Clay Tunnel would later begin.

But before that, Hikaru headed for the local market.

Icirrus Market was one of the largest in Unova, selling all sorts of useful items and ingredients. Seasonal fruits and vegetables from around the world rotated through its stalls.

Oh right—there was that Icirrus celebrity, “Charles the Heartbreaker.”

He introduced Triple and Rotation Battles here. Unfortunately, due to their complexity, those battle formats never gained popularity in later generations.

In the anime, Ash even mentioned that the official rules of the Indigo League only allow one-on-one battles. Doubles weren’t even considered legal—they were underground fights.

Other leagues likely had different rules, though. The Paldea League, for instance, encouraged Double Battles.

Hikaru wandered the market, hoping to score something rare.

Traditional medicine, MooMoo Milk, incense—countless dazzling items from across the world filled the stalls. But nothing too exotic.

“Berries, unusual cooking ingredients, crafting materials, energy drinks, special feathers…”

“Huh? What kind of Berry is this?”

He spotted a strawberry-shaped Berry at one stall—expensive, and labeled as a newly cultivated hybrid from Kalos.

“Oh? Interested in this Berry, kid?” the stall owner said eagerly. “It’s a brand-new variety from Kalos—super tasty! Cultivated in Lumiose City, it’s called the Roseli Berry. Very popular over there.”

This kind of Berry didn’t exist in Unova. It was an imported luxury item, hard to sell due to its price.

Hikaru began haggling. The merchant, stunned to finally have a customer, was taken aback by the bargaining. But Hikaru’s persistence won him over, and he agreed to sell the Roseli Berries.

[Berry: Roseli Berry]

Description: Within its rich sweetness lies a faint bitterness. Adds a unique flavor to dishes and can be used to brew Lumiose City’s famous Herbal Tea.

Effect: When hit by a super effective Fairy-type move, it reduces the damage once.

Bonus Effect: Mixing a Roseli Berry with a Micle Berry creates a special juice—Miracle Soda.

Note: Miracle Soda—when consumed, instantly raises a Pokémon’s level by 5.

“Meraaa~ (Wanna eat!)”

Larvesta squirmed excitedly, reaching for the bright red berries and drooling, stars in its eyes. Hikaru chuckled and bought the whole stock.

“Here you go!” he said, handing Larvesta one. It chomped happily, clearly delighted.

With this rare find secured, it was time for some fresh-squeezed juice.

Miracle Soda outclassed Rare Candy, but required two specific Berries. Time to ask Torterra for help again.

Also, the Pear Berries from last time should be nearly ready. Thanks to the Link Sapling, growing Berries had become far easier. A normal Torterra couldn’t produce Berries like this.

“Still no leads on Dream Link knowledge though… even with the C-Gear in hand. Maybe the other world hasn’t stabilized yet.”

Munching on a Roseli Berry, Hikaru and Larvesta climbed the Icirrus high platform.

The mysterious church awaited them at the top. Hikaru pushed open its doors. Larvesta peeked out from behind him, nervous but curious.

No flashlights this time, and no glowing trees like in White Forest. Finally—Larvesta’s time to shine!

“It’s pitch dark in here. I remember there should be lights though… Alright, Larvesta, use Flame Wheel!”

“Mera!”

Flames curled from Larvesta’s five antennae, forming a dancing mini sun. While it couldn’t learn Flash, the firelight gave the place an ancient, fresco-like atmosphere.

“There’s no one here…”

“Apologies. This church is currently unoccupied. Though it’s been remodeled into a residence, no one lives here yet.”

A short-haired woman in black with a white scarf stepped into the light. She smiled gently at Hikaru and walked further in. At a certain spot, she flipped a switch.

The room burst into light.

Larvesta stared at the ceiling light, puffed up angrily.

“You here to visit?” the woman asked. “I’m the temporary caretaker. My name’s Valachia.”

“Your Pokémon seems upset with me.”

She looked at Larvesta with amusement. “Ah, is it because I turned on the lights?”

“Mera!” Larvesta protested. It finally had a chance to shine—why ruin it?

“Your flames are fascinating. I saw everything. I promise I won’t turn the lights on so fast next time, okay?”

Her praise softened Larvesta’s glare. It huffed once, then turned its head with a snort.

“Alright… next time then!”

Hikaru looked around. “This may be a church, but there’s no stained glass or religious art. I’m something of a mythology fan—I heard about this place and wanted to see it for myself.”

“Many myth enthusiasts have come here in the past,” Valachia said warmly, her smile serene and strangely fulfilled.

“The stained glass was removed long ago. The church went through major renovations. Now it’s more of a residence than a place of worship.”

“When was it originally built? I heard from some elderly locals that this church has existed since ancient times and has been renovated repeatedly.”

“They say strange things happened here—that it connects to another world.”

Valachia laughed softly as she continued, “Anyone saying something like that would be accused of sleep-talking, wouldn’t they?”

“Do you believe people can truly connect their hearts across worlds?”

“They say if you make that wish here, you can help someone in another world—your feelings will reach them.”

Hikaru asked suddenly, “Have you seen the other world?”

Valachia turned to him, paused, then chuckled. “What if I said I have?”

“That would be wonderful,” Hikaru replied, “because I know about that world too.”

Valachia blinked in surprise—then joy flooded her face.

“You know the world across the bridge?”

She looked shocked, almost unable to believe it. When Hikaru nodded, she lowered her head, still smiling.

“My grandfather once told me tales of another world. A realm shaped by dreams—an incredible place made from the hearts of people.”

“When I was little, I visited that world. But when I told others… no one believed me. They said it was just a dream.”

“There, I met a beautiful Pokémon. It was teal, like a dragon or a jet plane. It spoke to me through our hearts—we became best friends. That world… those days… they were my happiest memories.”

“But we parted ways, and I could never find the entrance again.”

“As I grew older, I started to doubt it ever happened. Until recently, when I met others like me.”

“There was a gentleman who got lost in that world. He told me he was confused by his new identity and the unfamiliar place.”

“Then, someone he’d never met helped him return here!”

“That man convinced me it was all real. Later I met more— a ponytailed girl, a mountain climber, an athlete. They all said they met a stranger over there—someone who kept helping them get back.”

“They returned with a sense of gratitude that lingered in their hearts. They were certain it wasn’t a dream. And once home, they rediscovered their dreams and became more hopeful.”

“So I remembered my grandfather’s stories and returned to Icirrus. I bought this church with its strange legends.” Google seaʀᴄh novel⦿fire.net

“I plan to gather everyone who’s been to the other world here… doesn’t that sound like some secretive hidden cult? Hehe.”

Hikaru could feel a peculiar energy pulsing in the church, like the serene presence found in deep forests—resonance from a Dream Rift.

[Event Triggered: Cross-Time Communication!]

[Description: In Icirrus City’s church, you met people who have visited and returned from another world. A special place has delivered a special message!]

[Dreams and other worlds are connected. At this special church, you can confirm that bond!]

[Items hidden here by Pokémon and people from other worlds can be discovered using the C-Gear. Will you unveil a hidden corner of the world?]

[The items contain wonderful feelings. Will you give them to Ms. Valachia?]

This was one of the Link World’s unique missions. They came in two types: sell a rare item for a high price, or hide it in a specified spot.

If someone talked to you mid-task, it counted as a failure. The recipient could pick up the item afterward.

Hikaru activated the C-Gear—and the room changed.

A black-and-white overlay blanketed everything. In this colorless world, hidden items glowed faintly.

Two shimmering orbs appeared—one blue, one emerald green.

(End of Chapter)

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Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep