Master Craftsman of the Elven World

Chapter 353 King of the Sea, Listening to the Voice of All Things

The ascending passage opened, and Lightmoss and Cattleya successfully reached the second level. Similarly, they did not trigger any step mechanisms upon entering.

Here, the sounds become clearer, and the Lightmoss can hear its companions in their Poké Balls muttering and commenting on the ruins.

The same was true for Gadria. She curiously took out her Poké Ball and listened carefully to the sounds inside.

"Although I can usually communicate using superpowers, this is the first time I've felt this way."

“No barriers, no written language, no race.” Cattleya fell into deep thought; the experience was truly wondrous.

Lightmoss: "Being able to understand Pokémon's feelings and communicate with them without any barriers is different. This is the legendary power of the Sea King, listening to the voices of all things. It seems that the higher you go, the more obvious this change becomes."

It can communicate with different kinds of living things and even inanimate objects through language or consciousness.
Is the King of the Sea or the Pirate King sleeping here?

However, this is indeed a feature of underwater ruins that was shown in the special episode.

“A new stone tablet has appeared.”

"To eat is to gain all of life." Lightmoss saw this stone tablet, which is also a widely circulated saying in the Unova region.

As they continued forward, new stone tablets were inscribed one after another.

"Don't waste anything. Life is about being grateful for everything."

"No cruelty is allowed. All things are equal and precious."

"It's not just about justice and evil, but about the extent to which they exist."

"War produces nothing but endless sorrow."

Cattleya frowned slightly.

It wasn't that she had any objection to the translated text, but rather that she vaguely sensed an extremely powerful and unsettling force surging within her.

One of the abilities of superhumans is the ability to foresee danger.

If a Pokémon uses this ability, it appears as an ability. When the opponent has a move that is extremely effective against it, the Pokémon with this ability will become timid and issue a warning.

For humans, superpowers only provide warnings in extremely dangerous situations.

In fact, it wasn't just Cattleya who sensed the crisis; Lightmoss also felt a sense of unease. The power of the crystal was stirring, and the princes' souls were whispering among themselves.

Something is watching them. Although they are also "sons of the king," they are only princes, while the one sleeping here is the king.

The ancient king of Unova is awe-inspiring.

The yellow crystal's voice carried a hint of dissatisfaction, and after a moment of silence, the blue crystal uttered a whisper for the first time.

The king's soul still exists here; this ruin... the king's soul resides here, and its power is stronger than ours, stronger than our father's.

This soul manipulates everything, watches over everything. It can influence the minds of those who enter, causing them to lose themselves in their own ambitions and drive them mad. Here, more than one spiritual force is at work, and the oppressive feeling is that our energy is being suppressed.

The prince's soul could not contend with the true king, let alone the fact that the two crystals were merely fragments, not the original stones. The light quickly faded, and with it, the chilling, piercing gaze and oppressive feeling descended upon the two of them.

Lightmoss seemed to recall something from Blue Crystal's words.

Although the setting of the underwater ruins is not as nonsensical as in the anime, but follows the original setting of the game, this does not mean that the terrifying power in the anime does not exist. Giovanni once tried to stand on the altar of the underwater ruins and use the Revealing Mirror and Meloe Tower to control the three cloud gods to generate natural phenomena without limit, in order to conquer Unova.

However, the final result was, of course, a rampage and loss of control, and a blood-red emblem resembling an "Orichalcos barrier" appeared on Giovanni's head, filling him with destructive and insane desires.

"Therefore, that power is the power of the Sea King, driving madmen to self-destruction."

If an ordinary person were to enter, this would just be a ruin, but given the suspected revival of the ancient crown, this ruin is generally unavailable to the average person.

"The last stone tablet on the second level."

"If you want to show your understanding of the king, shine your light here."

According to the inscription, using "Flash" will reveal an ascending path.

However, the light moss could generate sunlight on its own, and after a dazzling display of light, the last red stone tablet in front of them rumbled and cleared the way forward.

[The "Voice of Another World" of knowledge has been activated!]

[Temporarily Gain Power: The King's Emotions!]

[Description: The underwater ruins are the resting place of the Sea King's remains. This is both the site of the ancient kingdom and the royal tomb where he rests in eternal rest. The king is gazing upon it.]

[Effect: All your special powers, including superpowers, psychic abilities, aura manipulation, and creative power, will be upgraded by one level in the underwater ruins!]

[Note: This ancient city is a legendary city by the sea, worshipped as the Dragon God, the origin of all things. The spirits of the ancient city beckon you to challenge the Sea King, who awaits. Remember: numerous ancient guardians lurk here!]

Ancient guards?

There's nothing like that in the underwater ruins.

In games, comics, and anime, while some wild Pokémon may suddenly spawn within the underwater ruins, they are not considered guardians; they are merely creatures passing through and playing. The deepest part of the ruins is quiet.

This only applies when that ancient crown, worth 30, has not been revived.

Lightmoss noticed that the four stone slabs it had just obtained were glowing, and they were unleashing tremendous energy in the passage on the second level. Lightmoss's eyes twitched violently.

"Guard. That's what I mean!"

Normally, these stone slabs are just stone slabs. The alpaca's stone slabs are fragments from the creation of the world. Apart from the huge stone slab called "Source of Life" that it always carries with it, the other stone slabs are basically scattered in every region.

The Sinnoh stone tablets are slightly different from those in other regions. Perhaps they were the first stone tablets, recording the complete mythology, while the later ones were just rough products. This also explains why the backs of the stone tablets from later generations almost never have inscriptions or anything like that, or if they do, they are blurry or incomplete.

And stone slabs, just like in ancient Shin'ou, that is, in the era of the Jade Washing.

At that time, almost all the stone tablets were kept by powerful Pokémon and humans, from the King Pokémon to the Legendary Pokémon, to the powerful Boss Pokémon, and finally by a few humans who obtained the stone tablets: Wusi who had the Fairy Stone, Wangluo who had the Monster Stone, and Majiamu who had the Fist Stone.

They unwittingly represent the "guardians of the slate"!
"Lightning, fire, steel, and combat." Gadriya looked at the elemental energy bursting from the four beams of light and couldn't help but hum a soft hum, but a smile appeared on her lips.

She craved battle, but the underwater ruins were far too quiet.

Isn't this the perfect time to speak?

The silence of the ruins had long been unsettling her, and now her fighting spirit was burning fiercely.

"Want to fight?" Cattleya blinked, feigning ignorance.

But Guangtai was considering a different question: "Young Miss, do you think that if the Guardians fight us here, does that count as 'steps'?"

Cattleya tilted her head, then closed her eyes. When she opened them again a moment later, her beautiful eyes had lost all emotion, becoming empty and deep.
"That's right, I understand."

Her tone carried a hint of genuine regret.

"Let's settle this once and for all. It's a real shame; I was hoping to enjoy the thrill of battle." The four Pokémon that materialized from the stone slab instantly appeared, their bodies glowing. Their postures resembled the "Kings" of the Green Age, but with considerable differences!

They emerged from the cracks of the dream, tearing through the veil of the dream and descending upon this place, and—all of them were dazzling, shimmering forms!
Magneton, Chandelure, Sneasel, and Heracross! Four powerful auras swept over us like a tsunami.

Cattleya's expression instantly became incredibly focused and cold.

An icy blue light surged and spread from the depths of her eyes, like the ever-present chill of the polar regions. A massive superpower, as powerful as a swirling ocean wave, erupted from her center!

Whether it was the raging electric current leaping around Magneton, the flickering ghostly flames of Chandelure, the sharp spear poised to strike from the Cheshire Snail, or Heracross's tense muscles ready to charge, all were abruptly "nailed" to their spots the instant that icy blue light swept across them.

Only the light flashing in their eyes proves that they are still struggling to break free from these invisible shackles.

Caldelia's slender figure stood silently at the center of this violent energy, surrounded by visible force field ripples that distorted the air.

"The strongest psychic. He's practically a humanoid legendary Pokémon."

The four shiny Pokémon were easily suppressed by the guardians created by the stone tablet and the King of the Sea.

You need to release Pokémon during battles because you can't win Pokémon battles without Pokémon, but this applies to wild battles.
As one meme from a super jadeite enthusiast put it—

Why should I send children weaker than me out to fight?

Although it was just a meme.

However, at the very moment this power surged, the chilling gaze and pressure emanating from the depths of the ruins suddenly intensified several times over!
It was no longer a subtle gaze, but a tangible mental pressure that caused a constant buzzing in Lightmoss's heart. Cattleya was the same, slightly rubbing her forehead and showing a somewhat painful expression.

Clearly, the king was watching this test, but Cattleya's power was too great, which may have startled him.

"What did Wang's waveguide say?"

Lightmoss asked Riolu in the Poké Ball.

After reading the turbulent waveguide, the blue-haired puppy let out a low laugh.

Do you also want to stop the ocean? That's practically cheating.

That's what waveguides say.

The Sea King was clearly shocked. The reason he said this was because, according to legend, he had read the future and protected all people from being submerged by a tsunami. Moreover, the underwater ruins also possessed the ability to control natural phenomena.

Meanwhile, the young lady's condition gradually deteriorated.

The King of the Sea seemed to be reprimanding her, which greatly displeased the young lady. She even began to whisper, contrary to her usual behavior:
"Why shouldn't we be allowed to use this innate talent?"

The King of the Sea did not accept this answer.

You're even stronger than Pokémon, so what's the point of me leaving you here as a guard?
Therefore, weaken it immediately!

And you are not a candidate unless you intend to become queen.

The King of the Sea seems to be a designer who intends to teach people how to play games, but the main problem is that the power of the visitors in front of him is indeed somewhat unbalanced.

He knew there were two groups of people coming, but Cattleya alone could destroy the other group if she wanted to.

To be honest, even the undead of the Sea King never expected that there were such powerful superhumans in this world, who were almost on par with him.

Although the guards you sent out were not as good as the "True King" in Sinnoh's legend, they were still highly accurate imitations. And you just casually defeated them all.
You've made me, the King of the Unifier, lose face.

Are you some legendary Pokémon disguised as a human?
At this critical juncture, beset by internal and external troubles and on the verge of spiritual erosion—

A soft yet incredibly resilient "mental barrier," like the warmest cocoon, silently enveloped Cattleya.

The cold stares and frantic whispers were almost entirely silenced, leaving only a faint echo.

The mental pressure suddenly eased, as if I had been pulled from the icy depths of the sea back to the warm, sunny surface.

An indescribable sense of security, like a warm current, instantly dispelled the chill and unease in Cattleya's heart.

In the instant that Cattleya's body leaned slightly backward and her power field trembled violently from the impact of that vast will, Lightmoy's hand had already reached out. She simply and steadily took the young lady's hand in hers.

Just like when I first started learning to fly, only now the roles are reversed.

Caldelia has strong superpowers, but she is weak in mental defense. Although she has a high degree of control over her mind, this is different from mental power.

"Young lady, please rest assured. When it comes to matters of the heart, that is my domain."

Divine aura, Time-space explorer, Palkia's emblem, Heart Vortex, Power of the Tree of Connection.

Although he suppressed the two crystal fragments, the Sea King was unaware that the mental power he could rely on was not limited to the crystals.

Voices from Another World: The King's Emotions. And the Jade Pearl!
The mental erosion brought by the King of the Sea was instantly swept away. If it were just simple oppression, there would be no way to deal with it. But if a mental attack was carried out, then a way to fight back was found.

Almost subconsciously, Gadriya clenched her fist slightly, then took a half-step closer to the figure beside her that emanated a powerful and stable mental aura, and sighed softly.

This silent communication is more powerful than any passionate expression of thought.

She no longer tried to fight against the vast power of the king alone, but instead completely and peacefully sank her faltering mental center into the haven that the moss had built for her soul.

It was very quiet. The king's whispers and harsh words disappeared, and it felt as if I had returned to the world of my previous dream, sitting quietly and comfortably amidst the blue sky and green grass, not having to think about anything, just doing my part!
Her heart became softer and more steadfast.

But beneath this torrent of power, something subtle, something she herself hadn't fully grasped, seemed to have quietly seeped in.

"This feeling isn't bad, thanks to you." She paused, as if confirming this sense of security.

"It was a bit noisy just now."

"Hmph, what Sea King?" She frowned. "How to explore the ruins is our business, isn't it? How long-winded!"

The sudden interference from the Sea King greatly displeased Cattleya, who then vented her anger on the four guardians. These four Pokémon, summoned from the dream rift, were nearly rendered incapable of battle by the psychic power, with only Heracross still panting heavily.
"what?"

When Guangmo saw the Heracross, it looked somewhat familiar.

"What, you know him?" Cattleya noticed the change in Lightmoss's expression and subtly dispelled her control over Heracross.

He let out a long, very slight exhale, as if releasing the pent-up frustration in his chest along with the heavy pressure of the deep sea. He showed a hint of fatigue, but his eyes were unusually clear.

However, feeling the warmth in her hand, Cattleya's eyelashes trembled slightly. She remained silent and did not let go of his hand, but simply lowered her head slightly, her gaze falling on their still clasped hands.

Hmph. This time, was it relatively competent? Her eyebrows curved slightly, showing some satisfaction.

The pink rhinoceros beetle looked at the moss with a dazed expression.

He blinked, then was taken aback.

Oh! It's you! Aren't you the guy who wrestled with me in the forest?
(End of this chapter)