Master Craftsman of the Pokémon World-Chapter 165

Cobalion agreed?

That was fantastic news.

Not just Hikaru—Terrakion and Virizion both showed visible joy at the decision as well.

As for Calyrex, the big-headed bunny had watched the entire sword duel between the Pokémon with relish—it made for excellent mealtime entertainment. The cancel-style multi-slash technique from Doublade was new even to it, and its oversized head filled with all kinds of thoughts.

When it came to swordplay, Galar had its own King of Swords, after all!

If Behemoth Blade could be used with cancel chaining... wouldn't that be terrifying?

Eternatus would have to scream "Unbeatable!" Nothing from space should ever mess with Galar again—it had the cancel-version Sword King defending it! What an ignorant country bumpkin from space.

"Haha! A new Sword of Justice joins the team—though its appearance is a bit odd," Terrakion chuckled. "But that power earlier—there's no mistaking it. That was Sacred Sword!"

"Even if it's not the same as ours, every Pokémon that can use Sacred Sword forges a unique blade of its own."

"Long ago, we took on a disciple," he continued. "We had high hopes. Cobalion believed the little guy would inherit our legacy and carry the name of the Sword of Justice to new heights."

"But now, it's gotten a little impatient. Despite gaining great power through long training, it still can't properly use Sacred Sword."

"If your Pokémon can learn it through proper training, perhaps that path might offer inspiration for our pupil as well."

This was mutually beneficial—and Hikaru knew exactly who this "disciple" was: Keldeo.

Keldeo, the Colt Pokémon, looked like a small unicorn with a flowing mane. Its ability was Justified, and it was considered the fourth Sword of Justice—a Mythical Pokémon. In the movie Kyurem vs. The Sword of Justice, it was shown to have been separated from its parents during a forest fire and adopted by the trio, becoming their junior member.

Under their tutelage, Keldeo grew strong—but ultimately left them.

Because, in the games, it's a Mythical Pokémon—usually only distributed through special events, which is why it doesn't appear with the others!

Except in Sword and Shield—in the Crown Tundra, once the player captures the trio and cooks curry at the small island southwest of Ball Lake, Keldeo will appear.

Hikaru mused...

Right now, Keldeo still hadn't mastered Sacred Sword.

Yes, that was how the movie began. Keldeo didn't know Sacred Sword or Secret Sword. It had only its fiery ambition and eagerness to prove itself by challenging Kyurem to earn the title of Sword of Justice. But in the end, it fled in fear—sparking Kyurem's fury.

The true Sacred Sword, as taught by the trio, was nothing short of miraculous. Even in the film, Virizion was shown slashing away a Aura Sphere using Sacred Sword!

"To become a Sword of Justice, you must possess a kind heart—one that longs to protect others," Virizion said with a smile. "So even if Cobalion agrees, there's still a trial and training period before true recognition."

A heart that protects... Hikaru smiled wryly.

Doublade was a righteous little knight—but also a stealth master. Who knew what kind of values that ancient kingdom had taught it? Still, its ideals were noble. So Hikaru, like a parent, explained Doublade's goals to the duo.

Then Virizion finally understood why Doublade called Hikaru "king."

"To build a new country where people and Pokémon can live freely together... That's a lofty dream!" Virizion nodded. "You say you're not a hero, but isn't that dream exactly aligned with the truth and ideals of the Legendary Dragons?"

Terrakion added teasingly, "But lofty dreams can easily go astray—like those strangely dressed humans we've seen in Unova. Still... you're way better than them." ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

"Modern society still has a few small kingdoms, sure," Hikaru replied. "But I'm not interested in founding one in some remote place. That's Doublade's dream, not mine. I just want to create a place—like a paradise—where Pokémon and people can live in harmony."

He'd already thought of a way to fulfill Doublade's weird "found a kingdom" dream. It wasn't like he was actually going to go stake a claim on some land.

"Create... a paradise? Bold talk," Terrakion laughed. "If such a place exists, it's the Dream World itself!"

"You're absolutely right," Hikaru said with a smile that made them both pause.

Cobalion turned back to Doublade, ignoring Walking Wake scratching its ears.

"Listen well," Cobalion began. "To use Sacred Sword, your heart must be clear. Gather all your strength into a single point. In your mind, shape it into a blade. When you swing, there must be no hesitation—imagine cutting through everything."

"The best training partner is solid rock. At first, you smash the stone. But as you improve, you should be able to not break it—yet leave deeper and smaller sword marks. When you can do that... you'll have mastered the true Sacred Sword."

"But there's no such rocky terrain on this Sky Island," he added. "So I can only tell you the theory—we can't practice it here."

Usually, he wouldn't offer this much. Sacred Sword wasn't something easily taught—it required time and enlightenment. But Doublade's unique swordplay had truly intrigued him.

"During our battle, I felt your heart," Cobalion continued. "You possess a righteous spirit—flawed, but pure enough. That's why I agreed to teach you the essence of the Sacred Sword."

Sure, this little knight's tricks were a bit shady—but its ideals were noble. Even if its fighting style caused high blood pressure, that wasn't a big deal.

"But only when you truly understand the weight of a sword—and how to wield it—can you be accepted as a Sword of Justice."

Doublade blinked blankly.

What does a clear heart even mean?

"Probably means don't overthink," Hikaru said. "Focus like you do when you're crafting. Just think of it like carving. That's a similar kind of concentration."

He pointed at an empty clearing. "That spot's perfect for training."

Cobalion turned. "That? There are no rocks."

"That's fine. We're making them now." Hikaru looked to Terrakion. "Terrakion, can you help by stacking some boulders with Rock Slide?"

"Sure, I guess. But you're not expecting me to keep generating rocks forever, right?" Terrakion grumbled, using Rock Slide to form massive stone pillars.

Then Hikaru looked to Calyrex. The bunny's belly bulged from the final bowl of curry, face satisfied.

『Want me to add some ancient ruins stones? Sure, I'll get them.』

Calyrex's eyes glowed blue. Bricks and ruins piled near the ancient forge lifted into the air and fused with the Rock Slide boulders, forming a simple stone hut with no ornate decoration.

Now came the "destruction" part of the crafting show.

Hikaru fetched a mirror. Even though the Dream World couldn't connect directly to the Reverse World, its materials could still be obtained here, making things easier.

Using Secret Power on a structure made from Reverse World materials...

The "door" of the stone house flashed brightly for a moment—then faded.

Hikaru stepped in first. The Swords of Justice exchanged glances and followed. But once they crossed the threshold, they stopped.

From the outside, the house looked small.

Inside, however, it was enormous.

A vast labyrinth of solid black stone surrounded them—rugged terrain, strange elevation changes. The walls looked hard.

"A Fighting-Type Training Maze—let's call it that!"

"I'll activate the island's power to shape this environment to suit Rock- and Fighting-type Pokémon. Natural energy will continuously generate new boulders. With the labyrinth's mechanics, you'll be able to train here endlessly."

"This is my invitation—and gift."

The trio of legendary Pokémon wandered in awe. Terrakion broke a sweat.

So that's what he meant by "creating a paradise"... including the Dream World?

This power... was this kid secretly some spatial god's avatar?

They all gave Hikaru a suspicious look.

Still, the place was perfect for sword training—and came with energy-packed food.

The Dream World's training could carry over into the real world. The Swords of Justice, who had lived for over a thousand years, were masters of its mechanics. After a brief exchange—

"...We have a request."

"We want our disciple, Keldeo, to join us here too."

Hikaru's eyes sparkled.

A buy-three-get-one-free bonus? Hell yes!

In his mind, a message popped up:

[Invited Pokémon: Cobalion, Terrakion, Virizion!]

[Effect: With the Swords of Justice settled here, the Sky Island will massively expand. A "training atmosphere" will emerge—Move and Ability training efficiency +100%, Mental growth and comprehension speed +30%! May cause certain Pokémon to develop illegal Abilities or Moves.]

—

Outside the Training Maze, near the ancient forge...

A once-dormant Larvesta egg began to shake.

It glowed brightly, flames gathering into the shape of a small sun.

The fire surged, tendrils of flame curling inward.

A fluffy white caterpillar blinked sleepily, sniffed the aroma wafting from outside...

And began slowly inching toward the door.

(End of Chapter)

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