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Everland City resembles a thousand-year-old city from Evan's previous life.
If you dig casually, you might unearth an ancestor.
This part of the world is ancient. Many past civilizations buried their dead here, creating numerous relic tombs filled with valuable items. These tombs often hold treasures such as Mega Stones, antiques, and other artifacts. It's not uncommon to stumble upon an ancient tomb.
For those serving sentences or with the means to explore, this offers significant opportunities for profit. Exploring ruins or retrieving treasures is considered a personal endeavor, not illegal.
However, before venturing underground, it's crucial to get Marshadow's consent.
Evan finished his meal and, with Gardevoir, cleaned the dishes. Once everything was tidied, Marshadow returned. It emerged near Evan's feet, holding a few stones. Evan was stunned as he examined them.
"Mega Stones?" he murmured. "And this… a Pure Z crystal?"
Marshadow nodded and handed over the stones. Its voice chimed, "Marshadow! For you. A token of gratitude for the energy cubes you've provided."
Excitement bubbled in Evan. "Did you find these at home? Do you have more?" His curiosity grew at the thought of additional treasures.
Marshadow froze briefly before shaking its head vigorously. "Mar~!! Just these," it replied. These were all the stones from its collection, except for one it kept for its own use. Among the five stones, there were two Z crystals and three Mega Stones: Charizard Y, Blastoise, and Ampharos.
Evan carefully examined the stones, confirming their attributes. The two Z crystals were imbued with psychic and dark energy, respectively—rare treasures, even coveted by champions. Pure Z crystals didn't require elaborate dances or Z-Bracelets for activation. A Pokémon could use its energy with a simple thought from its trainer, though the power could only be used once per battle and required an hour to recharge.
A killer skill, indeed.
It's unfortunate that the two Z Crystals are limited to the Psychic and Dark types. Evan didn't have any Dark-type Pokémon, but he decided to make use of the Psychium Z for Gardevoir. As for the Darkinium Z, perhaps he could trade it with someone in the future. Alternatively, he considered the idea of replacing it with a Fightinium Zor a Dragonium Z.
Taking the stones from Marshadow, Evan reached out and gently rubbed its head. "Thanks. These things are perfect for me."
Marshadow blinked, a bit confused by the gesture, before nodding. "Mar~~!!" It was the first time a human had ever rubbed its head, and the sensation left it feeling odd. Soon, shyness overtook it, and it disappeared into the shadows, leaving only its head peeking out. Evan chuckled at its bashful demeanor.
Examining the stones in his hands, Evan tucked them away carefully, except for the Psychium Z,which he held onto. Turning to Gardevoir, he waved her over. "Gardevoir, come here."
At his call, Gardevoir quickly stepped forward. Evan handed her the Psychium Z. "Sense it carefully and let it merge with your body."
Gardevoir froze momentarily at his words but then nodded. Taking the crystal, she closed her eyes and used her Psychic abilities to sense its energy.
Pure Z Crystals were unlike Normal Z crystals. Instead of being external tools, they directly fused with a Pokémon's body, much like a skill patch that imbued them with new abilities. The process was mystical, and Evan couldn't help but marvel. If only Mega Stones could similarly integrate into a Pokémon's body instead of being carried externally—it would be far more convenient. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. The precise mechanics of Z Pure Crystals remained a mystery, but their origin was rumored to be tied to the power of Necrozma.
Unlike the common Z Crystals, Z Pure Crystals were incredibly rare. Among them were 20 exclusive Pokémon-specific variants, but finding one of those was nearly impossible. Even with unlimited funds, they weren't something money could easily buy, making them rarer than Mega Stones.
As Gardevoir sensed the Psychium Z in her hands, a brilliant light emerged. The crystal levitated momentarily before merging seamlessly into her body.
At that moment, Gardevoir realized it had acquired a new and powerful skill—one that could be used whenever needed. The intensity of this newfound ability left it stunned.
"What a powerful force!" Gardevoir thought as it absorbed the Psychium Z and felt its strength coursing through its being. The sheer magnitude of the energy shocked it, and its gaze instinctively shifted toward Marshadow. Now equipped with the Psychium Z, Gardevoir could sense the pure crystal that Marshadow also possessed. This revelation made it clear that Marshadow wielded a similar power.
Evan observed the moment and gave a warning. "Once the integration is complete, take some time to get familiar with it. But don't use this skill randomly," he cautioned. "The power is terrifying. If it destroys the forest, I don't have the money to cover the damages!"
With that, Evan collected the rest of the items and called Pikachu and Pidgeot over. It was time for some training.
"Alright, let's put you to work. Go challenge the Pokémon nearby and get stronger," Evan instructed, handing out tasks. "We're here anyway—it'd be a waste not to train."
Pidgeot and the others sighed in unison, clearly disheartened by the idea of working while they could have been relaxing. Bad master! they seemed to groan internally. Still, despite their reluctance, the Pokémon trudged off into the forest to battle.
Meanwhile, Evan turned his attention to Marshadow. He wanted to talk with the little ghost Pokémon to see if there were other ruins hidden in the forest or perhaps any valuable treasures. Marshadow had already handed over several Mega Stones, but Evan's curiosity about the ruins below hadn't been satisfied.
"Are there more ruins in this forest?" Evan asked. "Or anything else worth exploring?"
Although it was just a passing thought, Evan couldn't help but imagine what treasures might be buried—perhaps an ancient artifact, or even something as fantastical as a Cosmog egg. He chuckled at the idea. After all, there were no Ultra Wormholes in the China. Little Nebula was more likely resting on Otherworldly Island or in some other distant corner of the world. It wasn't going to show up here, not in the China.
Still, the mystery of the ruins stirred his imagination as he waited for Marshadow's response.