"Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh."
The sound of flushing came from the bathroom. The moment he got home, James rushed into the bathroom to wash up.
"Sure enough, it feels like Dad's problem has gotten worse again. So your expedition this time was carried out in the wilderness, right?"
Blake turned to his mother and asked. He knew all too well about his father's borderline germophobia, since he had inherited a bit of it himself. The fact that James had rushed into the bathroom the moment he got home meant their expedition definitely had not been conducted anywhere near a town.
"Yeah, in a mountain ravine. Didn't I tell you when we spoke on the phone last time? I'm going to wash up too. We can sort out the luggage later."
Louise stretched and headed toward the other bathroom in the house. Blake shook his head helplessly. Even if his mother said that, he could not just sit around and do nothing. Forget it, he would make dinner first.
Lulina had already gone back to her own home to call for her parents. If her father found out Uncle James had returned and she had not told him, he would probably nag her again.
"Whew—"
James pushed open the bathroom door and walked out. His stubble had been shaved clean, and he looked far more refreshed. Before washing up, he could not even sleep properly.
"Finished washing up, Dad? Dinner will take a little while longer. Have some snacks to tide you over first."
Blake walked over carrying a plate of fruit and pastries.
"Food can wait. Where's that Spell Tag? Bring it over and let me have a look."
James grabbed Blake and said.
"Haunter! Help me get the Spell Tag! Oh, right, I caught a Dhelmise. It's in the aquarium at home now. Dreepy should be sleeping in my room. I'll bring him over later."
Blake said.
"Dhelmise? That's a very good Pokémon. When conducting underwater surveys, its utility even surpasses that of many Water-type Pokémon. And as a Grass-type Pokémon, it has a type advantage in underwater exploration. Its Steelworker Ability can also produce many unusual effects. You could say it's an excellent Pokémon. As for Dreepy, I remember we have a training manual for the Dreepy line at home. Have you read it?"
Watching Haunter fly toward the storage room, James began evaluating his son's new Pokémon.
"I have, but maybe because he stayed in the egg for too long, Dreepy's growth rate is far beyond what the manual recorded. I was worried something might be wrong, so I took him to the Pokémon Center several times. But Nurse Joy said there was nothing wrong with Dreepy. If anything, he was a little too healthy. The energy in his body is too abundant, which is why he keeps falling asleep and shedding his skin."
Blake said helplessly. As the youngest and most energetic Pokémon, Dreepy had thrown the entire household into chaos. Haunter had practically become a babysitter lately, watching Dreepy every day for fear that the little guy would cause some kind of trouble.
"It's a good thing to be energetic during the early stages. Besides, Pokémon of the Dreepy line are all known for their speed. Being full of vitality can also help them develop their speed. That's a good thing."
James thought for a moment before speaking.
"I know that, but this little guy is a bit too energetic. He's nearly broken quite a few things around the house. Right now, Haunter is the only one who can keep an eye on him. Thanks, Haunter. Give it to Dad. This is it."
As Blake spoke, Haunter had already brought over the small box containing the Spell Tag. Blake thanked him and handed it to James.
"Whoosh!"
The instant James opened the small box, a surge of Ghost-type energy carrying an icy chill burst forth, causing the temperature in the room to drop slightly. However, no one present seemed particularly affected. Haunter even wore an expression of enjoyment, immersed in it.
"Just as I thought. Its appearance, the feeling of its aura... it really should be connected to that ruin."
James took out the Spell Tag and examined it from side to side. He rubbed the inked portion with his fingers, held it to his nose, and sniffed it. After studying it carefully, he spoke. His eyes had also turned deep purple, clearly indicating that he had activated his family's Ability.
"So what kind of ruin is it exactly?"
Blake asked curiously.
"Whew—"
James closed the box again and sighed.
"To be honest, I think this is a little early for you. But forget it. You were bound to come into contact with it sooner or later, weren't you?"
James fell silent for a moment.
"Do you know the myths of the Sinnoh Region?"
James asked very seriously.
"I know some of them. The legends of Dialga, who controls time, and Palkia, who twists space. There are also the stories of the wise Lake Trio."
Blake said that, but in truth, he knew far more than that. After all, he had once stood from a god's-eye view, so naturally he knew more. Yet over the years, he had also come to understand the differences between the games, the anime, and the real world. Naturally, he would not naively believe that Legendary Pokémon were like in the games, where many people could not even be bothered to use them. In this world, Legendary Pokémon were true gods—beings who wielded the laws of reality.
"Mhm. Those two stories are generally the most widely spread. But besides them, there is another legend that fewer people know about. And the material used to make this Spell Tag may be related to that legend."
James spoke gravely.
"The legendary god of the Distortion World—Giratina!"
James had already said this much, so how could Blake not figure it out? As a Ghost-type Legendary Pokémon and one of Blake's favorite Legendary Pokémon from his previous life, he was quite familiar with the legends of Giratina. To say nothing else, according to the legends of this world, Giratina had been banished for destroying the world. But in truth, Giratina had always maintained the balance between the two worlds within the Distortion World. Compared to Dialga and Palkia, who often fought, Giratina was actually the calmer one.
"You know about it?"
This time, James was surprised. Giratina was considered a rather obscure legend. Although the excavation of ancient ruins in recent years had gradually made more people aware of Giratina, it was still very niche by comparison.
"Uh... I know a little."
Only then did Blake realize that he seemed to have let something slip.
"Never mind. No matter where you learned it from, this Spell Tag should be related to the legendary Giratina. You know that aside from the maker's skill, the most important factor determining a Spell Tag's quality is the materials used. Yet this Spell Tag is so ancient and still possesses such powerful strength. It was very likely made, as the legends say, using materials from a Legendary Pokémon."
James spoke with a solemn expression, enunciating every word.
"So the ruin you're taking me to this time..."
"That's right. Just as you think—a temple ruin related to Giratina, dating back at least three thousand years."
Before you continue