Chapter 31: Secret Realm Treasures and Exploring the Power of Aura
Chapter 31: Secret Realm Treasures and Exploring the Power of Aura
At dusk, Hikaru accompanied Sakura Hayashi to visit the orphanage where they had spent time in the past. Together, they spent the afternoon with the newly arrived children, sharing warmth and joy.
As the day ended, Hikaru watched a graceful Altaria descend, carrying Sakura away with a gentle melody. This time, however, his feelings were different.
No longer did he envy her life of privilege. Now, Hikaru believed in his own ability to rise and one day stand alongside her as an equal.
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The Next Morning
The morning sunlight bathed the ornamental trees as Hikaru crossed the street. Familiar with the area, he navigated narrow pathways and arrived at the entrance to the secret realm.
The area surrounding the abandoned urban district had been renovated, with several uniformed officers accompanied by Arcanines standing guard.
Activating his Eye of Insight, Hikaru observed that all the Arcanines were of elite-level strength.
Nearby, a small crowd gathered, consisting of both students in school uniforms and independent Pokémon trainers. The first batch of explorers appeared to include not just students but also professionals from society.
About sixty people were present.
Hikaru quickly spotted his school group.
"Over here, Hikaru!" Yuki's clear voice rang out.
Hikaru chuckled awkwardly. Once again, he seemed to be the last to arrive, even though he'd left early.
Luo Hoshino, their robust coach, glanced at him before conducting a quick inspection of everyone's equipment. During a fleeting glance exchanged with Kei Hoshino, Hikaru noted an unusual hint of fear in Kei's eyes.
Before they could chat further, one of the uniformed officers at the entrance spoke up.
"Entry is now open! Be aware: entry points are randomly placed along the outer perimeter. The central area contains Gyarados at gym-leader level—proceed with caution!"
The crowd began entering the secret realm in an orderly manner.
Hikaru stepped through the red portal, feeling a rippling sensation as if passing through water. He blinked, and the world around him transformed.
---
Hikaru found himself in a new landscape under a different sky.
Entry points were randomly assigned to the outskirts of the realm, but the exit point was unified. Hikaru recalled Yuki explaining this detail yesterday.
He stood amidst a rocky area, with scattered stones littering the ground. Beyond lay a lush, untamed forest.
Unlike the beginner's training grounds he had experienced before, this forest had no predefined paths. Instead, it was filled with tall grass, winding vines, towering trees over ten meters high, and wild Pokémon like Beedrill, Grovyle, and Mankey.
Hikaru immediately released his two Pokémon. However, the ground beneath him suddenly trembled.
Looking down, he realized the "rock" he was standing on had begun to move.
An annoyed expression stared back at him—it was a Graveler, not a rock!
Clearly, Hikaru had disturbed its peaceful slumber during his arrival.
The Graveler began to roll its body, becoming rounder as it prepared to attack. Its surface reflected light ominously as it launched Rollout, a move that increased in power with each consecutive hit.
Charmeleon and Ralts were beside Hikaru, but the Graveler was directly under his feet.
Without hesitation, Hikaru activated his Fairy Wings entry, which allowed him to take flight.
The poor Graveler rolled around futilely, unable to reach him. Looking up, it saw a massive, fiery fist descending toward it.
"Char!"
Eventually, Hikaru ordered Charmeleon to simply intimidate the Graveler into retreating. After all, it was Hikaru who had disturbed its nap first.
"Alright, Charmeleon, Ralts, let's hunt for some treasures!" Hikaru declared with a grin.
---
Finding treasures in a secret realm was every explorer's dream. For Hikaru, with his Aura Power, it felt like an inevitable success.
Half an hour later, Hikaru found himself muttering in frustration.
"I swear, I'd love to just set this forest ablaze!"
The dense brambles along the path forced him to use a machete, and even after thirty minutes of hacking, he had barely covered 500 meters.
So far, he had only managed to gather some herbs and berries—not exactly the treasures he'd hoped for.
"Wait a second...why not use my Aura Power?"
Closing his eyes, Hikaru extended his aura in ripples, sensing his surroundings in 3D clarity. Almost immediately, he detected a cluster of energy emanating from a tree stump about ten meters ahead.
Changing direction, Hikaru hacked his way toward it. Within minutes, he reached his destination.
The stump was covered in green moss, with a small hollow in the center containing a pool of clear water.
As a secondary profession expert, Hikaru instantly recognized the item.
[Source of the Forest]: Drinking this restores a Pokémon's PP quickly. Many PP recovery potions are crafted using ingredients from treasures like this.
While not particularly useful for Hikaru personally, it was a valuable item that could fetch a high price on the market. Properly processed, its value could increase tenfold.
"Not a bad start!" Hikaru grinned, his confidence in Aura Power growing stronger.
Using Aura, he not only located treasures but also avoided dense patches of thorny underbrush, making his journey more efficient.
---
By late morning, Hikaru was grinning from ear to ear.
"Another Forest Source! Nice!"
"Water Essence? Fantastic!"
"Heart of the Woods? Incredible!"
Treasure after treasure revealed itself to him. In just a few hours, Hikaru had collected consumable treasures worth over a million credits. With further refinement, their value could multiply several times over.
No wonder so many trainers aspired to explore secret realms. For Hikaru, however, the experience was unparalleled.
Thanks to his Aura Power, he turned the secret realm into his personal treasure trove. He effortlessly avoided unnecessary encounters with wild Pokémon while collecting valuable resources.
"Let's take a break," Hikaru said. Placing a Fairy Bloom into his bag, he instructed Charmeleon to clear a spacious area around them.
It was time to enjoy a well-earned meal.
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