"The Dragon Emperor, Howard? Sorry, I've never heard of you."
Summer furrowed his brows in confusion. Dragon Emperor—the title sounded like that of a Dragon-type Trainer. But the surname Howard… he felt like he had heard it somewhere before.
"How odd. Just earlier, when you heard that title, your eyes were practically glowing with excitement." The old man stroked his beard.
The once-imposing elder had suddenly taken on a more carefree demeanor. But now wasn't the time for distractions—the real focus was on the mystery of the Crystal Pool. He seemed to recognize Kitakami, which meant he might know something.
"Master Howard, what exactly is hidden within the mist of the Crystal Pool? And why have we met here?" Summer asked, instinctively addressing him with respect.
"Master, huh? Hohoho! I never thought I'd hear you call me that." The old man chuckled. "Alright, let me tell you… You can think of the Crystal Pool as a teleportation point."
"A teleportation point?"
"That's right! A miracle of space and time, made possible by Terastal energy!"
"Wait… Does that mean the Crystal Pool has the power to traverse time and space? So Ogerpon's companion was transported to another timeline?" Summer muttered as he pieced things together.
"The next question is—why did I meet you here?" The old man continued, but then he smirked. "Before I answer, I have a question for you as well."
Since Howard had answered his question, it was only fair to return the courtesy. Summer nodded. "Go ahead."
"Hohoho… Summer, do you raise Dragon-type Pokémon?"
"Huh? Why that question? Well… I do have a Dragon-type Pokémon."
"Oh? And which one is it?" The old man asked with intrigue.
"It's a Jangmo-o."
"Hohoho! A Jangmo-o, eh? Not bad, that does suit you." The old man chuckled. "You're not spoiling it, are you?"
"Of course not! Jangmo-o is a natural-born warrior. It has to grow through battle. Besides, it works hard on its own—it even learned Dragon Tail, Dragon Claw, and X-Scissor all by itself." Summer protested.
"X-Scissor? Hohoho! Now that's a talented little one. I'm satisfied." Howard nodded approvingly, his figure gradually fading.
"Master Howard, my second question…"
"Oh? That's easy. Just ask your father when you get back. Hohoho!"
The old man let out a hearty laugh as he disappeared into the mist, leaving Summer utterly baffled.
My father?
But I transmigrated here! I don't even know who my father is in this world!
Feeling a headache coming on, Summer rubbed his temples and shook his head. At least one thing was certain now—the Crystal Pool did have the ability to transcend time and space. Howard was likely from another timeline.
"Bo-nioh!"
A familiar voice rang out. Summer suddenly felt something bump against his leg. Looking down, he saw Ogerpon gazing up at him, tears glistening in its eyes.
"Are you okay? What happened, Ogerpon? Did someone bully you?" Summer quickly crouched down to comfort it.
Ogerpon shook its head and presented the two items it had received from the man.
"A Terastal crystal… and this feather?"
[Feather of the Winged King – A feather from the ancient ruler of the land. On a clear day, it enhances the holder's strongest attribute.]
Hearing the explanation from his assistant, Summer was stunned. This was undoubtedly an incredibly powerful item, once belonging to a mighty ruler of the past. But… how had Ogerpon obtained it?
Seeing Summer's puzzled expression, Ogerpon waved its little hands excitedly and began recounting everything that had happened. It even had Hatterene relay the man's exact words.
"How could I possibly treat Ogerpon poorly? That old man is such a doting father… But one thing's for sure—he must really love you."
Summer looked at the pink Terastal crystal in his hand. Imprinted within it was the man's emotions—a father's love.
Ogerpon nodded firmly. Whether it was him, the folks in the Lush Forest, or Summer—they were all its dearest family.
"Ogerpon, can you Terastallize one more time? I want to test if the Crystal Pool's teleportation ability can be triggered again."
"Gaooo!"
Of course! Ogerpon activated its unique Terastal form once more—but this time, the Crystal Pool remained unresponsive.
"I thought so. A phenomenon like this must require time to recharge." Summer nodded. "Alright, you can cancel the Terastallization now. We should head back."
"Whether it's the spoils from defeating Pecharunt or the crystal from your father, they must have a greater purpose. Let's use them to create two brand-new masks!"
"Bo-nioh!"
Ogerpon's eyes sparkled with excitement. New masks? That sounds amazing! But then it hesitated—where would they find a skilled mask craftsman?
"Heh, Ogerpon, don't forget—I'm pretty good at carving. Leave the new masks to me!"
Three Days Later – The Home of Carmine and Kieran
After three days of dedicated work, the two new masks were finally in their final stage—embedding the Terastal crystals.
Though Summer was confident in his woodworking skills, he knew that craftsmanship of this level required experience. So, he sought the guidance of Grandpa Carl—Carmine and Kieran's grandfather, a master craftsman with generations of expertise.
Grandpa Carl approved of Summer's carving skills, but in other areas, he still had much to learn. To ensure the masks were of the highest quality, Summer handled the carving while Grandpa Carl took care of the finer details.
The first mask was named the Dread Poison Mask, modeled after Pecharunt's own terrified expression.The second mask was named the Phantom Moon Mask, inspired by Ogerpon's radiant smile.
To enhance their themes, Grandpa Carl incorporated additional elements—the Dread Poison Mask was adorned with a skull motif, representing the lethal nature of Poison-types, while the Phantom Moon Mask featured a crescent moon, symbolizing the mystical aura of Fairy-types.
The masks were crafted from Eternal Willow Wood, a rare tree species found only in the Eternal Forest. This wood was lightweight, durable, and highly resistant to decay.
For the coloring process, the paint had to be mixed with water from Kitakami's rivers and infused with Terastal shards. Since the masks represented Poison and Fairy types, Summer sought out Pokémon that could naturally Terastallize into those types.
In his pursuit of perfection, Summer hunted down every single Poison and Fairy Terastal Pokémon in Kitakami. It was said that for a long time after, no one could find a wild Poison or Fairy Terastal Pokémon in the area.
However, after all his effort, Grandpa Carl simply chuckled and told him, "You really didn't need that much." In the end, Summer was left with two entire sacks of excess Terastal shards.
The final step—embedding the Terastal crystals—was personally handled by Grandpa Carl. With his previous experience in mask restoration, the process went smoothly.
As the two newly completed masks lay before them, Ogerpon couldn't contain its joy. These were handcrafted by Summer himself—a testament to their new and unbreakable bond.
[New Items Unlocked: Dread Poison Mask (Poison/Fear), Phantom Moon Mask (Fairy/Love).]
The assistant's notification confirmed that Ogerpon could now Terastallize these masks, granting it two brand-new abilities—two new manifestations of its spirit.
"No time to waste. Let's find the perfect place to test them out. Ogerpon, let's witness your newfound power!"
(End of Chapter)