Chapter 37: The Effort of Knowledge Plus Sweat!

With the first manifestation of power, subsequent information gradually surfaced, filling in the details of the previously vague crafting effects.

"Ancient wood carvings will respond to Pokémon of the corresponding image; one may only make a wish upon a wood carving of the same type once."

"If the craftsmanship of the wood carving improves and unique wood is used, the number of wishes or the content of the wishes may change."

"The function of the ancient wood carving is... stat optimization!"

Guangtai felt a touch of pleasant surprise, though the feeling soon faded when he remembered that this process required the inlay of ruin fragments or ancient rocks.

It is well known that Pokémon possess three types of data: base stats, individual values (IVs), and effort values (EVs). Even in the real Pokémon world, effort values can be considered to have no upper limit—after all, my Pokémon is exceptionally hardworking, and no one can say otherwise. However, base stats and individual values cannot be altered; the former is the fixed capability of an entire species, while the latter represents the innate strength of an individual Pokémon, which is immutable. Among players, the number 31 is commonly referred to as "V," representing the maximum individual value. In the wider world, the only way to improve individual values is through "Hyper Training," which requires consuming items known as Silver Bottle Caps and Gold Bottle Caps.

"Wait... but it boosted the Attack IV?"

The spark of joy in Guangtai’s heart dissipated almost entirely. It was only then that he realized Petilil had made a wish, and the result was an increase in her Attack IV. Guangtai was left feeling both amused and frustrated.

A Pokémon’s own understanding of power is quite simple: it is "Attack." Many of them cannot distinguish between physical and special attacks, though there are exceptions—for instance, the Rocket Trio’s Wobbuffet, which chooses different defensive tactics based on the type of attack it receives.

"It seems I need to find some unique wood and carve a few more sculptures."

"With old wood, a Pokémon of the same type can only make a wish once. This means even if I carve a new sculpture from the same material, it won't allow for another wish. I must use wood from different sources to make further wishes."

"Besides, since the first boost was to the Attack IV, perhaps it would be better to lean into the Hisuian form?"

Boosting the Attack IV to the maximum is useful, but Petilil’s base Attack stat is very low. Only by evolving into a Hisuian Lilligant, the Queen of the Mountain Path, can she possess truly formidable attack power. Moreover, in terms of moves, abilities, and versatility, the Hisuian Lilligant is superior to the original form!

"That’s right... if she wants to reclaim her habitat, she must evolve into a powerful form."

"As for the Ability, that can be resolved with an Ability Capsule. Although I can't obtain one right now, there's no need to rush."

"Petil?"

Seeing the shift in Guangtai's expression—from joy to a furrowed brow—Petilil didn't know what had happened, but she felt as though her strength had increased significantly! The sensation was marvelous! However, when she tried to touch the sculpture again to make a second wish, the carving offered no response.

She looked at Guangtai.

"Petil? (•︵•)?"

Did she make the wrong wish? Petilil was confused. Now that the wish was fulfilled, the ancient power contained within the sculpture was exhausted, leaving it as little more than a trinket to be sold.

"Perhaps sculptures made from special wood can manifest stronger effects—for instance, wood from peculiar forests like Ilex Forest, Viridian Forest, or the Entree Forest."

Guangtai glanced at Petilil. She and Doublade were gathered around the wood carving, curiously poking at it. Oh, right, Doublade needs one too... but its patterns are too complex; Guangtai found the prospect rather troublesome. Before allowing Doublade to make a wish, he would need to explain which stats were important and should be prioritized, and which could remain lower.

"If I find even stronger, special wood to carve with, could I potentially max out two, three, or even all individual values at once?"

"Hyper Training is a mechanism that only exists in games. In the real Alola region, it’s highly unlikely such a thing exists."

In that sense, his wood carvings are equivalent to the effects of Hyper Training and Silver Bottle Caps? If so, these could sell very well. Although most trainers probably aren't aware of individual values—as even a Pokédex cannot read them, and they have never explicitly appeared in the animated world—there are subtle manifestations of them. For instance, Ash’s Infernape; when it was still a Chimchar, the power of the flames displayed by its "Blaze" ability was terrifying. That was precisely why Paul noticed it and caught it. It is very likely that the individual values for Attack and Special Attack of Ash’s Chimchar were already at their maximum even when it was young.

Powerful individual values, combined with a powerful ability, manifest as extraordinary strength—and then, add to that the limitless potential of effort. Of course, one cannot fully apply game mechanics to reality.

"Petil~"

"Dou-blade!"

The sounds of Petilil and Doublade pulled Guangtai back from his thoughts. Seeing the two Pokémon looking somewhat uneasy, Guangtai quickly crouched down.

"Sorry, sorry, I was just lost in thought."

"Petil~!" Petilil asked if it was because of the wood carving.

"The carving... well, it was a happy accident. I’m not angry; on the contrary, I have high expectations because you’ve become stronger." Guangtai stroked her leaves and encouraged her, "You will become even stronger, and then you will fulfill your own wish. Of course, I need to be rewarded in the process, and the stronger you become, the greater my reward will be. Let’s work hard together."

"Petil! Wawa! (•́ᴗ•́)o☆!"

Petilil curled the sides of her petal-skirt like tiny fists, her eyes filled with determination.

To become stronger, even stronger!

In this surge of excitement, the leaves on Petilil’s head suddenly began to glow. She recalled the brilliant sunlight that had gathered around the wood carving, which seemed to awaken a certain power within her body! The sun in the sky was also dazzling; after the rain, the grass and trees would grow even more lush and sturdy!

"Petil!"

Petilil suddenly shouted toward the sky. Then, a massive amount of sunlight gathered above her head. The intense light seemed to form a sun, or perhaps a curtain of light, recreating the moment the sculpture had manifested its power!

The sunlight grew intense!

This was the move "Sunny Day"!

Following that, the solar energy continued to concentrate above Petilil’s head. A scorching heat formed a solar halo, enveloping her. Guangtai and Doublade retreated a distance, watching the scene with rapt attention!

The concentrated sunlight continued to gather, and after a period of charging, it erupted—

A fierce, enormous beam of light blasted toward the sky!

Petilil had mastered the move "Solar Beam"!

"Sunny Day and Solar Beam go hand-in-hand. Among Pokémon capable of learning both, those who master Sunny Day often master Solar Beam as well, though the reverse is not always true!"

"The sudden surge in her individual values allowed her to grasp this extraordinary power. But even if it was the Attack IV that increased, can she still master a Special Attack move? Or perhaps the accumulation was already sufficient, and this was simply the moment of release."

"Long-term battles have accumulated effort values, and this lush land is helping her as well."

Guangtai looked around his medicinal herb field. It was the result of knowledge, sweat, and a little bit of catalytic help from the item. The result... was quite impressive!

However, all of this was being observed by another Pokémon. She had watched Petilil learn Sunny Day and Solar Beam through work and training. On the roof of the workshop, a small, grass-green Pokémon with tiny wings appeared. She emerged quietly, flapping her wings, ripples of time emanating from her presence.

"Cele?"

She giggled. This workshop looked like a lot of fun!