Chapter 170: Calyrex, Mounted Upon the White Steed

Chapter 170: Chapter 170: Calyrex, Mounted Upon the White Steed

"Then I appreciate your help."

Sora gladly accepted the village chief’s offer.

It was the perfect chance to see how the old man wove the Reins of Unity using nothing more than ordinary flowers and horsehair.

"Roll the blossoms into little circles,

Tuck the mane within, an offering to our king~~"

"Uh..."

Watching the old chief sing while braiding the reins...

Sora nearly dug himself a three-bedroom apartment with his toes from sheer embarrassment.

"Um..."

"Do I really have to sing that?"

"You absolutely do!"

The old chief answered with complete conviction.

"This is the Song of Offering!"

"It’s extremely important."

"You could say it’s the soul of the entire crafting process!"

"R-right..."

In order to earn Calyrex’s approval...

Sora could only grit his teeth and learn it.

Just imagining himself later...

Singing that song in front of everyone while weaving the reins...

Already made his blood pressure rise.

Hang in there, Sora.

It’s for Calyrex.

What’s a little embarrassment compared to that?

As he was thinking this...

The old chief finished weaving the sample.

"This is...?"

"Sorry."

"This is the very limit of this old man’s craftsmanship."

"...You’re serious?"

Looking at the three ugly hemp ropes handed to him...

Sora was speechless.

"I can’t help it!"

The old chief shrugged.

"I’ve already taught you the method."

"If you aren’t satisfied..."

"Go make them yourself."

"No, what I mean is..."

Sora replied honestly,

"If mine turns out like this later..."

Wouldn’t Korinna and Mairin completely lose faith in him?

"How about practicing here first?"

"I suppose that’s my only option."

Left with no better choice...

Sora began practicing under the village chief’s guidance.

Surprisingly...

He turned out to be rather talented.

Aside from the painfully embarrassing song...

His hands were remarkably dexterous.

Weaving the reins came naturally to him.

"You..."

Seeing Sora’s finished work...

The old chief looked completely devastated.

"Is that even fair?!"

Why were his own products so ugly...

While Sora’s looked like exquisite works of art?

Naturally...

Sora wasn’t about to tell him that during his time in Eindoak...

He had made handcrafted Victini statues specifically to sell.

When it came to handicrafts...

There was only one group in the Pokémon world he genuinely admired.

Team Rocket’s trio.

Beyond them—

In craftsmanship, Sora bowed to no one.

"Ahem..."

"Well then..."

"I should get going."

He decided not to stay any longer.

Otherwise the poor village chief might actually faint from frustration.

Returning to the cabin...

He found the girls already setting every dish onto the dining table.

"I made these for you."

Sora handed each girl one of the decorative bracelets he’d woven while practicing.

The unusual designs immediately won them over.

"I love it!"

"So pretty!"

"Glad you like them."

Finding Calyrex, Sora explained everything that had happened while learning how to weave the Reins of Unity.

"White Luo..."

"You have worked so hard for my sake."

"I am deeply moved."

Without the slightest hesitation...

Calyrex raised a hand.

Using the last of his current strength...

He created a Radiant Blossom.

Together with a strand of Glastrier’s white mane...

Sora finally possessed every material needed to create the true Reins of Unity.

"The rest is in your hands."

Calyrex’s body didn’t collapse...

But the aura surrounding him had visibly weakened.

"Leave it to me."

"You just hold on a little longer."

Seeing how exhausted Calyrex had become...

Sora no longer cared about looking foolish.

Right there in front of everyone...

He began weaving.

"Eh?"

"So Master can sing?"

Korinna blinked.

"It actually sounds pretty nice."

"As expected of Master!"

"Even his singing is amazing!"

Sora resisted every urge to smack the back of her head.

Instead...

He focused completely on the weaving.

His fingers moved swiftly and skillfully.

Buzz—

Radiant light bloomed.

Within Sora’s hands appeared a sacred rope that radiated icy divine power.

The true Reins of Unity.

The bond capable of allowing Calyrex and Glastrier...

To become one.

"Come, Calyrex."

"Let me witness the last fragment of your power!"

Even though he was nowhere near his prime—

Not even close to his original state—

Calyrex was finally no longer forced to rely solely upon Sora.

"My beloved steed."

"Ride beside me once more."

Holding the Reins of Unity...

Calyrex’s heart and Glastrier’s became one.

The next instant—

An overwhelming aura exploded outward.

Unimaginable cold swept across all of Freezington...

Then spread across the surrounding wilderness.

"So powerful..."

Sora couldn’t hide his astonishment.

The Calyrex before him...

Was incomparably stronger than anything the games had ever conveyed.

According to the Pokédex...

Ice Rider Calyrex possessed the terrifying power to lower temperatures instantly to minus 300 degrees Celsius.

Three hundred degrees below zero.

Even colder than absolute zero—a completely absurd description.

Only now...

Experiencing that pressure firsthand...

Did Sora truly understand what those simple words represented.

Without question...

Even after losing over ninety percent of his power...

Calyrex still stood among the absolute pinnacle of all Pokémon.

"Mm..."

Unfortunately...

The overwhelming aura quickly faded.

"Calyrex?"

"Forgive me..."

Calyrex gently dismounted from Glastrier.

Floating weakly in midair, he said,

"My current reserves simply cannot sustain that form for very long."

It couldn’t be helped.

His loss of faith had been too severe.

If the King’s Power was the vessel...

Then faith was the water filling it.

Now...

Not only had the vessel shattered...

The water inside had long since drained away.

"Until I regain sufficient faith..."

"I cannot offer you much assistance."

"How shameful..."

"I truly am a useless king."

He lowered his head in disappointment.

Before mounting Glastrier...

He’d been weak.

After mounting Glastrier...

He was still weak.

Then what was the point of riding the horse?

"Don’t be sad, Lord Calyrex."

Mairin stepped forward and handed him a Frost Carrot.

The sweet aroma immediately drew his attention.

"Here."

"Eat a carrot."

"You’ll feel better."

"Thank you."

"I’m sorry for making all of you worry."

Accepting the carrot...

Calyrex took a bite.

"I really am..."

"A rather useless fellow."

...

"But..."

"This carrot truly is delicious."

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