Following the principle of "if you see it, don't waste it," Cain managed to pry the blue fragment off the statue as well.
After scanning it with his system, he confirmed that it was indeed one of the pieces of the Sky Plate.
It was slightly smaller than the fragment obtained from the statue of Rayquaza, but considering that those Plates were limited in number, finding two in such a short time was already an incredible stroke of luck.
After checking that nothing else remained, he left the place, satisfied.
Knowing that the space was a relic left behind by the ancients, Cain didn't think too deeply about it.
He had expected to perhaps find a legendary Pokémon sealed in some hidden corner of that space, triggering a fierce and earth-shaking battle.
Before leaving, he once again looted the Ghost-type treasures of the Dragon's Tomb. His most valuable discovery was a natural Reaper Cloth found in a crack between the stones.
This item was extremely attractive to Ghost-type Pokémon. Moreover, when equipped, it allowed a Dusclops to evolve into Dusknoir, making it a very rare object.
Cain had previously asked Phoebe for one, since among her main battle Pokémon she had a Dusknoir. But she had confessed that she didn't have any spares, and that her own Dusknoir had evolved thanks to a gift from her grandparents.
And now, in this place saturated with Ghost-type energy, Cain had found one.
If an ordinary Ghost-type Pokémon wore it, it would not only help regulate its Ghost energy but also allow it to conceal its presence more effectively.
For Gengar's current state, it was perfect.
Without hesitation, Cain handed it over. The Pokémon slipped into the shadows, compressing its inner energy to stabilize its foundation.
After leaving the tomb, Cain recalled his Pokémon and, with Gardevoir's help, teleported several times until he finally returned to Dragon Mountain.
It had taken quite some time to get out, especially since there was no light inside the tomb and the passing of hours was imperceptible. Gathering materials had also taken a lot of time.
When Drake saw him return, he frowned. "You took so long... Did you enter the Dragon's Tomb?"
As always, his intuition was spot on.
Cain didn't try to hide it and nodded. "I was a bit curious, so..."
"You must have seen the sealing circle inside. You didn't damage it, did you?" Drake asked immediately, not caring much for Cain's excuse.
"No. I only collected Ghost-type materials."
Cain shook his head.
Drake let out a sigh of relief and patted him on the shoulder. "Good. I know you must've had many questions when you saw it, but even I don't fully understand it. Still, that circle affects all life in this place."
"Do you know why this area has existed for so long, filled with Dragon-type Pokémon, and yet its energy never runs out?"
Cain was taken aback. "Could it be because of...?"
Drake nodded. "Exactly. According to my old companion, a very long time ago, that site wasn't a tomb at all. In fact, it was even more important than the Dragon Sanctuary itself, and it was protected by numerous guardians."
"Over time, when the first guardians died and their successors grew old, the place gradually turned into a tomb. The dragons that passed away went to rest there, continuing as guardians even after death."
Cain understood.
"As long as you didn't cause any damage, it's fine. But the tomb must have guardians. I told you not to enter because if you disrupted the circle, they would appear — and not even I could stop them."
"Come. Your Shelgon should be done absorbing by now. Let's check its condition."
Drake gave him another pat on the shoulder, and the two headed toward the Dragon Pool inside the temple, while the old man told ancient stories and legends of the place.
...
Back at the pool, they saw that the level of the special liquid had dropped significantly.
At first, it had only reached Shelgon's eyes, but now it was almost down to the lower edge of its bony armor.
"Incredible! This Shelgon has tremendous potential," Drake said, his eyes gleaming. Its absorption capacity was far greater than expected.
The more it absorbed, the stronger its draconic blood became, and the more liquid it needed to fully awaken its hidden potential.
Sensing the arrival of Cain and Drake, Shelgon slowly opened its eyes. It showed a hint of confusion, like someone awakening without remembering what had happened.
But soon, it recalled everything.
With steady steps, it approached Cain, splashing the liquid with each movement.
Cain smiled and congratulated it, patting its shell. "Well done, Shelgon!"
Although Shelgon didn't fully understand what it had done well, it was happy to see its trainer pleased.
Cain used his system and confirmed that although its quality was still Purple, the hue was now much deeper than before.
"It's absorbed the dragon's blood, but it still needs time to digest it slowly," Drake explained.
Cain nodded.
Both of them exited the temple with their Pokémon into the valley, where a large gathering of Shelgon, Bagon, and Salamence awaited.
Cain's Shelgon looked at them with awe and excitement — it was the first time it had seen so many of its own kind together.
With Cain's permission, it ran over to join them.
After his talk with Kommo-o, Shelgon's heart was no longer bound by old obsessions. It remained disciplined and hardworking, but without the burden of extreme stubbornness.
Cain and Drake exchanged smiles — each feeling proud of the other's growth.
That day, they let Shelgon play freely. Since the day it was born, it had never been so happy.
Drake thought silently, "Cain, one day you must take my place and protect this place."
...
Ten days passed in the blink of an eye.
Except for the first day, when Shelgon played with its kin, it spent the next nine sitting quietly in a corner, digesting the "dragon's blood" it had absorbed.
But on the tenth day, both Cain and Drake received a message on their communicators at the exact same time.
The fact that the League could send a special transmission even to this place meant something truly serious had happened.
When they read the two words on the screen, their expressions darkened.
Just two words... but filled with urgency:
"Return immediately!"
(End of chapter)