The morning after capturing Ho-Oh, John maintained his usual routine.
After waking early, he went surfing with Gyarados and Greninja.
Come to think of it, he hadn't participated in the Alto Mare surfing competitions in quite some time. With his current strength, he'd absolutely dominate the field. Although, John suddenly thought of an amusing idea.
"What if I caught Shiny Kyogre and then entered the surfing competition? What kind of scene would that create?"
Sitting at the table, watching Togepi, Wobbuffet, and Jirachi play games together while enjoying delicious food, John suddenly felt that living each day like this wasn't bad at all.
John smirked to himself. Who said he was lazy?
"Seems like fate."
"Looks like you have a connection with Galar's twin dogs." John pulled out Aggron's Pokeball.
Regarding condensing Divine Treasure for his Pokemon, John had been working through them systematically. Aggron naturally ranked among the first few Pokemon on his list. He hadn't expected that before beginning Aggron's condensation process, he'd actually manage to acquire the Rusted Sword.
Combined with the Rusted Shield, this would allow Aggron to experience some of the resonating power and hidden might of two Steel-type divine artifacts. Hopefully, it would achieve significant progress.
"Fast-track the process. I want that Rusted Sword now," John said into his phone before hanging up.
"The process is already complete. Just go directly to the Dragoncrest Trainer Association and find the Vice President to claim it," Emerald had already made all the arrangements. She hadn't even bothered having the Capital City trainers deliver it.
With John's Gardevoir capable of Teleport, what delivery service could possibly be faster?
"Excellent work." John hung up and immediately had Gardevoir Teleport them to the capital to collect the item.
Trainer Association Headquarters.
"Where's the Vice President's office?" John asked a stunned staff member.
"Ah... Vice... Vice President is on the third floor, in the office at the very end!" The employee stammered their response.
"Good, thanks." John snapped his fingers and immediately teleported to the third floor.
"The Champion himself came to Dragoncrest City? Isn't he supposed to be on Sky Island?"
"John! John just talked to me! My life is complete!"
John paid no attention to the excited ordinary trainers on the first floor. He'd already knocked and entered the Trainer Association Vice President's office.
The Vice President was someone John didn't recognize, a middle-aged, portly man with a western hairstyle. On his desk sat a long, narrow sealed wooden box.
"I'm here to collect the Legendary-grade item, the Rusted Sword," John stated directly.
Seeing John walk through the door, the Vice President couldn't help but freeze momentarily. Recovering his composure, he hurriedly gestured. "This... this is it!"
The Vice President handed over the wooden box from his desk to John.
He was left sitting in his chair in a somewhat dreamlike state after John departed.
Riverstone University
Therefore, he even had Gardevoir Teleport Ho-Oh here as well.
"What's happening?" Ho-Oh asked groggily, still half-asleep.
"Nothing much. Just watch, and if you can help, lend a hand," John said casually. Remembering how Xerneas had previously helped Gardevoir condense its Divine Treasure, he figured Legendary Pokemon should be capable of assisting.
Whether there was attribute compatibility, John hadn't considered. His calculation centered on Ho-Oh's Sacred Fire ability.
Admittedly, this was somewhat wishful thinking, but even providing a slight enhancement would be worthwhile.
Once all the Pokemon had assembled, John began laying out the materials.
The Primordial Steel obtained from Regigigas.
The Steel-type essence extracted from two massive diamond gemstones.
The privious King's Agron Divine Treasure:
Aggron's signature held item: Metal Coat
And finally, two Rusted Shield sand one newly acquired Rusted Sword.
These comprised all the materials available for Aggron's Divine Treasure creation.
However, just as John was about to command Aggron to begin creating its Divine Treasure, he suddenly paused.
An idea struck him, brilliant and audacious in equal measure.
"Wait." John held up one hand, his mind racing through calculations. "Aggron, before we start, I want to try something experimental."
Aggron rumbled curiously, its metallic body gleaming in the island's sunlight.
John pulled out his phone again, quickly scrolling through his research notes. The Rusted Sword and Rusted Shield, in the original timeline, these had been the legendary weapons of Zacian and Zamazenta, the warrior Pokemon of Galar. When combined with those Pokemon, they unlocked their Crowned forms, transforming them into devastatingly powerful beings.
But what if those artifacts could resonate with a different Steel-type entirely?
Aggron possessed similar characteristics to Zamazenta, both were defensive powerhouses with Steel typing. The Rusted Shield should theoretically sync naturally. But the Rusted Sword represented something different: offense, aggression, the cutting edge of battle.
"Gardevoir, analyze the energy signatures," John instructed. "Can you detect any compatibility between Aggron and both artifacts simultaneously?"
Mega Gardevoir's eyes glowed as she scanned the materials. After a moment, she nodded slowly, uncertain, but not negative.
"That's good enough for me." John grinned. "We're going to attempt something unprecedented. Instead of choosing between offense and defense, we're going to forge both into a single Item"
The gathered Pokemon exchanged glances. Even Ho-Oh perked up with interest, its drowsiness vanishing.
"You're attempting to merge opposing principles?" Ho-Oh asked, genuinely intrigued now. "The Sword and Shield are meant to be wielded by separate champions, not united within one being."
"Says who?" John challenged. "The old legends? We're writing new ones."
He began arranging the materials in a complex formation around Aggron. The Primordial Steel at the center. The diamond essences creating a circle. The Black Diamond Armor providing foundational structure. The Metal Coat serving as a binding agent.
And finally, the Rusted Sword and both Rusted Shields positioned in a triangle formation, their ancient powers beginning to resonate as they drew near one another for the first time in millennia.
"This is either going to be spectacular," John muttered, "or catastrophically explosive. Either way, it'll be interesting."
He looked at his assembled team, Gardevoir ready to stabilize the energy flows, Blaziken prepared to contain any fire-type backlash, even Ho-Oh hovering nearby with its regenerative flames just in case something went terribly wrong.
"Aggron," John said firmly, meeting his Pokemon's eyes. "When I give the command, I want you to pull all of this material into yourself simultaneously. Don't try to control it, just accept it, let it flow through you, and trust your instincts to forge something new."
Aggron's eyes blazed with determination. It had trained for this moment, prepared for years to achieve its ultimate form.
"Everyone ready?" John surveyed his team one final time.
Unanimous nods answered him.
"Then let's make history. Aggron, begin Divine Treasure Condensation!"
The moment the command left John's lips, all the materials exploded into radiant energy, streams of metallic power converging on Aggron's body in a maelstrom of steel, light, and ancient divine might.