This score isn't like the items you find in Pokémon, where the effects are straightforward and consistent. For example, if a Pokémon item says it boosts stats by 20%, it's always exactly 20%, no more, no less.
But the boost from this music sheet works differently; it provides a fixed increase rather than a percentage. Giving it to Gengar has a noticeable impact, especially when you stack multiple sheets, making the effect even more pronounced.
On the other hand, if you give it to Marshadow, it's almost like giving nothing at all. Marshadow is just too powerful, so even using all four music sheets probably wouldn't make much of a difference.
Since the boost is a fixed amount, it has the same absolute effect on anyone, regardless of their strength. That's why it makes more sense to give the sheets to Gengar, who is weaker but appears more often, to maximize their usefulness.
Larry handed the sheet music to Gengar and then turned his attention to the last remaining item. This was something that hadn't appeared in the previous violin chapter.
Gengar took the sheet music in his two short hands, recalling from experience that this could help boost his strength. Just as he was about to swallow it, he suddenly paused.
Gengar's gaze shifted between Larry's shadow and the sheet music in his hands, and a thought crossed his mind. He already had a copy, should he give it to his new friend, Marshadow?
Gengar felt he couldn't be selfish. "Ge ngar, Ge ngar..." he murmured softly.
Larry, hearing Gengar's voice from the side, was drawn out of his own thoughts. "Are you saying you want to give something to Marshadow?" he asked, surprised.
Gengar nodded firmly. Despite not knowing Marshadow for long, and even though Marshadow wasn't great at expressing himself and could be intimidating, Gengar sensed a deep care and affection from him. That was enough reason to want to share something meaningful.
Larry glanced at the shadow beside him and could feel the complex emotions Marshadow was experiencing, touching, joy, and more. Smiling gently, Larry said, "Alright, then you can give the sheet music to Marshadow later."
It didn't matter who received it; what mattered was the bond between Gengar and Marshadow. Larry was glad to see their friendship growing strong.
"Geng ngar," Gengar said, cradling the sheet music like a treasure, imagining the moment he would give it to his friend. Yet, memories of Marshadow's earlier disdain for Death Aura clouded Gengar's mood, and doubts crept in. Would Marshadow appreciate this gift?
After sorting things out for Gengar, Larry turned back to the last item in his hand, the most unusual of all. It was a hexagonal crystal, perfectly shaped like a finely crafted work of art, its regular form hinting at the skill of a master carver.
The crystal was perfectly clear, with a consistent green hue inside that softly glowed. In terms of color and shape, this green crystal was almost as beautiful as the rarest gems in the world. Interestingly, the strange green light it emitted matched exactly the color of the soul Larry had just seen. The two were identical.
Reflecting on it further, Larry recalled that the violin chapter didn't have this element, but the harp chapter, which controlled souls, did. A thought suddenly struck him: this green crystal was very likely connected to souls.
Curious about such an unusual object, Larry decided to use his long-unused ability to identify it. Activating the skill, the information appeared.
***
Name: Soul Crystal
Origin: Derived from the Dark Sonata Harp chapter of the Demon King.
Possesses a special power to control souls. By gathering the souls of creatures, it condenses them into a crystal-shaped soul body. Contains a vast amount of soul energy and has extremely unique effects.
Cannot be used under normal circumstances.
***
After using the ability, Larry confirmed his suspicion, this was indeed a Soul Crystal, derived from the Dark Sonata Harp chapter of the Demon King. It possessed a special power to control and gather souls, condensing them into a crystal-shaped soul body filled with vast soul energy.
Despite understanding its origin, he still didn't know how to unlock its unique effects. So, he decided to leave it with Gengar for safekeeping.
Since it was a Soul Crystal, its function was probably tied to manipulating souls. Maybe it could repair a damaged soul, or perhaps it could be used to release condensed soul energy in the form of attacks similar to the soul army they had witnessed before.
The presence of this Soul Crystal sparked Larry's curiosity about souls even more. He wondered what role such an object might play and suspected he would encounter other soul-related phenomena on the Dark Continent in the future.
Gengar accepted the soul crystal without hesitation but then stayed still, making no move. "What's wrong? Is Marshadow still waiting for your gift?" Larry asked, raising an eyebrow. All the items had been collected, yet Gengar remained motionless.
Gengar's eyes lowered, showing a flicker of hesitation. It seemed unsure whether Marshadow would accept its gift. If Marshadow refused, would it damage their friendship?
"No, Marshadow is actually looking forward to your gift," Larry reassured him.
Larry hadn't expected Gengar to be so worried that Marshadow might reject the gift, so he took a moment to reassure him. With Larry's encouragement, Gengar finally gathered his courage, dove into the shadows, and vanished in the blink of an eye.
In the shadowy realm, Gengar called out, "Ge ngar!" and nervously handed the music score to Marshadow.
His short hands trembled slightly, making him look like someone with Parkinson's. But Marshadow simply smiled warmly, hugged Gengar, and accepted the sheet music. It was a gift from a good friend, after all, so of course he would take it.
Though the music score didn't have much effect on Marshadow himself, it was the thought behind it that mattered. Seeing Marshadow accept the gift so graciously, Gengar's face lit up with an innocent smile.
Marshadow then casually placed the music sheet on himself, and Larry watched as it was drawn in by a strange suction force, slowly disappearing into Marshadow's body until it was no longer visible.
Larry thought to himself that this trip to Yoshi Island had been truly rewarding. First, two powerful pokemon, Aerodactyl and Dracovish, had been born, and the progress bar for Dark Sonata had reached halfway.
The Pokémon had gained plenty of experience, with Gengar leveling up to S+ rank. What made Larry happiest was seeing Gardevoir finally reach S-level and gain the ability to mega evolve, meaning his beloved partner now had more chances to shine.