Dark-type Pokémon...
Nightmares...
Charles Chen frowned as he thought over the odd description on the floating system panel before him. In all of Wutong City, there wasn't even a single breeding center that specialized in Dark-types. And "nightmares"? Who in their right mind would want to eat a dish that gives them nightmares afterward?
He sighed.
Dark energy-infused cooking might sound mystical, but it definitely wasn't something he could put on a menu.
Still, one line caught his attention: "Can be neutralized with opposing energy."
That made him think of Cresselia's Lunar Wing a sacred item known to counteract the nightmares caused by Darkrai's aura. Unfortunately, meeting Cresselia was about as likely as catching a shooting star. The system hadn't rewarded him with one either, so for now, that idea would have to wait.
He set the bottle containing the ominous "Phantom Stone Seasoning" aside, then pulled out another curious object from his storage capsule: a piece of grayish-black rock. It looked like a leaf at first glance shaped delicately, veins visible along its surface but when he touched it, it was as hard as stone.
This was a Leaf of the World Tree.
But it wasn't the one granted by the system earlier. This one came directly from Mew, as a "gift" after their little moral conversation the other day.
Apparently, when Charles had used the World Tree as an example to teach Mew about respecting others' belongings, the creature had taken it quite literally. Thinking that Charles must be longing for a treasure from the World Tree, it went ahead and plucked one of its own leaves for him.
Charles had nearly choked when it happened.
He had been making a point, not asking for loot.
But since Mew had already gone through the trouble of offering it, he couldn't exactly refuse. He stared at the shimmering black leaf, unsure whether to laugh or sigh.
The system's identification window popped up immediately:
[SSS-Rank Ingredient – Leaf of the World Tree]
Origin: From the core region of the World Tree itself.
When roasted, it can be processed into a tea leaf with mystical properties.
Charles rubbed his chin thoughtfully. The last time he'd received a World Tree leaf as a system reward, he'd been too cautious to use it. Now that Mew had freely given him another, maybe fate was telling him it was time to experiment.
After what happened with Darkrai's stone, Charles had learned that divine or legendary Pokémon could sense whenever their items were used.
That meant that if he recklessly used something like Ho-Oh's Sacred Ash, or Lugia's Silver Feather, the divine owners might just show up at his doorstep asking for an explanation or a fight.
Because of that, most of his "legendary loot" had been gathering dust in his system storage.
He still remembered lying awake one night, staring at the flaming feather of Moltres, half-expecting the fiery bird to burst through his ceiling in a rage. Thankfully, that hadn't happened. Maybe his items came from alternate dimensions at least, that's what he hoped.
Now, the system description said this leaf could be roasted into tea leaves.
"Well then," he murmured, picking up the pan, "let's make some tea."
He heated the iron pan, placed the stone-like leaf inside, and began roasting it gently.
Making tea wasn't complicated normally, you'd just roast and roll the leaves to remove excess moisture. But this particular "leaf" was harder than granite. Charles wasn't even sure if it contained any moisture at all. He activated his Insight Eye to monitor its composition as it heated.
As the inner structure began to shift, the system window flickered again.
[Legendary Ingredient: World Tree Tea]
A tea leaf made from the sacred leaves of the World Tree.
The introduction was simple, but the words Legendary Ingredient carried enough weight to make Charles pause.
The last time he had seen a "Legendary" food classification was with Mew's eyelash a bizarre but miraculous ingredient that had once supercharged both Serperior and Gardevoir far beyond their limits.
That time, even Alcremie's "Blue Flame" transformation had been triggered.
He still remembered how the air itself had shimmered with divine energy.
Now he held another "Legendary" ingredient in his hands. His heart began to race.
"What kind of dish could I make from this one?" he wondered aloud.
Tea seemed like the simplest choice. Hot water, a leaf, and patience that was all it took. But tea wasn't just a drink. In the hands of a creative cook, it could become the base for dozens of recipes: tea eggs, tea rice, even roasted duck marinated in tea.
He tapped his chin thoughtfully. "Let's start with tea water first."
The beauty of tea was its sustainability: once brewed, it could be refilled, reused, and shared.
And since this was a gift from Mew, it deserved to be treated with care.
He boiled a pot of clear water, then gently placed the roasted leaf inside. Almost instantly, a rich, natural aroma filled the air light, clean, and ancient, as though it carried the scent of forests older than time itself.
Before long, the smell drifted through the kitchen and out into the garden.
"Vee vee?" came a curious chirp from the doorway.
Charles looked down and smiled. The first to arrive, as always, was his Alolan Vulpix, tail flicking like a fluffy fan. "You really do have the best nose around here," he chuckled.
"Vee vee!" Vulpix sniffed the air, eyes gleaming. "(It smells so good! What are you making?)"
"It's not food," Charles said with a grin, patting its head. "It's something to drink. Go call the others for dinner, alright?"
"Vee~!" The little fox looked reluctant to leave, its gaze flickering back toward the teapot. Still, it nodded and scampered away on tiny paws, calling out to the rest of the team.
Just as Charles turned back to check the tea, another familiar voice sounded behind him.
"Cha?"
He turned again. Sure enough, his Combusken had followed the scent too, its head tilting curiously.
"You too, huh?" Charles sighed, laughing helplessly. "Not yet. Go wait in the garden. I'll call you when it's ready."
"Cha…" The Fire-type looked disappointed but obeyed, trudging away.
Finally alone, Charles used the Insight Eye once more.
[Legendary Dish: Tea of the World Tree]
Brewed from the sacred leaves of the World Tree. Possesses mystical qualities that connect life and nature.
Effect 1: The first time a being drinks this tea, they naturally attract goodwill from other living creatures.
Effect 2: Grass-type Pokémon gain a deeper connection with nature, increasing Special Attack power in Grassy Terrain by 50%.
Effect 3: The drinker becomes attuned to the emotions of the World Tree when nearby.
Effect 4: Grants partial protection by the world's will first-time drinkers may negate up to 75% of damage from super-effective attacks.
Effect 5: The drinker has a chance to receive the World Tree's "Aura Blessing." The stronger the brew, the higher the chance.
Charles blinked. "Five effects?!"
His eyes gleamed brighter with every line he read.
Aside from the third one, which was a bit situational, the rest were incredible.
The first effect enhanced friendliness was already priceless for someone like him.
The second? A massive 50% boost to Grass-type abilities. Combined with the Legendary Energy Cubes from before, Serperior's total boost could reach a terrifying 80%.
And with her Contrary ability reversing stat drops into gains, her power would skyrocket to unimaginable levels.
The fourth effect wasn't bad either partial damage immunity could save lives in critical moments.
And the fifth...
Charles smiled faintly, swirling the fragrant tea in his cup.
A drink that connected him to the will of the world itself something that could bestow blessings from nature's core.
"This," he whispered, watching the tea shimmer with green and gold light, "might be the most powerful thing I've ever brewed."
Outside, the sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of amber and violet. The garden Pokémon gathered, waiting for dinner, unaware that their trainer had just created a new legend one born not from power, but from patience, wisdom, and a single leaf of the World Tree.
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