Once the initial shock of meeting Dianxi faded, the elder guard quickly sensed something was off. It knew exactly how their king was born and, frankly, with their current abilities, it was impossible for them to produce a king on their own.
They had no wandering king or any other members of their race to help either. This person wasn't actually the king of their clan, but they looked strikingly similar, same appearance, same aura.
Dianxi blinked, sensing the unique sound waves emitted by the diamond guard. She paused briefly before slowly saying,
"I'm not from your clan... but I can feel that we're very much alike."
After just a few moments of tuning in, Dianxi had mastered the method of communicating through sound waves and replied in the same way. At the same time, Larry and the others heard her words through their translation device.
Larry was caught off guard. Dianxi's message didn't carry much meaning to him, but it sparked another thought: Meowth's translation machine could interpret the languages of other creatures.
Could it handle Pokemon language as well? If so, Pokemon disguised as humans might be able to speak our language.
Unfortunately, Meowth's translation machine produced the same mechanical tone no matter the creature. It would be great if different creatures had distinct voices; for example, if Dianxi spoke, the device could give her a sweet, charming voice.
After hearing Dianxi's words, the old diamond guard looked puzzled. He glanced at the two companions beside him, and after they nodded in agreement, he turned back to Dianxi and addressed Larry and the others.
It was clear that this being, who resembled their clan's king, was closely connected to the creatures resembling the Bone Clan, especially their leader.
"We wonder if you would consider our request?" he asked.
"We hope to serve under this lord and accompany him as subordinates."
For Larry, things were surprisingly straightforward. Even before he could say a word, the diamond guard had already offered to follow Dianxi, which meant following him as well.
This was a unanimous decision among the three diamond guards after some thought. Their tribe was small, and after years of decline, their power was limited.
Producing a new clan king would take a long time, and until then, they would be vulnerable. If they faced danger again, they wouldn't stand a chance.
Having a powerful ally increased their odds of survival. But honestly, that wasn't even the main point here.
What truly convinced them was Dianxi's aura, pure and radiant like gems, combined with an undeniable strength. With a king like him leading the way, they knew they could grow and develop much faster.
Plus, by following their benefactor, they could repay the life-saving kindness they'd received and contribute however they could. After careful thought, the Diamond Guard stepped forward to make their request.
Naturally, Larry welcomed this valuable race into his fold. This moment served as a wake-up call for Larry.
Yes, the Dark Continent was filled with danger and strange, unpredictable hopes. But for him, not every harvest had to be a direct hope; sometimes, even unusual species could represent hope.
Take the diamond elves, for example, they possessed abilities on par with hope itself. Accepting them meant securing a continuous source of hope, since they would keep producing precious ore.
Diamond elves were just the beginning. Who knew what other species might exist, maybe some that could generate rare plants or produce potent, high-aura liquids?
The Dark Continent was vast, home to all sorts of strange creatures. Some, like tree people, were more aggressive; others, like the diamond elves, preferred stability.
So, if Larry encountered similar species in the future, he could consider bringing them under his wing too. And if he ever found creatures with bad temperaments but useful abilities, he could rely on Nihilego.
With its toxins, Nihilego could control such creatures, turning them into obedient puppets. Since both parties would share aligned goals, things would likely go smoothly.
Larry first introduced the diamond elves to cyberspace, allowing them to stay there temporarily. Even though their numbers weren't huge, just a few dozen, their brilliance made it risky for them to wander the wild.
Cyberspace was the safest place for them to remain for now. Later, when they returned to the six continents, Larry planned to find a suitable spot for them to settle and produce ore.
He expected their return would come soon. After relocating the diamond elves, Larry didn't leave the entire cave behind.
It still held many unmined gems and ores, including fossilized gas. He extracted some and tested it, finding its properties matched perfectly with what was described in his reference books.
When Larry extracted the gas fossil from the stone wall, the fist-sized piece quickly shrank before his eyes until it completely vanished, turning into gas and dissipating into the air. The cave itself was quite large, but Porygon Z was capable of handling it.
The plan was to first divide the outer part of the cave, then break the rock walls inside into smaller pieces and upload them into the network world. Since the diamond elves also needed to "feed" in cyberspace, Larry made sure to include plenty of rocks for them as well.
After arranging everything for the diamond elves, the Steelix had nearly finished its meal. Having consumed three golden giants, its strength had already reached S+ level.
After devouring the remaining stone giants, it was just a step away from SS- level. With a bit more gem consumption, Steelix would easily leap to SS- level and its power would skyrocket.
Larry could hardly imagine the full potential of this radiant leader Steelix, endowed with numerous mineral abilities. Finally, Larry didn't forget to collect all the treasures from the Stone Gold Cave, the gem-encrusted throne, the murals depicting the surrounding terrain, and of course, the books and other valuable items.
Once everything was packed up, they left the cave behind and set their sights on the next destination: the swamp where the ultimate food, Nitro Rice, awaited, a legendary delicacy said to extend life. By early morning, after a long trek, the group finally emerged from the vast rocky terrain.
They didn't dislike the rocky land entirely, it occasionally yielded magical minerals with effects beyond imagination and immense value. Still, the landscape was monotonous and tiring, and they weren't here for the ores.
Their true goal from the start had been the swamp and its coveted Nitro Rice. Now that it was within reach, all they had to do was cross this rocky expanse quickly.
Standing on a bare patch of ground, Larry looked up at the thick
They stood at the edge of the forest ahead, ready for the next stage of their journey.
This marked the boundary between the rocky terrain and the swamp.
If you ventured a bit further, you'd find yourself deep in the swamp.
Unlike the purple forest they saw earlier, this forest looked more like what you'd typically expect; it was all green and lush.