Deep within the mine, time seemed to stand still in an eternal silence.
This was a circular stone chamber formed by natural rock walls, with unpolished pink diamond roughs embedded in the rough rock surface, and a plant similar in color to the surrounding diamonds grew solitarily in the crevices of the rocks, sparkling with faint light.
In the center of the stone chamber was a naturally formed stone platform, covered with a layer of soft mineral fibers, which served as the sleeping quarters for the young Queen Diancie.
Above the stone platform, a rhombic crystal emitting a soft pink glow floated, bathing the entire stone chamber in a dreamlike Radiance.
Beneath the crystal, the newly ascended Queen Diancie was curled up, fast asleep.
She had only taken over the reign from the previous Queen a few short years ago, and a hint of childlike innocence still clung to her in her sleep.
“Boom—”
A subtle tremor suddenly startled the young ruler awake.
However, she merely mumbled a few words, turned over, and continued to sleep.
“Boom—”
“Boom—”
Immediately after, a series of tremors followed one after another.
“Ah!…So annoying! Who is it!!!”
Before she had fully opened her eyes, an annoyed complaint escaped her, her voice thick with sleepiness.
Then, Diancie slowly opened her eyes, revealing pupils like the purest red diamonds.
As she lifted her head, the crown, composed of four octahedral diamonds and two elongated diamonds, refracted dazzling light in the faint glow.
The golden, graceful ring on her neck gently swayed, the octahedral diamonds embedded within it shimmering with noble luster.
Her upper body, a white skirt-like form, was as fluid and elegant as the finest silk, while her lower body resembled a Carbink, revealing parts of unpolished diamond rough, showcasing her inherent characteristics as a Rock-type Pokemon.
These natural diamonds rubbed against each other as she rose, producing crisp, pleasant sounds like wind chimes.
“Starlight? Radiance?” Diancie’s voice, though still hazy from waking, already revealed a hint of innate majesty.
“What’s going on outside?”
At the entrance of the stone chamber, two seemingly ordinary rocks suddenly moved, revealing two Carbink made entirely of pure diamonds.
Their bodies were a size larger than ordinary Carbink, and their diamond surfaces were covered with traces of battle, making them the two most powerful guards of the kingdom—the “Diamond Twins,” who had reached Master level (over level 90).
“Your Majesty.” The Carbink guard on the left, named ‘Starlight,’ entered the sleeping quarters, kneeling on one knee, its diamond body shimmering with a cold light in the faint glow.
“We heard that humans accidentally entered the kingdom, and one of the kingdom’s Steelix was knocked unconscious. We have already dispatched a large force to capture the humans.”
‘Radiance’ on the right added, “Please continue to rest, Your Majesty. There is no need for you to worry about such a small matter.”
Diancie floated gently, stepping out of her sleeping quarters. Her pink crown moved without wind, and the diamonds on her head emitted an even brighter light.
“Rest easy?” She raised her small palm and pointed gently towards the entrance of the stone chamber. “Humans are already at the entrance to my sleeping quarters, and you still tell me to rest easy?”
“What?!” Starlight and Radiance turned their heads sharply, eyes wide, looking towards the entrance. It was empty; there was nothing there.
“Y-Your Majesty…” Radiance stammered, a hint of fear in her voice, “There’s nothing at the entrance?”
Diancie sighed helplessly, shaking her head, a trace of resignation in her tone: “Will you come out yourself, or shall I invite you in?”
However, the entrance to the stone chamber remained silent, as if she were merely talking to herself.
“…Fine.” Diancie narrowed her eyes, a tiny diamond coalescing in her palm. With a gentle flick—
“Diamond Storm.”
A miniature “Diamond Storm” instantly shot towards an empty spot at the entrance!
Just as the diamonds were about to hit the ground!
“Clang!”
A metallic clang sounded, and from the previously empty space, a peculiar Delibird suddenly materialized!
Its body seemed to be made of metal, and its wings spread wide, steadily blocking the attack of the “Diamond Storm.”
Starlight and Radiance instantly became alert: “What?! There really is an intruder?!”
What shocked them even more was that this intruder had been standing invisibly in front of them, and they had been completely unaware!
“…Tsk, I’ve been exposed.” A young male voice came from the air.
The next second, the space behind the strange Delibird slightly twisted, and a mysterious figure wearing a dark green uniform and a matching mask slowly materialized.
He seemed a bit helpless, as if he hadn’t expected to be discovered.
Diancie watched him coldly: “Finally willing to show yourself?”
The human before her exclaimed, “As expected of the Mythical Pokemon Diancie, even this invisibility can’t fool you.”
Starlight and Radiance immediately entered battle stance, swiftly moving in front of Diancie to shield their Queen, their diamond bodies gleaming with a sharp, cold light: “Your Majesty! Please step back!”
Diancie, however, raised a hand to stop them, not moving her body, her gaze still firmly fixed on the mysterious figure: “Speak, who are you? Why have you intruded into my kingdom?”
The mysterious figure seemed to hesitate for a moment, then his gaze from beneath the mask passed directly over her, falling on the depths of the stone chamber.
There, a peculiar, crystalline plant grew quietly behind the stone platform, its leaves as transparent as diamonds, its roots entwined with ancient minerals, emitting a faint luminescence.
“I want that,” he stated directly.
Diancie fell into deep thought.
That plant was left to her by the previous Queen, and it was said to have existed for an extremely long time.
This plant had a magical effect: if Carbink ate one of its leaves, their internal energy would be enhanced, their size would increase, and their strength would greatly surge.
The reason Starlight and Radiance could become powerful guards far surpassing their kin was precisely because they had been granted a small piece of a leaf.
However, this plant did not significantly improve Diancie’s own strength.
Giving some leaves to this mysterious person in front of her would not be a problem in terms of practical use.
It was just that this unknown intruder had come directly to this place with a clear objective, as if he was extremely familiar with it.
Moreover, how he managed to break through numerous obstacles to enter the kingdom, these were all points of suspicion, which made Diancie wonder if he had other intentions.
“Heh.” Diancie chuckled softly, her white skirt-like body moving without wind, her tone suddenly turning cold, “Why do you think… I would give it to you?”
However, the mysterious figure did not respond further, merely standing silently in front of Diancie.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense.
Diancie could sense that this person was no ordinary individual.
As a Mythical Pokemon, although Diancie was still young and not as powerful as the previous Diancie, she now possessed the full strength of a Level 100 Pokemon.
That strange metal Delibird could block her “Diamond Storm” so easily; Diancie guessed it probably possessed Master level (over level 90) strength or higher.
Furthermore, she could not be sure if the person in front of her had any other trump cards.