Since this was a claw bone, there were two main reasons it might be contaminated with death aura. Either a mentally strong person died nearby, their lingering death aura attaching itself to the claw when the beast was killed, or the bone had come into contact with a strange object carrying death aura.
The first scenario was straightforward, but the second was more complex. Given the purpose of their journey, could this be connected to the Dark Sonata?
The thought flashed through Pyon's mind, but it was only a guess without solid proof. Meanwhile, Larry was certain, the death aura on the bone was indeed tied to the Dark Sonata.
He made his judgment using a straightforward and simple method. Earlier, the progress bar in his mind, which had moved forward about a quarter before stopping, suddenly advanced again!
Although it halted shortly after moving a bit further, this was enough to clarify the situation. The death aura emanating from this claw was caused by the Dark Sonata!
Piyon's efforts hadn't been in vain; his conclusion was correct. There was indeed a trace of the Dark Sonata on Yoshi Island. If it was truly the Dark Sonata, then the strange alterations in the claw bones made sense, they were likely influenced by this mysterious power.
What remained unclear was which chapter of the Dark Sonata it belonged to, and what the payment and gain were. Could this diamond, glowing bone itself be the gain from the Dark Sonata?
For a moment, everyone's attention was fixed on the claw bones, and murmurs of surprise filled the air. Suddenly, a faint but dark death aura drifted out from the bones.
It flew straight into Larry's shadow, disappearing instantly like a stone sinking into the sea. Inside the shadow, Marshadow held the death aura in his hand, his curiosity evident in his bright orange-red eyes.
Seeing Marshadow's interest, the Gengar beside him grinned happily. He considered this death aura a delicious "snack" and thought his friend Marshadow would surely enjoy tasting it.
"Oh?" Marshadow tilted his head, studying the wisp of death aura.
Encouraged by Gengar's enthusiasm, he popped it into his mouth. The moment it entered, the death aura transformed into pure aura and was absorbed.
"Hmm?" Marshadow tasted it carefully, then shook his head. He didn't find it particularly tasty, just kind of bland.
"Geng ngar..." Gengar was shocked by this reaction. His already wide mouth opened even further, as if his jaw might drop if he had one.
To him, this was obviously a delicious treat! The difference in their reactions clearly came down to their differing strengths and senses.
Gengar is currently ranked only at the S-level, while Marshadow stands at the SS-level. Although the difference seems small, just one big stage, it actually means a world of difference.
For Gengar, the death AURA from Dark Sonata are like rare delicacies from the mountains and seas, something like lobsters and abalone. Even if the amount is small, it's still like a tasty stir-fried meat dish. But for Marshadow, those same death aura are as plain as a bowl of rice, without even a side dish. The death aura he just ate were almost pitiful, like picking a single grain of rice out of a bowl, not enough to even satisfy his teeth.
Noticing Gengar's sour mood, Marshadow patted his "shoulder" and tried to comfort him. However, being a straightforward Pokemon, Marshadow's way of speaking was a bit clumsy. This only made Gengar, who was already upset, look even more miserable, like a wronged young wife.
Meanwhile, Pyon saw Larry's face and noticed he looked a little off. Concerned, she quickly asked if the claw bone had some effect on him. But actually, Larry was just holding back a smile.
"No, it's okay," he replied to her, all the while glancing subtly at his shadow. He could sense movement there, he knew Marshadow was eating death aura and even caught their conversation.
Marshadow's words to comfort Gengar went something like this: "Don't feel bad. You might eat less, but you can eat a lot, and your stomach is way bigger than mine."
At first, it sounded like he was teasing Gengar, but both Gengar and Larry could tell the tone was sincere. Still, knowing this was meant to comfort made it even harder for Gengar to hold back his frustration.
Ignoring the Pokemon's chatter, Larry focused on the claw bone in his hand. Even though Marshadow had eaten the death aura, the bone remained unusually sparkling, showing no change. It seemed to have a permanent effect.
After a moment of silence, Larry turned to the middle-aged man and asked seriously, "Boss, where did you mine this stone?" He wanted to find out where the Dark Sonata had appeared.
The middle-aged man scratched the back of his head and honestly revealed where he had found the claw bone. "It was dug out in the Kashi Mine Valley, just south of Yoshi City."
Since all his stones came from that valley, the name came to him without hesitation. Pyon's eyes narrowed as he turned to Larry and whispered, "The Kashi Mine Valley? That's the place I mentioned where strange music sometimes drifts through the air."
Even Pyon, who lacked any special aura sense, was now almost certain that the claw bone's abnormality was linked to the mysterious Dark Sonata.
Larry examined the claw bone carefully before slipping it into his pocket. The bone wasn't just white and shiny, it had a peculiar texture, as if it had been weathered over many years. It felt incredibly fragile, like it would shatter under the slightest pressure.
According to Marshadow's senses, there was no sign of death energy around, except for this bone. As evening approached, the two decided to spend the night in Yoshi City before heading to Kashi Mine Valley the next day.
Yoshi City, the largest town on Yoshi Island, was a popular destination for tourists from all six continents. Naturally, it had plenty of hotels and homestays to accommodate visitors. Since money wasn't a concern, Larry and Pyon chose the most luxurious hotel available, one that even offered private hot springs in each room. These high-end hotels were located right in the city center, standing out among the other buildings with their impressive architecture.
Inside their hotel room, there was a large hot spring pool, the biggest and most lavish in the entire hotel. The pool was divided into two sections: one for soaking in the hot spring and another for scrubbing. The water was emerald green, tinted by medicinal powders specially added to enhance the bathing experience.
As steam rose gently from the water, the air filled with the soothing scent of healing herbs. Yoshi Island's hot springs were famous for their medicinal properties, setting them apart from those found in places like Mount Kira'Zan. This unique herbal bath was one of the island's greatest attractions.
The rich local medicinal herbs had been successfully infused into the hot springs, transforming the waters into something truly special. After adding various herbal ingredients, the springs now offered soothing effects, calming nerves, relieving pain, and even beautifying and nourishing the skin.
Lapras swam leisurely in the large hot spring pool, enjoying the unique warmth and gentle aroma of the water. As he slowly made his way over to Larry, who was relaxing nearby, a pair of warm eyes fixed on him intently.
"Are you going to touch my head again?" Larry sighed, half amused and half resigned.