At the Sebas region's Pokemon League headquarters.
A group of individuals had gathered and were seated in the second-floor meeting room.
Most among them were high-ranking officials within the League, including its founding members, Elite Four trainers, and the current League Champion.
"Here's some good news," announced the blonde man sitting at the head of the table. It was none other than Botaya, the reigning League Champion and the top Trainer of the Sebas region. He not only represented immense power but also held an exceptionally prestigious position.
"Has the Ellie Region finally decided to release Z-Rings?" asked one of the Elite Four members eagerly. They had heard rumors for quite some time, yet there was no official confirmation.
They had been waiting patiently, but the Ellie Region's League executives remained reluctant to make Z-Rings available. As a result, very few Trainers in the Sebas region possessed them.
Even these elite Elite Four members, standing at the pinnacle of their region, couldn't obtain a Z-Ring, illustrating just how challenging it was for others to acquire one.
The situation at the Pokemon Academies was somewhat unique, with most Z-Rings being concentrated in the academies of the Ellie Region.
"Indeed." Botaya nodded, revealing a rare smile on his face. This announcement meant that Z-Moves would soon become more accessible in the Sebas region, albeit at a substantial cost, likely unaffordable for most Trainers.
It seemed the Ellie Region preferred not to distribute them freely but instead aimed to profit significantly from their sale.
Although they couldn't develop their own Z-Rings, having access to those from the Ellie Region was still beneficial. At least the top-tier Trainers could now harness the power of Z-Moves.
Recently, Trainers from the Ellie Region visited Sebas and defeated several Elite Four members using the unique advantage of Z-Moves.
In battles between skilled opponents, even a slight edge can be decisive, let alone the extraordinary prowess of Z-Moves. Despite being stronger initially, some Trainers lost due to this unexpected factor.
Upon hearing about the availability of Z-Rings, the veteran leaders and Trainers present were overjoyed, especially those Elite Four members who had been previously defeated by Z-Moves.
With mastery of Z-Moves themselves, the gap would close, allowing them to seek rematches confidently, aiming to deliver a resounding defeat and vent their frustration.
In reality, the top Trainers from both regions had similar levels of strength; the significant gap existed primarily among mid-to-lower-tier Trainers. This disparity was mainly due to the competitive atmosphere in the Ellie Region, where intense rivalry between Trainers often led to Pokemon injuries and casualties.
Contrastingly, in the Sebas Region, the culture was more peaceful, with battles typically ending once a decisive point was reached, minimizing harm to Pokemon.
"Once you obtain your Z-Rings and Z-crystals, everyone should familiarize themselves with them promptly. Additionally, there's one more matter: The Dark Guild may be planning something soon," Botaya spoke up again.
"The Dark Guild? What mischief are they up to now?"
The Dark Guild wasn't particularly strong in the Sebas region; if necessary, it could potentially be temporarily dismantled. However, such action would not be cost-effective, as complete eradication was impossible.
Although deeply despised, eliminating the Dark Guild proved far more challenging than anticipated. Fortunately, their presence in the Sebas region had significantly diminished recently, gradually cleared out by strategic efforts. The League's approach involved methodical elimination rather than a single, all-out strike, which could provoke a severe backlash from the Dark Guild, leading to substantial losses for the Sebas region.
However, these purges only targeted peripheral members; the core group remained hidden somewhere. Until they were eliminated, all efforts would be futile.
"It's unclear, but everyone should stay vigilant. The Dark Guild might target other Legendary Pokemon next. Last time it was Zapdos, but there's no guarantee what could happen this time. Sebas region harbors several powerful Legendaries even I cannot handle," Botaya cautioned gravely.
Although the League Champion represented the pinnacle of Trainers in the Sebas region, Legendary Pokemon operated on their own unpredictable logic, with some even referred to as gods. How could ordinary Pokemon compete against divine beings?
The League refrained from disturbing these hidden Legendary Pokemon due to their crucial role in protecting the regions. Long ago, agreements had been established between the League and these mythical creatures.
However, the Dark Guild lacked such reservations. If inadvertently provoked, angering one of these entities could spell disaster for the entire Sebas region.
***
Kalia was unaware that the Ellie Region had introduced Z-Rings, but she knew mastering Z-Moves should be prioritized.
"Let's start training right here."
She released Sceptile and Ninetales; typically, she would send Sceptile for specialized training in the afternoon while focusing on regular exercises in the morning.
"Sceptile, Ninetales, practice your moves and protect Torchic as well. There should be some wild Pokemon nearby for practical combat." Kalia instructed Sceptile and Ninetales, knowing it was time for Torchic to engage in real battles, aiming for its evolution into Combusken as soon as possible.
Sceptile and Ninetales obediently led Torchic away, searching for wild Pokemon. Practicing moves against opponents significantly enhances proficiency; having a rival accelerates mastery and reveals more applications of each move.
Lian descended to the ground, realizing he didn't need to fly for practicing Z-Moves. Standing on solid earth made it more convenient, and this also presented a perfect opportunity to strengthen his bond with Kalia. After all, executing Z-Moves requires energy resonance, which momentarily creates a psychic connection between Lian and Kalia during the process.
During their previous Breakneck Blitz move, Lian felt a brief moment of mental resonance with Kalia, which subsequently prompted her to instinctively mimic the move's gesture.
This was a short-lived connection between Pokemon and Trainer. Although fleeting, repeated use combined with occasional affection from Lian would likely accelerate the growth of bond points, he believed.
Kalia then equipped her Z-Ring, swiftly attaching the Fire Z-crystal. She also removed the Charcoal from around Lian's neck and placed it on the Fire Z-Crystal.
Lian let out joyful calls, appearing delighted. Seeing this, Kalia smiled gently, sensing that her Charizard had indeed become more affectionate towards her.
Feeling even happier now, she eagerly anticipated using the Z-Move again. During the Breakneck Blitz, apart from feeling slightly awkward when shouting the command, everything else was impressive. For a moment, Kalia felt as if she transformed into a Charizard, executing the slashing motion alongside her Pokémon.
Fortunately, most Pokemon moves have standard gestures; otherwise, performing an unusual or embarrassing one could be utterly cringe-worthy.