Taro unleashed all five of his Dragon-type Pokémon; earlier, he had merely been practicing against Regirock. Now, with full force, Regirock quickly struggled to defend itself.
Although Taro's Pokémon lacked the exceptional Control Rating of Legendary Pokémon, they were incredibly powerful and exhibited excellent coordination among themselves.
These Dragon-type Pokémon had participated in countless battles, reaching near-maximum growth potential.
Apart from the current Champion of Sebas, Elite Four Taro was considered the strongest Trainer in the region.
In no time, Regirock was defeated, lying motionless on the ground. However, Taro showed little interest in capturing it, as its fighting style did not align with his team, and being a Legendary Pokémon native to the Ellie region, acquiring it seemed implausible.
Unconcerned about Regirock's fate, Taro immediately mounted his Dragonite and rushed towards Mono City's Combat Hall.
The Dark Guild truly seemed intent on courting their own demise!
As Taro approached the Combat Hall, the battle between the Dark Guild members, Kalia, and others had already erupted.
With numerous enemy Pokémon incapacitated, the pressure on Sebas' side significantly decreased. Consequently, many Trainers found their Pokémon momentarily unoccupied, prompting them to recall some and prepare to confront the Dark Guild's leaders.
The Dark Guild members displayed formidable strength; even this small group exhibited abilities akin to high-level Trainers.
However, due to their lack of systematic training and limited variety in Pokemon types, they were far less versatile compared to League Trainers with diverse teams. Consequently, their Pokemon lineup could be effectively countered by Steel or Fighting-type Pokemon.
Most Dark Guild members typically paired Dark- and Poison-type Pokemon, which not only showcased significant power but also embodied the intimidating image of the guild. If the Dark Guild were to train a cute Pokemon, despite its potential strength, it would seem quite out of character for them.
Lian was feeling somewhat drained as he swiftly moved out of the Sunny Day effect's range, knowing prolonged exposure would excessively deplete his stamina.
Using Fire Blast four times eliminated around two to three hundred Dark Guild Pokemon. While other Trainers might theoretically achieve such terrifying prowess, none could match Lian's ease.
Firstly, simultaneously executing two Fire Blasts is beyond the capability of most Trainer's Pokemon, likely even challenging for high-level Trainers. It's possible that Elite Four trainers' Pokemon could manage it, but there's no certainty given how difficult it is.
Even Legendary Pokemon, with their long existence, typically achieve only around 70% Control Rating, and that's specifically for attributes they excel in.
The Elite Four members, being relatively young, have at most cultivated their Pokemon for a decade or so. Although this period seems lengthy, if given the same timeframe, Lian would already be invincible—thanks largely to his system advantage.
Many Trainers in their twenties remain mid-level, while others stall as high-level trainers, unable to progress further. Advancing the Control Rating of a Pokemon requires not just systematic training but also relies heavily on the Pokemon's innate talent and comprehension, making it exceptionally challenging even for Elite Four trainers.
Once outside the Sunny Day effect, Lian flew towards Kalia, joining the battle against the Dark Guild leaders. The remaining ordinary Dark Guild members posed little threat and could be disregarded.
The primary focus now was countering the guild leaders' Pokemon. Based on Lian's estimation, these were predominantly Level 50-60, with some possibly reaching above Level 60.
Sceptile hadn't returned yet; leveraging its speed and agility, it continued reaping through the regular Dark Guild Pokemon like an assassin dancing on the edge of danger.
Kalia and several Trainers huddled together, making it easier for their Pokémon to protect them. If they dispersed, they would be more vulnerable to capture by Dark Guild members, leading to disastrous consequences. Not only could they risk losing their Z-Rings, but also potentially endangering their lives.
"Where is Elite Taro? Why hasn't he returned yet?!" Panic began to set in among many Trainers as the Dark Guild leaders drew closer. The current Pokémon shielding them might not withstand the incoming onslaught.
Boom! Boom!
The guild members' Pokémon unleashed their moves, including some Rock-types that immediately cast Rock Tomb, sending massive rocks hurtling towards the group.
Rock Tomb differs from Rock Slide; while Rock Slide focuses on sheer power with heavy falling rocks, it lacks sustained impact. Conversely, the rocks released by Rock Tomb persist longer, effectively blocking the paths of opposing Pokémon, hindering their mobility. Unless they were Flying-type Pokémon, most would struggle due to large boulders obstructing their way, significantly impeding their movement.
With limited mobility and unable to swiftly dodge, these trapped Pokemon would become easy targets—a common tactic employed by Dark Guild members. Although Rock Tomb is not particularly powerful, it has significant strategic impact, especially in group battles.
Sebas did not let the enemy unleash their moves unchecked. In response to the falling rocks, their Pokemon countered with their own attacks, shattering them.
Some Fighting-type Pokemon punched fiercely, turning the rocks into rubble. These rocks were composed of energy, not actual stone, so once destroyed, they dissipated as pure energy.
"Charizard, use Heat Wave!" Kalia instructed Lian, considering that deploying Fire Blast in this environment could inadvertently harm Sebas' team if not carefully controlled. However, Heat Wave posed no such risk.
Heat Wave is a directional area move, targeting only the opponent, thus preventing accidental damage. While its power may not match Fire Blast, choosing the appropriate move for each situation is crucial for any Trainer. Blindly relying on high-power moves can lead to self-inflicted harm or collateral damage. Even with Charizard's exceptional control, using Fire Blast here could still endanger other Pokemon and even Trainers nearby.
Different situations require distinct strategies.
Lian slightly nodded, as he had initially planned to use the enhanced Incinerate move, but Heat Wave would suffice. In truth, releasing Fire-type moves with his tail always felt somewhat awkward to him.
In the next moment, Lian flapped his wings and unleashed a Heat Wave towards the Dark Guild's Pokémon on the ground. Although it might have less power compared to Fire Blast, its key advantage was the wide area of effect.
Considering Lian's Special Attack capabilities, even without the amplification from Sunny Day, his Heat Wave remained potent. Aside from Fire-resistant Pokémon, most others would lose at least half their stamina from this attack.
That was sufficient; employing Heat Wave multiple times could swiftly eliminate these Pokémon.
However, things were not that straightforward. The Dark Guild members couldn't possibly overlook Lian, so they dispatched more Pokémon to attack him directly. After all, Lian had previously turned the tide single-handedly.
Even fools would understand the need to prevent Lian from unleashing further moves. Several Pokémon targeted Lian in mid-air, using Rock-type attacks and long-range Special Attacks simultaneously.
"Heh." Lian inwardly smirked; their attacks on him were perfect, as it would alleviate pressure from the ground Pokemon. Despite appearing trapped with nowhere to dodge, Lian's Explosive Power was not just for show.
With a sudden burst, he rocketed skyward at incredible speed, so swift that he vanished in a flash, leaving all incoming moves to miss their target.
"They didn't hit?"
The Dark Guild members were stunned. Although their Pokemon lacked systematic training, they themselves were considered semi-advanced trainers, ensuring their Pokemon possessed considerable strength and well-trained accuracy.
Despite numerous moves clearly aimed to guarantee hits, Lian managed to evade effortlessly. His Charizard disappeared instantly, reappearing high up in the next moment.
This wasn't due to any mistake but rather wasted time for the Dark Guild's Pokemon. Meanwhile, Sebas' ground Pokemon seized this opportunity to swiftly launch their attacks.
Although they couldn't completely incapacitate the Dark Guild's Pokemon, significant damage was inflicted, boosting the confidence of Sebas' team.
After evading the moves, Lian rapidly descended, hovering mid-air without wasting a moment. Capitalizing on his opponents' recent attack cooldown, he unleashed Heat Wave.
Lian's wings flapped vigorously, generating intense heat as he directed it towards the ground-based Pokemon.
As the scorching wind surged forth, Lian continued to fan his wings relentlessly, maintaining a sustained Heat Wave attack for as long as possible.
Although he couldn't match Moltres' ability to continuously emit flames, he could still maintain this heated assault for a significant duration.
However, if prolonged too much, Lian would deplete his fire energy reserves. Moltres, being an ancient Legendary Pokemon, possessed an awe-inspiring abundance of flame energy, far surpassing Lian's capabilities.
The effectiveness of the Heat Wave was undeniable. Although the Dark Guild's Pokemon noticed it, evading such widespread attacks proved challenging.
Soon, the relentless scorching winds enveloped these Pokemon. The gusts felt like red-hot blades slicing through them, causing immense pain and severe injuries.
Due to Lian extending the duration of the Heat Wave, even before its release ended, some Pokemon, unable to withstand the onslaught, collapsed, losing their combat capability.
The injured Pokemon suffered immensely, while even those unharmed displayed expressions of agony, showing signs of burns on their bodies.
"Attack the Trainers! Don't forget our objective; don't get entangled with these Pokemon!" At this moment, Dark Guild's guild master Kentra shouted loudly as he moved to the forefront of the battle.
However, instead of focusing on the Pokemon, he charged directly towards the Trainers at the back, clearly aiming to seize their Z-Rings.
Time was running out. Having wasted so much already, failure to obtain the Z-Rings would render this mission utterly unsuccessful. Worse still, Taro might intervene upon his return, making the situation dire.
This mission could not fail. Kentra had invested heavily for his evolution, and now, disregarding the other Pokemon, he rode his Staraptor straight towards the Trainers.
His first target was Kalia, who had repeatedly clashed with the Dark Guild. This presented an opportunity to resolve matters with her and reclaim the Z-Ring that rightfully belonged to him.
Lian, keeping a close eye on Kalia, immediately noticed Kentra's move, clearly directed towards the Trainers.
Unlike other cautious guild members who refrained from directly attacking Trainers to avoid potential failure and risk to their lives, Kentra displayed immense bravery as he couldn't afford to fail.
As the President of the Dark Guild, Kentra had his own decisive judgment, and his choice was undoubtedly correct. By swiftly eliminating these Trainers first, victory would be within reach.
Securing the Z-Ring was crucial; once obtained, they could then snatch the Z-crystals from the Pokemon and make a swift escape. This would yield significant gains for the Dark Guild, despite losing many Pokemon during this operation. The possession of a Z-Ring alone would elevate the guild's top-tier power significantly.
Overall, the Dark Guild's strength was weak, with most members being at beginner trainer levels. Even among the higher-ranking guild members, only a few barely reached high-level trainer status, while Kentra himself was considered strong among them but still just a high-level trainer.
Facing an Elite Four trainer would inevitably lead to their defeat, hence Kentra feared Taro greatly. Once Taro returned, it would spell disaster for him.
Kalia is in grave danger!
As Lian spotted Kentra riding his Staraptor, his heart tightened instantly. Kalia and the other Trainers were gathered together, and if the Staraptor charged into them, even one direct hit could be fatal.
In this critical moment, Lian couldn't focus on offense; he burst into high speed immediately. The other Pokemon wouldn't have enough time to defend, given Kentra's swift Staraptor.
With a loud explosion, Lian swiftly dove towards the ground.
Kalia watched as the Staraptor descended from the sky, feeling utterly panicked. In the Sebas region, they had too few Pokemon, making it impossible to prevent Kentra from seizing such opportunities.
Facing the imminent charge of the Staraptor, Kalia was helpless. There was no escape; she could only watch with despair etched on her face as the Staraptor bore down upon them.
Considering the power of such a formidable Staraptor, its aerial strike could effortlessly shatter rocks, let alone fragile human bodies—there seemed little chance for survival.
At this desperate moment, many Trainers turned their gaze towards the Trainers from the Ellie region, hoping for intervention. However, none stepped forward, remaining indifferent even amidst life-threatening danger.
At this moment, many Trainers felt resentment towards the Ellie region, as even minimal assistance from them could have prevented this dire situation.
Suddenly, Lian's orange silhouette swiftly positioned himself in front of Kalia. The others were not his concern; he needed to protect her alone.
Unaware that Kentra specifically targeted Kalia, Staraptor collided directly with Lian at a critical moment. With no time to release a move for defense, he had to rely solely on his own strength to withstand the impact.
Lian was instantly sent flying, feeling darkness engulf his vision and losing his combat ability. Fortunately, however, his life wasn't in immediate danger.
His intervention saved Kalia from harm and bought crucial seconds.
In the next instant, realizing the situation, other Pokemon stepped forward to shield the surrounding Trainers against Kentra's second attack.
Boom!
Just then, amidst a loud crash, the glass ceiling of the Combat Hall shattered as a plump Dragonite swiftly flew in - it was Taro arriving on the scene.
Taro's face brimmed with fury, having taken in the chaotic state of the Combat Hall at once.