"Why do I feel like we forgot something?"
Kalia sensed that they might have overlooked an important matter but couldn't recall what it was.
Lian silently shook his head. They had planned for him to battle William's Incineroar, but with Takan leaving hastily, both he and Kalia ended up forgetting about it.
Well, no big deal since Incineroar wouldn't be much of a challenge anyway. Whether they fought or not made little difference. Lian actually looked forward to battling Machamp wielding four swords someday, although that might take quite some time.
By then, Lian could potentially become invincible, considering the system's exponential growth over time is astounding.
Perhaps there would be future opportunities to encounter William again, allowing them to have that match at a later date.
Having completed their mission, Kalia returned to Totem City to rest and recuperate. The intense battle against the Avalugg in the northern region had taken its toll. Additionally, due to the freezing environment, she seemed to have caught a cold, requiring some recovery time.
Over the next few days, Kalia primarily utilized the Pokémon Center facilities for her Pokémon's combat training. She mostly observed without giving commands, allowing her Pokémon to freely showcase their fighting abilities.
Even Combusken got a chance to participate, despite the high likelihood of defeat. However, without experiencing setbacks, how could it grow stronger? Combusken needed to face tougher opponents to evolve.
Fortunately, Combusken's character had significantly improved, shedding its timid nature. Instead, it displayed increasing bravery with each battle.
There was no rush to accept new missions immediately; ample time was available, so there was no need to hurry any further actions.
***
Time flowed like water.
After two days, Kalia had fully recovered from her illness. Human ailments could not be healed by Pokémon's recovery moves, necessitating medication instead.
Kalia's robust constitution, maintained through regular exercise, allowed her to quickly bounce back to normal health.
During these two days, she learned about an incident involving the North Sea. Apparently, three high-level Trainers ventured to uncover its secrets but subsequently went missing.
However, Professor Evergreen and his team remained unharmed as they did not delve deep into the sea; instead, they focused on studying the captured Avaluggs.
This event caused significant shock among many Trainers.
The League promptly banned Trainers from entering the North Sea and established a defense line composed of mid-level trainers in the northern region to prevent further marine Pokémon invasions onto land.
The deep sea posed unpredictable dangers, whereas the mainland was relatively safer, being under the League's control with swift support available. A group of mid-level trainers proved sufficient to handle any threats.
Protecting Sebas' ecological balance was crucial; otherwise, the loss of suitable habitats for Pokémon would impact other regions as well.
The core of Trainers lies with their Pokémon; by safeguarding them, it ensures a continuous flow of new Trainers, contributing to the prosperity and strength of the Sebas Region.
Kalia felt a sense of sorrow and regret over this incident. High-level trainers represent the pinnacle within the League, yet they went missing without even their Pokémon returning—it was truly terrifying.
There must have been valid reasons for the North Sea remaining uninhabited all these years.
Lian wasn't surprised at all. If there were massive Water-type Pokémon akin to Giant Avalugg lurking deep in the sea, a single Surf move, amplified by both the vast ocean and unknown environmental factors, could easily reach tsunami-like proportions.
In such conditions, the power boost for Water-type Pokémon might rival that of a Rain Dance environment. Coupled with potential storms, inadequate preparation, and lack of nearby islands as safe havens, it's unsurprising that even high-level trainers wouldn't return safely.
Sometimes, humans are incredibly fragile against the forces of nature.
It seems these trainers underestimated the risks; they should have taken comprehensive precautions before venturing out. It can only be said that these high-level trainers lacked self-awareness, believing their powerful Pokémon made them invincible.
The true power lies with the Pokémon themselves, while Trainers serve as commanders akin to ancient generals. The Pokémon are like soldiers; although a commander's role is significant, without Pokémon, their efforts would be futile.
Having fully recovered, Kalia visited the Pokémon Center to accept another mission and continue her savings plan.
Her previous task earned her ten thousand Alliance Coins, which was quite decent for a mid-level Trainer. As long as they manage expenses carefully, accumulating savings remains relatively easy.
Kalia took on a rescue mission involving a trapped mid-level Trainer in a specific canyon. Without access to Flying-type Pokémon, the Trainer couldn't escape, and due to the inaccessible terrain, seeking help from the League was their only option.
The reward wasn't high, likely because the stranded Trainer had limited funds—only four thousand Alliance Coins were offered. However, Kalia didn't mind; rescuing someone in distress was always worth doing.
What if the Trainer met with disaster? Mid-level Trainers are already scarce, and the League cannot afford to lose too many of them.
After confirming the location, Kalia promptly set out.
***
Half a month passed swiftly.
It was now February, marking the arrival of spring with vibrant renewal and breathtaking beauty everywhere.
Lian flew through the sky carrying Kalia, heading back to Totem City for some rest before accepting more missions tomorrow.
For Lian, this half-month felt neither long nor short; it seemed to have flown by in the blink of an eye. It had been highly productive, as he reached level 45, gaining two levels within these two weeks and further enhancing his abilities.
The benefits extended beyond leveling up. His bond with Kalia continued to strengthen, currently standing at 82%, just 18% away from reaching the full 100%.
Additionally, he accumulated Combat Points, surpassing 60,000 so far. Although not yet enough to increase his Flame Control rating, with persistent effort, he would soon gather the required amount.
Recalling yesterday's stats panel, Lian mentally reviewed which ability he aimed to enhance next.
Charizard
Type: Fire, Flying
Level: Lv.45
Abilities: Solar Power / Blaze
Moves: ..., Flamethrower, Flame Spiral, Air Slash,...
Ability Values: Stamina 2035, Attack 1229, Defense 1445, Special Attack 1994, Special Defense 1508, Speed 1823
Explosive Power: 3.23 (+)
Rock Resistance: 1
Water Resistance: 1
Control Ratings: Fire-Type Mastery 60%, Flying-Type Mastery 30%, Dragon-Type Mastery 30%, Normal-Type Mastery 20%, Steel-Type Mastery 0%, Dark-Type Mastery 0%,...
The Special Attack ability value is nearing two thousand, while the Stamina ability value has already reached it first. Additionally, all other abilities have seen significant improvements.
Currently, Lian's highest mastery rating is for Fire-Type at 60%. He plans to increase this to 70% before focusing on others. As for attributes like Special Attack, they are sufficient for now.
To enhance his Flame Control further, he requires a total of 160,000 Combat Points, which will take considerable time.
Apart from Lian's enhancements, Combusken seems close to evolving into Blaziken. Once evolved, its combat power will significantly increase, and with the Accelerate ability, Combusken's potential impact will be substantial.