As Rhea led the mid-level trainers soaring towards the sky, Kalia approached Lian and whispered, "Charizard, it's time. Let's circle around from the back."
At this moment, everyone's attention was focused on the rooftop of Oceanview Tower, with no one paying heed to any activity on the ground.
Even the bystanders, after being driven away by Genesect earlier, dared not get close again. The upcoming battle could be intensely fierce, and accidentally getting caught in stray attacks might lead to unfortunate consequences or even death.
Therefore, those spectators kept their distance, some using binoculars to observe the impending fight.
High up in the distant sky, several individuals dressed in uniforms rode Flying-type Pokémon, hovering overhead.
With cameras in hand, they looked thrilled, aiming their lenses at the top of Oceanview Tower, ready to capture the epic battle unfolding below.
This confrontation promised to be extraordinary. Even battles between mid-level trainers were usually captivating, and now with over three hundred mid-level trainers facing off against the Dark Guild, it was bound to be a monumental clash.
The Ellie Region hadn't witnessed such a large-scale battle in a long time. In these peaceful times, most people could only experience massive Trainer battles through movies.
Once fully recorded, footage of this grand battle would undoubtedly go viral.
***
Taking advantage of everyone's distraction, Lian swiftly flew with Kalia towards the rear of Oceanview Tower.
Jean, being a woman, was reportedly trapped on the fiftieth floor according to their intelligence. Therefore, Kalia planned to directly enter at that level, break through the window, find Jean, and swiftly extract her.
While it sounded simple, Kalia knew they might encounter Dark Guild members during their infiltration. However, these members posed no significant threat to her, as most executives would likely be engaged in combat on the rooftop.
Nevertheless, maintaining caution was crucial to adapt to any unexpected changes. If the Dark Guild had stationed additional executives or purple-ranked Pokémon, a confrontation could not be avoided.
Kalia was prepared for battle.
Lian carried Kalia towards the fiftieth floor of the tower. However, shortly after taking off, he noticed someone observing them from a window on the seventeenth floor.
"Someone saw us." Kalia also spotted the individual; their eyes met briefly before the person quickly retreated from the window.
The individual likely went to alert others, as anyone attempting to infiltrate Oceanview Tower at this time would be seen as a threat to the Dark Guild. The guild members couldn't simply ignore such an intrusion.
"Charizard, keep ascending; we may not avoid a fight now," Kalia frowned slightly. With their presence revealed, retreating wasn't an option; she was determined not to fail her mission so easily.
Lian continued flying, sensing Kalia's tightened grip, and swiftly accelerated towards the fiftieth floor.
Crash!
Lian burst through the glass, entering the room on the fiftieth floor. Upon landing, Kalia dismounted and brushed off the shards of glass from her clothes.
"Let's move," Kalia said firmly. She couldn't recall Charizard yet, as they were still within the Dark Guild's territory, filled with potential dangers. Without Pokemon protection, it would be too risky.
Since their cover was blown, the best course of action was to charge forward boldly. With Charizard by her side and a Poké Ball ready for releasing Sceptile if needed, she felt prepared to assist in any battle.
Lian wasted no time, bulldozing through the narrow room doors by smashing them to pieces.
With Charizard's robust physique, mere walls were effortlessly destroyed using his sheer physical strength; nothing could hinder him.
Kalia followed closely behind Lian, observing their surroundings. She only knew that Jean was on the fiftieth floor but not the specific room location.
Each floor had ample space, with at least seven or eight rooms, making it necessary to search each one systematically to find her friend.
As Lian charged forward, the confined spaces proved challenging due to his height of over two meters and imposing size. Normal movement was impractical, so he resorted to simply plowing through obstacles.
This aggressive approach generated significant noise, quickly alerting those on the fiftieth floor. A group swiftly emerged, unmistakably clad in Dark Guild uniforms as regular members.
Lian glanced at them, flames flickering from his mouth. Upon eye contact, he realized they seemed devoid of Pokemon.
Since the destruction of their base at Sebas' hands, the Dark Guild's established influence had vanished. Now, they were starting anew in the Ellie Region from scratch.
Lian refrained from attacking, as even a single breath of flame could easily take their lives. Although these individuals were members of the Dark Guild, they hadn't committed any heinous crimes warranting such action.
"Let me handle this," Kalia stepped forward. Charizard's strength was overwhelming for these unarmed people, making them virtually defenseless against him.
Kalia, proficient in combat training and consistently practicing, had already achieved notable skills. This presented an ideal opportunity to hone her abilities further.
"We surrender!" However, upon seeing Charizard, the group of Dark Guild members immediately lost any will to resist and surrendered outright.
Kalia relaxed her fighting stance, realizing it would be inappropriate to continue with their surrender. She asked, "Tell me, do you know someone named Jean?"
As these individuals were stationed on the fiftieth floor, they likely knew Jean's whereabouts. If she was nearby, it would expedite the rescue mission significantly.
"Jean? Yes, we know her!" One person promptly raised their hand.
"Where is she?" Kalia quickly asked, feeling delighted at how smoothly things were progressing. Once Jean was found and rescued, the mission would be complete, allowing her to proceed with customizing Pokémon Armor.
"It seems she was taken away. The President captured all civilians within the tower and has already moved them to the top floor."
"Taken away?" Kalia exclaimed, surprised that completing the mission wouldn't be as straightforward after all, making the situation more complicated.
To find Jean, they would need to go to the top floor, where the Dark Guild and mid-level trainers were likely engaged in battle—possibly even clashing right now.
Kalia had some suspicions about why the President of the Dark Council would capture civilians; it was probably for leverage against their opponents.
The Dark Guild feared an assault from over three hundred mid-level trainers, so by taking hostages, they aimed to intimidate them.
This move gave the Dark Guild an advantage, forcing the Ellie Region's side to become defensively passive, striving to protect the innocent civilians from harm.
"Charizard, let's rescue those in danger."