Lian swiftly flew towards Celebi, and the three Trainers quickly understood his intentions but were unable to stop him. Lian had burst with incredible speed, reaching Celebi's vicinity in an instant.
Celebi was not in good shape; using Healing Wish had depleted its stamina significantly, weakening its combat abilities considerably. Furthermore, enduring intense attacks from four Pokémon had caused additional injuries, leaving it with minimal energy remaining.
The two Water-type Pokémon on the ground and the pair of Flying-type Pokémon in the air surrounded Celebi relentlessly. With only its wings for flight, Celebi struggled to defend itself effectively.
Had Celebi not been inherently powerful, most ordinary Pokémon would have lost their ability to fight after using Healing Wish.
The two Flying-type Pokémon noticed Lian approaching, and simultaneously, the two Trainers on the ground devised a quick strategy. They promptly issued commands: one Pokémon was instructed to engage Celebi, while the other three focused on attacking Charizard.
They knew that if Charizard joined the fray, Celebi might seize the opportunity to escape—an outcome they wanted to avoid at all costs. Therefore, assigning one Pokémon to keep Celebi occupied seemed like the best choice.
Celebi was already severely weakened, and its combat effectiveness had significantly declined. While one Flying-type Pokémon might not defeat Celebi quickly, it could effectively engage it for an extended period, preventing its escape.
The two Water-type Empoleons on the ground and the Flying-type Unfezant in the sky promptly shifted their focus to Lian.
Additionally, the other two Pokemon on the ground started moving towards Lian, preparing for an assault. This time, five Pokemon were poised to surround him.
Among the crowd, several mid-level trainers initially struggled with indecision but upon witnessing Charizard being besieged by five Pokemon, they swiftly made up their minds.
The first Trainer stepped forward, clearly unable to resist the lure of money. Unlike before, now Charizard faced simultaneous attacks from five high-tier Pokemon. Two Trainers were fully focused on battling Charizard, ready to command their Pokemon at any moment.
After intense battles, Charizard bore visible injuries, making this potentially the best opportunity to strike while it was weakened.
Earlier, the mid-level Trainers hesitated to intervene because they couldn't guarantee stopping Charizard, fearing Noras might renege on his offer.
However, now with their combined forces joining the battle against multiple Pokémon, even if Charizard were formidable, its defeat was inevitable. Once Noras successfully captures Celebi, he would be ecstatic and fulfill his promise of paying 100,000 Alliance Coins effortlessly.
The prospect of earning such a substantial sum thrilled the mid-level trainers; it wasn't a small amount. As for potential backlash from other trainers afterward, they simply didn't care.
Isn't life about enjoying oneself? With wealth, one can indulge in life's pleasures. In reality, most mid-level trainers, once reaching a certain age, have little chance of advancing further.
For these Trainers who've reached the pinnacle of their training journey, knowing there's no hope for progression, why not fully enjoy what they have?
Completing missions as mid-level trainers is arduous, and while earning money may be slightly easier than for ordinary people, it still isn't effortless.
With this windfall, they could relax for an extended period, travel around, socialize, and savor life—what could be better?
Although they were mid-level trainers, their fame was limited. By simply removing their badges, nobody would recognize them.
As the first mid-level trainer stepped out, two more followed closely behind.
People often behave this way: once someone takes the lead, even if it's clearly wrong, the allure of potential benefits can make them abandon many principles.
While several trainers exited the scene, Lian had already engaged in another battle, facing his most challenging moment yet.
Lian still had ample Stamina, so that wasn't a concern. However, after using a Z-Move, he hadn't fully recovered from the significant energy depletion. With five Pokémon now surrounding him, he might not be able to swiftly defeat them, risking injury which could turn dangerous.
Lian lacked any recovery moves, and previously, his Solar Power Ability continuously drained his Stamina. Fortunately, he had moved out of the Sunny Day effect's range, temporarily eliminating Solar Power's negative impact.
Celebi could only passively resist due to its insufficient combat capabilities; Lian couldn't rely on it. He had no choice but to face the challenge alone.
Lian couldn't believe it; with his Control Rating at 70%, coupled with the insane base stats obtained from the system, he possessed combat capabilities akin to a legendary Pokémon. There was no way he should lose against these high-tier Pokemon.
Inevitably, injuries were unavoidable, but Lian was prepared. He would definitely dodge attacks, strategically choosing when to evade to minimize damage and then counterattack.
"Are you sure about doing this?" Kalia questioned the Trainers sternly, wondering if they were truly willing to abandon their sense of justice as Trainers for the sake of one hundred thousand Alliance Coins.
With great power comes great responsibility. The Pokemon League nurtures Trainers not merely for gym challenges but primarily to contribute positively to their regions.
For instance, whenever Kyogre appeared, numerous Trainers swiftly stepped up to collectively confront it. A Trainer's primary duty is to protect their region, safeguard Pokemon, and assist people in need.
However, now these Trainers were not protecting Pokemon but instead aiding Noras in capturing Celebi, thus forsaking the inherent justice expected of them as Trainers.
However, the three mid-level trainers remained silent, not daring to meet Kalia's gaze, clearly aware that their actions were wrong.
Despite this realization, they didn't halt; instead, they justified it by telling themselves that as long as they received payment, everything would be fine. They planned to retreat to a distant location for leisure afterward, assuming no one would care about their involvement, and eventually return after some time had passed.
With the addition of these three mid-level Trainers, the situation quickly became more challenging. Kalia found herself unable to disengage, needing to direct Sceptile and Blaziken against Nidoking and Nidoqueen, both formidable opponents. The duo was gradually losing ground.
Ninetales had already joined Julian's side, but within moments, two of his Pokemon were defeated. Kalia had no choice but to send Ninetales to assist him.
Otherwise, if the Pangoro either joined Kalia's battle or teamed up to besiege Charizard, it would significantly tip the scales against her.
This was the most critical moment, yet Kalia refused to back down or give up. Clenching her teeth, she closely monitored the aerial combat unfolding above them.
Now, it all depended on Charizard, but could it truly turn the tide amidst such overwhelming odds?