"This matter is of immense significance!"
A solemn expression graced Professor Evergreen's face. Being significantly older than Kalia, he had experienced far more events and thus understood the implications of her report even better.
The existence of a new continent, larger than Sebas itself, with advanced technology and countless Trainers was staggering.
If such a continent truly exists, discovering the Sebas region could be either fortunate or disastrous. If they harbor ill intent, it would spell calamity for Sebas, potentially worse than Kyogre awakening.
However, if the inhabitants of the Allen Continent approach with goodwill, it could greatly benefit Sebas. With its abundant resources and superior technological advancements, friendly relations between the two regions could spur significant development in Sebas.
"I will discuss this matter with the higher-ups of the Pokemon League. Meanwhile, continue exploring the Dream World. If you encounter that young man again, gather more information from him," Professor Evergreen advised.
"Alright." Kalia nodded in agreement.
Subsequently, Kalia and Julian left the research institute. Having successfully rescued Zapdos, they naturally headed towards its habitat to return the little Zapdos.
Zapdos resided at Thunderbird Peak, which had always been its home. However, due to perpetual thunderclouds enveloping the area, few people ventured close; most only observed it from afar.
After some time, Kalia and Julian reached Thunderbird Peak and landed nearby. The surroundings were exceptionally dim, with dense thunderclouds overhead, covering nearly every square meter around the peak.
This phenomenon was primarily powered by Zapdos, although aided by the favorable terrain. Without such assistance, even Zapdos couldn't sustain these constant thunderclouds.
Living within these thunderclouds, Zapdos demonstrated exceptional mastery over lightning, contributing significantly to its high Control Rating.
As Lian observed the thunderclouds enveloping Thunderbird Peak, he suddenly felt that Zapdos's Control Rating might be more than 70%, likely above 75%, but still short of reaching 80%.
Boom!
A thunderous roar echoed from Thunderbird Peak, accompanied by a sharp cry unmistakably belonging to Zapdos. Amidst flashes of lightning, its silhouette emerged within the thunderclouds.
Apparently, Zapdos had not noticed Kalia and their arrival. It continued darting through the clouds, absorbing electricity, reveling in the ocean of lightning.
"Let's proceed," Kalia said, then took out the Dream Ball containing the little Zapdos and swiftly opened it with a snap.
The yellow little Zapdos appeared in the air, significantly larger now after spending considerable time in the Dream World.
It let out a joyful call, clearly delighted to return to the real world and sensing the familiar energy emanating from the distant thunderclouds.
"Charizard." Kalia tossed the Dream Ball to Lian, who instinctively understood what needed to be done upon catching it.
With a slight exertion of its claws, the Dream Ball shattered with a crisp sound, breaking into fragments and scattering on the ground. The little Zapdos regained its freedom.
A loud cry echoed as the adult Zapdos sensed the presence of its offspring in reality, no longer hindered by the Poké Ball's barrier. The electrical energy emanating from the young Zapdos resonated deeply with its parent, showcasing the power of high Control Rating.
In the next moment, the little Zapdos soared into the sky while Zapdos descended towards the ground. Both lightning birds paused mid-air, the little Zapdos emitting excited cries as it circled around its parent.
"How wonderful! Little Zapdos has finally reunited with its family," Kalia smiled, feeling content that with the Dark Guild disbanded, this marked a positive outcome.
"Yes, indeed," Julian nodded in agreement. Initially, he had considered capturing Zapdos, but witnessing their reunion, any such thoughts vanished completely.
***
After the reunion, Lian voluntarily challenged Zapdos at Thunderbird Peak, resulting in an intense battle.
Unsurprisingly, Lian emerged victorious. In terms of Control Rating and Level, he fell short compared to Zapdos, and Thunderbird Peak was also Zapdos's home territory.
However, Lian's exceptionally high base stats, combined with his respectable 70% Control Rating, proved nearly equal to Zapdos' capabilities. Ultimately, Lian claimed victory.
Although Lian won, it wasn't a flawless triumph. The final combat rating calculation, even with a 2.5 times multiplier, amounted to just five thousand Combat Points, somewhat lower than expected.
Later, Kalia returned to Rhine City and continued exploring the Dream World alongside Julian. With Zapdos now rescued, their focus shifted towards uncovering more of the Dream World.
Time flew by, and before they knew it, half a month had passed.
During this period, Kalia didn't enter the Dream World daily but occasionally ventured in for exploration purposes.
With Charizard and her Pokemon remaining in the Dream World, Kalia occasionally entered to bring them back for treatment and care.
This approach significantly accelerated their growth. In just half a month, the strength of her Pokemon improved remarkably, showing substantial progress compared to tests conducted earlier.
The Dream World's power lay in its ability to reset a Pokemon's development, essentially allowing them to re-experience the journey from weak to powerful stages, leading to immense advancement.
Even Lian's own capabilities saw some enhancement during this time. However, that was secondary; what mattered most were the discoveries he made while exploring the Dream World over these two weeks.
Lian swiftly ventured towards the region corresponding to the real world's North Sea. Following his previous encounter, he suspected that the Allen Continent might be located near the North Sea, as it remained shrouded in mystery due to its long-standing lack of human exploration yet sudden emergence of new Pokemon.
In the Dream World's North Sea, there was indeed an ocean, but instead of being blue, it had black waters, resembling a dark abyss—a characteristic unique to the Dream World.
After preparing thoroughly, Lian flew deep into the North Sea at full speed for two days before uncovering a significant secret.
Upon crossing the North Sea, he encountered islands. As reflections of reality, although the Dream World's environment might slightly deviate from the real world, the differences would never be drastic.
Since the Dream World had islands, it indicated that similar islands must exist in the real world as well. Furthermore, Lian glimpsed more distant islands on the horizon.
Although he didn't spot any continents, Lian knew that if he ventured further, he would undoubtedly find the Allen Continent. However, he chose to return instead.
Staying away too long could worry Kalia if she came looking and found him absent. Knowing now that the Allen Continent does indeed lie beyond the North Sea was sufficient for him.
Later, Lian explored other parts of the Dream World, discovering mirrored regions corresponding to the Ellie Region. The entire Dream World seemed like a reflection of reality, albeit with notable variations.