Lian rubbed his claws eagerly; after enduring for so long, he could finally upgrade.
The first attribute he wanted to enhance was naturally his Fire-Type Energy Control Rate. It had been stuck at 50% for quite some time without improvement due to the high cost - each 1% increase required a hefty 8,000 Combat Points. Now, he finally had enough points to proceed.
"Oh right, I seem to have accumulated several Control Ratings that can be converted into Combat Points, haven't done that in ages." As Lian glanced at his Control Ratings, it dawned on him that unused ratings like Dark and Steel-Type Mastery could easily be exchanged for Combat Points.
Control Ratings: Fire-Type Mastery 50%, Flying-Type Mastery 30%, Dragon-Type Mastery 30%, Normal-Type Mastery 20%, Steel-Type Mastery 4%, Dark-Type Mastery 6%, ...
Recently, Lian hadn't learned any new moves, resulting in minimal progress in most Control Ratings. Only the Dark and Steel-Type Mastery were specifically reserved by Lian for exchanging into Combat Points.
Lian exchanged the Dark and Steel-Type Control Ratings for Combat Points. Although not substantial, it added two thousand points, bringing his total to 109,550 Combat Points.
"Nice! Let's first increase my Fire-Type Mastery since I've been waiting so long."
Wasting no time, Lian decisively clicked on the plus sign next to Fire-Type Mastery, starting the upgrade process.
Swish, swish, swish!
As he repeatedly clicked the plus sign, the Combat Points rapidly decreased, with numbers fluctuating before his eyes. Each drop felt painful, but this expenditure was necessary. After all, Combat Points held no inherent value unless converted into personal strength; otherwise, they were just digits on a screen.
Once the Fire-Type Mastery reached 60%, Lian didn't immediately notice any changes. In the system space, his mastery had already been at 100%, representing its peak potential.
Only upon returning to reality would Lian observe the transformation within himself. He anticipated a significant qualitative improvement, such as simultaneously unleashing dual Flamethrowers, which should now be achievable.
After reaching 50% Control Rating, each subsequent 10% increase felt like a significant transformation to Lian. Based on his estimation, Zapdos likely had only a 70% Fire-Type Mastery.
With a 70% Control Rating, Lian gained some understanding. The Flamethrower-like continuous fire emitted by Moltres seemed achievable at this mastery level, indicating a special ability unlocked at that threshold.
Currently, Lian could not sustain a continuous Flamethrower effect, not solely due to insufficient fire energy but also because his control rating was inadequate. Without sufficient mastery, he couldn't maintain a constant stream of flames.
Upon achieving a 60% Control Rating, Lian checked his Combat Points, which now stood at 29,550, nearing thirty thousand.
With less than thirty thousand Combat Points remaining, Lian reviewed his battle statistics and found no immediate areas for further enhancement. He decided against increasing any specific abilities temporarily, as it could disrupt the balance between different attributes. Maintaining equilibrium among various capabilities is crucial.
For instance, increasing Lian's Physical Ability Value could negatively impact his Agility, maintaining this balance was crucial. Similarly, excessively high Double Defense values might lead to sluggishness despite enhanced protection.
Based on base stats, Lian currently has 108 Defense and 115 Special Defense, comparable even to Legendary Pokémon like Suicune. Moreover, with only one vulnerability to Electric-type moves, Lian can effortlessly handle most ordinary Pokémon around level fifty or sixty.
"Let's enhance Explosive Power further."
Extreme speed equates to power. Although already doubled, his burst speed reaches up to 3,500 Speed Ability Value during activation.
Achieving a speed of 3,500 is something many Pokémon cannot attain throughout their lifetime. Even for Pokémon with over 100 base speed stat, reaching such speeds at Level 100 is not guaranteed.
Previously, upgrading Explosive Power once cost 100 Combat Points. Now, after doubling it, each upgrade requires 200 Combat Points.
To upgrade Explosive Power to three times its original strength, Lian calculated that it would cost 200 Combat Points per increase, requiring a total of 20,000 Combat Points. This seemed quite reasonable, as Explosive Power had repeatedly helped him escape dangerous situations during battles, making it highly practical despite being a temporary speed boost.
After consuming 20,000 Combat Points, Lian directly increased his Explosive Power to three times its initial level.
What does this mean?
It signifies that Lian's instantaneous burst can now reach over five thousand Speed Ability Points. He couldn't fathom how incredibly fast that would be, but it must be extraordinarily swift, possibly even too quick for the naked eye to perceive clearly.
With more than nine thousand Combat Points remaining, Lian continued upgrading Explosive Power. After reaching triple strength, each further increase cost 400 Combat Points. He used them all, ending up with only 350 points left.
Explosive Power: 3.23x
Now, Lian's Explosive Power is at 3.23 times, meaning his instantaneous burst speed can reach over 5,600 Speed Ability Points.
Feeling very satisfied, he eagerly wanted to test it out but unfortunately, the system space wasn't ideal for experimentation. Although he could freely use moves without restraint, the limited area restricted broader testing opportunities.
***
Swish!
Today was rare as it started raining, with droplets falling gently across the landscape. Looking out, the streets were filled with colorful umbrellas.
"The weather isn't great today," Kalia observed the cloudy sky, noting that such conditions were unfavorable for flying. One misstep could lead to getting struck by lightning, posing significant danger to her, even if Charizard might only sustain minor injuries.
Ordinary humans cannot withstand the harm from being struck by lightning, so venturing to other cities was not feasible today.
Despite the gloomy weather, Kalia hadn't experienced rain in quite some time. She extended her delicate hand, feeling the refreshing chill of raindrops on her palm.
Lian, however, detested rainy days because they diminished Fire-type energy while increasing Water-type energy. This aversion is instinctual among all Fire-type Pokémon to varying degrees.
"Charizard, let's take some time off and participate in a few competitions," Kalia softly suggested. Recently, Z-Moves had become incredibly popular in the Sebas region, leading to a surge in scams where fraudsters tricked Trainers into buying fake Z-Rings at low prices. Many unsuspecting Trainers fell victim to these schemes.
Various cities were hosting numerous competitions, primarily open to Trainers proficient in Z-Moves. These events served as precursors to future official tournaments.
The era of Z-Moves was inevitable, and with some free time on her hands, Kalia planned to participate in these contests while also gaining insights into diverse Z-Move techniques. This knowledge might even appear in the upcoming mid-level assessment.
Lian roared in response, expressing his approval. Competitions would indeed be beneficial, as they typically featured strong Trainers with high-level Pokémon, resulting in higher Combat Point gains per battle. With luck, encountering Pokémon with healing abilities could yield thousands or even tens of thousands of Combat Points in a single encounter.
Currently, achieving a combat rating worth 10,000 Combat Points per battle had become significantly easier for Lian, using Snorlax's Stamina base stat as a reference point.
A normal Level 50 Snorlax usually has over two thousand stamina points. When casting the Rest move, opponents rarely approach it at full health, making each Rest recover at least one thousand stamina points. With careful maneuvering, Lian can often trigger multiple Rest moves from Snorlax, ensuring conservative estimates of five to six thousand output damage against a single Snorlax. Considering its opponents still have two more Pokémon, even if combined their total stamina is just above three thousand, this strategy...
Since Rest restores at least 1000 Stamina, with some strategic maneuvering, Lian could make Snorlax use the move multiple times, potentially twice or more. Consequently, defeating one Snorlax would conservatively yield around five to six thousand Combat Points. Considering his opponent still had two Pokemon left, even if their combined Physical Ability Values totaled just over three thousand, it would result in at least nine thousand Combat Points overall.
With a bit of luck, a single battle could easily net upwards of ten thousand Combat Points, making it remarkably effortless.
Thinking back, Lian recalled that before his transmigration, the game had entered its eighth generation, introducing a new type of evolution called Dynamax.
Dynamax appeared to significantly enlarge a Pokemon's size and double its Physical Ability Value instantly. If this world had Dynamax, it would be incredible; however, Mega Evolution hasn't been fully researched yet, so Dynamax is likely a long way off.
Let's test my current burst speed.
Lian glanced at the sky, noting the rain but realizing he had time now. He wanted to experiment with his 3.23-times burst speed to see exactly how fast it could propel him.
Flapping his wings, Lian soared into the sky and glanced down at the people below. With their umbrellas shielding them from the rain, they paid little attention to the sky.
"Charizard?" Kalia looked up, noticing Lian flying overhead, unsure of what he intended to do. In the next moment, she was utterly astonished.
As Lian ascended, his gaze fixed on a tall building in the distance, approximately three hundred meters away.
Boom!
With a single wing flap, Lian unleashed his burst speed, causing a loud explosion behind him as his body involuntarily surged forward.
The sound echoed like thunder, propelling him swiftly through the air like a streak of red lightning. Within a blink, he reached the vicinity of the targeted building.
Incredible speed!
Lian was astounded; with a Speed Ability Value of 5,600, this velocity was astonishingly fast. Initially, he had assumed Quick Attack would grant only five or six times the speed, but now he realized how naive that thought was.
Among moves capable of instantly boosting a Pokemon's speed, even Agility provides only a two-fold increase, doubling the Speed Ability Value. During battles, the maximum achievable boost for any Pokemon is quadruple its original speed.
It seems only Extreme Speed could instantly provide a burst exceeding three times the base speed, making Quick Attack appear significantly inferior.
"Did something just fly past?"
The loud explosion caught many people's attention, initially mistaking it for thunder. They looked towards the sky and glimpsed a fleeting orange-red silhouette.
"You must be seeing things; nothing flew by. But that sudden noise did give me a scare. What was that?" Some individuals noticed but saw no trace of movement.
"This..." Kalia was stunned, having witnessed the entire event most clearly. When had Charizard become so incredibly fast? It felt like in an instant, an orange-red blur flashed across, disappearing to the distance within the next second.
Kalia realized this must have been Charizard utilizing its burst speed technique, yet never before had she seen it move at such velocity.
"Charizard has now achieved this level of speed; its strength must have increased again," Kalia murmured to herself. As her Pokemon grew stronger, she naturally became more elated, as every Trainer's greatest joy lies in nurturing powerful Pokémon.
Kalia was self-aware; although her goal is to compete in the League Championship and aspire to become the champion, it's incredibly challenging. It might take several or even ten-plus years, with no guarantee of ultimately achieving the title of League Champion. Reaching the Elite Four level would already be considered remarkable.
However, Charizard's presence instilled hope in Kalia. At her young age, just after a few months, she is already prepared to participate in the Middle-Class Trainer Assessment.
For most Trainers, developing their Pokemon takes considerable time, often requiring multiple years to earn all the badges.
But Kalia doesn't need to worry about enhancing her Pokemon's strength; she can solely focus on preparing for assessments.
Although currently unaware of Charizard's true capabilities, the second round of the Middle-Class Trainer Assessment specifically tests Pokemon abilities, which will provide a comprehensive understanding of Charizard's actual prowess.
Kalia couldn't help but feel anticipation building within her. Just then, her phone rang, and upon checking, a smile spread across her face.
In the Sebas region, there are very few Trainers equipped with Z-Rings. So, Kalia contacted Sean, inquiring if any competitions were available in the Ellie region that she could join.
If Charizard didn't qualify, Kalia planned to participate in the Sebas regional competition.
Sean had just sent her a message; there would be an upcoming exchange competition between the Sebas and Ellie regions, open exclusively to Trainers with Z-Rings. Perfect timing for Kalia to join.
As an aspiring Trainer, she couldn't miss such an inter-regional event. However, the Sebas region was at a significant disadvantage, as Trainers from the Ellie region had more experience with Z-Moves, giving them a superior edge in utilizing these powerful techniques.
Despite this challenge, it made participation all the more meaningful. Kalia wanted firsthand experience to gauge the strength of Ellie's Trainers, rather than relying solely on hearsay. Even if they were indeed formidable, Kalia remained confident that she could outperform them.
This exchange competition was high-caliber, far surpassing the previous double battle tournament. Only mid-level Trainers qualified, as beginner trainers lacked the necessary expertise.
The gap between top-tier and average mid-level Trainers is substantial, as advancing further leads one step closer to becoming a high-level Trainer. High-level Trainers represent the pinnacle of strength within a region, just below the Elite Four and Champion tiers.
***
Lian was thrilled by his sudden burst of speed and swiftly returned to Kalia, landing gracefully.
It wasn't ideal to test his Control Rating now, as Rain Dance would hinder Fire-type moves. However, Lian felt confident that he could simultaneously use two moves, although the specifics would depend on the situation.
"Charizard, once the rain stops tomorrow, we're heading to the Ellie region." Kalia had received Sean's confirmation and planned to depart for Ellie the next day. Although organized by the League, this exchange competition allowed open registration upon presenting a Z-Ring.
Kalia could sign up directly upon arrival, as Sean had already provided her with all the necessary details about the event.
Lian was slightly taken aback, going to the Ellie region? He recalled that he himself might be from there, since wild Charmanders were not native to Sebas. Even Julian's Charizard likely originated from the Ellie region.
The trip seemed intended for participating in the competition, but why specifically go to Ellie for it?
As Lian pondered the reason, Kalia offered an explanation:
"This is an exchange competition between our regions. You must give your best effort; we can't lose to those Trainers from Ellie."
Lian understood now. Essentially, the exchange competition was a direct confrontation between Trainers from both regions. While there were no intense conflicts between Sebas and Ellie regions, rivalry was inevitable.
Lian looked forward to visiting Ellie, as the Pokemon there significantly differed from those in Sebas, evident even from their starter Pokemon.
***
In a specific area of the Ellie region:
"Guild Master, everything is prepared," reported a Dark Guild executive with a deep voice, kneeling and awaiting Kentra's orders.
Kentra nodded slightly and instructed, "Our objective during this exchange competition between the two regions is to seize Z-Rings and Z-crystals from the Sebas region. As for the Ellie region, just symbolically snatch a few items."
"Guild Master, can we trust the Ellie region? If they ally with Sebas, it could spell disaster for us," the executive expressed his concern cautiously. Failure in this operation would likely result in severe consequences.
"Rest assured, the Ellie region won't interfere. Your focus should be on seizing Z-Rings and Z-crystals from the Sebas region. This plan is crucial; gather all members, but only those strong enough should participate." Kentra confidently reassured him. Success in this mission would yield a significant number of Z-Rings, greatly enhancing the overall power of the Dark Guild.
"Yes, I'll make the necessary arrangements immediately." The executive felt reassured by Kentra's confident tone; after all, Kentra had led the Dark Guild to its current prominence only through calculated moves.
With that, the executive swiftly departed.
As soon as the executive left, Kentra smiled. This exchange competition was organized jointly by two regional Pokémon Leagues, making it an official event with high-level Trainers overseeing it. Rumor even suggested that an Elite Four member might attend.
However, none of that mattered. They would have someone divert attention away from their target, ensuring these powerful individuals would be temporarily occupied. It would be a classic feint maneuver, creating the perfect opportunity for the Dark Guild to strike.
If this plan succeeded, Sebas region would suffer immense losses, dealing a significant blow to its mid-level trainers. With chaos ensuing in Sebas, they would have no time to focus on the Dark Guild, allowing it to rise unimpeded.