Free Web NovelThe gym member who had rushed in wasn't just ordinary staff but one of Wattson's long-time apprentices, a low-level Elite trainer who had spent years learning under him, and even in his current state of urgency, there was a disciplined sharpness in his posture that made it clear he wasn't someone who panicked easily.
He wore a serious expression as he said, "I just received a warning from the Mayor. A large number of Pokémon suddenly started running through the energy barrier. It looks like it's a red-level Pokémon raid."
The words immediately changed the atmosphere.
Every major city or town in the Pokémon world was protected by an invisible energy shield positioned several kilometers outside its borders, forming a vast, wall-like perimeter that most civilians never even thought about, yet relied on every single day. freeweɓnøvel.com
This barrier didn't physically block anything, but its first function was far more subtle and, in many ways, more effective.
It constantly emitted an aura comparable to that of a Champion-level Pokémon, creating an oppressive presence that most wild Pokémon instinctively avoided.
Weaker Pokémon wouldn't dare approach it under normal circumstances, and even stronger ones felt enough discomfort to keep their distance unless something pushed them forward.
However, this influence wasn't absolute. The longer Pokémon stayed near it, the more they could grow accustomed to the pressure, and under certain conditions—fear, hunger, or external provocation—even large groups could force themselves through.
At the same time, Pokémon owned by trainers were far less affected due to frequent exposure, especially when kept inside Poké Balls, which was one of the main reasons cities could function safely despite being surrounded by wild habitats.
The second function of the barrier was detection. Any Pokémon moving through it would be registered like a radar signal, allowing the city to track rough numbers, movement patterns, and direction.
While it couldn't provide perfect detail, it was more than enough to identify large-scale threats before they reached the city itself.
Wattson didn't hesitate for even a second after hearing the report, the last trace of his usual cheerfulness gone as his expression hardened. "Immediately contact all elite-level trainers in Mauville City and have them gather in the Mayor's office. We still have a bit of time, but we need to move now."
The apprentice nodded sharply and turned to leave, already pulling out his communication device as he rushed out of the arena.
Alex, who had listened to everything without interrupting, remained where he stood, his expression largely indifferent despite the urgency in the room.
He knew exactly what a Pokémon raid was, and unlike most people, he didn't instinctively associate it with panic.
Raids weren't rare enough to be considered extraordinary disasters. Every city or town experienced them eventually, and over the course of fifty years, one or two incidents were almost guaranteed.
Even a red-level raid— the secound most dangerous classifications—didn't necessarily mean catastrophic loss of many lives.
Most of the city's population lived well within the inner districts, far from the outer perimeter where the barrier stood and where the first impact would occur.
As a result, those who suffered the most during these events were usually the people living on the outskirts, where housing was significantly cheaper precisely because of this risk.
For a long time, Alex had found it strange that anyone would willingly live in such areas, but after thinking about it more logically, the reasoning became clear.
The odds, while uncomfortable, weren't as bad as they initially sounded.
On average, a person might experience one or two raids in their lifetime, and since raids typically advanced from a single direction rather than surrounding the city, a large portion of the outskirts would remain completely untouched during any given incident.
Statistically, even those living in the most dangerous zones had a good chance of never being directly affected.
And even if a raid did approach their area, death wasn't guaranteed. The city's defenses, combined with the response of trained professionals, meant that survival rates remained relatively high in most cases.
Still, from Alex's perspective, "relatively high" didn't mean a acceptable chance.
Alex still felt that the chances of survival were far too low for his liking, especially when a single moment of bad luck could decide everything.
Wattson didn't slow down as he moved ahead, "Come on, we need to get to the Mayor's office quickly."
He didn't bother asking whether Alex would assist, because in a situation like this, there was nothing to ask. Any Elite-level trainer was expected to act.
The benefits granted by the Alliance came with obligations, and defending a city during a raid was one of the most fundamental among them.
Alex simply nodded, unbothered by the assumption, and replied, "No problem. Go ahead, I'll follow you,"
The two of them shot into the sky almost immediately, Magnezone and Crobat cutting through the air with impressive speed.
The city passed beneath them in a blur of rooftops and streets, and in less than a minute, they had already arrived at the Mayor's office.
Wattson landed first and led the way inside without hesitation, guiding Alex through a series of corridors until they reached a large assembly room where the key figures of the city had already gathered.
Several Elite-level trainers stood or sat in tense silence, alongside the mayor and a group of staff members responsible for monitoring and maintaining the Barrier.
Alex's eyes moved across the room, quickly picking up on the structure of the seating arrangement. The chairs weren't placed randomly, nor were the people seated without thought. Instead, everything was clearly organized into three distinct groups based on strength.
At the center sat the late elite trainers along with the mayor, forming the core of the city's defensive command.
Surrounding them were the mid-level elite trainers, positioned close enough to respond quickly but still clearly secondary in authority.
At the outer edges of the room sat the low-level elite trainers, along with the staff members who operated the Barrier systems.
For a brief moment, Alex observed how naturally everyone had taken their places, as if this hierarchy required no explanation.
Then, with a faint, almost amused expression, he thought to himself 'the Alliance wasn't even trying to hide how much it valued strength above all else.'
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