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Upon entering Totem City's vicinity, one could see an imposing ancient gate adorned with numerous floating black Unowns.
Hence, it is known as Totem Gate.
Unowns typically inhabit ancient ruins and have existed for centuries. There are twenty-eight distinct types of Unowns, representing the twenty-six letters of the alphabet and two punctuation marks. The ancient gate itself is a long-standing structure, steeped in historical significance.
Totem City boasts the highest concentration of ancient ruins among all cities, with many already discovered sites. Consequently, a significant number of Unowns are active here, posing no harm to visitors.
Once inside Totem City, Lian descended to the ground, as unrestricted flying within city limits was prohibited. With numerous aerial facilities present, especially considering Lian's large size, there was a high risk of accidental damage.
Although Lian appeared to be only about six feet tall when standing, his wingspan extended significantly, allowing him to effortlessly carry two people during flight.
After passing through Totem Gate, Kalia headed straight to the venue hosting the double battle competition located on the eastern side of Totem City. It featured a large Combat Hall, which was rare among cities, specifically designed for double battles.
Most cities did not have dedicated double battle Combat Halls; Trainers typically engaged in single battles either at Pokémon Centers or out in the wilderness.
For double battle competitions, the scale of the battlefield must be significantly larger than usual to accommodate four Pokémon simultaneously. A smaller arena could become crowded, potentially leading to Pokémon straying outside the combat zone during fights.
From the exterior, Kalia observed that this Combat Hall was indeed massive, featuring an open-air architectural style allowing sunlight to pour in.
In double battle competitions, weather-based moves were commonly used, hence why most arenas were designed as open-air spaces. However, due to their large size, even changes in weather within the arena had minimal impact on spectators.
Lian trailed alongside Kalia, feeling slightly bored as he glanced around. Many Trainers in Totem City carried their Pokémon with them, likely because the city's vast area, despite having a sizable population, felt relatively spacious and uncrowded.
"Hmm, isn't that person familiar?" Lian noticed a recognizable figure in his peripheral vision. Upon closer inspection, he realized it was Julian.
Previously, members of the Dark Guild mentioned that Zapdos had rescued Julian, and it seemed they were truthful. But what brought him suddenly to Totem City?
Lian nudged Kalia with his claw, and she turned to ask, "Charizard, what's up?"
He raised his claw, pointing towards Julian in the distance. The figure was curiously observing the Combat Hall, clearly indicating that he had also come for the double battle competition.
"Huh, it's Julian?" Following Lian's gesture, Kalia spotted Julian immediately.
Kalia approached him; since their last encounter when Julian insisted on capturing Staraptor and left with the Dark Guild, they hadn't met again. Later, through information from Dark Guild members, she learned that Julian was unharmed, which relieved her. She didn't expect to run into him here.
Julian was surveying the surroundings, feeling a peculiar vibe in Totem City compared to others. Some areas appeared ancient and worn, almost like stepping back in time, while other parts were filled with futuristic technology. This stark contrast created a striking impression.
"Julian!"
A crisp and familiar voice caught Julian off guard. Just as he wondered who would call out his name, he turned to see Kalia, instantly revealing a look of pleasant surprise.
"Kalia, you actually came to this city!" Julian expressed surprise but also felt fortunate for his foresight. Despite merely taking a chance by visiting Totem City, it had indeed paid off.
"You knew I would be here?" Kalia asked, caught off guard.
"With so many cities promoting the event, I guessed you wouldn't miss such a competition. Looks like my hunch was right," Julian chuckled.
Encountering a familiar face in an unfamiliar city was undoubtedly refreshing; otherwise, exploring alone could get quite dull.
"What happened after you left with the Dark Guild?" Kalia inquired, curious about how Julian managed to escape danger.
Julian recalled the events, scratching his head sheepishly, and said, "I acted impulsively at that moment. After grabbing Staraptor to leave, we flew for a long time with Zapdos and Moltres chasing us closely behind, leading to a fierce aerial battle."
"It was incredibly perilous. Eventually, exhausted from flying, I couldn't hold on any longer and started falling. Thankfully, Zapdos rescued me just in time."
"Afterward, I joined Zapdos in pursuing the Dark Guild members until we reached Misty City, where they suddenly vanished."
"Misty City?" Kalia recalled the place, although it couldn't truly be considered a city anymore; it was merely a ruined metropolis. The destruction seemed to stem from an ancient battle involving Legendary Pokemon.
"Yes, it's now just a city of ruins. I captured a Pokemon there, and afterward, Zapdos and I tried various methods to rescue the little Zapdos, but unfortunately, we had no way to access its underground location," Julian nodded with a hint of regret.
Kalia shook her head, "It's indeed Dark Guild territory, not necessarily safe for you to venture into. Moreover, underground, Zapdos wouldn't be able to fully utilize its power."
"Hmm, later on, perhaps tired of our persistent disruptions, the Dark Guild revealed that they had thrown the little Zapdos into the Dream World. After that, Zapdos and I parted ways. Do you know anything about the Dream World?" Julian suddenly remembered and asked.
Listening nearby, Lian realized that if he hadn't rescued the little Zapdos from Kentra's clutches, Julian and Zapdos likely would have remained in Misty City for some time.
"I am aware of the Dream World. You mean they threw the little Zapdos into it?" Kalia responded, surprised.
"Yes, I'm familiar with the Dream World. According to the Dark Guild, little Zapdos isn't in their custody; instead, it entered the Dream World and can't return." Julian was pleasantly surprised that Kalia knew about the Dream World.
If Kalia had knowledge of the Dream World, there might be a chance she could have encountered it before and potentially rescue Zapdos from within.
"I know about it, but accessing the Dream World isn't easy. Firstly, you need a Lunar Feather, which comes from the Legendary Pokemon Cresselia. It's quite troublesome to obtain." Kalia nodded, acknowledging that entering the Dream World wasn't difficult per se—Professor Evergreen had dream devices for it—but the crucial element was the Lunar Feather, necessary to avoid getting lost in that realm.
"Legendary Pokemon, Cresselia? Never heard of it," Julian confessed, looking puzzled. While some Legendary Pokemon are well-known, not all achieve widespread recognition. As the deity of dreams, Cresselia remains relatively obscure to many.
"In summary, accessing the Dream World is complicated and requires obtaining a Lunar Feather—a glowing green feather," Kalia summarized.
Although Lunar Feathers are rare, considering Professor Evergreen managed to acquire one, it suggests there may be others out there.
Moreover, if the Dark Guild knew about the Dream World, they must have found a way to enter it. They likely possessed Lunar Feathers as well; otherwise, entering without them would only lead to getting lost inside.
"I understand. Let's keep searching patiently, we'll find one eventually," Julian said resolutely. Having promised Zapdos, he was determined to discover a method to access the Dream World. Now knowing what is required, no matter how challenging, he couldn't simply give up.
"This won't be easy. Are you also participating in the double battle competition?" Kalia asked, realizing that Julian wouldn't have specifically come just for her, and missing each other could make the trip futile.
"Yes, I'm now a beginner Trainer." Julian nodded promptly, displaying his three badges and beginner trainer certification.
However, upon seeing Kalia's five badges, his smile gradually faded, filled with admiration, "You already have five badges."
Then, Julian noticed Lian nearby and realized that Kalia's Charmeleon had evolved into a Charizard, impressively large in size.
"Is this your Charizard?" Julian exclaimed, astonished by its height—over two meters tall, requiring him to look upwards just to see its head.