Because not all of them had Flying-type Pokémon, Alex decided to use Luxray as a means of transportation for the first time.

Luckily, his Luxray was around 1.8 meters long, slightly larger than average, which made it much easier to ride.

With Alex leading the way, the five of them moved quickly through the city, their Pokémon keeping a steady pace as they headed toward their assigned position.

A loud alarm echoed throughout Mauville, its sharp, repetitive sound cutting through the usual noise of the city and making the situation unmistakably clear to everyone.

Even so, as Alex's gaze swept across the streets, he didn't see the kind of chaos one might expect.

People were moving quickly—some on foot, others with their Pokémon—but their actions were controlled rather than frantic. There were no crowds pushing against each other, no desperate shouting, no signs of widespread panic.

Instead, it looked relative calm.

Most civilians were heading deeper into the city, away from the outer districts, following procedures they were clearly familiar with. Some trainers were already moving in the opposite direction, likely heading to their assigned defensive positions just like Alex.

It gave the impression that, despite the alarm, the city still felt relatively safe to its residents.

Alex observed this calmly as he rode forward, his expression unchanged.

As Alex and the others continued forward, the structure of the city gradually began to fade behind them.

The streets grew wider and emptier, the buildings less dense, until the solid order of Mauville slowly gave way to scattered houses and open ground. Their pace didn't change, but the atmosphere around them did.

At first, the people they passed were still composed, moving quickly but with trusting in the system that had protected them their entire lives.

But the further they went, the more that composure began to crack.

The next group they encountered was faster, more hurried. Some were no longer walking but running, calling out to each other, clutching their belongings or urging their Pokémon forward. Their eyes lingered longer on Alex and the others, as if searching for reassurance.

Further still, the tension sharpened into something closer to fear.

The houses here stood farther apart, and many of their doors were left open, as if their owners had fled in a hurry. The people they passed were no longer calm or orderly. They were desperate to get away from the outskirts, moving as quickly as they could toward the safety of the inner city.

No one stayed behind. Not a single person remained in their homes.

By the time Alex reached the very edge of the city, where the last few buildings stood like a fragile boundary between civilization and wilderness, the panic had reached its peak.

People were running without restraint now.

Some stumbled, others shouted, and when they saw Alex and the other trainers, their reactions became even more intense.

A man rushed forward as he pleaded, his voice shaking. "Please, you have to help us!"

Another woman, holding a small child, stepped in front of Luxray for a moment before quickly backing away, her voice desperate. "You're elite trainers, right? Then do something! You can't just let them reach us!"

"Why are you going out there?! You should be protecting us here!"

"Stop! Please safe us!"

"Don't just stand there!"

The fear in their voices twisted into anger, born from helplessness and the need to place responsibility on someone who looked strong enough to carry it.

Although Alex was a cold person, he couldn't say he was completely unaffected by the scene.

The desperation in those voices lingered, faint but persistent, and he could feel a trace of sympathy surface within him.

It didn't change his expression, but it was there.

After a brief moment of thought, Alex turned his head slightly and looked at Leon. "Leon, go and escort these people back to the city."

Sophie might have been the weakest trainer present, but her specialization in Psychic-type Pokémon made her far more valuable in a coordinated fight. Utility mattered more than raw strength in a situation like this.

Leon, on the other hand…

Alex's eyes lingered on him for just a fraction longer than necessary. There was something off about him.

It wasn't anything obvious—no clear mistake, no visible flaw—but rather a subtle sense that something didn't quite fit. Alex had spent too long around criminals to ignore that instinct.

He didn't have proof, not even close, but he didn't need it. The possibility alone was enough.

Leon met Alex's gaze and stayed silent for a second, as if weighing something internally, before finally nodding. "Okay."

There was no complaint, no hesitation beyond that brief pause.

Alex didn't respond and didn't bother watching him leave. Whether Leon was harmless or not, he was no longer Alex's concern.

Without another word, Alex continued forward with the remaining three trainers.

It didn't take long before they reached their assigned position—a stretch of open terrain where the last traces of the city disappeared entirely.

Alex stopped and opened the map he had received, his movements calm as he signaled the remaining three trainers to gather around him.

Ethan, Markus, and Sophie stepped closer without hesitation, their attention immediately focusing on the marked area.

Alex pointed at the map. "I'll hold the exact center here with my full team. Ethan, you take the left side. Markus, you cover the right."

His finger shifted slightly as he outlined their positions, making sure there was no confusion about spacing or responsibility.

Then he glanced at Sophie. "You won't engage in direct fights unless necessary. Focus on eliminating any non-elite Pokémon that slip through, and keep an eye on both sides. If something strong approaches Ethan or Markus, you inform me immediately."

Sophie nodded, clearly relieved that she wouldn't be placed on the front line.

Ethan gave a short, thoughtful nod as well, while Markus simply grunted in agreement, seemingly not really satisfied with this plan.

Alex folded the map again, his expression unchanged.

The plan was simple, but that doesn't mean it was a bad plan.

By holding the center himself with his full team, he ensured that the most dangerous position was under his direct control, while the others handled the flanks according to their abilities. It also meant that he didn't need to split up his Pokémon, which would only weaken his overall strength and risk the life of his Pokemons.

Alex's plan prioritized the safety of his Pokémon and himself.

None of them said anything about that.

After all, since Alex had taken the most critical position for himself, there was no real room to complain much.

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