The fifth group advanced smoothly with little contribution from Kalia, as she was the last to compete. Gustav and Sam won both their matches consecutively, securing their spot among the top eight.
After advancing, Gustav laughed heartily, seemingly quite proud of this achievement. Considering that groups three and four had failed, while group five succeeded, it showcased not only skill but also good fortune's role.
Despite their surprise at the outcome, the audience remained skeptical about the fifth group due to the presence of a beginner trainer within its ranks.
Mark's group served as proof; the battles involving three beginner trainers were chaotic and one-sided, leaving them utterly defenseless - highlighting the stark difference in abilities.
To most observers, the fifth group appeared effectively handicapped, with Kalia being seen as certain to lose. If either Sam or Gustav lost just once, all hope would be lost for the team.
"Why didn't they swap the fifth group with the third earlier? The third group could have advanced then."
"It's all random draw; nobody could predict this. However, luck sometimes plays a crucial role. Despite Groups Three and Four having considerable strength, they failed to advance due to facing the Strongest Group. Ah, unfortunate indeed!"
With the victory of the fifth group and the defeat of the sixth, the upcoming seventh and eighth groups' performances became pivotal. If both lost, it would result in five teams from the Ellie region advancing to the quarterfinals, while only three from the Sebas region would progress—a humiliating and awkward situation.
In what was supposed to be an exchange competition, if it ended up becoming essentially an internal contest for the Ellie region, the Trainers from the Sebas region would undoubtedly feel deeply embarrassed, bringing shame upon their home territory.
Fortunately, the final outcome proved satisfactory. The intense pressure on Groups Seven and Eight likely spurred them to give their utmost effort, surprisingly pushing themselves to the limit. Although one group still lost, Group Seven emerged victorious.
This allowed four teams from the Sebas region to reach the quarterfinals, maintaining some semblance of dignity as the subsequent matches continued with head-to-head battles.
After the first round concluded, there was a break scheduled. The second round, determining the top four contenders, would take place in the afternoon.
From Sebas, Group 1 and Group 2 advanced, along with Groups 5 and 7. Among them, Groups 1 and 2 were considered the strongest, having the highest chances of reaching the finals, while Kalia's group faced skepticism.
In the first round, luck played a significant role as opponents' strengths weren't overwhelmingly strong. If Gustav and Sam could be categorized as above-average, their opponents were merely average.
Now, among the remaining four groups from Ellie region, each displayed top-tier capabilities, making victory increasingly challenging to achieve.
The focus shifted primarily onto Groups 1 and 2. During the break, Trainers frantically studied their opponents' lineups. In the first round, lack of information limited strategies, but for the second round, understanding the opponent's Pokemon roster was crucial for devising optimal countermeasures.
This approach applied equally to the Ellie region teams; it was standard practice. Without knowledge of an opponent's Pokemon lineup, even if both sides have similar strength, the party better informed has a higher chance of winning.
During the break, Kalia didn't require any recovery time since her team hadn't competed yet, whereas Lian felt quite dejected, not getting a chance to participate so far.
However, this situation suited Lian better. If the opponents were too weak, the combat ratings would not be high enough. After advancing to the quarterfinals, he might face much stronger adversaries, including mid-level Trainers with four Pokemon each. If victorious, defeating all four Pokemon could significantly boost his total Combat Points.
As for losing, Lian hadn't even considered that possibility. Based on current levels, top mid-level Trainers' Pokemon typically ranged around level 50-55. With such opponents, Lian remained undaunted, especially considering his Sceptile's exceptional Combat Technique prowess.
Unless faced with a Pokemon above level 60 and specifically of the Electric type capable of countering him, Lian was confident in holding his own, even in direct confrontations.
Currently, Lian's resilience matched or exceeded that of Snorlax, albeit lacking restorative moves. If he had access to something like Roost and disregarded concerns about combat ratings, he firmly believed he could directly challenge even high-level trainers' Pokemon head-on.
Soon, it was afternoon. The Trainers, well-rested, returned to the Combat Hall to continue their matches.
The large screen began randomly assigning matchups for battles. Kalia stared intently, hoping to avoid the Strongest Group; even with her confidence, encountering them would eliminate any chance of advancing. Despite being capable enough to win one match, both Gustav and Sam were certain to lose.
It wasn't that Kalia underestimated them; rather, she based this on their actual abilities. From the first round, she had gauged their skill level—mere mid-level trainers with only seven badges each, unable to compete against elite mid-level Trainers from the opposing team.
Kalia herself was an exception, but not everyone could be exceptional. There aren't many Trainers who possess Pokémon with such extraordinary potential like her Charizard.
However, fears became reality as the matchup list appeared on the big screen, leaving Kalia stunned.
They were set to face off against the third group from the Ellie region—the infamous Strongest Group, consisting of three top-tier mid-level Trainers.
"It's over, absolutely no hope now," Gustav lamented, his face pale. Initially, if they had encountered the sixth group from Ellie, there might have been a chance, but drawing directly against the strongest third group eliminated any possibility of advancement.
Kalia felt somewhat disappointed; it seemed unlikely they would advance further, even if she won her match, as Sam and Gu likely wouldn't be able to secure victories.
Despite facing certain defeat, Kalia was determined to give her best performance, showcasing her true strength. Although her opponents were formidable, she wasn't weak either, and there was still a chance for her to hold her own.
"Even if we don't advance, I'm going to win with style." Kalia clenched her fists tightly. In the first round, she hadn't had the opportunity to demonstrate her abilities, but this time, she wouldn't let such a chance slip away.
For Kalia's group, their luck appeared dismal, but from a broader perspective, having them face the Strongest Group early on was considered advantageous by many observers. This prevented the top groups of both regions from encountering each other prematurely, increasing the chances of learning more about potential future opponents as the tournament progressed.
Most people acknowledged that Kalia's team was destined to lose, regardless of which group they faced, making this matchup arguably the most favorable outcome.
On the Sebas region side, the Strongest Group was matched against the opponent's seventh group, virtually guaranteeing their victory and securing a spot in the semifinals.
With the matchups set, the competition officially began. The first group took the field, pitted against Ellie region's seventh group.