With the competition roster finalized, it was time for the matches to begin. Kalia was grouped with two mid-level trainers named Sam and Gustav. Both were experienced, having earned seven badges each, on the verge of obtaining their eighth badge, placing them among the middle-tier mid-level Trainers.
They questioned pairing up with Kalia, but since Taro had arranged it, there was no changing the decision despite their doubts.
Reluctantly, they accepted the situation.
"Your name is Kalia, right? Tell us about your Pokemon and what moves they know. We'll coordinate our strategies accordingly; otherwise, we won't stand a chance and likely won't even make it to the quarterfinals," Gustav approached Kalia, sounding resigned.
Kalia complied without hesitation, providing details about her Pokemon. There was nothing to hide here, and having one person direct the team indeed seemed more effective than fighting individually.
In teams of three, the best-of-three format required careful strategy rather than haphazardly sending out Pokemon, which would inevitably lead to failure.
Choosing the appropriate tactics against different opponents was crucial.
The best-of-three format favored weaker teams, as they could strategically pit their lesser Pokémon against stronger opponents, maximizing potential gains.
After hearing Kalia's Pokémon lineup, Gustav shook his head and scoffed, "Your Pokémon aren't impressive at all—three Fire-types? And what's with that Combusken garbage? You're seriously too weak."
Since the primary participants of the exchange competition were mid-level Trainers, matches followed a 4v4 format. Beginner trainers often had a disadvantage, as their fourth Pokémon might not yet be fully developed.
"It's not up to you to judge my Pokémon; only battle performance matters," Kalia retorted defensively. Having been a Trainer for less than five months, it was entirely normal for her Combusken to still be developing. Gustav's immediate dismissal of Combusken as 'garbage' infuriated her.
Gustav persisted, "What's there to argue about? Your Pokémon are inherently weak, and having such a Fire-type-heavy team will make you vulnerable once Ellie region Trainers catch on. Wait, since we probably won't even reach the quarterfinals, I guess targeting doesn't matter." Seeing Kalia's reaction, he expressed his dissatisfaction bluntly.
Gustav had always despised beginner trainers for participating in competitions without sufficient strength; it seemed utterly pointless to him.
Initially, he assumed Kalia must have been decently skilled, otherwise, they wouldn't have been grouped together. However, seeing her use Combusken now made him wonder if this was some low-tier tournament instead.
This was an exchange competition between two regions, primarily featuring mid-level trainers. With the exception of a few Pseudo-legendary Pokemon that might evolve later, every Trainer's Pokemon should ideally be in their final evolved form. If Ellie region Trainers witnessed this, they would undoubtedly mock them mercilessly.
Not having Pokemon in their final evolution stage implied weaker capabilities. In such a high-stakes competition, it essentially meant Kalia was fighting with one less Pokemon—engaging in a three-on-four battle, making victory as challenging as ascending to heaven.
"Great, how can we possibly win now? Why did they pair you with us?" Gustav looked utterly despondent, and despite Kalia being a girl, he felt an overwhelming urge to lash out verbally.
Kalia, equally furious but remaining silent, understood that words were futile at this moment. What mattered most was her performance during the match. If she could secure a victory, it would be Gustav feeling embarrassed, not her.
"Let's not argue now," Sam chimed in from the other side. "Since we're teammates, let's work together and at least aim for the top four."
Kalia ignored Gustav and walked over to Mark, who was feeling quite disheartened after being paired with two beginner trainers.
"Kalia, how did you manage to get assigned as a mid-level trainer? I feel so unlucky; it seems impossible for me to even reach the quarterfinals," Mark lamented, puzzled by Kalia's placement.
With only five mid-level trainers in total, logically, Kalia should have been grouped with another beginner trainer, but that didn't happen, leaving Mark bewildered.
"You might still make it to the quarters," Kalia reassured him. Her luck seemed exceptional, having been matched with two mid-level trainers. If both of them won their matches, even if she lost, she would advance due to her favorable draw.
"It's not just 'might,' it's definitely happening," Kalia confidently declared, abandoning any modesty. Confidence was crucial when needed, and she knew better than anyone the strength of her Pokémon.
"You're overly optimistic." Mark was aware of Kalia's strength; she had dominated most battles at Rockcliff City's Pokémon Center, but only against beginner trainers.
The gap between mid-level and beginner trainers is significant, not comparable at all.
"Just watch, I'm definitely going to win," Kalia confidently declared. She knew that anything less than a decisive victory in her first match would undermine her credibility.
Kalia gently touched her Poké Balls, murmuring, "Charizard, it's your time to shine."
She had unwavering confidence in Charizard's prowess. During the double battle preliminary round, its move's power scored over two hundred points. With the passage of time and mastering Z-Moves since then, Charizard's capabilities must have significantly improved.
As minutes ticked by, the matches began. The pairings appeared on the large screen, following a straightforward format: Group 1 vs Group 1, Group 2 vs Group 2, and so forth. Kalia and Gustav were part of Group 5.
Kalia glanced at the fifth group from the Ellie region; all participants representing Ellie were mid-level trainers. The fifth group consisted of Thomas, Mesia, and Brandon, but their true strength remained unknown.
Having no prior interaction with Ellie region's trainers, it was equally unfamiliar territory for both sides.
The Combat Hall featured two large battlefields, allowing simultaneous matches between two groups. These arenas were spacious enough to accommodate several massive Pokémon.
As the tournament commenced, the first and second teams from Sebas engaged against their counterparts from Ellie. Kalia didn't recognize any of the mid-level trainers from Sebas' side.
However, she could tell that the lineup of the first team was exceptionally strong. Based on Mark's introduction, all three members held eight badges each, making them top-tier mid-level trainers. This group represented the strongest contingent from the Sebas region, with high hopes of reaching the finals.
The second team wasn't far behind, also comprising mid-level trainers with eight badges, though slightly weaker compared to the first team. Nonetheless, they too posed formidable competitors for the finals.
Kalia observed Team 1's lineup closely - all three were top mid-level Trainers with formidable strength. They easily won their first match and completely crushed their opponents in the second round, effortlessly advancing to the quarterfinals.
The main reason for this quick victory was that Ellie region's Team 1 wasn't particularly strong. Although all participants from Ellie were mid-level trainers, there still varied levels of skill within them.
"Too dominant! It's unfortunate they didn't face off against Ellie's strongest team; defeating them directly would have been impressive." Mark displayed an envious expression, wishing the two strongest teams could determine supremacy early on.
Kalia attentively watched the matches, primarily aiming to understand the battling styles of Ellie region's Trainers. She noticed significant differences between the two regions.
Ellie region's Trainers relied heavily on vocal commands during battles, shouting wildly throughout the entire match, often making it hard to discern specific instructions given to their Pokemon.
However, it must be acknowledged that their Pokemon were indeed powerful, with excellent mastery of Z-moves. They frequently utilized these critical attacks at opportune moments. In contrast, among Sebas region's Trainers, only a few could consistently employ Z-moves effectively.