After Kalia and Sean finalized their agreement, it was time for the transaction. Kalia returned to her hotel room and retrieved two Toxic Orbs—one to sell directly to Sean, and the other to be auctioned on his behalf.
They discussed some additional details, ultimately sealing the deal with satisfaction from both parties. Sean departed, a broad smile spreading across his face.
Now, all Kalia had to do was wait for news from Sean. She gave him one week, considering that auctions require ample promotion time; by then, she would receive her payment.
Kalia glanced at the blue card in her hand, containing 30,000 Alliance Coins, while her other hand held two fiery-red Fire Z-crystals.
This venture proved highly fruitful, thanks largely to Uncle Bobby's amicable nature—he generously allowed Kalia to have four Toxic Orbs, keeping only one for himself.
With newfound wealth and Fire Z-crystals, Kalia could now immediately start practicing Z-Moves using her Z-Ring.
However, she decided against training Charizard with Z-Moves right away, as rushing wouldn't yield significant results. Instead, she planned to focus after the doubles competition, finding a secluded place for dedicated practice.
For now, her priority was refining coordination among her Pokemon, preparing them for the doubles battles. Totem City, being a prestigious five-star gym city, boasted numerous strong Trainers. Even competitions limited to Trainers under fifteen were of exceptionally high caliber.
Kalia planned to visit the mall and purchase some Move Disks, but not randomly; she specifically aimed for moves beneficial in double battles.
Although Kalia had no prior experience with double battles, it didn't mean she was unaware of certain effective strategies. For instance, "Protect" is an excellent defensive move in this mode.
Another example is the "Helping Hand" move, which allows transferring energy to nearby Pokémon, enhancing their strength significantly. These types of moves are highly useful in double battles.
Apart from these specific moves, utilizing the unique Abilities of allied Pokémon can also yield surprising effects. By employing moves that decrease ability values on Pokémon with the Competitive Ability, one could directly trigger its competitive effect.
In summary, compared to single battles, double battles require greater coordination between Pokémon and strategic thinking from Trainers. Only by developing new synergies can Trainers introduce fresh dynamics into the game.
Pop.
Lian emerged from his Poké Ball, now safe to do so in this open space. Upon release, he immediately noticed what Kalia held in her hand.
His eyes lit up at the sight of the Fire Z-crystal, recognizing it as something that could further enhance his power. Lian's focus had shifted away from accumulating Combat Points, as they were plentiful over time. Instead, his priority lay in increasing his overall strength.
Since evolving into a Charizard, Lian felt somewhat influenced by its nature. Charizards possess a fierce competitive spirit and have a strong affinity for battling, traits that resonated with Lian as well.
Therefore, anything that could enhance his strength caught his immediate attention. If not for prioritizing the system upgrade, Lian would have already used his Combat Points to boost his Special Attack ability long ago.
"Charizard, it's not quite time yet. Let's wait a bit longer and find a suitable place to practice slowly," Kalia said, seemingly understanding Lian's intentions. She smiled at his eager gaze.
As they grew more familiar with each other, Kalia no longer treated Lian solely as a Charizard; sometimes, he didn't even behave like a Pokemon.
Lian also recognized that practicing Z-Moves directly wasn't feasible now, so he responded with an "OK" gesture, eliciting a chuckle from Kalia.
"We still have some time. I need to go to the mall to buy a few Move Disks. Please return to your Poké Ball for now, and you can come out again once we're back home," Kalia explained.
Malls prohibit large Pokemon entry due to safety concerns, especially if any Pokemon were to suddenly become uncontrollable, posing significant risks. Such incidents had occurred before, where a Trainer brought a newly captured Pokemon into public spaces, resulting in numerous casualties.
***
As a city hosting a Silver Rank Gym, Rockcliff City not only had a Pokémon Store but also a mall. Besides everyday items for people's needs like food, clothing, and household goods, it naturally included products related to Pokémon.
Poké Balls, Move Disks, Pokémon knowledge books, medications, berries, and more were available, attracting numerous daily customers. The Pokémon Store primarily focused on Poké Balls and some basic healing items, with limited variety.
The mall in Rockcliff City was named Lugia Center after the Legendary Pokémon Lugia, though the reason behind this choice remains unknown.
When Kalia arrived at the Lugia Center, she found it bustling with people, creating a lively atmosphere. Unfamiliar with the layout, she took some time to navigate before locating the Pokémon merchandise section. Using the elevator, she reached the third floor and found the area dedicated to Move Disks.
A staff member approached her - a young lady dressed professionally, smiling warmly as she asked, "Little girl, what would you like to purchase?"
Kalia glanced at the densely packed shelves of Move Disks and initially felt overwhelmed, unsure which ones she needed. Since there was staff available, she decided to ask for assistance.
"I'm looking to buy Protect, Assist...and some other Move Disks, do you have them here?"
The young woman clearly had knowledge about moves, nodding affirmatively. "Yes, we have those. Please follow me."
Kalia was led to a specific counter, where through the transparent glass display, she could see various Move Disks labeled with their names.
"The moves you mentioned are all category-based. We have many options here; feel free to browse and see if there's anything else you need," explained the uniformed assistant.
Nodding, Kalia focused on examining the Move Disks closely. She spotted two that were essential for her needs.
Among them were Fire-type's Fire Pledge and Grass-type's Grass Pledge, along with Water-type's Water Pledge. However, Kalia planned to purchase only Fire Pledge and Grass Pledge.
"I'll take these two moves. How much do they cost?" Kalia pointed at the Fire Pledge and Grass Pledge Move Disks, seeking clarification.
"Each of these moves costs 5,000 Alliance Coins," replied the shop assistant with gleaming eyes, recognizing she had encountered a significant customer. Kalia mentioned interest in four to five Move Disks already, and now purchasing two at 5,000 Alliance Coins each; it seemed likely there would be more purchases soon.
"Please set those aside for me while I continue browsing," Kalia nodded. These two moves were notoriously challenging to master, typically requiring specialized instruction from a skilled trainer. However, Kalia was confident that Charizard would grasp them quickly; the only question remained whether Grovyle could swiftly comprehend Grass Pledge.
Once mastered, during double battles, Kalia would effectively have a powerful wide-range Fire-type move at her disposal.
Following this, Kalia purchased additional Move Disks: Protect, Assist, and Tailwind. All three were highly useful and suitable for her Pokemon to learn.
Tailwind is a flying-type move, which Charizard can learn, enhancing its speed. Protect aids in defense, while Assist boosts the power of allied Pokemon's moves.
These acquisitions nearly depleted Kalia's 30,000 Alliance Coins. Now, it was time for intensive training.