Kalia's entry into the top eight undoubtedly surprised many spectators. Although Charizard was strong, it wasn't until now that they fully grasped its immense power—it was truly formidable.
Several Trainers with non-Fire-type Pokémon feared encountering Kalia, as their Pokémon struggled against Fire-types.
However, those possessing Water-type Pokémon or even the ability to use Rain Dance had nothing to worry about and secretly hoped to face Kalia.
Despite this, resisting such terrifyingly intense flames remained challenging, far more daunting than Aurora's Chandelure's Flamethrower.
"Unbelievable! The sea of fire instantly engulfed half the battlefield; it's incredibly impressive. And mastering a complex move like Vow is astonishing."
"The combination of Fire Pledge and Grass Pledge is naturally suited for doubles battles. However, if they encounter a Pokémon with the Flash Fire Ability, Kalia's Charizard would be rendered ineffective."
"Don't underestimate her—Charizard can still rely on flying-type moves when not using Fire-type ones. I saw it perform Air Slash earlier."
Kalia's overwhelming victory secured her spot among the top eight, surprising many who had anticipated her elimination at the sixteen-strong stage. This led to various discussions and analyses among the audience.
"Grovyle, Charizard, return." Kalia recalled her Pokémon with no visible expression on her face, but internally she was thrilled. The special training had paid off; without it, this double battle would not have been so easily won.
However, Kalia remained humble, as reaching the quarterfinals was just one step forward. Ahead lay the semifinals and potentially the finals, which would be the true decisive battles for the championship title.
The honor of winning the championship went without saying, adding another significant milestone to Kalia's Trainer journey. More importantly, though, were the rewards for the double battle competition.
As a prestigious event in Totem City, attracting talented Trainers from all around, the champion's reward could not possibly be insignificant or trivial.
Returning to the spectator area, Kalia noticed Julian looking anxious. She glanced at the large screen and saw that his opponent was a mid-level Trainer, known for their formidable strength.
Kalia didn't say anything; Julian's entry into the top sixteen was largely due to luck. Stopping here would be entirely normal, considering he had significantly improved recently; otherwise, he might not even have made it past the top thirty-two.
Time passed swiftly.
Finally, Julian stepped onto the battlefield, and as expected, there was no chance of victory; it would have been truly bizarre if he had won.
Surprisingly to Kalia, despite losing, Julian returned with a sense of relief, his face filled with renewed determination.
"Kalia, I understand now," Julian said earnestly, his expression relaxed compared to the seriousness before the match.
"What do you understand?" Kalia asked, noticing the change in Julian, though she vaguely grasped what might have occurred.
Julian's advancement to the top sixteen relied heavily on luck, but his actual skill level hadn't reached that point, causing him great anxiety about facing a crushing defeat.
However, only after experiencing the loss did Julian realize just how far behind he truly was, bringing him a sense of acceptance.
It's akin to someone without sufficient capability being placed in an important position; they constantly worry about failing and dread the consequences.
But once failure occurs, recognizing their shortcomings allows them to identify areas for improvement, ultimately reducing their concern.
"I realize my capabilities fall short, but this competition has significantly improved me, exposing me to a higher level of skill." Julian's determination was rekindled; people indeed grow through experiences.
This tournament allowed him firsthand experience with mid-level Trainer battles, albeit without matching strength. Despite his defeat, Julian gained insight into the gap between their abilities and understood how he needed to strive for improvement.
The primary distinction between mid-level and beginner trainers lies in mastering details and developing Pokemon's moveset potential.
For instance, Kalia's Charizard initially didn't seem vastly superior, yet just one month after its evolution, it could already defeat a mid-level Trainer. Besides raw power, meticulous control during battles played a significant role - knowing which move to use in specific situations and optimizing their effectiveness. These nuances showcased a Trainer's strategic prowess.
Such skills stem from regular training and continuous learning.
"Kalia, can you teach me how to train Pokemon?" Julian suddenly asked, believing that learning Kalia's methods could accelerate his growth rapidly.
"Teach you to train Pokemon?" Kalia was taken aback and hesitated slightly. Honestly, she wasn't a breeder; her training methods relied on personal experience. She lacked the expertise to teach Julian about advanced Pokemon training.
Shaking her head, Kalia said, "I'm sorry, even I don't know how to effectively improve my Pokemon's training."
Julian looked momentarily disappointed but quickly regained his smile. "No worries. I'll continue training myself when I reach Ruby City. However, if there's any news about the Lunar Feather, please let me know."
"Of course, don't worry. I also want to rescue the little Zapdos. If I hear anything about the Lunar Feather, I'll definitely inform you," Kalia nodded reassuringly.
As their conversation continued, the battles for advancing to the top four commenced. Out of the eight remaining participants, only Kalia was not a mid-level trainer.
With four matches happening simultaneously, they were expected to conclude swiftly. Afterward, there would be a break until the afternoon, when the semifinals and finals would take place to determine the champion.
The first match began with Kalia facing off against Sunny, the Trainer whose Typhlosion had scored 141 points during the initial test.
Apart from Typhlosion, Sunny had a Slowbro and a Grass-type Cacturne. His advantage lay in his Pokémon's strong recovery capabilities: Slowbro possessed Truant and Heal Pulse abilities, enabling it not only to heal its teammates but also itself. Additionally, Cacturne had the Water Absorb Ability, allowing it to directly recover health when hit by Water-type moves.
Cacturne and Typhlosion entered the battlefield simultaneously. Typhlosion could easily ignore Water-type moves due to its Water Absorb Ability, which effectively counters any such attacks.
While not as potent as Storm Drain, which actively draws Water-type moves, Water Absorb still provided significant protection. Pokémon with Storm Drain are typically Water-types, making the Grass-type's Water Absorb Ability particularly advantageous against Water-type Pokémon.
Slowbro effectively countered Fire-type weaknesses, resisting Fire-type moves. In summary, battling Sunny was exceptionally challenging; if unable to defeat him outright, one would face continuous healing efforts while Typhlosion maintained peak condition thanks to Eruption, unleashing astonishing power.
Kalia approached the battlefield with determination. Sunny was a formidable opponent, and she hadn't anticipated facing him so early. Defeating him would prove her capability to compete for the championship title.