"Defeated?" Sunny was stunned; his fully charged Typhlosion had been instantly taken down by Charizard's Fire-type move, despite resisting its effects.
Sunny wasn't alone; everyone else was equally astonished. Until now, Typhlosion hadn't sustained any damage throughout the competition.
Yet, in this match, not only did Charizard's flames pierce through Typhlosion's Eruption, but it also swiftly defeated the powerful Pokémon.
Though initially unbelievable, they couldn't deny the reality unfolding before them. This demonstrated that no Fire-type vulnerable Pokemon could withstand Charizard's Fire-type moves. If resistance led to such instant defeat, the implications for those with inherent weakness were terrifying to contemplate.
Before the battle, nobody anticipated Kalia winning. Sunny was a well-known mid-level Trainer, having achieved this rank at just fourteen years old.
After another year of training, his Pokemon undoubtedly became incredibly strong. Yet, even then, he still lost to Kalia's Charizard.
Suddenly, many spectators started paying close attention to Kalia. Although her other Pokemon lacked significant strength, relying solely on her powerful Charizard, she managed to reach the semi-finals, showcasing remarkable prowess.
Most astonishingly, Kalia was still a beginner trainer, which made this feat incredibly impressive. She had bridged the vast gap between beginner and mid-level trainers ahead of schedule, effectively entering the realm of mid-level trainers prematurely.
However, according to League regulations, even with such capabilities, without the official certification from the League, one cannot be considered a true mid-level trainer; they would merely be deemed as pseudo-mid-level.
"Do you think Kalia has a chance to make it to the finals?"
"It's possible. She defeated Sunny already. Now, probably only Aurora can stand against her. If she indeed reaches the final, it will undoubtedly be an exhilarating battle."
Kalia listened to the discussions among the audience, a slight smile gracing her face - she won, yet again.
While her goal was to become the champion, deep down, Kalia didn't have high expectations for herself. However, now that she truly defeated Sunny, a sense of hope began to stir within her.
However, this battle left Charizard temporarily unable to fight further. Sunny's strength was formidable; if Kalia hadn't swiftly dealt with Slowbro, it might not have been such an easy victory.
Charizard performed exceptionally well by prioritizing Slowbro first. Had Charizard targeted Typhlosion initially, Slowbro could have potentially healed Typhlosion using its Heal Pulse ability.
Julian, as usual, exaggeratedly congratulated Kalia before they both temporarily left the Combat Hall. The semifinals and finals would take place in the afternoon, allowing time for their Pokémon to recover and having lunch in between.
At the Pokémon Center, Kalia restored her Pokémon's injuries and vitality, while Lian also regained consciousness, feeling refreshed.
Lian decided that in future battles, he must continue with swift victories and avoid underestimating opponents. Solar Power is best suited for quick engagements; dragging out fights increases the risk of experiencing its debilitating side effects, as seen when he passed out from pain during this match.
After lunch, Kalia and Julian returned to the Combat Hall for the afternoon's semifinals and finals. Kalia knew she had to give her all to compete for the championship title.
In the semifinals, only four participants competed against each other: Kalia, Aurora, and two mid-level Trainers. However, aside from Aurora, Kalia felt confident facing the other two trainers.
The organizers clearly considered Kalia as one of the top contenders for the championship, thus pairing her with a mid-level Trainer, while Aurora faced the other.
As the first battle commenced, Aurora and her opponent entered the arena. Right at the start, Aurora casually taunted her opponent, boasting about winning the tournament to prove that Sebas region's Trainers were inferior to those from the Ellie Region.
This naturally incited discontent among many spectators, as it was a Sebas regional competition, and most attendees hailed from the area. Her remarks angered numerous people present.
Kalia had anticipated this reaction, given Sean's earlier warning. Aurora's participation aimed to demonstrate that no Trainer from the Sebas region, specifically young prodigy Trainers, could surpass her abilities.
"Aurora is going too far; isn't she from the Sebas region?" Julian echoed the sentiment shared by others, expressing both anger and confusion towards Aurora's behavior.
Kalia explained, "Her father is from the Sebas region, but she was born in the Ellie Region and belongs to the Ruby Pokémon Academy."
"Oh, she's from the Pokémon Academy; no wonder her strength is so impressive," Julian realized.
As they conversed, the battle commenced. Aurora sent out Bouffalant and Machamp. Utilizing Machamp's No Guard Ability, Bouffalant fearlessly unleashed its signature Head Charge move, overpowering the opponent's Pokemon effortlessly.
The No Guard Ability rendered most attacks lock-on, not guaranteeing absolute accuracy but ensuring a tracking-like effect. Essentially, the Pokemon sacrificed defense for all-out offense, forcing opponents to counter with their own offensive strategies. However, Bouffalant's terrifying Head Charge was nearly unstoppable, crushing any opposition.
Of course, No Guard isn't invincible; if the opposing Pokemon could fly high enough, even the formidable Bouffalant couldn't reach them due to its lack of flight capability.
From the onset, with Bouffalant's savage Head Charge and Machamp's relentless assaults, the battle swiftly concluded without the need for Chandelure to enter the fray.
Aurora's victory advanced her to the finals. Next up was Kalia against another Trainer, with the winner progressing to face Aurora.
"I hope it's you in the next round," Aurora whispered as she approached Kalia before walking away.
Kalia smiled faintly and headed towards the battlefield.
The battle commenced, and Lian took the field swiftly. This time, he immediately teamed up with Ninetales to unleash Fusion Flame, instantly eliminating one of his opponent's Pokemon. Following that, Lian effortlessly used Air Slash combined with Dragon Pulse, taking out two more Pokemon in quick succession.
With the final opponent's Pokemon entering the fray, Lian and Ninetales once again secured an easy victory, winning the match decisively.
Effortless.
Lian fluttered his wings and descended back to the ground, feeling that this opponent was significantly weaker compared to Sunny from earlier rounds.
He then glanced at Aurora in the spectator area, knowing she would be his final opponent. However, Lian remained undaunted by her presence.
Bouffalant couldn't withstand Fire-types, nor could Machamp resist them effectively. With Sunny Day activated, Lian feared no number of such Pokemon—ready to overcome any obstacle, divine or mundane, in his path.