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Just as Kalia made her decision, the first Trainer's third battle ended in defeat.
The primary reason was the overwhelming pressure on the Trainer, coupled with having already deployed their strongest Pokemon in the previous two rounds, leaving them with weaker options for the final match.
For most Trainers, achieving equal strength across all three Pokemon is challenging; it's common to have variations in power levels among team members.
"Darn it."
The defeated Trainer looked devastated, having barely survived the first two assessments only to fail unexpectedly during the practical test they were most confident about passing.
In reality, this Trainer possessed considerable skill, but the mid-level assessment had indeed become more difficult compared to past years.
Over recent times, the Sebas Region has steadily increased the difficulty of its assessments. This move aimed to bridge the gap between Sebas' mid-tier Trainers and those from the Ellie region, where competition was notably fiercer.
Raising the assessment standards not only elevated the overall prowess of Sebas' mid-tier Trainers but also prevented the gap with the Ellie region from widening further.
"In previous years, he would have likely passed," murmured a Trainer next to Kalia, expressing a hint of regret.
It's clear that the increased difficulty this time around raised the bar significantly. While the jump wasn't extreme, it did prevent many hopefuls from succeeding.
One by one, Trainers took their turn for the assessment, but the results were somewhat disappointing. Those who reached this stage had already maximized their potential as beginner trainers.
However, failing today would delay their participation in the mid-level assessment for quite some time, resulting in significant setbacks.
This is why there are numerous beginner trainers but relatively few mid-level ones. The interval between beginner assessments is short, while the gap for mid-level assessments is much longer. A single failure can lead to waiting for an extended period, during which a substantial number of new beginner trainers emerge.
"Kalia."
Mandia's voice echoed through the arena.
It was quickly Kalia's turn to step forward.
At that moment, all eyes of the other Trainers were fixed on her.
Among this group, Kalia was undoubtedly the most renowned. She had gained recognition within mid-level Trainer circles, demonstrating her exceptional strength.
Few could achieve such a feat, as it meant competing successfully at a high rank in mid-level Trainer competitions despite being officially classified as a beginner.
Although Kalia didn't win the championship outright, it was due to the Dark Guild's interference midway through the Exchange Competition. Otherwise, she might have genuinely defeated her opponents and secured first place.
"Go, Sceptile."
Kalia sent out Sceptile first for the initial battle. If Sceptile emerged victorious, she could confidently deploy Charizard in the second round, ensuring her victory without needing Ninetales, who was relatively weaker.
The emerald-green Sceptile gracefully landed on the ground, swaying its sturdy tail and waving its claws.
As planned, Kalia chose an Ice-type Pokémon to counteract both flying and fire types, as they would be less effective against Sceptile compared to an Ice-type.
Among the eighteen elemental types, her choice was Glaceon, a formidable Ice-type Pokémon.
As soon as the battle began, Sceptile charged forward voluntarily, demonstrating its exceptional combat prowess even without Kalia's commands.
With its mastery of Fighting techniques, Sceptile quickly gained an advantage over the slightly slower Glaceon.
Glaceon struggled to land hits on Sceptile but displayed intelligence by promptly using Hail, altering the weather conditions instantly.
The temperature dropped rapidly, with hailstones continuously pelting the swiftly moving Sceptile.
The hail was dense, making it difficult to dodge. Despite Sceptile's speed, it still took some damage from the relentless barrage.
Kalia observed the battle with confidence in her Sceptile's abilities. With Brick Break at its disposal, facing Glaceon, an Ice-type, didn't put it at as much of a disadvantage as one might expect.
Moreover, Sceptile possessed exceptional agility, making it challenging for Glaceon's powerful moves to land effectively.
Indeed, throughout the match, Sceptile maintained the upper hand, performing exceptionally well even without Kalia's direct commands.
As Glaceon suffered three consecutive hits from Brick Break and fell unconscious, the battle concluded. Throughout the encounter, Sceptile only sustained minor damage from the Hail.
Against slower, ranged Pokemon, Sceptile held a significant advantage, negating any potential weaknesses due to type disadvantages.
Victory was secured.
Kalia smiled, realizing it had been easier than anticipated, but upon reflection, it made sense. In terms of combat prowess, her Sceptile could already hold its own against mid-tier opponents.
"That was too effortless; its evasive capabilities are terrifying."
The Trainers yet to take their assessment were astounded, most witnessing Kalia's Pokemon strength for the first time. While they had heard about her prowess before, seeing Sceptile's performance showcased the stark difference—far surpassing those of previous trainers' battles.
This wasn't even Kalia's strongest Pokemon; her reputedly most powerful was a Charizard, known for defeating the main Pokemon of peak mid-level Trainers.
While some doubted this claim, it was undeniable that she had indeed bested mid-level trainers—a feat many found terrifying and beyond their capabilities.
As Sceptile's battle concluded, Kalia glanced at her nearby Charizard. Lian knew it was his turn now, but he felt no pressure. Regardless of the opponent's attribute, except for Electric-types, any other type could only deal up to double damage against him at most.
In essence, apart from Electric-types, Lian had virtually no weaknesses. With a bit of luck, if he could develop resistance to Electric-type attacks, he would truly become invulnerable.
With a flap of his wings, Lian descended to the front, eyeing the opposing Pokemon.
It was a Water-type Milotic.
Not a significant challenge, just a Milotic. Although its Special Defense is exceptional, Lian remained confident in overcoming it.
Even against Pokemon with Drizzle Ability, Lian held assurance, as he didn't solely rely on Fire-type moves for offense. Besides Fire-type, he possessed numerous Flying and Dragon-type moves.
Facing Milotic, Lian opted for a direct assault and unleashed Air Slash, initiating a frenzied attack.
Wasting no time, he swiftly released two consecutive Air Slashes, one after another, leaving Milotic with no chance to react.
In the next instant, Milotic was struck by both Air Slash attacks, sustaining visible injuries, but it wasn't over yet.
Following the double Air Slash, Lian immediately launched a Dragon Pulse, confident that this combination should be enough to instantly defeat Milotic.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
It might seem like Lian used three moves over an extended period, but in reality, it took mere seconds. Milotic didn't even have a chance to counterattack, completely overwhelmed by the onslaught of Air Slash strikes.
The spectators only heard three loud explosions and witnessed the shockwave from Dragon Pulse before Milotic collapsed.
"Huh?"
"What did Charizard do?"
"I'm not sure; it seemed like just one Dragon Pulse, and Milotic fell?"
Due to the unique nature of Air Slash, many Trainers failed to notice Lian using it. Only after the battle ended did some realize that Air Slash must have been employed earlier.
This was truly terrifying—the invisible Air Slash combined with Dragon Pulse defeated Milotic effortlessly, showcasing an extraordinary level of power.
Even more alarming was the rapid speed at which Charizard executed its moves—two techniques were unleashed in the blink of an eye, including a double Air Slash sequence.
With this victory, Kalia successfully completed all her assessments and smoothly became a mid-level Trainer.