Lian looked down at Julian, towering significantly taller than him now due to his growth spurt.
It was unclear whether Julian's Charmeleon had evolved yet, but judging by his expression, it likely hadn't.
"Ah, yes, it evolved about a month ago," Kalia nodded. Evolving from Charmander to Charizard within just a few months was remarkably fast; most Trainers couldn't achieve such progress.
Seeing Julian visibly shaken, Kalia swiftly changed the topic, "Let's go inside and watch some battles."
"Sounds good."
"Charizard, return to your Poké Ball," Kalia said to Lian. In the Combat Hall, bringing Pokemon like Charizard with their large size directly onto the battlefield could be cumbersome when crowded.
Shortly after, they entered the Combat Hall.
"Wow, it's huge!" Julian exclaimed. The hall featured only one battlefield, but it was more than twice the size of a standard single-battle arena, suitable for double battles.
Even Pokémon as massive as Onix wouldn't feel cramped here, allowing them ample space to execute various moves during combat effectively.
With only one battlefield, matches must proceed sequentially, necessitating elimination rounds. The first round of the double battle competition would eliminate weaker participants, followed by group stages, semifinals, and finally the championship match.
Currently, a double battle was underway, but the participating Pokémon didn't appear particularly strong. Nonetheless, Kalia joined the spectators to observe.
In double battles, while individual Pokémon strength is crucial, teamwork and coordination among Pokémon play an even more significant role. Upsets where weaker teams defeat stronger ones are not uncommon in such competitions.
"Let's go; it's time to register for the tournament," said Kalia after the match concluded. She needed to sign up promptly to ensure her participation the next day.
"Agreed." Julian followed Kalia towards the registration area located behind the battlefield, guided by directional signs.
Soon, they completed their registrations without any issues. The League already had records of beginner trainers, ensuring against impersonation concerns.
With registration done, all that remained was waiting for the competition to begin the following day.
After chatting briefly, the two parted ways. Kalia found accommodations and then headed to Totem City's Pokémon Center, which typically housed many mid-level Trainers. However, due to the ongoing double battle competition, there were now more beginner trainers present.
Kalia's primary purpose was to assess the skill level of mid-level Trainers and, incidentally, to see if Aurora, as mentioned by Sean, was around. If Aurora intended to participate, she would likely visit the Pokémon Center first.
Unfortunately, Kalia did not spot Aurora. Although she wasn't familiar with Aurora's appearance, given her background from the Pokemon Academy, it seemed improbable that Aurora could blend inconspicuously within the crowd.
***
The next day arrived swiftly.
Today marked the start of Totem City's double battle competition, and the Combat Hall buzzed with excitement. Crowds gathered, filling every seat in the spectator area, animatedly discussing the event.
All participating Trainers had assembled on the battlefield, standing scattered amidst the crowd. Kalia was prominently among them. In total, nearly a hundred individuals were present, a relatively small number considering they were all under fifteen years old, comprising both beginner and mid-level trainers.
Typically, novice trainers without formal training or sufficient resources require one to two years to become a beginner trainer. Advancing from beginner to mid-level is even more challenging; many struggle despite obtaining six badges. It's not uncommon for some to reach seventeen or eighteen years of age without achieving mid-level status, let alone by the age of fifteen.
As time passed, the host of the competition concluded their lengthy introduction, officially signaling the commencement of the first round.
Due to the high number of participants, organizers aimed to maintain competitive integrity by eliminating weak trainers who might advance through luck alone. Consequently, the initial round consisted not of battles but rather, a qualifying test.
Although double battles emphasize coordination between Pokemon, having weak partners would render it pointless. Therefore, the first round served as a test to assess each Trainer's capability; those who met the standards advanced, while the rest were mercilessly eliminated.
Soon, two machines—a red and a blue one—were brought onto the stage, appearing highly advanced with peculiar circular structures at their center.
"These machines measure the power of Pokemon moves. The red machine tests physical attacks, while the blue one evaluates special moves. Each Trainer can send out one Pokemon for testing. Those reaching the required standard will pass, failing otherwise."
"Such machines exist?"
"They look incredibly sophisticated!"
The spectators, intrigued by this assessment method, naturally felt competitive. Many began discussing excitedly with their friends.
As Trainers started their tests, the audience eagerly speculated on which participants would meet the benchmarks.
Both machines featured energy displays that indicated the strength achieved by the unleashed moves. A score of sixty or above was considered passing, allowing entry into the second round.
The first Trainer sent out a Linoone, known for its powerful attack-oriented abilities, positioning it before the red machine.
"Linoone, use Take Down." The Trainer promptly commanded Linoone to employ the potent Take Down move.
The Linoone charged with full force towards the red apparatus at its fastest speed. With a loud thud, it struck the device but was immediately rebounded away.
Unscathed, the red instrument displayed fluctuating numbers before settling on 57 points—clearly indicating that this Trainer's Pokemon did not pass the threshold.
"How could it only be 57?" The once-confident Trainer appeared stunned. This was his Linoone's strongest attack; unless it learned Double-Edge, this move represented its most potent type-specific skill. Yet, it scored just 57 and got instantly eliminated.
"If such an attack only scores 57, won't many others also get disqualified?"
"Not necessarily. Maybe this particular Linoone wasn't strong enough. It's normal to be eliminated if your Pokemon lacks power."
The immediate disqualification of the first Trainer caught many by surprise, including Kalia.
Linoone was no weakling, especially when using its powerful Take Down move within its typing advantage. Despite this, it still failed to pass.
However, Kalia remained unconcerned for herself. When her turn came, she would simply send out Charizard, choose the blue apparatus, and use Flamethrower—a virtually guaranteed success.
Soon, the second Trainer stepped forward.