Kalia had no objections to the referee's prohibition of Overheat; this move is rarely used in standard battles due to its significant drawbacks. Unless one plans to switch out their Pokémon immediately after using it, allowing recovery inside the Poké Ball before re-entering the battle.
However, frequent switching can leave openings for opponents to exploit. Without a clear strategic purpose, swapping Pokémon becomes meaningless and easily targeted.
Even without Overheat, the impact on Kalia's strategy would be minimal. She understood the referee's concern - Charizard and Chandelure's Overheat moves have immense power, potentially leading to fatal consequences if used against weaker opponents during combat.
As Kalia completed her test, the first round neared its end. Once the last Trainer finished their assessment, the initial phase concluded.
Exactly 64 Trainers surpassed the qualifying threshold, while the remaining thirty-plus were eliminated. The second round featured random matchups to determine the top 32 competitors.
After a brief moment, the large display screen in the Combat Hall showed the match-ups for the sixty-four remaining Trainers. Winning the second round would secure a spot among the top thirty-two.
As the matches commenced, the non-competing Trainers gathered in the front spectator seats. With only one battlefield available, the battles proceeded sequentially.
The upcoming rounds were genuine double battles, where true skills would be showcased. Many Trainers who underperformed in the first round eagerly rubbed their hands, ready to demonstrate their prowess in the second.
Kalia glanced at the big screen; her opponent was a beginner Trainer named Soren. She vaguely recalled that he had scored just over seventy points in the initial test, which was quite decent for a beginner.
Encountering another beginner Trainer in the first round was fortunate for Kalia. At least she didn't face a mid-level trainer right away, as her lack of experience with double battles could have put her at a significant disadvantage.
"Kalia, I'm doomed! I've been matched against a really strong beginner Trainer." Nearby, Julian looked worriedly at the screen. Although he hadn't drawn a mid-level trainer, his opponent was among the top-performing beginners, having scored over eighty points in the first round.
As the double battle competition commenced, Trainers entered the field. The first match featured two beginner trainers, each deploying their two Pokemon right at the start.
In a double battle, coordination is key. However, one of the Trainers seemed inexperienced with this format and continuously relied on close-range moves. Their opponent quickly gained an advantage by having their Pokemon unleash wide-area attacks from the beginning.
Ultimately, due to insufficient experience, that Trainer lost the match-a consequence of inadequate preparation. Throughout the entire contest, the two Pokemon never exhibited any teamwork; they didn't even attempt to counteract each other's moves effectively.
Defeat meant elimination, forcing them to exit quietly-the harsh reality of true competitions. Losing leaves no second chances.
Contrastingly, ranking tournaments like those held at the Pokemon Academy allow for repeated battles, giving Trainers a higher margin for error. These primarily focus on developing Trainers' skills.
The matches progressed steadily, and it must be noted that several were genuinely thrilling encounters. Through clever use of moves, some Trainers unexpectedly turned the tide, countering opponents' attacks and securing victories against all odds.
Apart from these engaging battles, the matches involving mid-level trainers garnered the most attention from spectators. These Trainers had the highest potential to advance into the top eight or even reach the semifinals. Beginner trainers were significantly weaker; just moments ago, one such beginner faced off against a mid-level Trainer and was effortlessly defeated due to the stark disparity in skill.
Soon, it was Kalia's turn to enter the arena. Her opponent was a young boy named Soren, apparently only fourteen years old. Although not yet a mid-level Trainer, he seemed poised to achieve that rank before turning fifteen.
Kalia stepped onto the battlefield, noticeably larger than those used for single battles, making it more challenging for Trainers to maintain control over the situation.
In single battles, with two Pokemon facing each other on a small field, Trainers could easily oversee every corner at once. However, double battles presented a different challenge. With the expanded battlefield, Trainers couldn't constantly monitor all areas simultaneously, especially when four Pokemon engage together. Inexperienced Trainers often found themselves overwhelmed, unable to issue commands effectively amidst the chaos.
Kalia, being self-aware, had undergone specialized training for a week before this match. Although she lacked experience with double battles, she was prepared and not easily overwhelmed.
As the match commenced, both Trainers sent out their Pokémon. Kalia immediately deployed Ninetales and Charizard together, aiming to swiftly resolve the first double battle round.
Soren countered with a standard double battle lineup: Gyarados paired with Marowak, possessing the Lightning Rod Ability—a common combination in double battles.
Since Gyarados is vulnerable to Electric-type moves, having a teammate with the Lightning Rod Ability eliminates any concerns when encountering such attacks. The Lightning Rod Ability automatically attracts Electric-type moves, thus preventing Gyarados from taking damage.
Additionally, Marowak is a Ground-type Pokémon, allowing it to effectively utilize moves like Earthquake without affecting its Flying-type partner, Gyarados. This maximizes the impact of Earthquake while ensuring no harm to their own Pokémon.
After Lian and Ninetales entered the field, Gyarados soared into the air and let out a menacing roar, activating its Intimidate Ability. While Lian wasn't overly concerned about reduced attack power, he still found it disconcerting.
"You're doomed!" Lian glared at Gyarados and flipped it off. The Intimidate Ability may be impressive, but it had no effect on him; he didn't rely solely on offensive power.
At this moment, Ninetales' Drought ability came into play. The sunlight intensified dramatically, causing a sudden surge in temperature.
"Drought Ability!"
"That's incredibly rare."
The spectators were astonished, as hidden abilities for Pokémon were seldom encountered, relying purely on luck.
Drought, without needing to use any move, could effortlessly create Sunny Day conditions, making it highly convenient. However, there was a downside: if the opponent possessed weather-related moves, they could easily override the weather condition, changing it to something else.
Lian, having completed his special training, switched his Ability to Solar Power instead of Blaze, which often failed to activate effectively during battles.
With all four Pokémon now present, Kalia's first double battle match in the top 32 commenced.
Kalia still stood a chance despite facing Water- and Ground-type Pokémon, seemingly perfectly countering her team. However, battles are inherently unpredictable, with no absolute guarantees of type advantage dominance.