While the Exchange Competition was in full swing, near Mono City, at the foot of a towering mountain, a group of enigmatic figures with concealed faces had gathered.
This peak housed a slumbering Legendary Pokémon, and their objective was to awaken it from its deep sleep.
The mountain, known as Lake Lock Mountain, was home to Regirock, a Rock-type Legendary Pokémon. It subsisted on rocks, with its entire body composed entirely of stone.
"When do we make our move?" one mysterious figure asked in a low voice, eyes fixed on the mountain while clutching a Poké Ball.
"Let's wait a bit longer," another individual responded, shaking their head.
"Fine, we'll wait."
Simultaneously, outside Mono City, members of the Dark Guild were assembling in a secluded house, clearly awaiting an opportune moment. The battle hall in Mono City posed a challenge due to the presence of Elite Four Tora and several representatives from the Ellie region.
As soon as Tora and his allies leave, everything will fall into place. The Dark Guild plans to launch a coordinated assault on the battle hall, overpower all Trainers present, and seize all Z-Rings from the Sebas region.
In Kentra's hand, he holds a list containing information about every participating Trainer from the Sebas region.
"Hmm? She's here too!" Suddenly, Kentra spots Kalia's name, feeling unexpectedly surprised. With a wry smile, it seems like fate; if his guess is correct, Kalia must have received his stolen Z-Ring instead of the League confiscating it.
Perfect! This gives him an opportunity to reclaim it during their operation. Kentra's mood lifts significantly. With the covert assistance of individuals from the Ellie region, the Sebas region won't stand a chance, becoming mere prey for their scheme.
***
In the afternoon at Mono City's battle hall,
the match between Sebas Region's First Group and Ellie Region's Seventh Group had already commenced. Sebas' First Group, being the strongest, faced off against the significantly weaker Seventh Group, making it a straightforward contest.
As the battle began, Simon, holding eight badges, was the first to step forward. As the leader of the First Group, he also strategized their tactics.
Simon effortlessly secured victory in the first round, showcasing the unfortunate luck for Ellie Region's Seventh Group to face Sebas' strongest team right away.
The second round unfolded predictably without any suspense, securing the First Group from Sebas Region a spot in the top four.
"Great job!"
"Go, go! Aim for first place!"
The Trainers from Sebas erupted in cheers as their First Group smoothly advanced, inching closer to the final round. With just one more win over Ellie Region's strongest group, they would be virtually guaranteed the championship.
This Exchange Competition primarily aimed to showcase the skill levels of Trainers from both regions. A victory for the Sebas region would assert their dominance over Ellie, carrying significant implications for the entire Sebas community.
Following the conclusion of the first group's match, it was time for the second group to compete against Ellie's fourth group. Both were considered their regions' strongest teams, making this battle equally crucial. Ideally, if both Sebas' Strongest Groups advanced, it would set them up perfectly for the finals.
However, perfection is rarely achieved, and during the second group's encounter with Ellie's fourth group, they did not perform well.
The second group's overall strength was slightly weaker than the first, though not by much. This minor difference proved significant as they faced off against Ellie's formidable fourth group, quickly finding themselves in peril.
In the first battle, due to poor strategizing, the Trainer from Ellie region countered Sebas' chosen competitor effortlessly, leading to an immediate defeat. When opponents are evenly matched, even small mistakes can be magnified, turning into fatal errors.
The spectators from Sebas grew anxious; losing the first battle meant they needed to win the next two consecutively just to recover, which seemed daunting given the challenge ahead.
"Come on, you can do it!"
Supporters began fervently cheering for the second group, hoping that its members could rally and secure victories in the remaining battles to clinch a spot in the top four.
However, contrary to their hopes, although they won the second match, they lost the third, resulting in the second group's elimination from reaching the top four.
With the defeat of the second group, the elation felt by the first group after advancing vanished. This meant that the two strongest groups from the Ellie region would progress, while only the Sebas region's first group could move forward.
The remaining fifth and seventh groups had slim chances of advancement; it would be incredibly challenging to make it through. Even if they did manage to advance, they would likely be easily defeated by the top two groups from the Ellie region.
Next up was the match between the fifth group and the third group from the Ellie region. Kalia was prepared; winning was crucial, regardless of whether she advanced or not. She aimed to demonstrate her true capabilities.
Defeating even one Trainer from the Strongest Group would unequivocally prove her strength.
"Who goes first?" Sam asked, looking at Kalia and Gustav. Despite facing inevitable defeat, they still needed to strategize and give their best effort.
"I'll...I'll go last," Gustav hesitated before responding. He didn't want to face off against Trainers from the Strongest Group, knowing it would end badly for him. Once Kalia and Sam lost, he wouldn't have to participate, ensuring his performance in the Exchange Competition remained commendable—advancing to the top eight without a single defeat.
"That works; I'll go first." Sam clearly understood Gustav's thoughts and volunteered to be the opening contestant. Since they were bound to lose anyway, it made no difference whether he went first or second.
"I'll go first," Kalia declared firmly, surprising everyone. She didn't want to wait any longer; being the first to step onto the field meant facing any opponent without hesitation, determined to secure a victory.
While their rivals from the Strongest Group might be formidable, likely top mid-level Trainers, she still had a chance. Her confidence stemmed from her Charizard and Sceptile, currently her strongest Pokémon. Even her Sceptile could effortlessly defeat Medicham and Pangoro, Takeshi's Fighting-type gym Pokémon.
Although Sceptile couldn't yet overcome Takeshi's Mienshao, this was understandable given Mienshaw's exceptional strength and evasive capabilities. The fact that Sceptile held its own against Mienshao demonstrated its significant prowess.
"You're really going first? Alright, you can have it then, not like it matters much," Sam nodded, momentarily taken aback. With the inevitable outcome of loss looming, his indifference grew.
Gustav sneered, "With such weak skills, why even participate in the Exchange Competition?" While encountering the Strongest Group was merely a matter of luck, unavoidable as it may be, he consistently harbored a negative attitude towards Kalia.
Kalia, not wasting any time, stepped onto the field.
"Hmph, get ready for a beating. Remember, surrendering is not allowed during the Exchange Competition. Just wait until her Combusken appears; I bet everyone will laugh themselves to death," Gustav sneered, his tone dripping with schadenfreude.
Sam remarked, "At least she has the courage to fight."
Gustav scoffed, "So what? I wouldn't want such embarrassment. As a beginner entering this competition, she should have been prepared for ridicule."
Sure enough, as Kalia entered the arena, she was met with immediate mockery from the crowd. After all, every beginner trainer so far had suffered humiliating defeats, unable to mount any effective defense.
Facing off against one of the Strongest Group Trainers only intensified the skepticism. Some were already speculating how quickly Kalia would be defeated and if she could even manage to take down a single opponent's Pokemon.
"I bet she won't defeat even one Pokemon."
"She might possibly beat one, but that'd likely be her limit. Even saying that much may be giving her too much credit."
Unfazed by the surrounding chatter, Kalia focused on her opponent, a black-haired young man named Joel. He was Jessie's brother, both being top mid-level trainers.