Taro's appearance instantly silenced the noisy Trainers. The Elite Four member commanded admiration and respect from everyone present, causing even those engaged in disputes to halt their arguments.
Seeing the quietened crowd, Taro nodded slightly and continued, "I will oversee this tournament, so feel free to battle with all your might. The rules ensure fairness; despite being in the Ellie region, no one dares to break them while I am here."
"The competition begins tomorrow at around 8 AM. Those who have already registered may disperse now. Practicing more Z-moves would be beneficial. Accommodations have been arranged for everyone; Trainers without lodging should follow me afterward."
"Yes!" the Trainers responded earnestly before dispersing. With Taro's instructions, there was no reason to linger; they preferred either practicing Z-moves or relaxing to prepare for the next day's exchange competition.
Kalia felt relieved knowing accommodations were provided since she wasn't familiar with the Ellie region and feared finding suitable lodging. Now, with arrangements made, she could relax, especially considering many female Trainers were present, ensuring convenience.
Kalia and Mark decided to explore the area, taking in the local culture and experiencing life in a different region.
Later, Taro led everyone to their assigned lodgings. Although not luxurious, it was adequate and spacious, managed by dedicated staff. Kalia was placed with another female Trainer as roommates.
***
Early next morning, Kalia woke up.
Her roommate was Tanna, a mid-level Trainer known for her striking beauty but had a cold demeanor. Upon learning that Kalia was just a beginner, she became even more distant.
Kalia felt helpless; this attitude prevailed across all regions—Ellie looked down on Sebas, and within Sebas itself, higher-ranked Trainers often disregarded those with lower ranks.
However, Kalia didn't let it bother her. Strength speaks louder than words, and with many eyes watching this exchange competition, she aimed to prove that even as a beginner trainer, one could be exceptionally skilled.
Winning the previous under-15 double battle championship greatly boosted Kalia's confidence. However, it was limited to younger participants and specifically a doubles format, attracting attention primarily from a different audience tier.
This time, even members of the Elite Four were present, elevating the stakes significantly. A standout performance here could potentially catch Taro's eye, who might consider taking apprentices or students given his abundant resources and esteemed status. It is common for high-ranking individuals like the Elite Four to mentor talented disciples.
However, it's quite rare for young Elite Four members like Taro to accept apprentices due to their age.
Upon arriving at the Combat Hall, Kalia found Mark; being alone felt dull, so having someone to chat with was perfect.
They both took seats in the spectator area as the matches wouldn't start immediately—the organizers needed time to arrange the competition schedule first.
This single-elimination tournament differed significantly from the previous double battle event, even in format. The number of participants was relatively low since Z-Rings were limited, and fewer Trainers had mastered Z-Moves.
The Sebas region had only twenty-seven competitors in total. With two batches of Z-Rings combined, there were barely over thirty available. Having twenty-seven Trainers proficient in Z-Moves was already commendable.
Similarly, the Ellie region also had twenty-seven participants, ensuring equal numbers for a fair competition. Compared to the Sebas region, almost all of Ellie's twenty-seven Trainers were top-tier mid-level trainers who had been mastering Z-Moves for some time.
The Sebas region faced significant disadvantages. If not for the fact that obtaining a Z-Ring allowed one to learn Z-Moves quickly, many mid-level trainers would have preferred beginner trainers participating to lend their Z-Rings to stronger mid-level peers.
Some mid-level Trainers were quite skilled but simply couldn't afford a Z-Ring, leaving them without options due to their financial constraints.
Time flew by as the competition approached closer. A small incident occurred when Kalia encountered another mid-level Trainer who, somehow informed about her possession of a spare Z-Ring, requested Kalia lend it to her and suggested that Kalia withdraw from the competition.
Kalia firmly declined this request. Aside from already being registered, withdrawing would be too embarrassing. Why should she forfeit her right to compete for someone she barely knew? It wouldn't benefit her at all.
The other mid-level Trainer became visibly upset, clearly indicating they had enrolled without owning a Z-Ring, hoping to borrow one from beginner trainers just before the competition.
From a broader perspective, having more mid-level trainers on Sebas's side could indeed enhance their chances against Ellie region; however, Kalia detested such exploitative behavior.
Mid-level Trainers enjoy discounts from the League when purchasing Z-Rings, making it easier for them to earn money through high-paying missions. Even completing one every few days over several months would accumulate sufficient Alliance Coins.
In the end, feeling quite embarrassed, the mid-level trainer had no choice but to withdraw from the competition. Not only did Kalia reject his request, but Mark also declined, and none of the remaining three beginner trainers agreed.
The final number of participants for the match became twenty-four due to three individuals lacking Z-Rings, causing significant embarrassment and loss of face for Sebas's side.
Similarly, the Ellie region was forced to reduce their team by three members as well. The format of this exchange competition involved group battles.
Initially planned with twenty-seven participants divided into nine groups of three, each would compete against one of the nine groups from the Ellie region. Now, it became eight groups with twenty-four participants.
Once the matches began, teams were randomly paired between the two regions, following a best-of-three format.
The winning group advanced, while the losing group was eliminated. This process continued through quarter-finals, semi-finals, and ultimately the finals to determine the strongest team.
Individual strength was crucial in the exchange competition, but having reliable teammates was equally important. If any teammate was significantly weaker, it could easily lead to defeat.
To address this, the Sebas region adopted a strategy: pairing strong with strong, moderate with moderate, and weak with weak. This ensured that the strongest teams had the potential to reach the finals, while the weakest teams would likely play minor roles.
As a beginner Trainer, Kalia should have been assigned to a team of fellow beginners; however, she ended up paired with two mid-level Trainers. Although not top-tier, they were still quite skilled.
Kalia's inclusion greatly displeased the mid-level trainers, as they felt she would be a liability and that it was a mistake. If they faced strong opponents, their chances of advancing would diminish significantly.
"Sigh, can't my skills surpass those of a mere beginner? It would've been better to pair me with another mid-level trainer. Why did I get stuck with a beginner?" one of the mid-level trainers complained. Had Kalia not been a girl, he likely would have resorted to harsher language.
Kalia maintained a cold expression. This arrangement had been made by Taro yesterday, based on the League's information about each participant. Clearly, Taro knew her true capabilities, but others remained unaware.
In reality, this pairing was entirely reasonable. Mark, for instance, found himself teamed up with two other beginner trainers, which could potentially prevent them from even reaching the semifinals.
Mark nearly erupted in anger, but since it was Taro's decision, there was little he could do.