Chapter 651: The Salamence Clan Laughed
Following the conclusion of the battle.
Kazuya heavily dropped onto his backside, sitting directly on the shattered ground.
An overwhelming cocktail of pure physical exhaustion and throbbing pain assaulted his senses. The sheer magnitude of it threw his respiratory rhythm and heart rate into absolute chaos.
Securing the victory in this specific duel had required a terrifyingly grueling effort.
Had the Tyrantrum mathematically managed to endure just a few more strikes, the two of them highly likely would have collapsed simultaneously.
In raw reality, Kazuya mathematically possessed the tactical capability to secure this victory with vastly superior efficiency. He harbored absolutely zero tactical necessity to engage the Tyrantrum in a brutal, head-on collision of pure physical force, let alone deliberately tanking the Tyrantrum's apocalyptic strikes with his own body.
But prior to initiating the clash, he had finalized his operational resolution.
He was going to systematically dismantle the Tyrantrum in the very domain he harbored the most absolute, towering pride in, thereby flawlessly securing his rival's absolute respect and recognition.
Furthermore.
The Tyrantrum mathematically possessed the biological capability to evade Kazuya's strikes, yet he explicitly refused to do so.
Although neither party had verbally established a formal rule set, if Kazuya had subsequently chosen to execute an evasion... he would have psychologically registered it as a breach of trust, essentially conceding defeat to his rival on an entirely different conceptual layer.
Perhaps... the Tyrantrum processed the exact same psychological calculation.
Therefore, when confronted with Kazuya's brutal offensive, he similarly refused to dodge or retreat a single inch.
Regardless of the underlying logic.
Ultimately, Kazuya emerged as the victor.
At this exact juncture, Kazuya could definitively verify his internal calculations.
If both sides unleashed their absolute maximum output with the explicit, singular objective of biological extermination, the Tyrantrum mathematically wouldn't possess even a microscopic fraction of a chance at securing victory.
He couldn't speak for other variables, but within the parameters of this specific duel... the systemic restrictions Kazuya had voluntarily imposed upon his own combat engine vastly exceeded the restrictions the Tyrantrum had imposed upon his.
Thud.
The distinct, heavy sound of a massive body rolling over echoed from behind him.
Kazuya didn't bother turning his skull to visually verify the data, remaining firmly seated.
The Tyrantrum absolutely wouldn't execute a treacherous sneak attack.
Kazuya anchored absolute confidence in that specific variable.
There was an exceptionally famous proverb deeply rooted within the human Trainer community:
If words fail to convey your heart, then convey it through Pokémon battle.
Having physically crossed blows with the Tyrantrum, Kazuya calculated he had essentially compiled a flawless psychological profile of the dragon.
Exactly as he had synthesized.
The Tyrantrum didn't launch an offensive.
He merely walked over in silence, heavily dropping down right beside Kazuya. Together, they sat quietly, watching the sun gradually descend over the western horizon.
"Rua-ooh."
"Join the Dragon Clan. By now, you should possess a remarkably clear understanding of exactly what kind of collective we are."
"Rua-ooh."
The Tyrantrum didn't utter a single redundant syllable, merely nodding his massive head in silence.
Simultaneously, his physical dimensions began executing a systematic compression.
The towering, mountain-like titan that had originally stood over eighty meters tall... had now compressed into a relatively modest frame sitting at slightly over eight meters in height.
He finally looked the part of a proper subordinate.
His decision to integrate into the collective... wasn't driven by an overwhelming, profound desire to join.
It was purely governed by the absolute, fundamental law of nature: The victor is King, the loser is the bandit.
He had suffered a clean defeat at Kazuya's hands. Therefore, from this exact second onward, Kazuya was his undisputed absolute sovereign. Whatever the sovereign commanded, he would execute.
Regarding today's clash.
The Tyrantrum felt a profound sense of exhilaration, and he accepted his defeat with absolute, unyielding conviction.
Furthermore.
Even executing a rapid, temporary cognitive calculation, he felt the setup was exceptionally advantageous.
By integrating into the Dragon Clan, he mathematically secured the right to frequently challenge Kazuya to combat. He would never again suffer a shortage of worthy adversaries.
"Rua, rua~"
Processing this specific calculation, the Tyrantrum couldn't suppress a sharp, ecstatic grin.
A dragon's existence... genuinely required a concrete objective to pursue.
An old friend had once imparted a specific piece of wisdom to him:
The weak draw their blades against those weaker than themselves; the strong draw their blades against those stronger than themselves.
If he desired to achieve absolute strength, he was biologically required to relentlessly challenge those stronger than him. This was the foundational logic driving the Tyrantrum's lifelong pursuit of combat.
He sought absolute strength. To forge himself into a dragon mathematically incapable of being bullied by anyone.
"What exactly are you smiling at?"
Kazuya's scalp tingled slightly.
He currently lacked the data to realize he was going to be subjected to relentless, endless combat harassment from the Tyrantrum in the foreseeable future.
The primary bottleneck was... across the entire Dragon Clan, the only entity mathematically capable of sparring with the Tyrantrum... was Kazuya. Every single other member functionally lacked the baseline parameters to endure a clash against him.
"Rua-ooh~"
The Tyrantrum smiled broadly, casually swinging his massive legs before turning his heavy skull to look at Kazuya. "Rua-ooh?"
He was actively querying Kazuya regarding his operational blueprint for managing the Rocky Mountain range moving forward.
After all.
Following the conclusion of today's conflict, at least from an official, nominal standpoint... Kazuya had formally claimed the absolute sovereignty of the entire Rocky Mountain range.
The only remaining discrepancy was that the Pokémon clans currently garrisoned across the western sectors were entirely ignorant of this massive geopolitical shift. They still fundamentally recognized the Tyrantrum as the undisputed Overlord.
Resolving this data gap was exceptionally simple. Kazuya merely needed to lead a vanguard of the Dragon Clan to execute a rapid sweep across the territory, and the objective would be secured.
However... Kazuya naturally harbored zero intention of executing that maneuver.
As it currently stood.
Across the entire expanse of the Rocky Mountain range...
The Duraludon clan had been systematically exterminated.
And the Tyrantrum Overlord clan, following the defeat of their patriarch, had seamlessly transitioned into a structural component of the Dragon Clan.
The absolute only remaining major faction was the Garchomp clan.
Across the sprawling western sector of the Rocky Mountains, there were absolutely zero native draconian species remaining to subjugate.
Kazuya possessed precisely zero tactical desire or operational ambition to launch a campaign over there. Expending the logistical bandwidth for that operation would be vastly inferior to simply turning around and deploying his forces to assist his younger brother in subjugating the tropical rainforest.
Intel suggested the jungle housed a substantial demographic of incredibly powerful dragons.
"I highly likely will not possess the chronological bandwidth to personally manage the daily operations of the Rocky Mountains. I explicitly require you to act as the supreme proxy of the Dragon Clan, commanding absolute jurisdiction over this entire mountain range." Kazuya turned his head, looking directly at the Tyrantrum.
The western sectors already recognized the Tyrantrum as their absolute Overlord, while the eastern sectors recognized the Dragon Clan as theirs.
Kazuya merely needed to dispatch the Salamence clan to broadcast an official edict across the eastern sectors, explicitly confirming that the Tyrantrum had officially merged into the Dragon Clan.
Once that data was synchronized, the entire Rocky Mountain range would no longer harbor a divided, conflicting chain of command. Every single entity would submit to the Tyrantrum's authority.
And regarding the Tyrantrum.
Despite this being their initial formal interaction, Kazuya anchored an immense volume of trust in him. He firmly believed the Tyrantrum would flawlessly execute his directives.
By extension, this mathematically meant the entire Rocky Mountain range would unequivocally obey Kazuya's will.
Perfect. This structural arrangement simultaneously allowed him to permanently evade the tedious logistical burdens associated with the "Overlord" title.
"Rua-ooh."
The Tyrantrum nodded heavily, a profound sense of relief washing over his core.
He possessed the data that Kazuya was not a native dragon of the Rocky Mountains.
Originally, he had been burdened with a heavy trace of anxiety, assuming he would be mathematically required to lead a mass migration of the Tyrantrum clan.
He had genuinely feared his clansmen might fail to biologically adapt to an alien environment, and simultaneously, he harbored a deep, nostalgic reluctance to abandon the Rocky Mountain range they had garrisoned for nearly a century.
Now that Kazuya had articulated this specific operational blueprint, the Tyrantrum knew he wasn't required to abandon his ancestral home. Naturally, his heart felt significantly lighter.
"Do not execute any systemic alterations across the Rocky Mountains for the immediate timeline. Wait until I have successfully established agricultural pastures across the neighboring forests and wooded peaks, and then we will officially expand the geographic boundaries of the Safe Zone over to this sector."
Factoring in the harsh survival environment of the rocky peaks, Kazuya added this explicit directive before continuing,
"In two days, you will assemble your clansmen and accompany me back to the grassland heartland. I will formally introduce you to the other members of the collective, and simultaneously brief you on the foundational concepts governing the Safe Zone."
To be entirely analytical... the logistical utility of the clans physically meeting one another wasn't exceptionally high.
After all, terrestrial species like the Tyrantrum and Druddigon mathematically lacked the biological capability to fly, unlike the Salamence and Aerodactyl vanguards who could effortlessly traverse the airspace between the grassland and the mountains.
Moving forward, the frequency at which they physically departed the Rocky Mountains would inevitably be remarkably low. It could even be classified as exceedingly rare.
To the east lay the snowfields. To the south, the swamp. To the west, the wetlands. To the north, the ocean.
Geographically, the Rocky Mountain range was functionally a landlocked fortress. Terrestrial species attempting to mobilize outside its borders would face grueling logistical friction.
Consequently, their future opportunities to physically interact with other Dragon Clan members would undeniably be sparse. Even if they secured an initial meeting today, moving forward, they would essentially function as nominal companions—merely recognizing each other enough to prevent a friendly-fire incident if their paths ever crossed.
To suggest they would forge a profoundly intimate, closely-knit bond was mathematically improbable.
The depth of their relationships would roughly be dictated by geographic proximity.
For instance, the clans garrisoned within the grassland and the volcano would naturally forge deep, intimate ties. Their borders touched, their survival environments were highly compatible, and they possessed the logistical luxury to casually visit one another's territories during periods of downtime.
The swamp and the grassland also maintained relatively close relations. However, this specific parameter was driven entirely by the Goodra clan's intense biological attachment to their ancestral home.
As for the Rocky Mountain branch... moving forward, they would likely only cultivate close internal relations among themselves. At most, they might forge stronger bonds with the highly mobile, extroverted flying species that enjoyed frequent, long-distance travel.
For example... the Dragonite clan.
But regardless of the underlying logistics, a preliminary, formal introduction remained a political necessity.
During major festivals or seasonal transitions, Kazuya was structurally required to summon the entire collective back to the grassland heartland to reinforce their social cohesion, host grand banquets, or organize matchmaking events for entertainment.
If, during those massive gatherings, nobody possessed the data to recognize anyone else... wouldn't that generate an incredibly awkward, hostile atmosphere?
"Rua-ooh."
The Tyrantrum nodded casually, his expression broadcasting absolute indifference. Aside from his overwhelming, primal obsession with combat, he harbored virtually zero desires or ambitions.
Therefore, whatever Kazuya commanded was absolute law. He genuinely didn't care either way.
"You head back first... No, actually, I'll accompany you back. The Tyrantrum clan is officially a core component of the collective now. As the absolute sovereign, it would be politically inappropriate for me to avoid making a formal appearance to acknowledge them."
Kazuya reached out, clapping a massive claw onto the Tyrantrum's shoulder, altering his trajectory midway to escort him back to the Tyrantrum territory.
"Rua-ooh." The Tyrantrum nodded.
He forcefully braced his frame, dragging himself up from the shattered earth. Feeling the intense, trembling weakness saturating his legs, he discreetly shot a sidelong glance at Kazuya.
Nani?!
He's not projecting a single microscopic shred of physical exhaustion?!
Processing this data, the Tyrantrum's pride absolutely refused to allow him to project weakness. Gritting his teeth, he ignored the agonizing soreness radiating through his legs and forcefully marched forward with massive, sweeping strides.
His velocity didn't drop a single decimal point. It was as if he was terrified Kazuya would mathematically detect his physical distress.
A wave of profound speechlessness washed through Kazuya's eyes.
The Tyrantrum's petty psychological calculations couldn't evade his Aura scans for a single microsecond.
Is he genuinely attempting to establish me as an absolute benchmark to violently measure himself against?
Whatever. It was a positive parameter.
It was infinitely vastly superior to the behavior of those lazy, lethargic dragons back at the heartland who had functionally retired before reaching full maturity.
Kazuya and the Tyrantrum departed the sector.
The Salamence flock flew back from the neighboring peak. They swept their collective gaze over their ancestral nesting ground, which had been violently, flawlessly leveled into a flat plain.
They then cast their gazes toward the departing silhouettes of Kazuya and the Tyrantrum.
And finally... they couldn't suppress it anymore. They burst out laughing.
The Tyrantrum clan.
They were permanently garrisoned at the absolute, geographic epicenter of the Rocky Mountain range. It was a sprawling valley heavily fortified by several towering mountain peaks.
Before they had even officially breached the perimeter, Kazuya visually locked onto a substantial number of massive adult Tyrantrum, alongside a massive swarm of hyper-energetic Tyrunt frantically sprinting across the terrain.
Executing a rapid visual sweep.
The total demographic of the Tyrantrum clan sat at roughly one hundred members.
The absolute strongest individual was unequivocally the Alpha patriarch walking right beside him. That upper-tier Champion Lv. 88 baseline was absolutely no joke.
Furthermore, unlike the vast majority of Champions in this era who had merely stumbled into the echelon through sheer chronological accumulation, the Tyrantrum's upper-tier Champion status was heavily saturated with pure, unadulterated, gold-standard martial value. His raw combat output flawlessly matched his numerical level.
Beyond the patriarch.
Although the Tyrantrum clan couldn't field a secondary Champion-tier entity, the sheer volume of Elite Four-tier individuals was genuinely staggering.
Just casually scanning their aura signatures, Kazuya detected a minimum of ten distinct individuals firmly entrenched within the Elite Four echelon. That volume alone vastly exceeded the combined Elite Four rosters of both the Aerodactyl and Altaria clans.
Moreover, there were three or four specific Tyrantrum auras that Kazuya couldn't immediately, precisely lock down.
Their parameters hovered aggressively around the Lv. 70 threshold. It was entirely mathematically possible they had also breached the Elite Four barrier.
The sheer martial weight of an Overlord-tier clan was undeniably authentic.
But this was entirely logical. After all, there was an old proverb: A fierce general leads fierce soldiers; a cowardly general leads a den of cowards.
With a hyper-aggressive, battle-crazed Alpha like this Tyrantrum anchoring the clan, it was biologically impossible for his subordinates to be weak.
It functioned on the exact same logic as the Dragon Clan possessing Kazuya—a pseudo-Trainer who had actively operated within the League Era. Under his jurisdiction, the Dragon Clan was forced to execute systematic, daily combat training, intense sparring, and rigorous martial cultivation. Their combat output wasn't merely inflated by the passive passage of time.
The arrival of Kazuya and the Tyrantrum patriarch sparked a wave of massive commotion across the Tyrantrum territory.
The adult Tyrantrum stared at their Alpha leader with bulging eyes, their expressions screaming absolute disbelief.
Boss.
Why the hell did you shrink?!
The juvenile Tyrunt, conversely, were completely devoid of complex cognitive calculations. Entirely ignoring their patriarch, they merely charged forward with rapid, stomping strides, attempting to violently headbutt Kazuya in greeting.
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