"TYRANNN!!"
Tyranitar let out a deafening roar, its face brimming with excitement as it lunged at the Vigoroth.
Here, in the sandstorm weather, this was its domain!
The title Tyrant of the Sandstorm wasn't something Cain used lightly.
Tyranitar released control over the sand.
The yellow sand mercilessly pelted both itself and Vigoroth.
With the help of the sand, it could even boost its power.
But Vigoroth was really struggling, having to endure the feeling of being lashed by sand harder than stone.
The approaching Vigoroth came with fists wrapped in intense flames, with no intention of dodging; it had locked onto Tyranitar as its target.
Tyranitar's fists also ignited, flames bursting with a boom from both hands.
Boom—!
BOOM!!!
All four fists collided head-on.
This time, Tyranitar gained a slight advantage.
After all, the change in terrain favored it, and the momentum from Dragon Dance was tremendous.
When Vigoroth was thrown back, Tyranitar didn't wait for a counterattack. It strode forward in large steps.
"Brick Break!" Cain ordered.
Tyranitar delivered a one-handed strike just as Vigoroth landed, still unable to react.
It had no choice but to cross its arms in front and directly withstand the Brick Break attack.
BOOM—!
The attack came down hard, like a hand smashing a watermelon.
But Vigoroth endured it!
Though its legs were completely buckled and its face flushed red.
At the moment it held back the attack, its claws began to glow: two hands, four sharp claws, spinning and slashing directly at Tyranitar's chest.
Ssshhh—!
Four fine slash marks appeared on Tyranitar's chest.
Seeing the minimal damage his full-strength attack had caused, Vigoroth was dumbfounded.
Such strong defense!?
What Vigoroth didn't know was that if someone asked which part of Tyranitar's body was the most resistant, Cain would answer without hesitation: that gray area on its chest and abdomen.
That was Tyranitar's highest-defense point!
The four wounds caused some pain, but didn't affect its combat capability.
With its left fist clenched, Tyranitar delivered another blow.
BOOM—!
Vigoroth, still in shock, was launched straight into the air.
"Now! Tyranitar, use Rock Slide and Precipice Blades!" Cain shouted at the exact moment.
Upon hearing the command, Tyranitar instantly understood.
"TYRANNN!!"
With a roar, several massive rocks suddenly appeared in the air, anticipating Vigoroth's flight path.
This time there was nothing he could rely on: he had become a target in the air.
Vigoroth, with a serious face, looked at the descending rocks.
He couldn't dodge, so he could only endure.
With all his strength, he struck the rocks with his fists, smashing them one by one.
But this only increased his falling speed.
The Rock Slide move was just a distraction; the real attack came afterward.
BAN!!!
Tyranitar's gray abdomen suddenly glowed with red and yellow light. A clearly visible "Ω" symbol appeared on its body.
Even its presence showed a significant change.
Immediately after, from the ground where Vigoroth was falling, a sharp-pointed stone pillar shot upward.
And it wasn't just sharp—it glowed with a deep red hue and emitted considerable heat.
BOOM!!!
Without giving him a chance to react, Vigoroth, falling from above, was struck simultaneously by the descending rocks and the rising Precipice Blades from the ground—two converging forces enhancing each other.
This combo not only boosted Rock Slide's power but also allowed Precipice Blades to strike from above and below, maximizing offensive output.
After taking this brutal combo head-on, Vigoroth crashed to the ground and convulsed for quite a while, unable to get up.
"TYRANNN!!"
Seeing Vigoroth's condition, Tyranitar spread its arms and roared at the sky. (Picture it like Godzilla)
This battle had truly been a clash between opponents of equal strength and capability.
But in the end, Vigoroth was still Vigoroth, and had certain innate flaws.
If—if he had evolved into Slaking, perhaps the one defeated today would have been Tyranitar.
But today, the one defeated was Vigoroth.
Cain had invested many resources into Tyranitar, from the Fragment of Groudon's Armor, to a piece of Groudon's soul, energy stones gifted by its species, the assistance of many Tyranitar, and the continuous supply of diamonds.
Having this level of power was expected.
That amount of investment... couldn't even be measured in money.
There are things money simply can't buy.
With a Quasi-Black aptitude, facing a Vigoroth of Blue aptitude—even if Elite-level—it was only logical for Tyranitar to win.
Only, this Vigoroth was special, and from the beginning was able to match Tyranitar.
After a while of convulsing, Vigoroth barely managed to stand up.
During that time, Tyranitar did not attack again.
In fact, at Cain's signal, the sandstorm ceased.
The ground had accumulated a thick layer of yellow sand.
Under Tyranitar's control, the sand gradually merged into the earth, disappearing completely.
Vigoroth watched the scene without launching another attack.
Cain gave him one last glance and turned around with his Pokémon to leave.
The goal today was to explore the area, not fight.
Also, if he wanted to capture this Vigoroth, he'd have to play the long game. Forcing it wouldn't work.
Vigoroth didn't move, simply watching Cain's back as he walked away.
Something unknown was shining in his eyes.
Cain smiled slightly to the side.
This Vigoroth—he had already decided!
And the three Skuntank gently dragging Cain forward now didn't even dare to breathe.
Turned out the giant they had provoked... had such overwhelming power!
And he didn't even seem like the strongest Pokémon beside that mysterious being.
That pink Pokémon with the strange hat, who radiated a noble aura without even trying...
And that one who looked like a pure white flower, equally elegant and dignified... Those two Pokémon looked even more terrifying!
The big green one, in the presence of those two, behaved like a younger sibling before elder siblings, full of respect.
Though slightly surprised by his power, they looked at him more with approval.
That was the kind of expression only seniors gave.
The three Skuntank were now very nervous. But they had lived long enough to read the atmosphere.
The being seated in the middle, in a chair, appearing fragile and with limited mobility... That was clearly the core of these Pokémon.
All of them, whether consciously or not, protected him.
And those Pokémon that seemed so incredibly powerful—they all obeyed this being.
So, if they could please him, they'd be safe.
This was like how those who survive on the margins of society know they must appease the powerful to continue living.
(End of chapter)