On the battlefield, neither trainer had given commands yet. The Tyranitar simply watched each other, sizing up opponents, looking for weaknesses. The tension built with every passing second.
Finally, Gaara spoke. "Sandstorm."
His Tyranitar roared. Sand erupted from nowhere, swirling into vicious storm that filled the entire battlefield. Visibility dropped to near-zero. The crowd gasped, this was Gaara's signature opening, establishing environmental control that favored his defensive style.
But Sasuke had anticipated it. "Stone Edge, scatter pattern."
His Tyranitar launched stones in all directions. The rocks weren't aimed at Gaara's Pokemon, they were targeting the sandstorm itself, disrupting the wind patterns, creating pockets of clear air. The environmental control fractured.
Gaara's eyes narrowed. "Earthquake."
The battlefield shook. Massive tremor radiated from Gaara's Tyranitar, creating fissures and knocking loose boulders. Sasuke's Tyranitar stumbled, affected by the ground-type attack despite type resistance, the sheer power was overwhelming.
"Crunch!" Sasuke commanded.
His Tyranitar surged forward through the sandstorm, jaws glowing with dark energy. It closed distance rapidly, aggressive offense, exactly as planned. Gaara's defensive setup meant nothing if Sasuke never gave him time to establish position.
The dark-type attack connected. Gaara's Tyranitar took the hit, armor absorbing most damage. But it felt that, the first successful attack of the battle.
"Rock Slide," Gaara said calmly.
Boulders rained down. Sasuke's Tyranitar dodged some, tanked others. The sandstorm intensified, making it harder to see attacks coming. Gaara was adapting, using environment to negate Sasuke's speed advantage.
This was the fundamental challenge: break through Gaara's defense before exhaustion set in, or get ground down by superior endurance.
Sasuke made his decision. Time to escalate.
"Mega Evolution!"
His hand went to the Key Stone he wore as a ring. Energy flowed through the bond between him and Tyranitar, activating the Mega Stone embedded in his Pokemon's armor. Tyranitar roared as transformation began, spikes extending, muscle mass increasing, power signature surging.
Two point one seconds. The crowd barely had time to register the change before it was complete.
Mega Tyranitar stood where base form had been moments before. Stronger, faster, more dangerous.
Gaara nodded approval. "Impressive synchronization. Let's see if you can maintain it. Mega Evolution."
His Tyranitar transformed. The change took longer, nearly three seconds, but the result was equally impressive. Experience showed in how naturally Gaara's Pokemon adapted to its new form.
Two Mega Tyranitar faced each other through clearing sandstorm. The crowd roared approval, this was what they'd come to see. Both trainers pushing their Pokemon to higher states, pure competition between equals.
"Now it gets interesting," Gaara said.
Sasuke felt his heart rate stabilize. The nerves had vanished, replaced by combat focus. Everything he'd trained for, everything he'd prepared, time to put it to use.
"Primal Reversion," he said.
Tyranitar's energy signature exploded. The Mega form was just foundation, Primal Reversion built on it, channeling ancient power that predated modern training. Scales shifted patterns, becoming prehistoric. Size increased beyond Mega form. Pure elemental force barely contained.
The transformation completed in under two seconds. Perfect execution, exactly as trained.
Gaara's expression showed genuine surprise for the first time. "You've mastered Primal Reversion already? Your father taught you well." He triggered his own transformation. "Primal Reversion."
His Mega Tyranitar underwent the same change. Ancient power flooded the battlefield, making air thick with energy. The sandstorm had dissipated entirely, both Pokemon's auras too intense for weather effects to persist.
Primal Mega Tyranitar versus Primal Mega Tyranitar. Two prehistoric monsters, each radiating power sufficient to level buildings.
The crowd had gone completely silent. This transcended normal gym battles. This was watching gods fight.
"Dynamax," both trainers said simultaneously.
Energy barriers activated around the stadium, safety protocols engaging. The battlefield's reinforced structure began to glow, channeling Dynamax energy.
Both Primal Mega Tyranitar grew. Ten feet became fifty. Fifty became a hundred. Massive beyond comprehension, armor plates thick as vehicles, each movement causing tremors that made seats vibrate.
Dynamax Primal Mega Tyranitar, the absolute pinnacle of Pokemon combat capability. And there were two of them, facing each other across a battlefield that suddenly seemed far too small.
In the VIP section, Miyuki's hand had gone white-knuckled around Kasumi's. "This is insane."
"This is incredible," Kiyomi breathed, camera recording everything.
"This is Sasuke," Kasumi said, voice filled with pride and terror. "He's matching a Gym Leader step for step."
On the battlefield, Sasuke looked up at his Tyranitar, now taller than buildings, power sufficient to reshape landscapes. Through their bond, he felt the Pokemon's confidence, its trust in him, its willingness to give everything for victory.
Partnership. Not command, not dominance. Partnership.
"Max Rockfall," Sasuke said.
His Tyranitar roared, sound like mountains collapsing. Massive boulders materialized in the air above the battlefield, each one the size of cars. They fell like meteors, targeting Gaara's Tyranitar with precision born from three days of intensive training.
"Max Steelspike," Gaara countered.
His Tyranitar summoned steel barriers, absorbing the rock bombardment. The collision created shockwaves that rattled the stadium's foundations. Audience members grabbed their seats, some standing despite danger.
The real battle had begun.