"AERODACTYL IS UNABLE TO BATTLE. TYRANITAR WINS. ELITE FOUR LANCE, PLEASE SEND OUT YOUR NEXT POKÉMON!"
The referee raised his flag and announced loudly.
In the end, it was Tyranitar's stronger physique that prevailed, securing its status as the dominant force of this era.
Of course, the victory came at a cost. Tyranitar was panting heavily, looking rather worn down.
Out of view from the audience, even its hands were trembling slightly.
Giga Impact had massive power, but its side effects were just as obvious. When used at full force, the cooldown only got longer.
Aerodactyl was recalled. Lance didn't send out his next Pokémon right away.
He looked at the devastated battlefield, then at Tyranitar, who still had fight left in it, and for a moment… he actually felt like he might lose.
He had clearly made great progress this year, so how was Sato keeping up so fast…?
◓---
"What's Flying Master Lance doing…? Waiting for Tyranitar's cooldown to end?"
"No way, no way! Lance-dono is actually holding back????"
"Only two Pokémon left, and he's still that confident… That's my husband for you!"
"Hey, wake up! It's not even dark yet."
---◓
The "Flying Master" dude, and a wave of chaotic chatter spread through the crowd, finally snapping Lance out of it.
He shook his head helplessly. He hadn't expected to zone out in such a critical match.
How had his confidence slipped mid-battle…?
That was scarier than losing the match itself!
"…Dragonair, it's your turn!"
Forcing himself to clear his head, Lance sent out a Pokémon he had long prepared.
A blue Dragonair appeared on the field, nearly twice the size of its kind, with a body length over ten meters.
Those unfamiliar with Lance were shocked. In a battle of this level, someone was using a Pokémon that hadn't fully evolved?
…And that someone was Lance?
But Sato simply thought: as expected…
As a member of the Dragon Tamer clan, whose signature Pokémon was Dragonite, they didn't just specialize in raising Dragonite.
They had also developed highly systematic training methods for Dratini and Dragonair.
They could even grow stronger while remaining in their original forms.
This Dragonair had forsaken the relatively bulky evolved form of Dragonite and had taken a different path to power, remaining at stage two!
Drip… drip… drip…
Raindrops began to fall. Within seconds of Dragonair appearing, the sky had darkened, heavy clouds gathering above.
Tyranitar instinctively activated its Sand Stream Ability to create a sandstorm in response.
Dust swirled outward from Tyranitar as the sandstorm spread, trying to seize control of the weather.
But despite all the stirring, Tyranitar froze.
The rain wasn't even that heavy, yet it effortlessly suppressed the sandstorm, confining it to the immediate area around Tyranitar.
Barely two meters wide… Tyranitar couldn't even cover itself!
Something was wrong with this rain!
"…TAARRRR!"
Tyranitar roared again, actively using the move Sandstorm to boost its Ability and reclaim control of the weather.
Still useless!
The storm continued to hover weakly around Tyranitar, and as raindrops were absorbed, the storm only grew heavier and slower.
Sato's expression turned grim. Even though they'd reviewed Dragonair's data before the match, he had underestimated its mastery over weather.
This feeling… was exactly like when facing his own Gengar's Spatial Barrier.
Unique. Unbreakable.
Even Tyranitar, known as the "Desert Tyrant", was now completely suppressed.
"Hydro Pump!"
Lance's command rang out, and immediately after, a water jet as thick as a car barrel came blasting in.
As the Hydro Pump blasted forward, rain fused into the stream, visibly increasing its power.
"Rock Slide."
Dozens of massive rocks appeared from nowhere, arranged in a staggered, uneven formation that blocked the path of the Hydro Pump.
One giant rock after another was blasted away, each taking part of the Hydro Pump's force with it.
But when the last rock was destroyed, the stream still carried considerable momentum as it slammed toward Tyranitar!
Lateral sidestep!
Tyranitar twisted its body and quickly stepped away from its original position.
The attack missed, but Dragonair showed no frustration. Its calm eyes didn't waver in the slightest.
Splat!
Another Hydro Pump launched, faster and thicker than before!
Tyranitar used Rock Slide again, controlling boulders to block the attack, switching positions at the last moment.
But constant defense always leads to failure. This situation was turning against Tyranitar!
Sato frowned deeply. He had identified the problem, but had no effective solution.
The pressure from type disadvantage was one thing, but now Tyranitar facing Dragonair felt exactly like Charizard once facing Tyranitar, helpless to counterattack.
Moreover, Dragonair's weather manipulation was overwhelming, placing enormous mental pressure on the opponent without a single visible blow.
And the rain kept intensifying, boosting Water-type moves far beyond what a normal rainy day would provide.
Dragonair's aerial ability was strong too. Its large white wing-like fins extended from both sides of its head, and its serpentine body made it extremely agile in the air.
Tyranitar was stuck on defense, and whenever it tried to strike back, its attacks were effortlessly blocked. The rain field was clearly weakening its offensive power too.
This kind of full-spectrum suppression chipped away at both stamina and spirit. More despairing than a direct knockout.
Finally, a powerful Hydro Pump struck Tyranitar squarely before it could dodge.
Even Tyranitar's massive body couldn't stand firm against that blast.
A flash of pain crossed its face!
Then came fury and resolve…
Tyranitar spread its arms wide and braced against the Hydro Pump.
Then, its body lit up with intense electric sparks.
"…TAAAAR!"
With a roar, the electricity flowed along the water's path, traveling even faster back toward Dragonair.
Thunder!
"D-DRAAAAA!!!"
A pained cry rang out as Dragonair was hit hard by the unexpected Thunder attack. The move it had been preparing was interrupted immediately.
A flash of satisfaction passed through Tyranitar's eyes. Ignoring its own depleted energy, it launched another Thunder at full force.
But this time, Dragonair quickly looked to the sky. The orb beneath its neck flashed subtly; and instantly, a circular hole opened in the clouds.
The second Thunder fell from above, but veered off course and passed harmlessly by Dragonair.
A hint of disappointment appeared in Tyranitar's eyes… but also a trace of smugness.
So it was true. A Dragonair that could control the weather could also easily avoid Thunder attacks.
Thankfully, he had been clever enough to ride the opponent's Hydro Pump the first time, making it impossible to dodge.
But that would be the end of it.
Feeling the last of its energy fading, Tyranitar locked eyes with Dragonair one last time.
Then, ignoring the next incoming Hydro Pump, it launched sharp stones all around the battlefield.
Stealth Rock!
The next instant, the Hydro Pump engulfed Tyranitar, blasting it clean off the battlefield and into the heavy rock barrier.