"They've been silent for so long, and now they're rushing in again, which means what they're looking for isn't within their area of operation.
Given their aggressive approach, it's very likely the thing is in a cave behind here.
If they gain the upper hand and block the entrance, it will be almost impossible for the Alliance to break through.
So! We absolutely cannot let them get through!
The tunnel here is only so big; as long as Crimson Pine and Water Archie aren't at the forefront, I think we can hold them off. Today, we'll settle this here!" Aoki said, displaying an air of self-assurance.
"Today, let them see what it means to be a one-man army!"
Steven was taken aback by Aoki's words. He then realized they made sense. The thing Team Magma and Team Ocean went to such great lengths to find must be extraordinary.
If it were within their area of operation before, the Alliance wouldn't have been able to do anything, because they were unfamiliar with the terrain, and rushing in recklessly could easily lead to an ambush. Moreover, they had blocked the entrance, making a forced charge too costly!
But now, the League knows this area like the back of their hand, and the other side hasn't gained the upper hand yet—it's a good opportunity!
"Alright! Then I'll stay with you!" Steven immediately agreed.
Although it's a tunnel, meaning there won't be many enemies at once, it's a large tunnel, leading to a spacious cave. One person's strength is still a bit strained.
Two people would be much better.
Aoki didn't refuse either; Steven was gradually showing the demeanor of a future champion.
Slowking, with a large group of people, disappeared from the spot.
At this moment, the vanguard of Team Magma and Team Aqua were already approaching.
"It's been a long time since we fought side by side," Aoki said with a smile, then threw out a few Poké Balls.
Tyranitar and Aggron took the lead. Florges, Swampert, and Blaziken stood relatively far back, and Gengar peeked out from Aoki's shadow. If Aoki didn't summon them, his main task was to ensure Aoki's safety.
Steven also smiled and threw out Pokémon.
Shiny Metagross! Aggron! Ancient Armor! Aerodactyl!
Currently, these are the four strongest Pokémon that Steven possesses.
"In that case, Tyranitar! Sandstorm!" Aoki shouted.
"Tyranitar!!!"
Upon hearing this, Tyranitar roared.
Its eyes were filled with excitement as it watched the large group rushing towards it from afar.
Steven's Aggron looked somewhat small next to Aoki's Aggron, but the two Aggrons clearly remembered each other and exchanged a simple greeting.
Metal fists collided.
Yellow sand filled the air from every corner of the tunnel, instantly making visibility extremely poor.
"It's Sandstorm Aoki!"
"It's Aoki's Tyranitar!"
"It's Tyranitar's Sandstorm!"
"..."
Sandstorm Aoki was one of Aoki's nicknames because Tyranitar's Sandstorm was incredibly powerful in this environment.
Exclamations could be faintly heard from the other side.
Aoki's Tyranitar was practically a strength detector; only Pokémon that could withstand Tyranitar's frenzied Sandstorm could be called powerful.
Most Pokémon, once inside the sandstorm, have no choice but to retreat, otherwise they might never escape.
Therefore, their fear of Aoki far outweighs that of Steven and his companions.
Based on the strength of the Pokémon summoned by the two, is Aoki necessarily stronger than Steven? Not necessarily.
However, in recent battles, Aggron, Blaziken, Swampert, and several other Pokémon have applied what they learned in training to actual combat, and through the tempering of battle, they have all gained a level.
Tyranitar has fought the most battles, so its improvement is the greatest, gaining two levels to reach level 67.
However, it still hasn't broken through to the level of a Elite Four member, and its strength change isn't particularly significant.
"Your reputation is really big. Next time I encounter enemies, I'll just shout to them that I'm Aoki's friend, maybe that'll scare them away," Steven said to Aoki with a smile after hearing the exclamation from the other side.
He genuinely admired Aoki's decision to stand alone against the enemy; he was still a little nervous, but Aoki maintained a faint smile.
Little did he know, Aoki also admired Steven's courage.
Knowing his own limitations, Aoki was absolutely confident in his ability to survive. Even if he couldn't hold on any longer, escaping would be no problem.
And Steven?
A true warrior!!
"Stop trying to make up stories to ease the tension, hahaha! The battle—begins!" Aoki's smile faded, and he spoke to Steven with a seemingly mocking tone.
Steven was taken aback, but he was indeed no longer nervous.
Because the battle had truly begun!
Tyranitar, Aggron, and Swampert stepped into the sandstorm.
Steven's Pokémon were also unaffected by the sandstorm, striding in as well.
Aoki used telepathy to communicate with Steven and his Pokémon, allowing him to know their location, the enemies they faced, and to give commands.
*Boom—Boom—*
The sandstorm expanded under Tyranitar's control, blasting away Pokémon caught within its reach. They collapsed
to the ground, unable to battle.
Indeed, this was a tunnel, limiting the number of Pokémon that could attack simultaneously—a strength Aoki and Steven possessed.
"Tyranitar, Aggron, Stone Edge!"
"Swampert, Earth Hammer! (Earth Power + Ice Punch)"
"Florasie, Grass-type! Grassy Terrain! Grass Knot! Help Tyranitar and the others control the sandstorm!"
"Blaziken, Swords Dance! Agility!"
Aoki commanded his Pokémon.
"Aggron, Aerodactyl, let's go! Stone Edge!"
"Metamorphose, Comet Punch!"
"Armor, X-Scissors!"
Steven was also mentally commanding his Pokémon.
Aoki and Steven's Pokémon stood in a row, forcefully blocking the path of everyone and their Pokémon.
Stone Edge was mixed in with the sandstorm, making it even harder to spot.
The entire sandstorm turned into a rock storm of sand and rocks!
A large number of Pokémon were thrown out of the sandstorm.
"Retreat!! Retreat quickly!! The sandstorm is coming!!"
"Retreat!! Damn it! Everyone in the back, retreat quickly!!"
"..."
The group at the front was caught off guard by Aoki and Steven, suffering heavy losses. When it was the second group's turn, they were horrified and shouted for retreat.
But with everyone blocking the way, it was not easy to retreat.
Forcing a retreat would definitely cause a stampede, and then Team Magma and Team Aqua would be the ones to lose face.
Fortunately, Crimson Pine and Archie had anticipated this possibility from the start, so they dispatched highly respected officers to manage the vanguard.
"Retreat?! Anyone who retreats again will be killed on the spot!" a deep, honest voice rang out. It was
Team Magma's officer, Fire Village!
"Team Aqua! No retreat!" another woman's voice rang out. It was
Team Aqua's officer, Izumi!
Hearing their voices, Aoki's lips curled into a slight smile.
Old acquaintances, long time no see...
Tabitha and Izumi summoned their Pokémon and took the lead.
For a moment, Tyranitar's sandstorm could no longer worked.
(End of Chapter)