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The Sandile evolutionary line is one of the most common Pokémon species in the desert, alongside the Numel line, the Rockruff line, and the Hippopotas line. Together, these four clans form the dominant Pokémon tribes of the desert.
Like the Rockruff, the habitat of the Sandile line are not fixed. This is largely due to their dependence on the migratory patterns of the Numel and Hippopotas lines.
Whenever those two larger lines migrate, the Sandile and Rockruff lines inevitably follow.
Facing the team's doubts, Tomoki clarified that the current Sandile group they had encountered was not originally part of the direct path to the Mirage Ruins. It was very likely the earlier encounter with the large Numel group had somehow triggered this unexpected ambush.
But regardless of the reason, the expedition team was already deep within the Sandile territory—and to the large Desert crocs, these intruders were now nothing more than delicious prey.
The Sandile species were apex predators in the desert. They liked to lie in wait beneath the thick sand, patiently watching for prey to walk into their trap.
Their eyes were uniquely adapted—they could see clearly through layers of sand and observe movement on the surface.
The reason the expedition team hadn't noticed them sooner was because they were simply too well-hidden. By the time the team realized what was happening, they were already surrounded.
With the combined Sand Tomb and Sandstorm attacks unleashed by the many Sandile…
A massive whirlpool of quicksand formed across a hundred-meter radius, pulling in the two Onix that had been leading the way.
At the same time, a violent sandstorm began brewing above the quicksand vortex, forcing many team members flying on aerial mounts to make emergency landings.
Caught off guard, several members were thrown from the Onix and swept into the fast-moving sands.
Still, these were elite recruits of Team Rocket who had survived the perils of the Mysterious Island. The moment the danger struck, each began taking immediate action to save themselves. So far, not a single person had died.
But the situation was far from optimistic. Numerous Sandile, Krokorok, and even a few Krookodile began appearing from the sand vortex, launching attacks on the trapped members.
These crocodilian Pokémon moved through the quicksand like fish in water. The swirling sand posed no obstacle to them—if anything, it enhanced their ability to hunt.
In an instant, many of the struggling members—and even the Pokémon protecting them—were dragged into the sand by these cunning predators.
"Come out, Garchomp! Eliminate the enemies controlling the quicksand underground!"
Faced with an urgent crisis, Tomoki, as the expedition's temporary leader, acted decisively. He released his trump card—Garchomp.
"Roooaaar!!"
As a pseudo-legendary Dragon/Ground-type, Garchomp was utterly unaffected by the Sand Tomb and Sandstorm. With a mighty roar, it released an invisible burst of draconic pressure.
Under the wrath of this desert tyrant, the frenzied whirlpool of sand and howling storm both briefly stalled. Many Sandile lurking beneath the sands shuddered with fear.
Then, Garchomp dove straight into the vortex, following Tomoki's command, and began rampaging underground—slaughtering the ones manipulating the sands.
Soon, the whirlpool began to slow.
"Come out—Venusaur, Victreebel, Cacnea! Use Ingrain to stabilize the quicksand around us!"
"Sandslash, Dugtrio, Marowak! Go assist Lord Tomoki's Garchomp and eliminate those pests beneath the surface!"
"Golduck, Poliwhirl, Quagsire! Use Rain Dance to weaken the sandstorm as much as possible!"
With Tomoki initiating the counterattack, the other Team Rocket elites quickly coordinated their responses, working to stabilize the chaotic battlefield.
Thanks to the Ingrain used by numerous Grass-type Pokémon like Venusaur, Victreebel, and Cacnea, parts of the quicksand vortex were locked in place by their deep roots and could no longer shift.
These stable sand patches gave many trapped members the footing they desperately needed. They released their own Pokémon, joining the battle and helping comrades escape the danger.
Elsewhere, with the aid of many Ground-types from the Rocket team, Garchomp's mission to wipe out the subterranean Sandile accelerated.
As more of the vortex-controlling Sandile were taken out, the quicksand whirlpool continued to slow.
Meanwhile, the combined Rain Dance of Golduck, Poliwhirl, and Quagsire summoned thick storm clouds above.
A light but steady rainfall—rare in this desert—began to fall.
The downpour weakened the sandstorm almost immediately.
And as rainwater soaked into the quicksand, large clumps of sand began to clump and harden, further halting the whirlpool's motion.
Within just a few minutes, through the joint efforts of Team Rocket recruits, the Sandile line's sand trap was dismantled.
However, the Sandile were not willing to give up their prey so easily. Worse still, with many of their kin now injured or dead, their rage knew no bounds.
This time, they chose to abandon subterfuge.
"ROAAARR!!"
A terrifying Krookodile burst from the sand with a furious roar. In its wake came swarms of Sandile, Krokorok, and a few more Krookodile—surrounding the now thinned-out Rocket members and launching a full-scale assault.
"Perfect timing. Come out—Bellossom, Beautifly! Show them your elegant battle dance."
"Kecleon! Copy Bulbasaur's Chlorophyll ability with Role Play, then transfer it to Bellossom and Beautifly with Skill Swap!"
Seeing the enemy army approaching, Sato—who had been cruising leisurely on his Flygon—was not afraid, but instead delighted. He immediately released Bellossom and his shiny Beautifly, two Pokémon well-suited for countering the crocodilian threat.
He followed up by sending out Bulbasaur, then used telepathy to direct Kecleon to copy Chlorophyll and pass it on to Bellossom and Beautifly.
In Sato's eyes, this Sandile assault was the perfect opportunity to grind levels.
The moment Bellossom and Shiny Beautifly took the field, they began their graceful assault.
With Quiver Dance boosting their speed and power, the two flitted across the battlefield like dancers of war—mowing down enemies as they moved.
No Sandile could withstand Bellossom's Energy Ball after six stacks of Quiver Dance. Nor could any withstand Shiny Beautifly's Bug Buzz after the same.
On top of that, both Pokémon had outstanding sustain. Bellossom could restore itself with Synthesis, while Shiny Beautifly absorbed energy with Giga Drain, tearing through enemies while healing.
For a time, Bellossom and Shiny Beautifly were like true Valkyries on the battlefield—radiant, elegant, and utterly unstoppable. Everywhere they danced, only fallen foes remained.