Aoki narrowed his eyes slightly as he observed the scene unfolding before him. The group of Tyrantrum were not very far away from the Tyranitars now, their massive forms casting long shadows across the rocky terrain. The system scanned the information of the leader of the Tyrantrum pack, displaying the data clearly:
Pokemon: Tyrantrum (Dark Teal)
Gender: Male
Level: 75
Attributes: Rock + Dragon
Ability: Strong Jaw
Held Items: None
Egg Moves: Dragon Dance, Thunder Fang, Ice Fang, Rock Polish
Basic Moves: Rock Slide, Head Smash, Tail Whip, Tackle, Roar, Stomp, Endure, Stealth Rock, Bite, Charm, Ancient Power, Dragon Tail, Crunch, Dragon Claw, Thrash, Earthquake, Horn Drill, Giga Impact
Learnt Moves: Dragon Pulse, Iron Tail, Block, Iron Head, Uproar, Snore, Earth Power, Superpower, Bulldoze
TM Moves: None
The dark Teal qualification had reached level 75. It was truly rare to encounter two wild Pokémon that had broken through to such heights in a place like this. Aoki couldn't help but wonder what kind of world this was—a paradise for Rock-type Pokémon, perhaps.
The leaders of the Tyrantrum and Tyranitar were clearly at odds with each other. Yet, it was undeniable that the Tyranitar was far stronger than the Tyrantrum in raw power. In fact, any single Tyranitar could overpower a lone Tyrantrum, which was why the opposing pack needed so many members before daring to provoke them. Even the younger Tyranitar beside the alpha and the peak-level Tyranitar might not be able to defeat this leader of the Tyrantrum pack alone. However, the sheer numerical advantage still posed a significant challenge.
"Grrraaaah—!"
The alpha Tyranitar roared furiously, its body once again transforming into the ferocious Sandstorm Behemoth.
"Graaaah—!"
The other Tyranitars behind it echoed the cry, unwilling to be outdone.
"Roooooar—!"
The leader of the Tyrantrum pack responded with its own deafening roar, defiance burning in its eyes.
It was unfortunate that this was a rocky area, dominated by Rock-type Pokémon. Otherwise, the Tyranitars might have been able to show their opponents just how the Sandstorm Behemoth earned its fearsome reputation. The Sandstorm move wouldn't have much effect on the Tyrantrum, given their typing.
However, Aoki noticed that the Tyranitars fought with remarkable bravery. This could be attributed to their leader's influence, or perhaps it was confidence built from countless victories in past battles. Among the Tyrantrum pack, only the leader and a few of the stronger members showed no hesitation—the rest displayed varying degrees of nervousness and awe.
This was the reputation of the Sandstorm Behemoth.
There was no further communication between the two groups. This wasn't their first clash.
The alpha Tyranitar took the lead, charging headfirst into the Tyrantrum pack. The rest of its kin followed closely behind, their bodies surrounded by dissipating green energy, replaced by swirling grains of sand. Though the Sand Stream ability didn't grant them an advantage against the Tyrantrum, the Tyranitars had learned to manipulate the sand in new ways—thanks in part to Pupitar's training earlier that day.
"Roooar—!"
The Tyrantrum leader bellowed again, and the entire pack surged forward to meet the Tyranitars. Even the more timid members didn't retreat—fear was natural, but this battle concerned the future of their tribe. They couldn't afford to back down.
Neither side could claim moral superiority. This was simply the law of survival in the wild—competition for resources dictated their actions.
Aoki and his Pokémon remained still, observing the battle unfold. Though Pupitar's eyes shimmered with concern, it wasn't foolish enough to rush in blindly. The strength of both factions far surpassed its own, and charging in would only lead to disaster.
This restraint was proof of Pupitar's growth.
If this had happened before, it would have thrown itself into the fray without hesitation, regardless of the odds.
Pupitar had truly improved.
Aoki stood motionless, watching as the two groups collided in the distance.
The alpha Tyranitar swung its massive fist, condensed with raw power and energy. A single strike like that could easily crush an ordinary Pokémon.
BOOM!!—
The first clash was between the alpha Tyranitar and the Tyrantrum leader.
The result was unexpected.
With just one punch, the alpha Tyranitar sent the Tyrantrum leader flying. The massive dinosaur rolled across the ground several times before finally skidding to a stop.
Yet, the other Tyrantrum didn't seem surprised—as if this was a common occurrence.
Immediately, two more Tyrantrum rushed forward, intercepting the alpha Tyranitar and preventing it from advancing further.
The Tyrantrum leader shook its head and stood again, unfazed. Without hesitation, it locked onto the alpha Tyranitar, jaws gaping wide, and charged back into the fight.
The same pattern repeated across the battlefield.
The first Tyrantrum to engage a Tyranitar usually suffered the worst of it—knocked back, sometimes even sent sprawling—but they always got back up. If they didn't, the others wouldn't be able to hold the line.
The Tyrantrum outnumbered the Tyranitar by more than three to one.
Every Tyranitar had to face three, sometimes even four, Tyrantrum at once.
This was the only reason the Tyrantrum pack could hold their own against the Tyranitar tribe.
The two groups had clashed many times before.
They knew each other's tactics well.
The battle escalated quickly, both sides engaging in brutal, primal combat—fists and fangs colliding with raw force.
Soon, wounds began to appear on both sides, a testament to how fiercely they fought.
But before long, the stalemate began to shift.
Suddenly, two Tyrantrum broke away from the pack, abandoning their current opponents and making a beeline for the valley.
The remaining Tyrantrum redoubled their efforts, holding back the Tyranitars' relentless assault.
Aoki immediately understood their plan.
Some of the Tyrantrum must have gained an advantage, tilting the battle in their favor.
But the Tyrantrum leader knew that defeating the Tyranitar outright was nearly impossible—their goal was simply to stall.
Meanwhile, the two breakaway Tyrantrum would slip into the valley and steal resources—specifically, the water source. If they encountered a Pupitar or were blocked by another Tyranitar, they would retreat immediately.
"Graaaah—!"
The alpha Tyranitar roared in fury as it spotted the two Tyrantrum breaking away.
But the Tyranitar were already spread thin. If even one of them left to intercept the intruders, the rest would be overwhelmed.
Yet, they had no choice.
If they didn't act now, not only would they fail to protect the water source, but their tribe might suffer heavy casualties.
The alpha Tyranitar prepared to force its way through, intending to take on extra opponents so that another Tyranitar could fall back and intercept.
If it didn't, the Tyrantrum would reach the valley before any Tyranitar could catch up.
Pupitar, witnessing this, turned to Aoki with urgency in its eyes.
"Pupii!"
It was clear what it wanted.
"Don't worry," Aoki said without hesitation.
As a Trainer, refusing a Pokémon's request would betray their bond.
"Pupitar!"
Relieved, Pupitar called out to the alpha Tyranitar, its voice firm.
Leave these two to us—you keep fighting!