Hearing Pupitar's cry, the Tyranitar leader hesitated for a moment.
Finally, he chose to believe.
After all, they were of the same species, and he could still sense a hint of threat from the Trainer that Pupitar kept talking about.
Although Aoki looked very weak—even to him, he seemed powerless—Tyranitar could still feel that faint trace of danger.
This was what was called the instinct of a Pokémon.
Looking at the two charging Tyrantrums, the system scanned their data.
It was manageable, within acceptable limits.
Two level 65 Tyrantrums would be incredibly powerful Pokémon in the outside world, but here, they were merely ordinary members of the Tyrantrum clan.
The Slowking beside Aoki would have no trouble handling one of them.
However, it was rare to encounter such strong opponents.
Aoki took out a Poké Ball and summoned Florges.
Then, Gengar, who had been hiding in Aoki's shadow, emerged as well.
Three against two—this shouldn't be a problem.
Pupitar stood beside Aoki, watching Slowking and Gengar take their positions, feeling his own weakness.
There wasn't even a chance for him to intervene.
"Florges, first set up Grassy Terrain for Tyranitar and the others!" Aoki commanded.
Florges, appearing in a swirl of petals, immediately changed her type to grass and raised her hands.
A lush green field spread beneath the Tyranitar's feet, revitalizing them instantly.
Their exhaustion faded, replaced by renewed strength.
Aoki then turned to Slowking and Gengar.
"Prepare for battle!"
Slowking—
Gengar—
Both Pokémon looked eager.
"Gengar, Mega Evolution!" Aoki held up the Key Stone.
The Mega Stone embedded in Gengar's body resonated, and in a flash of swirling energy, Mega Gengar emerged—grinning, fists planted on the ground, exuding a sinister aura.
"Slowking, Scald!"
"Gengar, Confuse Ray!"
"Florges, Grass Knot!"
Aoki's orders came rapid-fire.
The battle began immediately.
As the two Tyrantrums charged forward, thick vines erupted from the rocky ground, coiling around their legs.
The Tyrantrums stumbled, crashing heavily.
Florges didn't hesitate—two Energy Balls formed in her hands and launched at one of them.
Gengar's Confuse Ray floated toward the other.
Without waiting to see if it landed, Gengar sank into the ground, reappearing near his target.
Close-quarters combat was his specialty.
The Tyrantrums roared as they hit the ground, disoriented.
Scald from Slowking and Energy Ball from Florges struck one of them in quick succession.
The other, already confused, flailed wildly—only for Gengar to reappear, his eyes glowing.
Hypnosis.
Aoki had drilled this move relentlessly.
And after Mega Evolution?
Gengar had perfected it.
The Tyrantrum's eyelids drooped—
Then it was out cold.
The other Tyrantrum tried to roar, to wake its ally, but Slowking's Psychic blocked the sound.
Florges was already bombarding it with another Energy Ball.
"Gengar, Dream Eater—then Nightmare!"
Dream Eater siphoned the sleeping Tyrantrum's energy, while Nightmare twisted its dreams into horrors.
A brutal combination.
The Tyrantrum twitched, trapped in endless torment.
It wouldn't wake.
Not like this.
Meanwhile, Slowking and Florges made quick work of the second Tyrantrum.
With type advantage and coordinated attacks, the battle was one-sided.
The Tyrantrum collapsed, raising dust.
Both attackers were down.
If not for the restrictions preventing capture, Aoki could've made a fortune today.
Beyond them, the Tyranitar and Tyrantrum armies still clashed.
But thanks to Florges' Grassy Terrain, the tide was turning.
Aoki considered intervening fully—wiping out the Tyrantrums would be easy.
But without the ability to capture them, it was pointless.
At most, he'd have Florges refresh the Grassy Terrain a few more times.
Let the Tyranitars handle the rest.