"They've been quiet for so long, and now they're advancing with everything they've got. That means whatever they're after isn't within their usual area of activity."
"With such a fierce offensive, it's very possible that what they want is inside one of the caverns behind us. If they seize the entrance and block the way, the League will have an almost impossible time breaking through."
"So we can't let them cross!"
The tunnel here wasn't very wide. As long as Maxie or Archie weren't the ones leading the charge, they could probably hold the line.
"Today we decide who prevails!" Cain declared, his tone brimming with unshakable resolve.
"Today we'll show them what it means for a single man to hold back a thousand!"
Steven was stunned when he heard that.
But soon, he realized it made perfect sense.
Whatever the Team Magma and Team Aqua were so desperately after, it couldn't be something ordinary.
If it had still been within their own territory, the League wouldn't have stood a chance—unfamiliar terrain, blind advancement, constant ambushes, and enemy control of the entrances made a frontal assault too costly.
But now... in this zone, the League knew every corner, and the enemies hadn't yet seized the upper hand. It was the perfect opportunity!
"Alright! Then I'll stay by your side," Steven replied without hesitation.
Even though it was a tunnel—and quite spacious at that—one man alone wouldn't be enough; two, however, could hold out far better.
Cain didn't refuse. Steven was already showing the makings of the future Champion he would one day become.
Slowking teleported a large group of soldiers back to camp.
And just then, the vanguard of Team Magma and Team Aqua burst onto the scene.
"It's been a while since we fought side by side," Cain said with a grin as he threw several Poké Balls.
Tyranitar and Aggron charged to the front.
Florges, Swampert, and Blaziken took their positions behind them. Gengar emerged quietly from Cain's shadow—unless called upon, its main task was to protect its trainer.
Steven also released his Poké Balls with a smile.
Metagross! Aggron! Armaldo! Aerodactyl!
His four strongest cards.
"Then... Tyranitar, whip up a sandstorm!" Cain commanded.
"TYYYRAAANN!!"
Tyranitar roared with excitement.
Staring at the approaching army, its eyes gleamed with thrill.
Steven's Aggron looked smaller next to Cain's, but both Pokémon immediately recognized each other and bumped their metallic fists in a brief greeting.
Soon, a sandstorm filled every corner of the tunnel. Visibility dropped to almost zero.
"It's Cain of the Sandstorm!"
"It's Cain's Tyranitar!"
"It's his terrifying sandstorm!"
Shouts echoed among the enemy ranks.
That nickname—Cain of the Sandstorm—was one of his most feared titles: in such an environment, the destructive power of his Tyranitar was unmatched.
Tyranitar itself had become a natural judge of strength—Pokémon capable of withstanding its storm were deemed powerful; those who couldn't were simply swept away.
That was why Cain was feared far more than Steven, Phoebe, or Wallace.
Did that mean Cain was objectively stronger than Steven? Not necessarily.
But during these weeks of warfare, his Pokémon had applied all their training in real combat: Aggron, Blaziken, Swampert, and the others had all leveled up.
Tyranitar, who had fought the most, had risen by two levels, reaching level 67. Though it hadn't yet broken through the Elite Four threshold, the improvement was remarkable.
"Your reputation's gotten so big that maybe next time I fight someone, I'll just yell, 'I'm a friend of Cain!' and they'll run away," Steven joked, hearing the enemy's shouts.
He said it with genuine admiration. Cain, calm and composed as ever, kept his serene smile.
Steven, on the other hand, still felt a bit tense.
Cain admired him too.
He knew he himself could always escape if things went wrong. But Steven? He was a true warrior.
"Don't try to hide your nerves with jokes," Cain laughed, though his expression hardened right after. "The battle's begun!"
Steven blushed, but he wasn't nervous anymore—because the fight had indeed begun!
Tyranitar, Aggron, and Swampert stepped forward, plunging into the sandstorm.
Steven's Pokémon, unaffected by the storm, advanced alongside them.
Using telepathy, Cain coordinated with Steven and their Pokémon, sharing positions and enemy movements.
Boom!
Boom!
The storm, controlled by Tyranitar, expanded further and further. Every Pokémon caught within it was hurled out, defeated.
The narrow tunnel limited the number of attackers, which worked perfectly in Cain and Steven's favor.
"Tyranitar, Aggron, use Stone Edge!"
"Swampert, Earth Power—combine it with Ice Punch!"
"Florges, activate Grassy Terrain, use Grass Knot, and help control the enemies!"
"Blaziken, Swords Dance, then Agility!"
Cain's commands were quick and precise.
"Aggron, Aerodactyl, Stone Edge too!"
"Metagross, Meteor Mash!"
"Armaldo, X-Scissor!" Steven ordered in turn.
Together, they formed a perfect defensive line, blocking the entire path forward.
The Stone Edge attacks, hidden within the storm, were nearly impossible to detect.
The sand mixed with stones now formed a true tempest of rock.
Dozens of enemy Pokémon were sent flying, defeated.
"Retreat! Quickly, retreat, the storm's advancing!"
"Fall back, damn it! Those in the back, move!"
The first group was decimated by surprise. The second, terrified, screamed for retreat.
But with so many crammed inside the tunnel, retreating wasn't easy. Forcing it could cause a stampede—and such disgrace would be unbearable for both Team Magma and Team Aqua.
Fortunately, Maxie and Archie had foreseen such a situation and sent officers with enough authority to control the vanguard.
"Who ordered the retreat!? Anyone who takes a step back will be executed on the spot!" roared a deep voice.
It was Tabitha, an Executive of Team Magma.
"Retreating isn't allowed in Team Aqua either!" came a woman's voice.
It was Shelly, an Executive of Team Aqua.
Upon recognizing those two voices, Cain's lips curved into a cold smile.
Old acquaintances. It had been a long time...
Tabitha and Shelly sent their Pokémon to the front.
For a moment, Tyranitar's sandstorm was held back.
(End of Chapter)