As she spoke, Mitsuyo pulled a Poké Ball from her waist, flicked it forward, and a crimson flash released a huge Pokémon that landed squarely in the arena.
It resembled a camel, the twin black-shelled "humps" on its back rising and falling gently.
Each heavy hoof struck the ground with a dull thud, announcing the arrival of a true heavyweight.
The moment it appeared, scorching heat rippled from its body.
The surrounding air itself seemed to warp; two white jets laced with sparks shot from its nostrils, branding the sand with shallow scorch marks.
The Fire- and Ground-type Camerupt had arrived!
It lowered its head to look down at the Tyrunt in the arena. Its amber eyes were calm; two searing breaths snorted from its nostrils, and a crushing pressure filled the air.
Lionel's gaze locked on the massive Camerupt, and its details flashed through his mind at once:
[Pokémon: Camerupt]
[Type: Fire / Ground]
[Category: Eruption Pokémon]
[Ability: Magma Armor – its body is cloaked in molten rock, so it cannot be frozen.]
[Moves: Rock Slide, Eruption, Stomp, Incinerate, Earth Power, Amnesia, Lava Plume…]
"Fire plus Ground…"
Lionel murmured, his expression growing graver.
Tyrunt was Rock/Dragon; Rock was weak to Camerupt's Ground moves.
"Grandma's Camerupt is an old partner that's lived with our family on the desert's edge for ten years."
Marina said from the shade, pride in her voice:
"It's the strongest Pokémon in our household."
Grandma Mitsuyo offered no extra words; she simply lifted her palm-leaf fan.
"Lionel, take care—Camerupt, Stomp."
"Moo—"
With a low roar, Camerupt raised a hind leg and slammed a basin-sized hoof into the ground with titanic force.
"Boom!"
A deafening explosion seemed to rise from the earth; a visible ring of shockwaves swept outward.
Sand rippled like water, and even the chairs at the edge of the field bounced.
The Stomp packed tremendous power and carried a slowing effect—anyone caught in the tremor would find their movements suddenly sluggish.
"Tyrunt, jump!"
Lionel ordered urgently.
Tyrunt, now twice sharpened by Dragon Dance, reacted like lightning. Its hind legs launched it a full meter into the air, narrowly clearing the heart of the shockwave.
Yet flying gravel still clipped its flank, leaving pale streaks along its belly.
"Such reflexes!" Anjie couldn't help exclaiming.
Grandma Mitsuyo's eyes stayed calm as she commanded:
"Earth Power."
Camerupt drove its legs deep into the sand, seeming to fuse with the earth itself.
In an instant, the ground beneath Tyrunt heaved violently.
Clods and stones erupted like a geyser, ripping through the air straight at Tyrunt!
The powerful Ground move was perfectly aimed, sealing almost every escape route.
Thanks to the doubled speed from Dragon Dance, Tyrunt burst forward like a red meteor, streaking diagonally away.
"Screeech—"
Even so, a sliver of energy grazed its belly.
Age had only sharpened it; Mitsuyo's Camerupt targeted Tyrunt's soft underbelly.
Tyrunt grunted in pain, staggered on landing, but kept its eyes locked on Camerupt, growling a warning.
"Grandma's Earth Power can fine-tune its strike zone,"
Marina explained, admiration in her voice,
"Once an opponent's Onix was knocked out cold by it."
Lionel tuned out the sidelines; his mind raced: he had to close the gap—Camerupt was keeping Tyrunt at range.
If this dragged on, the toll of double Dragon Dance would exhaust Tyrunt, leaving it helpless.
If he could get in close, the attack boosts from Dragon Dance still gave Tyrunt a chance.
A pity—training in Petalburg Woods had focused on Ice Fang, Dragon Dance, and Dragon Tail; there'd been no time for new Rock moves.
Tyrunt knew only two Rock moves. Stealth Rock, learned yesterday, was useless here.
Ancient Power, listed in its move-set, was a special attack.
The whole desert trip was meant to use the Hard Stone gifted by Gym Leader Roxanne so Tyrunt could learn Rock moves.
Had this battle come after that training, it would never have been this hard.
He couldn't keep dodging; he had to strike, using Dragon Dance's speed and power to force a close-quarters fight.
Lionel's eyes hardened and he ordered:
"Tyrunt, cloak yourself in Sandstorm, then rush in with Dragon Tail!"
"Rooar—"
Tyrunt roared skyward, whipping up familiar sandy energy. With its stamina low, the storm was half its usual size, yet the dust was enough to blur vision.
More importantly, Tyrunt could feel every grain—its own personal radar.
The instant the sand rose, Tyrunt shot forward like an arrow loosed.
A red blur threaded through the curtain of sand, kicking up a long wake of dust.
"Going for close combat, are we?"
Grandma Mitsuyo's lips curved knowingly; her fan pointed to the field. "Camerupt, Lava Plume."
"Huff—"
Camerupt bellowed, stamped both feet, and the twin humps on its back gushed dense black smoke that mingled with Tyrunt's sand.
The hot, acrid haze mixed with dust into a choking, gray-brown fog that scorched throats with a single breath.
Smoke and sand cloaked the battlefield; nothing inside could be seen.
"Now's the moment!"
Grandma Mitsuyo seized the chance, her voice rising. "Earth Power—full field!"
Camerupt loosed a thunderous cry and channeled energy through all four legs into the ground.
In a heartbeat, the entire arena floor began heaving.
Mounds of earth sprouted like bamboo shoots after rain, weaving an inescapable net across the whole field!
۞۞۞۞
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