Raging sand blanketed the field, yet Bronzong remained unmoved. Confusion swelled and erupted around it, displaying its overwhelming psychic power.
"King Karen, which side do you think has the better chance of winning this battle?"
On the Presidential Platform, Lorelei sensed the tense atmosphere and smiled as she asked Karen beside her. The Dark-type King considered for a moment before answering Lorelei with a serious expression.
"Strong Pokémon, weak Pokémon-those are merely people's preconceptions. Truly strong Trainers should strive to win with the Pokémon they love!"
Was she reciting lines?
At Karen's ambiguous answer, Lorelei chuckled a few times and paid no further attention to the King from Johto.
"Tyranitar, Dragon Dance!"
The raging sand surged. Air currents had barely begun swirling around Tyranitar when a crushing pressure descended. The ground instantly warped and deformed, and Tyranitar's eyes turned bloodshot, clearly bearing an immense pressure.
This move was Gravity.
The status move Gravity generated powerful gravity across the field. Levitating or Flying-type Pokémon could barely leave the ground under its effects, but in Will's hands, it became the perfect means of restricting Tyranitar's Dragon Dance.
Once Gravity activated, Bronzong abruptly accelerated, rushing up to Tyranitar at tremendous speed. A special rainproof barrier formed around it, and the tremendous force of its collision forced Tyranitar back a step.
"Thunder Punch!"
Dense electricity gathered around Tyranitar's fist as it struck Bronzong, only for the latter's protective barrier to deftly block the current and dismantle this round of Tyranitar's offensive.
A sharp gleam flashed through Gongping's eyes. For it to block Tyranitar's fist so easily meant this move gave a Pokémon increased resistance through physical defense. It was probably Reflect.
A combination of Gravity and Reflect?
"As expected of a veteran King. Bronzong's combination tactics have directly suppressed that Sandstorm King's Tyranitar."
On the Presidential Platform, Bruno praised Will's tactics. Yet Karen and the others showed no smugness at their colleague's praise and continued watching instead. The battle between King-level Trainers had only just begun; they would have to keep watching to see how it unfolded.
Fine sand surged from the ground as Tyranitar whipped up a Sandstorm. Bronzong activated Gravity, and just as the surrounding sand began sinking little by little, Tyranitar roared, unleashing a massive Earthquake.
The ground split apart under the impact. Bronzong swiftly manipulated Gravity to lift itself into the air and avoid damage, while Tyranitar seized the opening. Blue-green light flashed around it, and it successfully activated Dragon Dance once.
Endless air currents swirled around Tyranitar, gradually lifting its body into the air as well. Bronzong swiftly drove Gravity into reverse to suppress it, only for Tyranitar to counter with a gigantic sand claw.
At the sight, a cold gleam flashed through Will's eyes, and he swiftly decided on his next command.
"Bronzong, use Flash Cannon!"
The powerful sand claw slammed down viciously with a crisp thunk. Relying on Reflect, Bronzong withstood the blow head-on, and a metallic beam shot out, exploding against Tyranitar's face.
In the light of the explosion, a crack appeared in Tyranitar's armor. Clearly, Flash Cannon's secondary effect had taken hold, causing its special defense to begin declining little by little.
Thunder cracked across the level ground. In the face of Bronzong's powerful counterattack, Tyranitar's eyes grew increasingly bloodshot. Its bloodthirsty appearance left quite a few Pokémon in the stands trembling. Seemingly without any restraint, Tyranitar moved on instinct, thrusting its fist upward and unleashing a terrifying sandstorm!
Shut out outside interference, finish the battle quickly, and leave no openings!
As it was about to descend, Bronzong manipulated Gravity. Under its influence, the metallic light produced by Flash Cannon seemed to warp space.
Just as electricity flashed, Bronzong, bolstered by Reflect, directed the distorted beam to slash into Tyranitar, sending smoke rising from its armor once again. Yet despite suffering a heavy blow, Tyranitar let out a sinister, rattling laugh.
Got you!
Tyranitar roared in words only Pokémon could understand, then charged forward, seized Bronzong, and pinned it firmly to the ground.
"Use Fire Punch and Thunder Punch simultaneously!"
Electricity and fire emerged on either side of Tyranitar, producing a tremendous glow. They overlapped, combining with the air currents generated by Dragon Dance. The surroundings seemed to become a black space as power continually compressed and gathered.
Under Tyranitar's control, Thunder Punch resembled a shortened bolt of lightning. On closer inspection, it struck Bronzong like the thunder god's punishment, while Fire Punch blazed with violent energy and met the Flash Cannon Bronzong spat out head-on.
The brave knew no fear. Bronzong and Tyranitar traded frontal attacks, drawing delighted cries from the spectators. This was precisely the kind of clash they loved to see. Both Tyranitar's ferocity and Bronzong's versatile control of its moves showed the audience a battle between King-level Trainers.
The light swallowed Fire Punch. As Tyranitar retreated several steps, Bronzong suffered some numbness from Thunder Punch's secondary effect. The faint crackling of electricity around it signaled another opportunity for Tyranitar to use Dragon Dance.
"Seize the opening! Use Dragon Dance again!"
The sandy air currents generated by Dragon Dance whirled once more, sweeping Bronzong away. Tyranitar floated in midair on its own powerful air currents as endless sand gathered around its hands, gradually forming two enormous sand claws.
Armor formed from sand covered its hands, one blazing with fierce flames and the other erupting with powerful electricity. Strengthened by Dragon Dance, fire and lightning accompanied Tyranitar's furious roar as the two sand claws descended from above, slamming viciously toward Bronzong.
"Bronzong, seize this last chance! Use Rain Dance!"
A small water sphere shot into the sky and, before everyone's surprised eyes, turned into an enormous dark cloud. As a fine rain fell, the flames on one side of Tyranitar began weakening, while the electricity grew even stronger.
In that instant of distraction, Bronzong unleashed Gravity. A powerful attraction dragged the airborne Tyranitar downward.
As it plummeted, a vicious gleam shone in Tyranitar's eyes. It aimed its electrified fist at Bronzong while applying Dragon Dance's third boost. Powerful air currents instantly formed around it as it smashed down toward Bronzong's body like a descending dragon.
At the final moment, the equally stubborn Bronzong spat out another Flash Cannon, piercing the right side of Tyranitar's chest. Smoke from the two Pokémon's final attacks spread in every direction.
"Tyranitar and Bronzong are both unable to battle!"
On the Presidential Platform, Pryce sneered. "Is there any need to keep watching? Bronzong held out until the final moment to use Rain Dance, and it's already dismantled his core Sandstorm weather. That fellow doesn't have much chance of winning now."
The core of a Sandstorm weather setup was its weather setter. As the central weather setter, Tyranitar was indeed generally sent out first. Will had cleverly bided his time, using Rain Dance during the final exchange to break the Sandstorm weather, effectively dismantling half of Gongping's advantage.
Pryce was not alone in thinking this; several Kings present shared his thoughts. Looking at the fine rain falling from the sky, Gongping withdrew his Poké Ball and looked at Will across from him. "So this was your plan?"
Will did not answer Gongping's question. Manipulating Confusion, he sent out his second Poké Ball. A pink Jynx appeared, and as countless raindrops landed on her, they turned into layer upon layer of frost.
"I choose you next, Hippowdon!"
At Gongping's words, his second Pokémon, Hippowdon, appeared on the field. Sandstorm weather similar to Tyranitar's emerged again, blotting out the earlier rain. The entire audience cried out in surprise at the sight.
"His second Pokémon has the Sand Stream Ability too? Ah, he actually brought two weather setters!"
"This Sandstorm King really is full of surprises."
Facing the countless spectators' discussions and Will's slightly surprised gaze, Gongping gave a rare playful smile. "Sorry, I actually make a habit of bringing two weather setters to full battles."
Before you continue