The red sand completely replaced the yellow sand in an instant. Even though they were Grass-type Pokémon, it was impossible for them to withstand the sandstorm of the entire desert.
No matter how powerful a Pokémon might be, as long as it was not an existence that had broken through the limits, it would never be able to confront the entirety of nature itself.
After all, this was a desert: it was Tyranitar's territory! If it could be countered so easily, then it truly would not deserve to be called the Tyrant of the Sandstorm.
Who had ever seen a king being oppressed in his own territory by two Pokémon of similar strength?
Moreover, Cain's Tyranitar was not an ordinary Tyranitar. Speaking frankly, within it flowed the energy of the god of the earth, Groudon; it possessed the same kind of power as him.
At first, when Jacob saw the color of the sand change, he did not feel anything special. He thought it was just one of Tyranitar's methods, so he continued attacking as usual.
Tyranitar and Aggron had already completed Mega Evolution and their strength had increased, but judging by the pressure they emanated, they were still Champion-level Pokémon. With the advantage in type, why should he worry?
However, after a period during which the red sand was present, the temperature within the entire area it covered began to rise sharply. Very soon, Jacob's face visibly flushed red.
If someone had observed the desert from the outside at that moment, they would have been able to see that, in the infinite sea of yellow sand, a red blot had appeared, and that this red area was expanding more and more, like a virus spreading at high speed.
Nevertheless, the red sand at the periphery was something Tyranitar did casually. The true target on which it concentrated its power was inside; that was where the main battlefield was located.
When Jacob began to notice it, his two Pokémon also perceived the change.
The sand that had previously struck their bodies without causing any sensation now produced a sharp pain upon impact, and even in the areas most battered by the red sand, blackened marks appeared, as if they had been scorched.
As Grass-type Pokémon, they were the ones who perceived that energy most clearly: it was Fire-type energy!
But when they finally reacted fully, Mega Tyranitar's Red Sand Domain had already been completely formed.
Cain stepped forward and positioned himself between Mega Tyranitar and Mega Aggron. Looking at the two enormous Pokémon beside him, with his height close to one meter eighty, he barely reached their waists.
He patted their backs and felt the special texture they transmitted. Mega Tyranitar's body was somewhat rough at that moment, but a clear heat emanated from it, welling up from within.
Mega Aggron, on the other hand, was completely different: a sensation of heavy metal, icy to the bone.
After Mega Evolution, Aggron went from being a Steel + Rock type to becoming a pure Steel-type Pokémon, and its base physical defense increased from the original 180 points to 230.
If one spoke only of base stats, in the entire Pokémon world there were only a handful capable of rivaling its defense.
Moreover, Cain's Aggron had grown by "feeding on diamonds"; its terrifying defense was at an even higher level.
"He's looking down on you. Go and show him your true power!" Cain said with a smile.
He had complete confidence in those two monstrous-level beasts.
Cain's words were simple, but they directly ignited the pride of Tyranitar and Aggron.
No one dared to belittle them! Not even those legendary-level Pokémon that Cain had captured.
Because, in a certain sense, they too could become legendary!
"TYYRRANNN!!"
"GRRAAHHH!!"
Mega Tyranitar and Mega Aggron looked into each other's eyes and saw exactly the same message reflected in them.
Go after them!
Bam!
Two enormous fists collided above Cain's head, producing a deafening boom.
Cain, standing between the two giants, looked like a tiny dot. However, with his arms crossed and a calm, confident smile on his face, that scene instantly became iconic.
When Jacob reacted, Mega Aggron had already begun to move with its heavy steps, charging toward him with a force capable of shaking mountains.
Around it floated large amounts of sharp rocks and red sand.
The move Stone Edge was kept ready without being launched: at that moment, it was part of its defense. Turning an offensive-type move into a defensive one was possible thanks to the constant control Cain exerted over the energy of Aggron and Tyranitar.
They had barely managed to adapt to the interference of the red sand when they felt a violent tremor of the ground. The Mega Aggron advancing toward them was like an armored tank in motion.
Four vines emerged during Aggron's charge.
The move Grass Knot is more effective the greater the target's weight, but Tyranitar's red sand was not there just for show: it surrounded Aggron precisely to protect it from that kind of attack.
This time, Grass Knot was Cacturne's move, while on the other side Torterra once again used Razor Leaf.
Bang!
Bang!
Without any surprise, all the enormous leaf blades were brushed aside by Aggron as if it were swatting mosquitoes. The smaller leaves that managed to hit only produced some noise; they caused no real damage. In other words, they failed to break through its defense.
Ruuuumble!
Just as the attacks were launched, a faint rumble arose beneath Jacob's feet.
This time, his reaction was quick. Sensing the danger, he immediately jumped onto Torterra's back and clung tightly to the great tree on its back.
At the instant he landed on Torterra, three enormous pillars of rock shot up into the sky.
Precipice Blades!
Jacob had managed to react thanks to his strong sense of self-preservation: at the slightest change, he was always prepared to take refuge on Torterra's back.
From the moment the Red Sand Inferno began, he had already sensed the danger.
Although he managed to avoid the fatal blow, he could not escape the punishment that followed.
Mega Tyranitar's Precipice Blades was slightly inferior in power to Groudon's, but in appearance and additional effects it was practically identical, possessing around eighty percent of its true power.
Thus, without any warning, the attack that surged up from the ground successfully struck Jacob's two Pokémon, who were only thinking of fleeing.
(End of chapter)