Bang!
Tyrunt failed to dodge in time and was struck fiercely in the abdomen by a mound of earth that suddenly erupted from the ground, the tremendous force lifting it clean off its feet.
Yet the intense pain instead awakened the wild ferocity buried deep within its bones.
While still airborne, Tyrunt forcibly twisted its body mid-flight. Borrowing the momentum of its fall, it gathered every ounce of strength into its thick, powerful tail—Dragon Tail!
The Camerupt was right there!
Through the sensation of the raging sandstorm, Tyrunt locked onto that patch of air ahead—hotter than everything else around it—and violently whipped its tail toward it.
Crack!
A sharp, explosive sound pierced through the thick fog, accompanied by Camerupt's muffled groan of pain.
The battlefield fell instantly silent, leaving only the slow drifting of haze and sand.
No one knew how long it took before the swirling dust and black mist began to disperse, finally revealing the scene—
Both Pokémon were lying on the ground, completely motionless, having utterly lost the ability to battle.
"This…"
Victor and Victoria stood up at the same time, shock written across their faces.
Vivi covered her mouth, her wide eyes filled with disbelief.
"B-both of them…?"
Grandma Vicky silently watched the battlefield for a long moment. Only then did she slowly raise her leaf fan, her voice tinged with fatigue:
"Tyrunt has lost the ability to battle. Camerupt… can no longer fight. Theo, you only used two Pokémon. Our Winstrate family… has lost."
Theo rushed forward in a single step and carefully lifted Tyrunt into his arms.
The little fellow's entire body was burning hot, its breaths weak but it still rubbed its head gently against his palm, as though comforting its trainer instead.
"You worked hard, Tyrunt…"
Theo whispered softly.
At that moment, Victoria tossed out a Poké Ball. With a flash of red light, Roselia landed gracefully on the field. It was somewhat tired from its earlier battle, but otherwise unharmed.
The moment Roselia saw the two Pokémon lying unconscious, it straightened its posture at once. Holding its blossoms in both hands, its body began to emit a gentle green glow.
Heal Pulse spread outward, forming a warm, soothing halo that enveloped the injured pair.
Strands of pale green energy seeped slowly into Tyrunt and Camerupt's bodies.
Tyrunt's tense muscles gradually relaxed, and Camerupt's labored breathing also steadied.
Holding Tyrunt, Theo watched Roselia release the healing energy with such focus. He turned to Victoria and said,
"Thank you, Roselia… and thank you, Auntie Victoria."
Roselia shook its head lightly, indicating that it was nothing.
"We're all trainers," Victoria said with a laugh and a casual wave of her hand. "When a Pokémon gets hurt, of course we have to help."
"Besides, your Tyrunt and Beldum are so strong, we got the chance to spar with them. That's training for our Pokémon, too."
Victor had already returned carrying a large bamboo basket from the house. Inside were all kinds of berries—Oran Berries, Pecha Berries…
"Take some! Take some!"
Grandma Vicky tapped his arm lightly with her fan, her tone carrying the unmistakable authority of an elder:
"It's our Winstrate family rule—after a spar, win or lose, we always send some berries as parting gifts. If you refuse, that means you think our berries aren't good."
Faced with the family's warm smiles, Theo had no choice but to accept a bit of everything.
"Then I won't be polite. If I have the chance to pass by again, I'll definitely visit."
"You're welcome anytime!"
Victor patted his shoulder. "And when you finish the League challenge, don't forget to tell us!"
Vivi hugged a framed photo and rushed up to him, proudly pointing at the bright-eyed young man in the picture.
"Big Brother Theo, this is my big brother! If you go to the League Conference, you'll definitely run into him.
You have to be careful! My brother is way stronger than us! I'm going to tell him all about your amazing battle today then big brother will help us get revenge!"
By the time Theo finished saying farewell to the Winstrate family, the setting sun had already dyed half the sky crimson.
Vivi hugged her Marill at the gate, waving vigorously.
"Big Brother Theo, do your best! I want to be just like you in the future—challenging gyms together with Marill!"
Theo waved back, only turning away once the oasis-like little courtyard had disappeared from sight. Then he resumed his journey toward the desert.
…
After walking for about an hour, the glow of sunset was swallowed by deepening dusk.
The golden sand dunes were now veiled in a dark brown stillness, and even the air seemed to cool as the night drew near.
Just then, Theo spotted something at the edge of the desert ahead—a small scattered campsite.
A dozen or so makeshift tents stood in uneven clusters. Their canvas colors were muted in the twilight, yet full of human warmth.
Several trainers sat around a campfire, sparks rising with the gentle night breeze. A few Pokémon lingered lazily beside them:
A Sandslash curled up next to its trainer, a Graveler lay flat on the ground dozing, and a Cacnea stretched its spiky arms now and then as if enjoying the cool wind.
The trainers were grilling food over the fire, passing pieces around. The air carried the aroma of toasted bread and salty jerky—especially tempting in the dry desert air.
"So, this must be the temporary rest stop the Mauville shopkeeper mentioned."
Theo muttered, slowing his pace to observe from afar.
Off to the side was a simple wooden canopy sheltering several rough wooden tables. Plastic baskets atop them held compressed biscuits, bottled water, sandstorm-proof hoods, and even hand-drawn maps, supplies clearly prepared for passing travelers.
Theo stood there for a while, but ultimately shook his head.
A rest stop, with many people coming and going, offered safety but it was also too noisy. Not suitable for Tyrunt's upcoming training.
When studying the Devon Corp. map last night, he had noticed something: about ten kilometers east of the rest stop was a safe zone, a rocky area near an oasis.
The rock walls there could block night winds and sandstorms, and its closeness to water made it an excellent, quiet camping spot.
Of course, water didn't concern him much. With Feebas's Rain Dance, he could summon it when needed.
The true advantage was that Devon survey teams had previously camped there, meaning it was a tested and reliable resting point.
Night fully settled in, the sky studded with a few gleaming stars like scattered diamonds on black velvet.
Theo halted and tossed out two Poké Balls.
"Tyrunt, Beldum, come out."
Twin flashes of red light.
Both Pokémon landed firmly on the sand.
Tyrunt shook its head and let out a low growl, its little feet pressing shallow prints into the soft sand.
Beldum hovered lightly, its red crystalline eye glowing brightly in the shadows as it scanned the surroundings like a vigilant sentinel.
Thanks to Roselia's Heal Pulse earlier, the two were no longer fatigued and were in high spirits.
Theo stroked their heads, thinking silently:
'In the future, I should have Feebas learn Life Dew.
That way, they can receive healing any time during battles. Especially out here in the wild—that level of protection is incredibly important.'
As he pondered this, Tyrunt suddenly came over and rubbed against his arm.
It then opened its mouth and gently bit the strap of his backpack, pulling it backward with effort.
Theo blinked—then laughed.
So, the little guy wanted to help carry the luggage.
He removed the backpack and carefully set it on Tyrunt's back, adjusting it until it sat properly.
Tyrunt wiggled a bit as if getting used to the weight, then proudly walked beside him, its tail swinging with satisfaction, clearly pleased to be useful.
Meanwhile, Beldum had already floated behind Theo.
Its body emitted a faint psychic glow as it gently supported his waist.
A soft, buoyant force lifted him slightly, making his steps over the loose sand much lighter.
Beldum was using telekinesis to reduce the pressure on his body, helping him move more easily across the shifting dunes.
"You two…"
Theo shook his head with a smile, warmth filling his chest.
He looked ahead. The night-shrouded dunes resembled slumbering giants, their shapes shifting faintly under the starlight.
Ten kilometers was not a short trek.
But with Tyrunt and Beldum helping him, they would arrive much sooner.
"Let's go. We're heading for that rock wall."
He stepped forward.
Tyrunt followed with the backpack on its back, its short legs kicking up soft rustling sounds in the sand.
Beldum floated at his side, its psychic support steady throughout, its red eye scanning the night vigilantly for any sign of danger.
(End of Chapter)