When it folded its body and spread its wings, it resembled a jet plane, and in that posture, it could fly at the speed of sound.
This was Garchomp, a pseudo-legendary dragon and the signature ace of Champion Cynthia in the original story.
While it wasn't too surprising that Garchomp appeared here, Larry hadn't expected it at first.
But considering this place's desert-like environment, it made sense.
With this, Larry finally had the prototype of the Sandstorm Team, including its two main trump cards: Tyranitar as the weather controller and Land Shark as the main attacker.
He remembered imagining that he might get a Garchomp during the fighting tournament, and now that wish had come true.
Seeing no immediate danger, Larry used his Constraint and Oath abilities directly on Garchomp.
Garchomp, a Ground and Dragon-type Pokemon known for its Sand Veil Ability, is incredibly strong, boasting an S-strength rating.
It excels in various skills such as Earthquake, Outrage, Sword's Dance, Dragon Claw, Draco Meteor, and other technique.
However, it surprisingly struggles with Dragon Dance, the signature move of most Dragon-type Pokemon.
Even when given Dragon Cheer to compensate, it's almost as if it doesn't have the move at all, since this skill isn't particularly useful on its own.
That said, in the real world, Dragon Cheer has a greater impact than in the game.
It boosts the morale and focus of the team, increasing the chance of landing critical hits, especially against other Dragon-type Pokemon.
It serves as a valuable support move in team battles.
Suddenly, Larry snapped back to attention as Beyond shouted a warning.
In the distance, yellow, flag-shaped objects appeared on the sand's surface, encircling them from all directions and moving closer.
Ging, rubbing his unshaven chin, squinted to get a better look.
The objects resembled shark fins cutting through the sand, which looked like a vast ocean from above.
Most of the creatures' bodies were buried beneath the sand, with only the yellow fins visible, making them hard to spot in the desert unless you paid close attention.
At first glance, it seemed as if they were surrounded by a sea of sharks.
"But how can there be sharks in the desert?" Bushidora, the fisherman, scratched his head in disbelief.
He had never heard of sharks swimming freely in the sand like they do in the ocean.
"Remember, we're on the Dark Continent now," Beyond reminded them firmly. "Anything can happen here, and all kinds of creatures can appear. You can't rely on old ways of thinking. You have to adapt your mindset."
He looked at the sand sharks rapidly closing in and warned the others who were still stunned.
"No matter what you face, don't just be shocked, react quickly and figure out how to handle the danger."
In the unpredictable Dark Continent, rapid response is key to survival.
Everyone felt a rush of relief after hearing this, and they all started sharing their thoughts at once, causing the yellow sand beneath their feet to shake and scatter several meters away.
Unlike the others, who were fully armed and ready for battle, Larry's expression showed a glimmer of understanding.
He finally realized why these fierce land sharks had been bred, it all made sense now.
This was exactly the kind of dangerous creature you'd expect from the Dark Continent.
These land sharks, or desert sharks, moved incredibly fast, faster than the sharks swimming in the ocean, as if they faced no resistance at all.
"Here they come!" someone shouted.
"Watch out, from the sky!"
Miru focused hard, using her telepathic ability to track every move of the sharks.
After activating her "Condensation" technique, others could even see waves of sound aura gathering around her ears, a visible sign of her telepathic power at work.
"Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Suddenly, several sharks burst out of the sand, their powerful bodies smashing through the surface and kicking up a loud racket.
In an instant, they leapt into the air, diving straight toward the group.
Because they were exposed in midair, everyone could get a clear look at these creatures.
Their bodies were a dusty yellow, blending perfectly with the desert sand.
Their skin looked rough and tough, a result of swimming through the harsh desert environment for so long.
The constant abrasion from the sand had even given their skin a faint shine under the sunlight.
Each shark had a long, sharp spike protruding from the front of its head, about a third of their total body length.
The tip of this spike glinted coldly, sharp enough to make anyone shudder at the thought of getting stabbed.
Many guessed that a hit from that spike would easily cause a serious wound.
These nose spikes weren't just weapons; they also helped reduce air resistance as the sharks sped forward.
Combining that with their raw power, these sharks moved at an astonishing speed.
Especially when they launched themselves into the air and dived, the force behind those nose spikes was terrifying, like a small jet hurtling straight at them.
A series of sharp, slicing sounds echoed one after another, and suddenly, the gap between the sharks closed in an instant.
While each shark wasn't as strong individually as the sandworms, their sheer numbers, combined with their speed and aggressive attacks, made them even more dangerous.
Just as everyone was about to strike, the sand beneath the sharks suddenly gave way and collapsed rapidly, Quicksand Hell, a ground ability, had been unleashed.
"Roar!"
A towering figure burst onto the scene, letting out a fierce dragon-like roar that echoed across the battlefield.
A surge of dense yellow aura exploded outward, scattering countless grains of yellow sand and kicking up clouds of dust.
The full power of an S-level fighter was on display.
Everyone's breath caught involuntarily, their attention drawn completely to Garchomp.
With its arrival came an overwhelming killing intent, tinting the air around the field with a faint crimson hue.
True to its name, a fierce and shark-like Pokemon, Garchomp exuded an intimidating and aggressive presence.
Suddenly, countless yellow sand particles whipped into the air, forming a powerful sandstorm made of swirling dust and sand.
The golden sand on the ground darkened under the influence of Garchomp's aura, spinning at lightning speed.
In an instant, the yellow sand around everyone transformed into a desert vortex, resembling a whirlpool in the ocean.
This dark vortex exerted a strong suction force, pulling the surrounding sharks toward its center.
Despite their desperate struggles, the sharks were inevitably drawn into the quicksand hell.
Immersed in the dense spiritual aura, they felt as if trapped in a muddy swamp, unable to break free.