Chapter 267 267: Clash of Ice and Sand
Chapter 267 267: Clash of Ice and Sand
As soon as Pryce finished speaking, ice crystals began to drift through the sky.
Swinub no longer tried to wrest control of the weather from Tyranitar.
A low growl rumbled from its throat as the wind howled and the north wind swept across the battlefield.
Snow began piling up on the ground, quickly forming a thick layer.
Looking at the deepening snow, Sam's thoughts briefly wandered.
This kind of snow would be perfect for a snowball fight…
But Tyranitar didn't have that luxury. Snow clung to its cheeks, yet it couldn't spare the time to wipe it away. Its focus was locked entirely on Swinub, waiting for its next move.
Pryce tapped the ground with his cane again.
With each tap, Swinub's attack pattern began to change.
It no longer summoned blizzards—the snow on the ground was already enough.
The Viridian Forest had become a domain of ice. Now, all Swinub needed to do was defeat its opponent quickly on a battlefield perfectly suited to itself.
Icicles gathered in front of it.
In moments, a dense barrage of Icicle Spears filled the air.
It was hard to imagine how such a small Pokémon could control such precise and complex energy. Even Sam couldn't help but feel surprised.
But now wasn't the time to think about that.
Stopping the attack came first.
Tyranitar stomped heavily on the ground.
The earth responded.
Power surged upward, flowing continuously into its body. Drawing strength from the land itself, Tyranitar's aura surged.
Then—
The battlefield shifted.
Gravel erupted into the air, swirling violently. In the blink of an eye, the sand condensed into massive serpent-like forms.
These sand serpents were incredibly lifelike—like finely crafted works of art. Even Pryce couldn't help but admire them.
"What terrifying control… I thought it would take you more than ten years to surpass me. It seems I underestimated you. It won't be long now."
Sam felt a flicker of pride, but his expression remained calm.
"You're wrong, Mr. Pryce," he said flatly.
"I don't need more time to grow."
He looked straight at him.
"I'm already stronger than you."
Pryce froze for a moment—then burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! It's been a long time since I've seen a young man like you. Good! Let me see if your strength matches your arrogance!"
His cane struck the ground sharply.
"Swinub—attack!"
The prepared Icicle Spears shot forward, slicing through the air toward Tyranitar.
But Tyranitar was ready.
The sand serpents surged forward, colliding head-on with the incoming barrage.
Sharp claws of hardened sand slashed through the icicles, shattering them one after another.
Even when pierced, the serpents regenerated instantly—rebuilt from the endless sand around them.
It was a pure clash:
Ice vs. Sand.
A battle of energy control.
For now, neither side held the advantage.
But Sam's expression slowly grew serious.
This opponent… was dangerous.
Energy control had always been Tyranitar's greatest strength. Ever since Sam obtained it, he had constantly trained and refined its mastery over sand.
To put it bluntly—no one had ever surpassed Tyranitar in this area.
Not even Champions.
Yet Pryce's Swinub was matching it perfectly.
And it hadn't even undergone specialized training.
That alone was enough to shock anyone.
Sam took a deep breath, pushing the surprise aside.
His focus sharpened.
"Tyranitar… Desert Blade!"
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