The winds howled through the Glaseado Mountain Range as Kai and the others drew closer to the disturbance. Their footsteps were cautious, the ground treacherous and slick from the mountain's ever-present mist. With every step, the air felt heavier, charged with an eerie energy that Kai couldn't quite place. The mountains seemed to pulse with an unsettling force, as though something ancient had awakened.
As they reached a clearing, the scene before them was one of chaos. The once peaceful terrain was now scarred by the footprints of a massive creature. Large rocks were overturned, trees had been uprooted, and the ground itself was cracked open as if something had torn through the earth with immense force.
And there, standing amid the devastation, was Iron Thorns — the Paradox Tyranitar, its steel-like body gleaming in the dim light. It roared, its voice shaking the air with such intensity that the ground seemed to tremble beneath their feet. The once majestic creature, now distorted by the strange forces of time, was a far cry from the fierce but controlled Pokémon Kai had known.
"Iron Thorns," Geeta muttered under her breath, her eyes narrowing with concern. "It's completely out of control."
Her hands clenched into fists. Rika, Larry, Poppy, and Hassel all seemed ready to spring into action, their expressions steely and determined. But Kai raised his hand to stop them, his eyes fixed on the Iron Thorns that continued to rampage in front of them.
"Wait," Kai said, his voice calm but firm. "We don't know what's causing this. Charging in without understanding could make things worse."
Geeta hesitated, glancing at her Elite Four. They, too, seemed unsure of how to proceed. Larry and Rika exchanged looks, their hands resting on their Pokéballs, ready to battle if needed. Poppy was bouncing on her heels, eager for action, while Hassel remained quiet, his eyes fixed on the creature with an almost artistic interest.
But Geeta trusted Kai. "You're right," she said. "But we need to do something. It's causing chaos, and we can't let it hurt anyone else."
Kai stepped forward, his mind already working through his options. Iron Thorns had been known to be a powerful and dangerous Pokémon, but this… this felt different. Its attacks were reckless, erratic. Something was influencing it, something outside of its natural instincts. He could sense the presence of a foreign force in the air, something dark and powerful.
He reached for one of his Pokéballs, the familiar weight in his hand grounding him. As he prepared to release a Pokémon, he stopped. There was something he could try first — something he hadn't used in years.