Kratos Aurion vs blazheirio889 (Ref: Negrek)

Kratos Aurion said:

4 on 4 double
Damage Cap: None
DQ: 7 days
Banned Pokémon: Anything that is not fully evolved (Blaziken and Pinsir are fine; Torchic, Combusken and Scyther are not)
Banned/restricted moves: direct healing, chilling, OHKOs, Perish Song, Destiny Bond, sleep-inducing moves

Arena: Professor Kaminko's Experimental Stadium, Arena #44

Any claims that Professor Kaminko does not test his Pokémon-related inventions before revealing them to the public (a public that is obviously too simple to appreciate their sheer genius) are, of course, entirely false. In fact, the professor has a dedicated space beneath his secret laboratory for just this purpose--his experimental stadium. At first glance it appears to be a fairly plain arena, with the standard clay floor, small pool for water-types and a weather generator that will respond to any weather-inducing commands. A few button presses and switch flips, however, and the professor can produce anything from a plethora of his newest battle-based creations to make things more... interesting. Kaminko regularly invites trainers down to his facility to help him test his new experiments, assuring them that of course their Pokémon will be perfectly safe and that of course there will be ample compensation for their time. Most of the Orrean trainers know better than to take his claims at face value, but there's no reason for a few gullible eager outsiders not to trust him, right? Besides! Shiny new toys! Who could possibly resist!

The arena that Kaminko has chosen for today's battle, number forty-four out of sixty-three, is fairly simple as his bizarre challenges go. The battlefield itself does not change much when he activates it, forgoing #3's Poké-Poles™ falling from the ceiling and #61's small herd of Tauros sporting his Pokémon Mood-Altering Keclenses™ (currently stuck on angry red) for wide, open space. The battlers are going to need plenty of room and minimal distractions, after all--with all the energy they'll have to burn, they'd probably tear something down if they were in a smaller space. For today, all eight Pokémon involved will be wearing Kaminko's new Ever-Energy Adrenapacks™.

The Adrenapacks provide each Pokémon with literally unlimited energy, allowing them to attack with abandon and without fear of exhausting themselves. The experiment is intended to see what Pokémon are capable of doing when allowed to battle on and on without interruption, but perhaps the Adrenapacks give the Pokémon a little too much juice. They are prone to releasing extra surges of energy that can actually harm the Pokémon wearing them, causing 3% typeless damage to each Pokémon at the end of most rounds and 5%/round if their health is below 33%. Additionally, the constant influx of energy makes the battlers incredibly nervous and restless, preventing them from focusing on moves that rely on calming down or relaxing (i.e. calm mind, amnesia), being lulled into complacency (i.e. attract, flatter, charm) or falling asleep.

Click to expand...

Kratos Aurion's Squad said:

[Fang] Aerodactyl (M)
Ability: Rock Head

[Folie à Deux] Girafarig (M)
Ability: Early Bird

[Die Hand die Verletzt] Shuckle (F)
Ability: Gluttony

[Zelos Wilder] Blaziken (M)
Ability: Blaze

[Siovhan] Kecleon (F)
Ability: Color Change

[Divine Right] Vespiquen (F)
Ability: Pressure

[Sadon] Garchomp (M)
Ability: Sand Veil

[Ghost in the Machine] Porygon-Z (X)
Ability: Download
Held Item: Enigma Berry

[Indomitable] Rasqueon (F)
Ability: Anger Point

[Lachrymosa] Myrid (F)
Ability: Water Absorb

Click to expand...

blazheirio889's Squad said:

[Khao] Typhlosion (Male)
Ability: Blaze
Held Item: Magmarizer
Signature Move: Volatile Spirit

[Ventus] Swellow (Female)
Ability: Guts

[Nithhoggr] Seviper (Male)
Ability: Shed Skin

[Yukianesa] Froslass (Female)
Ability: Snow Cloak
Signature Move: Pebble Jet

[Retsurai] Luxio (Male)
Ability: Intimidate

[Kayne] Absol (Male)
Ability: Super Luck
Signture Attribute: Mark of Kayne

[Phalanx] Cradily (Male)
Ability: Suction Cups

[Garnet] Starmie (N/A)
Ability: Illuminate

[Kohryuu] Onix (Male)
Ability: Rock Head
Held Item: Metal Coat

[Xenon] Drifloon (M)
Ability: Aftermath

Click to expand...

1. Kratos Aurion sends out
2. blazheirio889 sends out and attacks
3. Kratos Aurion attacks

Hmm... think I'll lead with Indomitable and Fang, then.

Wow, that was fast. Thanks, Negrek.

Well, I'll send out Kayne and Phalanx, then, I suppose.

Well, we have absolutely no hope of out-speeding Fang, do we? So let's just make do with what we have. Kayne, Counter when you're hit with a physical attack, and Magic Coat if you're going to get hit with a status condition. Otherwise, spam Thunder at Fang. Finally, kick Magic Coat off the command string for the last action and replace it with Protect should any Pokemon try to Taunt you.

Kayne: Thunder @Fang/Counter/Magic Coat ~ Thunder @Fang/Counter/Magic Coat ~ Thunder @Fang/Counter/Protect

And you, Phalanx, play defensive as usual. A 25% Stickpile will be good for starters. Then, set up a Reflect, and end with a Solarbeam at Indomitable. If you're Taunted... ah, hell, Solarbeam spam at Fang. Aim for the wings, if you will, though that probably won't do all too much. Also switch to Solarbeam if you see anyone preparing Snatch. Mirror Coat in case of special attacks, and direct a Solarbeam at Fang if Indomitable Protects on the last action.

Phalanx: Stockpile (25%)/Solarbeam @Fang/Mirror Coat ~ Reflect/Solarbeam @Fang/Mirror Coat ~ Solarbeam @Indomitable/Mirror Coat/Solarbeam @Fang

is the other 75% of the pile stones?

All right, my mighty and terrible lizards of large teeths and much violance! Fang, start with tormenting Kayne because spam is bad for you, yes. Thanks to Indomitable he will waste the next action flailing around doing nothing of value, so you're free to wait for Phalanx to move and mimic reflect. End with an earth power at Kayne, and also earth power him if for whatever reason mimic/reflect is too stallish and you're too antsy for it (shouldn't be, but meh).

As for you, Indomitable... well. Give Kayne a nice, weenie tackle to force him to waste a counter (ilu loopholes), which he will then be unable to repeat when you mash the hell out of him with superpower (I'm pretty sure you're faster than a Cradily so it should hit before reflect, yes?). And you could really care less about a solarbeam, couldn't you, so while Phalanx is wasting time on his silly grass-type attacks you can saunter right up to him and spit a toxic in his face.

Fang: Torment @ Kayne ~ Mimic @ Phalanx (wait for Reflect)/Earth Power @ Kayne ~ Earth Power @ Kayne

Indomitable: Tackle @ Kayne ~ Superpower @ Kayne ~ Toxic @ Phalanx

A great battery of fluorescent lights flickers to life deep below Dr. Kaminko's Laboratory, and the huddle of people entering through the door to the huge arena over which they shine are forced to squint against the sudden brightness. The good doctor himself leads the group, scurrying around and jabbering about the features of his latest invention, which the battlers will have the pleasure of testing out for themselves today. By now everyone else in the group has given up trying to listen to his excited chatter, and with a few vague acknowledgments of how awesome they're sure the Adrenapacks are and how thankful they are that the doctor could accommodate them in his very own secret stadium they manage to extract themselves from the hovering inventor and start the long trudge to their places around the edge of the ring.

Dr. Kaminko chuckles to himself, rubbing his hands together, then scurries away--straight into a wall. Hardly seeming perturbed, he adjusts his Panopta-Specs and scoots forward again, this time succeeding in finding the door he was looking forward and passing through into a viewing booth that will allow him to observe both the battle and the readings from diagnostic equipment sequestered unobtrusively in all corners of the vast room.

By this point the battlers and referees have managed to reach their starting positions. For a few moments they simply stay where they are, rocking uncomfortably in the complimentary Shuckle Shoes they've been given and wondering why their lower legs are starting to feel tired already. It is Kratos who takes the initiative and releases his pokémon first, Fang the aerodactyl and Indomitable the rasqueon taking shape near the center of the arena. Indomitable almost immediately falls to gnawing at the Super-Sticky Strap that wraps around her midriff, holding her whirring Adrenapack in place. The twin flashes of light that announce the arrival of her opponents distract her from trying to tear the itchy thing off. Phalanx the cradily and her partner, Kayne, an absol with a strange black marking on one of his hind legs, fidget a bit as they wait for the battle to begin.

The referee clears her throat, begins to speak--and is promptly drowned out by Dr. Kaminko's voice, which comes booming out of speakers overhead. "Welcome my super-secret arena arena #44! I'd like to remind the battlers that my Adrenapacks are highly experimental technology, and I won't be liable for any aberrant behavior, unsightly rashes, or sudden death they might inadvertently cause! No food or drink on the arena floor, do not feed the robot minions, and for your own safety, do not leave the boundaries of the challengers' boxes. Let the battle begin!"


Kratos Aurion (OOOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 100%
- Hungry.
Commands: Torment @ Kayne ~ Mimic @ Phalanx (wait for Reflect)/Earth Power @ Kayne ~ Earth Power @ Kayne


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 100%
- Get it off.
Commands: Tackle @ Kayne ~ Superpower @ Kayne ~ Toxic @ Phalanx

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 100%
- Uncharacteristically jittery.
Commands: Thunder @Fang/Counter/Magic Coat ~ Thunder @Fang/Counter/Magic Coat ~ Thunder @Fang/Counter/Protect


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 100%
- Standing firm (as if he has any choice).
Commands: Stockpile (25%)/Solarbeam @Fang/Mirror Coat ~ Reflect/Solarbeam @Fang/Mirror Coat ~ Solarbeam @Indomitable/Mirror Coat/Solarbeam @Fang

Leaving her annoying Adrenapack in place for the moment, Indomitable charges--well, more saunters, really--across the arena, swinging her head down to give Kayne a kind of a light headbutt on the shoulder. The absol, who had braced himself for something a bit more terrifying, reacts out of instinct despite his consternation, getting in under Indomitable's guard as she completes the attack and, wrapping both paws around one of her forelegs and twisting his whole body sideways, actually manages to bring the big pokémon crashing down on her side. It isn't a bad fall, though, and Indomitable is up again in a moment, giving Kayne a snort and a roll of the eyes before turning to wander back towards Kratos' side of the arena.

Fang cackles nastily as he watches the exchange, then lays into Kayne as Indomitable leaves the absol behind. Pitiful! What a worthless counterattack--Indomitable barely has a scratch on her! Too bad for Phalanx that he has to put up with such a useless partner; it's going to be twice as hard for him to win dragging a deadweight absol along with him. Kayne scoffs and turns away from Fang, but the absol is inwardly shaken. Indomitable's apparent scorn doesn't instill him with much confidence, either.

Meanwhile, ignored by everyone else, Phalanx is quietly working away on an attack of his own, the Adrenapack on his back whirring away madly as it tries to keep up with the incredible amount of energy the cradily is pulling from his reserves. Phalanx forces the excess energy into his tissues for quick-access storage, and his body thickens almost imperceptibly, bulked up by the sudden infusion of power.

As the cradily bolsters his defenses, Indomitable reveals her withdrawal to be a farce, whipping back around and pouncing on Kayne in earnest this time, a mighty blow from her tail forcing the absol to his knees and slashing claws, imbued with fighting-type energy, laying open great gashes down his sides. Dazed with pain, the absol weathers the superpower as best he can. Remembering what became of his last counter attempt and the subsequent derision of his opponents, he doesn't even try to fight back--what good would it do, anyway? All he'll ever do is fail...

With his stockpile complete, Phalanx finds he doesn't really know what to do next. He doesn't know how to use reflect, so he has little to do but sit around and wait to see if someone tries to taunt him or hit him with a special attack. Fang, meanwhile, grows bored and frustrated as he watches the cradily do nothing but sit where he is and wave his tentacles in the air a bit. Whatever Phalanx is up to, it certainly isn't the reflect Fang was ordered to look for, and the aerodactyl impatiently turns his thoughts towards more aggressive prospects. As Indomitable turns away from Kayne again, leaving the absol bleeding on the floor, Fang taps into his power over the earth and sends a pulse of energy racing through the clay below his feet.

A twinge of unease causes Kayne to roll to the side just before the ground below where he had been lying erupts in a shower of dirt. Caught only on the fringe of the attack, Kayne takes much less damage than he otherwise would have and gets slowly to his feet, grateful for his genetic powers of premonition. Panting, the absol squeezes his eyes shut for a moment in an attempt to collect himself despite the full-body pain that afflicts him. Gathering electrical energy in the scythe jutting out above his right ear, Kayne snaps his head around, sending an invisible stream of ions rippling towards Fang. The aerodactyl doesn't notice anything, not even when the ions reach him then bank abruptly skyward, spreading out to leave a trail pointing straight at him. As the weather-imitating facilities in the arena hum to life and respond by shooting an incredible blast of electricity down the path left by the tracer, though, he gets a taste of Kayne's wrath. The aerodactyl collapses in a smoking, twitching heap as Indomitable turns her attention on a new target.

The rasqueon stalks over to Phalanx, hacking and coughing as she goes. The cradily leans as far away from the rasqueon as he can, but being stuck firmly to the floor, he has no hope of avoiding what comes next. Indomitable spews a sticky, foul-smelling mass of toxic goo all over the cradily's side, where it promptly starts to burn its way through his thick hide and into his bloodstream. Indomitable is starting to turn away again, but Phalanx is already preparing his counterattack; the tips of his tentacles glow gold as he gathers solar energy. When the cradily brings his tentacles together in front of his face, a thick bolt of golden light bursts free from the point of convergence, searing through the air and catching Indomitable along the ridge of her spine. The rasqueon jumps a little and turns a snarl on Phalanx, but she's really more shaken than harmed, her natural resistance giving her ample protection against the grass-type attack.

Kratos Aurion (OOOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 76%
- Shocked.
Used: Torment @ Kayne ~ WTFBBQ D:< ~ Earth Power @ Kayne


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 85%
- Confident. (Get it off.) -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Used: Tackle @ Kayne ~ Superpower @ Kayne ~ Toxic @ Phalanx

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 65%
- Bleeding everywhere and quite downhearted. Tormented (2 more actions).
Used: Counter ~ Emo Fail ~ Thunder @Fang


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 93%
- Furious at Indomitable. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (3% next round). Stockpiled 1 (25%). +1 Defense, +1 Special Defense
Used: Stockpile (25%) ~ Dum-de dum... ~ Solarbeam @Indomitable

Final Notes
- Indomitable used a weak tackle as ordered, so Kayne took less damage than usual.
- Cradily can't learn reflect.
- Both earth power and solarbeam were only glancing hits, so they did less damage than usual.
- Actually, I refer to rasqueon as being pretty big a few times in here, but I'm not sure--is 5'7" its height at the shoulder, or its length? I'm not always sure how the games measure the height of pokémon that are longer than they are tall.
- Kratos Aurion attacks first next round.

I've always figured it was height/height at the shoulder unless it was something that was clearly super-long like ekans or rayquaza, but I dunno... rasqueon are 5'7" at the shoulder, anyway, which probably means 20'-ish from nose to tail. Yes, they're quite large.

My bad about the reflect, Fang. Totally could've had a free move there. Ah, well. Set up a 15% substitute unless Kayne is commanded to snatch, in which case hit him with fire blast and then try setting it up again. Otherwise, uh... fire blast, yeah, sure, do that, and close with ancientpower. If he protects against either attack, use curse.

Indomitable, you start with bulk up to fix your stats, unless Kayne is commanded to snatch in which case you should throw up a stealth rock instead. Then iron tail Phalanx twice; if he protects on the second action set up a sandstorm, and then scary face Kayne if he protects on the third. Protect against thunder wave or other negative status, but not twice in a row.

Fang: Substitute 15%/Fire Blast @ Kayne ~ Substitute 15%/Fire Blast @ Kayne/Curse ~ Substitute 15%/Ancientpower @ Kayne/Curse

Indomitable: Bulk Up/Stealth Rock/Protect ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Protect/Sandstorm ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Protect/Scary Face @ Kayne

I could've sworn Reflect was on the list, but I must've been on something. Aah, not that it matters too much. Actually, one could argue that it was a good thing, but meh. Details.

Well, if Kayne can't use Thunder, then I see no reason not to switch things around a bit. Phalanx, time to switch modes. Use Mimic on Kayne, and direct the resulting Thunder at Fang. After that... Well, hm, let's just unload all that energy inside you, shall we? Give Fang a nice, big Spit Up. However, if Thunder missed, then use it again, and move Spit Up to the next action. And if the second Thunder missed (glares at RNG gods), use it yet again. If you have an action remaining, well, no reason to stop going full-throttle, eh? Solarbeam on Fang.

Mimic Thunder @Fang (from Kayne) ~ Spit Up @Fang/Thunder @Fang ~ Solarbeam @Fang/Spit Up @Fang/Thunder @Fang

As for you, Kayne... Hey dude, don't go emo on me. You'll get your revenge on Indomitable right about... now. Mean Look her to render her more or less a deadweight for the entire round (that's right, she'll be the deadweight, not you! ...not that you're a deadweight in the first place), though wait until Phalanx has Mimicked you before doing your thing. And then... Superpower Indomitable (laugh evilly while you do), and end with a nice Thunderbolt at Fang.

Mean Look @Indomitable (after Phalanx’s Mimic) ~ Superpower @Indomitable ~ Thunderbolt @Fang

Kratos Aurion (OOOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 76%
- Shocked.
Commands: Substitute 15%/Fire Blast @ Kayne ~ Substitute 15%/Fire Blast @ Kayne/Curse ~ Substitute 15%/Ancientpower @ Kayne/Curse


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 85%
- Confident. (Get it off.) -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Commands: Bulk Up/Stealth Rock/Protect ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Protect/Sandstorm ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Protect/Scary Face @ Kayne

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 65%
- Bleeding everywhere and quite downhearted. Tormented (2 more actions).
Commands: Mean Look @Indomitable (after Phalanx's Mimic) ~ Superpower @Indomitable ~ Thunderbolt @Fang


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 93%
- Furious at Indomitable. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (3% next round). Stockpiled 1 (25%). +1 Defense, +1 Special Defense
Commands: Mimic Thunder @Fang (from Kayne) ~ Spit Up @Fang/Thunder @Fang ~ Solarbeam @Fang/Spit Up @Fang/Thunder @Fang

With Kayne standing around being wholly obvious about not preparing to snatch anything, Fang decides that in light of hazardous atmospheric conditions it would be in his best interests to set up some form of personal defense. The arena echoes with the sharp claps of wings compressing air as he whips up a swirling whirlwind that flings dust and small debris into the air. The strange energy circulating on the wind pulls the detritus inward, binding it together with tiny stitches of glowing silver and compressing it into the rough shape of an aerodactyl, silver fire burning where its eyes should be and a web of glowing threads forming the membranes of its wings. As the whirlwind dies down the substitute settles gently to earth, eyes already fixed on Kayne and Phalanx, presumably the source of most of the danger on the field.

Meanwhile, Indomitable is refreshing her tired muscles with a wave of energy, returning herself to full fighting form even after going all-out with her superpower. Phalanx, too, is working on a somewhat subtle tactic, carefully reviewing his partner's last attack in his mind. The cradily's tentacles wave skyward as he tentatively tries shaping unfamiliar electrical energy, directing a pulse of ions towards the sky even as Kayne did at the end of the last round. For a moment it is uncertain whether the cradily's attack was at all successful, but then Fang's new substitute leaps into the air and circles above its master, waiting...

A bolt of lightning roars down from the ceiling, and Fang cowers reflexively as his substitute explodes in the face of the attack's might, smoking bits of rock pattering down around the arena and a hazy, foul-smelling cloud of charred dust hanging in the air where the ill-fated construct met its end. Fang, at least, is undamaged, albeit shaken.

As Indomitable returns her gaze to earth after a little gawking at the results of the thunder attack, Kayne does his best to catch her attention. The absol is wearing his most fearsome aspect, eyes glowing a deep red and seeming to bore into the rasqueon's very soul. The bloodstained absol is quite a sight to behold, and Indomitable is a bit intimidated despite herself; she hisses and backs up a step, trying to tear her eyes away from the absol. Though she succeeds, it feels as though his gaze is still following her, as though the absol is somehow watching her from somewhere within her own skull.

Fang, who is spared Kayne's attention, is left to pursue his next attack in peace. Gases bubble deep in the aerodactyl's body as mysterious chemical reactions take place, and with a burst of heat flames well up from the back of the aerodactyl's throat and he spits a dense ball of raging fire towards Kayne. As the attack flies through the air long arms of flame erupt from the dense core of the attack, forming a rough star shape that bears down on Kayne--who, again alerted by ancestral instinct, tears his gaze away from Indomitable and leaps to the side just in time. The fire blast drifts lazily past, sending an intense wave of heat across Kayne but doing him no lasting harm before it dissipates in empty air.

Even as Fang lets out a roar of frustration, Kayne takes off, charging across the arena at Indomitable, who is still looking rather cowed. This time it's his turn to unleash a superpower on his opponent, his gold-glowing claws seeking out seams in Indomitable's armor and tearing deep into her thick hide. Though unable to reach very high on the larger pokémon's body, Kayne manages to inflict considerable damage on her legs and sides before she recovers enough to lash out at him in response, sending him bounding wearily away. Of course, most of his fatigue is erased seconds later by his Adrenapack, but his muscles still ache from overexertion.

Though the superpower helped shock Indomitable back towards her usual grumpy self, she is still a bit more cautious than usual as she approaches Phalanx. Her barbed tail glows a brilliant silver as she coats it in a layer of metallic energy, but as she swings it down it swishes through the air just to Phalanx's left and strikes the arena floor with a sharp crack. Indomitable howls with rage and curses Kayne's mind-games, which no doubt caused her to misjudge the shot. Phalanx, meanwhile, relaxes visibly, then leans out around Indomitable's bulk, calling up the energy he stored last round. The tips of his tentacles grow white, a blinding globe of energy gathering between them as he extrudes as much energy as he can, condensing it into a compact, if unstable, ball. The cradily shoots the chunk of raw energy at Fang, who is hurled backwards as it explodes against his chest.

It takes the aerodactyl a while to rise again, and he can stand only shakily once he's done so. While Phalanx smugly settles back, the aerodactyl struggles to concentrate on his next attack, letting out a keening cry that resounds with his lost fellows still entombed beneath the earth. The ground around Kayne trembles, and it looks as though his super luck won't guide him out of harm's way this time. Up through the clay floor ancient bones rise, now turned to stone and nearly indistinguishable from the rock that encases them. With them come the ancient spirits of the dead, beasts that have not walked the earth for millions of years--and they are none too pleased to be woken. Forming into a kind of shambling monstrosity outlined in blue flame, the bones extend a twisted, claw-like appendage and slam Kayne to the ground, searing him with their petrified energies. After that, somewhat anticlimactically, the aura of power that animated them dissipates and they topple to the ground, no more than old bones once again.

Kayne rolls onto his stomach and gathers more electric energy to himself. This time his horn flashes with sparks and he launches a thick bolt of power from his own body rather than the sky. The attack is still quite effective, though, and Fang gasps and shakes as the thunderbolt races through his body.

Indomitable, meanwhile, remains undaunted by the failure of her last attack; if anything, she is only more determined now to get in a good hit to show that she's not to be trifled with. Again the rasqueon's tail glows with a metallic sheen, and as she brings it whipping around it finds its mark, connecting with the base of Phalanx's stalk-like neck with an unhealthy crunch. The cradily gurgles and wobbles but remains firmly stuck to the floor--though he probably regrets having given up his defense boost so soon.

The cradily is still relatively fresh, though, and it doesn't take him too long to recover. His tentacles glow gold as they did earlier, but this time he intends to turn his solarbeam on a more vulnerable target: the laboring Fang, who is all too clearly on his last legs. The blast of golden light catches the aerodactyl in his chest, and he stumbles back with a screech of pain, then falls to his knees, his vision swimming and his limbs shaking as he tries to keep himself in the game.

Kratos Aurion (OOOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 5%
- All but done for.
Used: Substitute 15% ~ Fire Blast @ Kayne ~ Ancientpower @ Kayne


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 61%
- Rather less sure of herself than before. Under the effects of mean look (2 more actions).
Used: Bulk Up ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx ~ Iron Tail @ Phalanx

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 55%
- Feeling a little bit better about himself. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Used: Mean Look @Indomitable (after Phalanx's Mimic) ~ Superpower @Indomitable ~ Thunderbolt @Fang


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 71%
- Shaken, but relatively okay. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (4% next round). Knows thunder.
Used: Mimic Thunder @Fang (from Kayne) ~ Spit Up @Fang ~ Solarbeam @Fang

Terrain Notes
There is a small pile of fossilized bones lying near Kayne.

Final Notes
- Fang's fire blast and Indomitable's first iron tail both missed.
- Phalanx's thunder was a critical hit (not that it made any difference).
- blazheirio889 attacks first next round.

Why does it feel like everyone's reffing lightening-fast except for me? It's making me feel bad D:

Anyway, first things first: knocking out Fang. Kayne, Sucker Punch him. If he's not going to attack, though, instead focus on Indomitable and use Flamethrower, Fire Blast, and Flamethrower. Use Curse if Indomitable Protects or does whatever to make her impossible to attack (Substitute doesn't count) and Fang is not attacking or is already KO'd - we want as many stat boosts as possible to offset all that Superpower abuse, yes?

Sucker Punch @Fang/Flamethrower @Indomitable/Curse ~ Sucker Punch @Fang/Fire Blast @Indomitable/Curse ~ Sucker Punch @Fang/Flamethrower @Indomitable/Curse

Aaand Phalanx. Well, Mean Look didn't work as well as I'd have liked it to (kicks self for not reading the Attack guide properly), but it got the job half-done. Whenever Fang isn't attacking (AKA not getting Sucker Punched to death by your lovely Absol partner over there), give 'im a Natural Gift to the face. If Fang is Protecting, Enduring, or is otherwise impossible to knock out with Natural Gift, then use Earth Power, Hyper Beam (resistances what are those), and Earth Power at Indomitable. And if you're to wail on Indomitable but can't due to Protect, Detect, what have you, then set up some Barriers.

Natural Gift @Fang/Earth Power @Indomitable/Barrier ~ Natural Gift @Fang/Hyper Beam @Indomitable/Barrier ~ Natural Gift @Fang/Earth Power @Indomitable/Barrier

Ugh I feel like there's something missing but my head hurts too much so grarrgh.

Fff, you're working faster than I am.

Well! That was... not good! But there's always something we can do. Fang, give Phalanx a good supersonic and hope that he confusefails (or that maybe, just maybe, natural gift strikes one of those "glancing blows" and you don't die!). If you aren't dead yet, supersonic Kayne, too, or supersonic Phalanx again if you missed and weren't totally killed. And then uh if by some miracle you aren't dead on the third action, uh... tailwind? Either way, now that I'm 21 I can totally buy you some beer to drown the misery in, so it's all good.

Since Fang isn't attacking, Indomitable, you'll be dealing with the weaker of the two sets of attacks for at least one action and therefore won't die as fast. Start by getting in close to Phalanx and trying that iron tail again (how the hell do you miss something that can't move you should be ashamed). Ice beam him in his face-thing next and see if you can't freeze it over. Last, wait Phalanx out. If he isn't frozen or doesn't look like he'll be fully confused, metal burst him; if he isn't going to attack you, break him in half with a superpower.

Fang: Supersonic @ Phalanx ~ die/Supersonic @ Kayne/@ Phalanx ~ die/Tailwind

Indomitable: Iron Tail @ Phalanx ~ Ice Beam @ Phalanx ~ Metal Burst @ Phalanx (wait for earth power)/Superpower @ Phalanx

Kratos Aurion (OOOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 5%
- All but done for.
Commands: Supersonic @ Phalanx ~ die/Supersonic @ Kayne/@ Phalanx ~ die/Tailwind


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 61%
- Rather less sure of herself than before. Under the effects of mean look (2 more actions).
Commands: Iron Tail @ Phalanx ~ Ice Beam @ Phalanx ~ Metal Burst @ Phalanx (wait for earth power)/Superpower @ Phalanx

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 55%
- Feeling a little bit better about himself. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Commands: Sucker Punch @Fang/Flamethrower @Indomitable/Curse ~ Sucker Punch @Fang/Fire Blast @Indomitable/Curse ~ Sucker Punch @Fang/Flamethrower @Indomitable/Curse



Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 68%
- Shaken, but relatively okay. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (4% next round). Knows thunder.
Commands: Natural Gift @Fang/Earth Power @Indomitable/Barrier ~ Natural Gift @Fang/Hyper Beam @Indomitable/Barrier ~ Natural Gift @Fang/Earth Power @Indomitable/Barrier

Fang ducks his head and closes his eyes, gathering himself for an attempt at attack. The unnatural energy granted by his Adrenapack does little against the pain wracking his body, and the aerodactyl's consciousness flickers dangerously as he tries to focus. He throws his head back and opens his mouth wide, but it is no cry of pain that escapes him. Instead, weird sound waves ripple through the air towards Phalanx, engulfing the cradily in sonic distortion.

While Phalanx twists and jerks around, trying to figure out what's going on, his partner inhales deeply, igniting a fire deep within his body. When he breathes out again, it is to unleash a concentrated streamer of fire on Indomitable. The flamethrower washes down her side, singeing skin and heating her armor plates to tortuous temperatures. The rasqueon growls and shakes the attack off, beginning to flag but far from done for. Phalanx is still sitting in front of her, the perfect target for another iron tail. Indomitable brings her tail whooshing around, belting the cradily straight across the face.

The powerful strike snaps Phalanx's head to the side and again tests his suction-cup foundation. Though undeniably painful, the strike does at least serve to bring the cradily back to reality. While still a bit dazed, Phalanx gets his bearings well enough to start charging up another attack. Motes of white and green energy encircle his tentacles for a few seconds before flying off towards Fang in a broad ring. Fang doesn't even notice them coming, once again letting his head hang, eyes closed. The spinning lights encircle him, then abruptly draw together, smashing into him from all sides. With a final groan, Fang collapses into unconsciousness.

As the aerodactyl disappears from the field in a burst of red light, Kayne narrows his eyes and draws up even more fire than before. As Fang did earlier, he compresses it into a dense ball before letting it fly. This time, as the fire blast unwinds itself midair, it flies true and slams into Indomitable's side with a whoosh of flame. With repeated heating, her armor is starting to fuse painfully to her flesh, and even her tough dragon skin is beginning to blacken and crack. Indomitable lets out an unhappy roar, staggering a bit to the side as the fire blast strikes. She forces herself to get back under control, though, and settle down to her next attack; unless she can manage to immobilize Phalanx, she'll be on the receiving end of powerful attacks from two pokémon at once.

Indomitable conjures ice instead of fire. A brilliant blue orb of energy grows at the back of her throat, a cloud of condensation steaming out of her mouth as her breath rushes out past the frigid sphere of ice. A thin beam of blue light shoots from the orb and slams into Phalanx's face. Indomitable does her best to keep the ice beam trained on the same spot, despite Phalanx's unhappy writhing. A thick crust of ice forms across the cradily's head, extending far back enough to freeze the base of the cradily's tentacles in some places.

The biting cold wars with a spreading warmth in Phalanx's tentacles as the cradily concentrates as much power as he can in the ring of appendages, the tips of which glow a blinding white. A little of the attack's power dissipates into the ice on the cradily's tentacles, but it easily melts this away, leaving them free to bend together and, from the point where their tips meet, unleash a blazing beam of power. The hyper beam engulfs Indomitable, driving the beast back a couple of inches despite her bracing stance.

Worse, while the hyper beam rages around Indomitable, Kayne is conjuring another flamethrower; when his partner's attack dies away, leaving Indomitable shaken and off-guard, the absol unleashes another streamer of fire, aimed precisely for the melted area of armor that his previous attacks had damaged. Indomitable howls as the hated fire bathes the tender spot, as much out of indignation as pain. The little sneak, landing such an underhanded blow! The look Indomitable turns on Kayne is so terrible that even the absol quails a bit. In truth, though, there is little more than anger keeping the Rasqueon going now.

Indomitable shifts her attention back to Phalanx, longing with every fiber of her being to pounce and rip the sorry plant apart. Rage has lent new strength to her limbs, fury given her a new determination. But alas, it is not to be; Indomitable has been commanded to wait, and some thread of sanity still connects her to her trainer. So wait she does, while Phalanx channels energy into the floor. A plume of golden light lances up from beneath Indomitable, and she rears up on two legs as the earth power strikes, the others pawing wildly at the air. She lands heavily again as the attack dissipates, shaking all over. For a moment, it looks as though sheer fury might bear her ownwards despite her injuries; Phalanx quails, expecting gruesome payback. Indomitable doesn't quite have enough strength left to pull off such a feat, though. Her legs collapse beneath her, and a parting snarl is all she can spare for her opponents before sliding into unconsciousness.

Kratos Aurion (XXOO)


Fang (M) <Rock Head>
Health: 0%
Knocked Out!
Used: Supersonic @ Phalanx


Indomitable (F) <Anger Point>
Health: 0%
Knocked Out!
Used: Iron Tail @ Phalanx ~ Ice Beam @ Phalanx

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 52%
- Relieved to have escaped notice this round. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Commands: Flamethrower @ Indomitable ~ Fire Blast @ Indomitable ~ Flamethrower @ Indomitable



Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 35%
- A little icy around the face. Covered in noxious goo. Confused (very mild). Badly poisoned (4% next round). Knows thunder.
Commands: Natural Gift @ Fang ~ Hyper Beam @ Indomitable ~ Earth Power @ Indomitable

Terrain Notes
There is a small pile of fossilized bones lying near Kayne.

Final Notes
- In looking over my calculations from the previous round, I realized that Phalanx should have three fewer HP than he was listed as having, so that was corrected at the beginning of this round.
- The ice reduced hyper beam's damage by a small amount, but it was really little obstacle to such a powerful attack.
- Kayne's second flamethrower was a critical hit.
- Kratos Aurion sends out his last two pokémon
- blazheirio889 attacks
- Kratos Aurion attacks

I attacked first last round, didn't I?

Indeed. Whenever a player has a pokemon knocked out, I give them the advantage in the next round by having them attack second, whatever the ordinary turn order would dictate.

...I feel inadequate all of a sudden. Blah. Zelos and Ghost, then.

RNG gods I love you! *bows*

Okay, because I am lazy and uninspired, Phalanx, you shall have boring commands. Stick up a Light Screen first, and then spit a nice, juicy Gastro Acid at Zelos. Stealth Rock if he Protects or is otherwise inaccessible for any reason - Substitute is included. However, if he's Bouncing, strike him down with Thunder. Finish with a Stone Edge at the fighting chicken, assuming you're still alive. Switch to Earth Power if he tries to Counter, and Stealth Rock if he Protects or is otherwise inaccessible, save for Substitute.

Light Screen ~ Gastro Acid @Zelos/Stealth Rock/Thunder @Zelos ~ Stone Edge @Zelos/Earth Power @Zelos/Stealth Rock

Kayne, start by giving Zelos a nice Aerial Ace. Swords Dance to fix up your stats if he Protects or is otherwise inaccessible save for a Substitute. After that, Rock Smash Ghost (and hope for a delicious defense drop) and finish with a Night Slash, also directed at Ghost. Swords Dance if your target Protects or is otherwise... etc. If you can't Swords Dance for any reason and you can't damage your target, either, give me a 10% Substitute instead.

Aerial Ace @Zelos/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%) ~ Rock Smash @Ghost/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%) ~ Night Slash @Ghost/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%)

[/uninspired]

Well. We can bounce to avoid attacks, or we can do... something else! Zelos, dig under and grab Kayne as you resurface (maybe still doing damage if that's possible? grabbing him is more important, though); don't come all the way out, but rather see if you can't drag at least one of his legs into your hole and hold him there. I just want him stuck, not all the way in the hole with you. Do your best to hang onto him for the rest of the round so he can't do anything of value (you are fighting-type, you are strong like bull). If you can hold him with one hand and you have room for it, use the other to pummel him with dynamicpunch for the rest of the round; if you need both hands to keep him from getting away or don't have room for dynamicpunch, try and hit him with flamethrower, which should ignore any light screen since you should be behind it with him. If he manages to get away from you entirely, get out of your hole and destroy the screen/beat Kayne up with brick break. If the dig thing takes two actions then move whatever else you're doing over, but hopefully it won't.

Ghost, wait for Zelos to grab Kayne and hold him down first (if you can) and then get in b4 light screen with blizzard. If Phalanx confusefails or is frozen and does not manage to get the light screen up anyway, kill him with signal beam spam, aimed at anyplace that isn't all blocked by ice and what have you; also use signal beam if there was a light screen but Zelos ended up breaking it. Otherwise, kill him with iron tail instead and if you miss I am going to wipe your hard drive by the way. Move in close if you have to. If by some witchery Phalanx is dead and you still have actions left, Kayne told me the other day that he really likes signal beam.

Zelos: Dig and grab Kayne ~ Dynamicpunch@Kayne/Flamethrower@Kayne/Brick Break@Kayne x2

Ghost: Blizzard ~ Signal Beam @ Phalanx/Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Signal Beam @ Kayne x2

Kratos Aurion is obviously not pleased as he returns his fallen pokémon's pokéballs to his belt. With both Kayne and Phalanx still capable of fighting, his last two pokémon are given the daunting task of taking down a complete team of four by themselves. After a few seconds of deliberation, Kratos has made his choices; his pokémon burst onto the battlefield in twin bursts of light.

Zelos Wilder the blaziken, one of Kratos' oldest and most decorated battlers, is hardly impressed by the scruffy state of his opponents. With no idea what befell Fang and Indomitable, he is hardly impressed by the stony-faced absol and his barnacle companion. The blaziken smirks and rakes his claws through his crest, fluffing it up to its full glory. Even considering the unsightly Adrenapack strapped to his back, Zelos is confident that he can easily dispose of these sorry excuses for pokémon and look damn good while doing it.

Ghost in the Machine, the blaziken's partner, scans over the other pokémon in the arena, identifying its targets. Its Adrenapack is wired directly into its system, sending constant surges of power through its frame. The effect would be quite distracting, if Ghost weren't above distraction. Letting out a constrant stream of burbles as it loads its battle modules, the porygon-z locks onto Kayne's energy signature and matches it against an internal database. Much to Ghost's proverbial dismay, however, its query turns up no particular weakness for it to exploit--the absol is as well-defended against physical attacks as he is against energy ones.

The porygon-z lets out a few chirps and whistles, which go ignored by its teammate, as a cascade of error-handling functions trigger. At last a decision is reached and Ghost's projected form flickers, taking on a somwehat sharper, more pointed appearance as its processes are optimized for physical attacks.


Kratos Aurion (XXOO)


Zelos Wilder (M)
Health: 100%
- Prettier than thou.
Commands: Dig and grab Kayne ~ Dynamicpunch@Kayne/Flamethrower@Kayne/Brick Break@Kayne x2


Ghost in the Machine (X) <Download> @ Enigma Berry
Health: 100%
- HELLO, WORLD! (+1 Attack)
Commands: Blizzard ~ Signal Beam @ Phalanx/Iron Tail @ Phalanx/Signal Beam @ Kayne x2

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 52%
- Relieved to have escaped notice this round. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Commands: Aerial Ace @Zelos/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%) ~ Rock Smash @Ghost/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%) ~ Night Slash @Ghost/Swords Dance/Substitute (10%)


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 35%
- A little icy around the face. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (4% next round). Knows thunder.
Commands: Light Screen ~ Gastro Acid @Zelos/Stealth Rock/Thunder @Zelos ~ Stone Edge @Zelos/Earth Power @Zelos/Stealth Rock

As the referee signals that the battle should resume, Kayne takes off at top speed, dashing straight at Zelos. Upon reaching the blaziken, Kayne whips his head around, cutting a thin gash across the blaziken's chest with his scythe before bounding away again, turning to face the fire type at what he considers a safe distance. Zelos, shocked by the absol's turn of speed, raises a claw to the wound on his chest, which is only just beginning to ooze. The nerve! The cheek! (And how surprisingly fast...) Kayne'll live to regret that blow!

The blaziken's feet clench in the clay of the arena, and a second later he begins to tear a ragged hole in the battlefield floor. It's Kayne's turn to be surprised as the blaziken rapidly vanishes from sight, nothing but a large hole in the ground that occasionally spits little bursts of dirt remaining where the fire chicken stood moments before. One can only wonder where he will reemerge...

Kayne's disaster-senses abruptly begin to tingle, and the absol takes a wild leap away from the unknown threat. At just that moment, a pair of claws bursts out of the ground beneath him. They barely manage to seize Kayne's hind legs despite his dodge and, latching on tight, drag them down beneath the earth. Kayne yelps and digs in his front claws, trying to drag himself out of the hole, but Zelos is holding on tight and has gravity on his side. The absol remains stuck half-in, half-out of the arena floor, struggling miserably.

As soon as it sees Kayne get pulled down, Ghost begins working up a blizzard. The air around the porygon-z grows cloudy with condensation and a few ice crystals as the artificial pokémon chills it. All the while, calculations flash through Ghost's brain, vectors and velocities somersaulting through all manner of contortions as the porygon-z determines the proper angle of attack in order to strike both its targets with its blizzard. The powerful ice attack is released, howling winds and stinging ice rushing out across the arena. Something must have gone wrong in Ghost's calculations, however, for the blizzard misses Phalanx entirely, storming on through empty air. Kayne is less lucky, and his squirming stops for a bit as he weathers the harsh wave of icy power. Nevertheless, Ghost is less than pleased, all kinds of alerts popping up on the edges of its vision as it analyzes the unexpected failure of its targeting subroutines.

Phalanx has little notion that the blizzard was at least in part meant for him. Still suffering from the echoes of Fang's supersonic and with the buzz of his adrenapack by now taking on a downright sinister tone, the cradily is stewing in anxiety. The fact that his command, "light screen," is entirely foreign to him doesn't help either. Phalanx can't help but remember his earlier failure to execute a "reflect" and cringe. Does his trainer know something he doesn't about his abilities? Is he screwing this up somehow? Or is this just an oddly covert invitation for him to take a break and try to clear his head and thaw a bit? Whatever the case, the latter is all that Phalanx can really do, albeit guiltily and hoping that he isn't botching his commands.

The cradily's partner has bigger problems. Stuck the way he is, he can't really attack Ghost or swords dance. His best bet is to simply set up a substitute and hope that it will come in handy later. Straining forward a bit in order to get a better angle with his blade, the absol cuts a thin gash in the air before him, tearing straight through the fabric of reality and into the soupy, shadowy dark dimension beyond. With a sacrifice of some of his health, the absol binds one of the wandering spirits that inhabits that world and draws it through the opening. Questing tendrils of blackness protrude from the ragged cut in the air, more and more shadows spilling from the rend and slowly taking the shape of something vaguely like an absol, albeit black and cloudy-indistinct about the edges and with no more than holes for eyes. The wound in reality heals over and the substitute paces back in forth of Kayne, beginning to test out its new form.

Zelos, underground, is unaware of what has transpired. He has his hands full keeping Kayne trapped--a fighting type the blaziken may be, but the absol is hardly a weakling, and it takes Zelos both hands to make sure Kayne's hindquarters stay buried. It isn't too difficult for him to tilt back his head and breathe an intense wave of fire over Kayne's underbelly, though.

The absol stops struggling and starts to backslide a bit, his eyes tearing up from the pain as fire gets where fire ought not to go, his entire backside well-crisped by Zelos' flamethrower. Any thoughts he might be having about future children are swiftly erased from his mind by a rising tide of blackness, however. Before Zelos' puzzled eyes the weird mark on the absol's flank flares red, then dies back to its normal black. Though Zelos can't see it, the absol is beginning to transform, his eyes glowing an eerie red and his scythe growing out another two inches and sprouting serrations along its edge. It's not until the wave of change reaches the absol's hind legs, the muscles under Kayne's skin growing noticeably and the claws on his hind paws extending, before Zelos' eyes, into huge, hooked talons, that the blaziken gets the sense that something is really wrong. Staring at the transformed foot hanging just above his face, broader than before and with those great black skewers jutting out of it, Zelos reflects that those curvy talons hardly look healthy--Kayne could really use a pedicure--but they'd be even less healthy for him if they got turned against him. As a dark aura springs up around the absol, not thick enough to cause damage but sending icy-cold tingles all through Zelos' arms, the blaziken decides that he really doesn't want to be stuck in a tunnel with this beast's back half.

Meanwhile, Ghost is determined to remedy his past mistake. Turning its attention fully on Phalanx, it points its arm-like appendages forward, a blue orb of light glowing at the tip of one, a red orb at the tip of the other. Ghost angles them towards one another and unleashes the attack, sending thick tendrils of blue and red light swirling around one another as they fly through the air towards Phalanx. They strike him straight in the chest, eating through his flesh with the power of pure bug energy. The painful shock is enough to banish the last of Phalanx's confusion and give him back his resolve. He might not have any way to strike Zelos while the blaziken lurks underground (not if he wants a prayer of actually hitting his mark, anyway), but at least he knows how to pull together a mean stealth rock!

The cradily's tentacles quiver, jabbing and waving in the air as though conducting a symphony, or perhaps several symphonies at once. In response, pebbles, bits of dirt, and other small debris scattered over the surface of the battlefield take on a new life and rise into the air, drifting across the arena to form a minefield of floating rocks in a ring around Ghost. The porygon-z doesn't seem bothered; it can still fire its signal beam just fine with a few rocks in the way, as it proceeds to demonstrate. Phalanx is rocked once again by the burst of bug energy and left wilted, not even the constant stream of energy running into his body from his Adrenapack enough to let him raise his head.

Kayne's struggles resume, much stronger than before. Zelos does his best to prevent the absol from getting away, but the dark type has gained an implacable kind of energy, and Zelos has to be rather more careful than before--he really doesn't want to end up kicked in the face by the absol's sharp new footwear. In the end, Kayne manages to break free of the blaziken's grasp and claw his way back to the surface. He promptly takes off, running straight at Ghost. Zelos growls in irritation, tearing the mouth of his hole wider so that he can pull himself up and out. He takes off after Kayne, but is too late: the absol is already crashing through the barrier of stealth rocks that surround Ghost, his outsize scythe sizzling with darkness. Zelos runs to catch up but finds his path blocked by Kayne's substitute.

Like the absol himself, the construct has undergone an unpleasant transformation. Gone is the lean shadow-form of an absol, replaced by something more bearlike, with sharp spines protruding in double rows down its back and an elongated snout with unpleasantly long teeth. The whole thing shifts and flickers unpleasantly, its red eyes the only constant about it as it slowly transforms (growing still longer claws) before Zelos' eyes. In the background, Kayne unleashes his night slash with a swing of his head. His scythe rips up through the Ghost's body at a diagonal, finally coming out near what would be a shoulder if the simulation's limbs were connected to its body. Ghost lets out a piping squeal, the night slash having cut deep through the core of his systems. Blackness lingers at the edges of the rend, eating through the delicate lacework of coding that makes up Ghost's body, and it retreats automatically, putting distance between itself and a foaming, snarling Kayne as it struggles to patch up the damaged area.

Zelos tries to skirt Kayne's substitute, but the hulking shadow beast simply won't get out of his way. Overcome with frustration, the blaziken finally slams a fist into its face, tearing off the side of its head in a puff of dissipating shadow energy. A second strike, then a third, are enough to damage the substitute badly enough that it unravels entirely, its baleful red eyes the last bits of it to go as it slowly dissipates into thin air, seeping back into the shadow world whence it came.

Only weary Phalanx remains to carry out his command. Lo and behold, Zelos has reappeared. Once more extending his power over rock, the cradily summons up stones a bit larger than those he animated to form the stealth rock barrier. Zelos screeches in surprise as large spires of stone explode from the ground around him, stabbing into his legs and lower body. Struggling out of the stone edge's clutches, he staggers away from the cluster of jagged stones, fuming. The painful jolt of energy from his Adrenapack doesn't do anything to improve his mood, although the fact that it has an obviously more severe effect on Phalanx (not Kayne; he appears quite oblivious to his physical condition) than him is a bit heartening.

Kratos Aurion (XXOO)


Zelos (M)
Health: 72%
- Soured by his run-in with Kayne.
Used: Dig and grab Kayne ~ Flamethrower @ Kayne ~ Brick Break @ Kayne


Ghost in the Machine (X) <Download> @ Enigma Berry
Health: 76%
- Nursing a severed torso. (+1 Attack)
Used: Blizzard ~ Signal Beam @ Phalanx x2

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 1%
- Hissss. Mark of Kayne activated. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Used: Aerial Ace @ Zelos ~ Substitute (10%) ~ Night Slash @ Ghost


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 6%
- Drooping. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (5% next round). Knows thunder.
Used: Nothing ~ Stealth Rock ~ Stone Edge @ Zelos

Terrain Notes
There is a small pile of fossilized bones lying near Kayne. A field of stealth rocks surrounds Ghost; currently both Kayne and Ghost are in the small clear area at its center. There are two holes in the floor, quite close to each other, on Kratos' side of the arena. A cluster of larger, sharp stones lies just outside the stealth rock barrier.

Final Notes
- Zelos' dig did less damage than usual as it was primarily a grab rather than an attack and was only a glancing hit anyway.
- Ghost's blizzard missed Phalanx.
- Cradily doesn't learn light screen either.
- Zelos' flamethrower was a critical hit.
- Kayne's night slash was a critical hit.
- Kratos Aurion attacks first next round.

>|

Out of curiosity, why did Kayne attack before Zelos even started using dig? I understand that digging might take a while and maybe Kayne might catch a glancing blow, but Zelos is technically faster. Or is five points of difference not enough to matter?

Anyway, fine. Both of you protect on the first action and just let Kayne die from his attribute. Then Zelos, you finish Phalanx off with vacuum wave. If he protects, swords dance and then move vacuum wave over. If he protects again, well. Swords dance and have a hearty laugh when he faints at the end of the round anyway. Ghost, you just use nasty plot for whatever actions you have left.

Zelos: Protect ~ Vacuum Wave@Phalanx/Swords Dance x2
Ghost: Protect ~ Nasty Plot x2

Fff-! Stupid Psypokes and their colour-coded types - I must've thought Mirror Coat was Light Screen. :| I'm an idiot.

Well, Kayne! Nothing to do but stick a Future Sight at Zelos. After that, you can take a nice, long break. You did excellently.

Future Sight @Zelos ~ die ~ die

And there isn't much you can do, either, Phalanx. Hrm... See if you can set up Stealth Rock around Zelos as well. If not, well... Set up some Barriers. What else can we do? :| Hopefully they won't shatter when you get knocked out

Stealth Rock @Zelos/Barrier ~ Barrier/die ~ Barrier/die

Kratos Aurion (XXOO)


Zelos Wilder (M)
Health: 72%
- Soured by his run-in with Kayne.
Commands: Protect ~ Vacuum Wave@Phalanx/Swords Dance x2


Ghost in the Machine (X) <Download> @ Enigma Berry
Health: 76%
- Nursing a severed torso. (+1 Attack)
Commands: Protect ~ Nasty Plot x2

blazheirio889 (OOOO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 1%
- Hissss. Mark of Kayne activated. -1 Attack, -1 Defense
Commands: Future Sight @Zelos ~ die ~ die


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 6%
- Drooping. Covered in noxious goo. Badly poisoned (5% next round). Knows thunder.
Commands: Stealth Rock @Zelos/Barrier ~ Barrier/die ~ Barrier/die

No sooner has the round begun then both of Kratos' pokémon throw up protective shields. While Zelos appears more bored than anything, arms crossed over his chest and a faint green flickering in the air around him hinting at the boundary of his protect, to Ghost its shield is a very welcome defense against the absol slavering altogether too close by.

Kayne appears to have no interest in Ghost at this point, though. The absol turns around, now facing Zelos, and sits down. His eyes fall half-closed, still gleaming red from beneath his lids, as he projects his mind into the future, feeling the ebb and flow of potentiality that hangs over the arena. Grabbing hold of loose threads of fate, Kayne forces psychic energy through them, sending a blast of power into the future. The absol won't be around to see his attack come to fruition, though; the curse gnawing at his body saps the last of his strength even as he retreats to the present, his future sight complete. Zelos is oblivious to what the absol has done, but he does notice as Kayne slumps to one side, falling quietly unconscious as his body shrinks back to its normal dimensions. A moment later, a beam of red light rescues him from the field.

Meanwhile, Phalanx is gathering his power over rock, stirring up scree on the battlefield and imbuing it with enough energy to defy gravity. This time the cradily directs his cloud of rock fragments at Zelos, and they hem the blaziken in just beyond the edge of his protect shield, a couple drifting in too close and rebounding from the barrier with fizzing noises and showers of green sparks.

As soon as he's sure the stealth rock isn't about to close in on him further and do any real damage, Zelos lets his protect fall. In the background, Ghost does likewise. Before any of the other pokémon can move, Zelos whips a claw forward, shooting a thin bolt of fighting-type energy at Phalanx. The vacuum wave hits the weary cradily dead on, cutting a thin gash across his chest. The cradily's tentacles work madly as he fights off weakness and attempts to construct a barrier, but the pain is ultimately too much--his half-finished effort flickers away to nothing as Phalanx joins his partner in unconsciousness.

Kratos Aurion (XXOO)


Zelos Wilder (M)
Health: 69%
- Grimly pleased.
Used: Protect ~ Vacuum Wave @ Phalanx


Ghost in the Machine (X) <Download> @ Enigma Berry
Health: 73%
- A bit more composed now. (+1 Attack)
Used: Protect

blazheirio889 (XX OO)


Kayne (M) <Super Luck>
Health: 0%
Knocked Out! Future sight to strike in two actions.
Used: Future Sight @Zelos ~ die ~ die


Phalanx (M) <Suction Cups>
Health: 0%
Knocked Out!
Used: Stealth Rock @ Zelos

Terrain Notes
There is a small pile of fossilized bones lying near Kayne. Both Zelos and Ghost are surrounded by rings of stealth rocks. There are two holes in the floor, quite close to each other, on Kratos' side of the arena.

Final Notes
- I apply a randomized modifier to the base speed of all pokémon when they're sent into battle to determine their actual speed for the duration of the match. Usually it doesn't make a difference in attack order, but when two pokémon are close in terms of base speed it can often go either way. So, Kayne was simply faster.
- It is a miracle that Kayne didn't accidentally get called "Kanye" even once.
- blazheirio889 sends out her last pokémon
- Kratos Aurion attacks
- blazheirio889 attacks