Tyrrier Reven Hollow

[Phoenixsong]

The others had Vesta under control now, surely. Wouldn't take long before Ralsen would have to step up and face them himself. Leaf could already hear Typhon winding himself up in retaliation, though, could practically feel how hard the next punch would be if they couldn't rein that in somehow. If he went after the others like this, while they were distracted...

'Gotta pull him away, then.' Blue was still shaking, a little, but there was something in his eyes, calculating the most decisive way out of this. Leaf nodded, and the two of them took off. Blue spat smoke in the tyranitar's face as he ran past, and Leaf threw her shoulder into his side to force him off balance, hoping he'd follow the more immediate threat out out the woods—and away from the rest of his team.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 4

Leaf (151 STM, 12 TMP, +1 SPD, +5 ACC, 16 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Quick Attack @ Tako (-6 STM, +8 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Tako (-9 STM, +8 TMP)
- Zen Headbutt @ Typhon (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-17 STM, -5 TMP, +9 TMP)
- AGILE CRITICAL Play Rough @ Typhon (-24 STM, -15 TMP, +7 TMP)
- CRITICAL Play Rough @ Typhon (-16 STM, -15 TMP, +7 TMP)
- **Act:** Focus (+5 TMP, -20 SHD, -20 RAD)
- Walk to Sheltered Hill
Net change: -68 STM, +7 TMP, -16 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 83 STM (153 after regen), 19 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

Spoiler: Blue, Turn 4 (Aux)

Blue (Aux)
- Rogue Skill (Atk -1) @ Typhon

Spoiler: Turn 4 Order

- Blue
- Leaf
- Anubis
- Virga
- Koa
- Jade
- Malachai
- Laura

 

[Chibi Pika]

Turn 4
Player Phase​

Blue's Rogue Skill lowered Typhon's Atk!
Anubis's Support Skill raised Koa's Acc!
Virga's RADIANT Paladin Strike lowered Def and then dealt 20 damage to Vesta!

Leaf's Quick Attacks dealt 6+6 damage to Tako! It's not very effective...
Leaf's Zen Headbutt dealt 9 damage to Typhon! It's hardly effective... Flinching!
Leaf's AGILE Play Rough dealt a CRITICAL 60 damage to Typhon! It's super effective! Clear Amulet blocked the effect.
Leaf's Play Rough dealt a CRITICAL 77 damage to Typhon! It's super effective! -1 Atk

Koa and Jade traded Lum Berry for Terrain Orb!
Koa's Mach Punch dealt 18 damage to Vesta!
Koa's AGILE Ganbatte Soul dealt 32 damage to Vesta! It's super effective! +1 Def
Koa's Electric Mach Punch dealt 76 damage to Vesta! It's super effective! Def maxed out.
Koa's Ganbatte Soul dealt 46 damage to Vesta! It's super effective!
Koa's Ganbatte Thunder Punch dealt a CRITICAL 171 damage to Vesta! It's super effective! Healed 41 HP.

Jade's AGILE Charge Beam, boosted by Laura, dealt 27 damage to Vesta! It's super effective! +1 Mag
Jade's Magician stole 1 Mag.
Jade's Charge Beam dealt 42 damage to Vesta! It's super effective! +1 Mag
Jade's Soul's Adversity boosted her next move!
Jade's Adversity Thunderbolt dealt a CRITICAL 291 damage to Vesta! It's super effective!
Vesta toughed it out with 1 HP thanks to her Focus Band!

Jade's breath caught in her chest as the barrage of lightning strikes landed one after another, and yet the Charizard was still going.

"You have should gone for the castle," Vesta said to Ralsen, her wings straining as she kept herself aloft through sheer willpower alone. "There's no reason to stay."

"I'll see this through to the end," he told her.

Malachai's SHADOW Caster Wave dealt 18 damage to Vesta! KO!!
Vesta's Last Wish went to Ralsen! He received her boons and tempo.

Laura's Soul's Conviction boosted Jade's and her reflexes!
Laura's Shining Clarity boosted her next move!
Laura's STRONG Umbral Aspiration, boosted by Jade, dealt a CRITICAL 151 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective! Covert Cloak blocked the effect.

Vesta finally collapsed, and the last strike, a wave of chilling darkness, shot past the downed Charizard, striking Ralsen right in the chest. He let out a gasp, pulling his cloak tight around himself as he leapt back. He recalled his starter with a reserved expression and then, for the first time in the fight thus far, lit his wrist blades with verdant energy.

Enemy Phase​

Vesta's Friendship granted Ralsen a Helping Hand from the previous turn!
Boss Action: Stats Boost! +2 Mag, +2 Eva
Ralsen Focused...
Ralsen's STRONG Frenzy Plant, boosted by Vesta, dealt a CRITICAL 185 damage to Laura! KO!!
Ralsen's Dragon Pulse dealt 70 damage to Jade!
Ralsen used a Reflex Seed and hurled a Blinker Seed at Jade!
+4 Speed - Ralsen gained an action!
Ralsen used a Protect Orb!

Typhon's Courageous granted an Omniboost!
Typhon walked to Sheltered Hill!
Typhon's Crunch missed Leaf!
Typhon's STRONG Iron Head dealt 79 damage to Leaf! It's super effective! Not enough tempo to flinch...
Typhon was flinching and couldn't do more.

Tako's held Metal Burst only dealt 9 damage to Leaf...
Tako walked to Marshy Flats!
Tako's Rock Tomb dealt a grazing 5 damage to Koa!
Tako Focused...
Something terrible is coming.

"Watch out!" Jade yelled.

The earth tore open like a yawning maw, a great crack splitting the battlefield in two right underneath Koa's feet before crushing him in its grasp.

Tako's Fissure dealt a catastrophic 236 damage to Koa! KO!!
Tako is out of Stm and must take a breather.

Everyone's rhythm activated!

Only three of them were left out of the original six, but most importantly, no one was guarding Ralsen. They could just take him down, and be done with it. That would end it.

...Right?

Ralsen had one claw tucked inside his equipment bag, grasping something Jade couldn't see. He was muttering under his breath: "Just a little bit more."

Ralsen walked to Arch Shadow.
Ralsen is preparing Soul's Ambition
Target: Marshy Flats

 

[Phoenixsong]

Wasn't bad enough that this stupid tyranitar just wouldn't. Go. Down. Now the not-hivemind-thing was setting off alarm bells in their heads, calling out a warning as Ralsen finally sized them all up for himself. Something was happening, or was about to happen, right there where everyone else had just managed to finish off the charizard. What the hell was going on? How were they even supposed to handle... whatever this was?

"I'll deal with it," Leaf sent over the network.

"Deal with it?" Blue shot back, incredulous. "That doesn't feel like something that just gets 'dealt with'. Maybe, maybe if everyone just scatters—"

"It'll be fine." (Not 'I'll be fine,' he noticed. That felt weirdly deliberate. What the fuck was she going to do? She didn't sound scared, but she did sound set on it, whatever it was. Not blind Linden optimism; just like she knew exactly what she was doing. She... she probably did.) "You got this guy covered, right?"

Part of him still wanted to scream hell no, or even just that he wasn't sure, how could he possibly be sure, why was she asking him to do this by himself. That didn't feel right, though. Not anymore. Not when he was actually starting to feel the way the battle ebbed and flowed, the way everything hurt like fuck but it just made him more eager to win, the way he knew he wasn't alone here even if she was running off again.

So he didn't say that. (Think it. Whatever.) He just nodded instead. "Yeah. He's covered. Go deal with Protagonist McSpecialboy over there." Then he threw himself forward with a snarl, fire and smoke rolling from his jaws as he bore the tyranitar to the ground to hold him for the others.

Leaf allowed herself one little smile, then charged for the arch, radiant lightning sparking around her horn and trailing behind her like a comet.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 5

Leaf (151 STM, 19 TMP, +1 SPD, +5 ACC, 16 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to Marshy Flats
- **Act:** Item (Root Beer)
- Dash to Arch Shadow (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Play Rough @ Ralsen (-24 STM, +4 TMP)
- Play Rough @ Ralsen (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-16 STM, -6 TMP, +6 TMP) [Trigger Covert Cloak]
- Zen Headbutt @ Ralsen (ACTIVATE: effect) (-17 STM, -8 TMP, +6 TMP)
- Shining Stormlance @ Ralsen (-40 STM, -8 TMP, +5 TMP, +36 RAD) [Throw to Stone Archway]
Net change: -91 STM, -3 TMP, +0 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 60 STM (130 after regen), 16 TMP, 16 SHD, 36 RAD

Spoiler: Blue, Turn 5 (Aux)

Blue (Aux)
- Rogue Skill (Def -1 [2]) @ Typhon

Spoiler: Turn 5 Order

- Blue
- Anubis
- Malachai
- Virga
- Jade
- Koa
- Laura
- Leaf

 

[Jackie Cat]

It was getting hard to think. This wasn't intense like a League match with the roar of the stadium in her ears, this was tense like bullets flying, the roar of blood in her head—

"Pull yourself together," she hissed to herself.

Just keep going. Ignore the Fissure, pay attention to the leader, and the orb of power in his claws.

Malachai launched a Shadow Caster Strike at Ralsen!

Spoiler: Laura Turn 5

Laura (165 STM, 13 TMP, +0 SPD, +1 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- **Act:** Item (Protect Orb)
- Coaching @ Koa & Leaf (ACTIVATE: Support Feat) (-18 STM, -8 TMP, +2 TMP)
- Activate ability (Moody) @ -Def +2 Mag
- Shining Clarity (-40 STM, +2 TMP, +36 RAD)
- STRONG Umbral Aspiration @ Typhon (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-60 STM, -2 TMP, +5 TMP, +36 SHD) [Magic 309, Crit]
- Walk to Sheltered Hill
Net change: -118 STM, -1 TMP, +36 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 47 STM (107 after regen), 12 TMP, 36 SHD, 36 RAD

 

[Chibi Pika]

With Vesta down, Ralsen had entered the battle for real. Not a trainer this time. He fired a pulse of draconic energy that knocked Jade reeling, and by the time she'd picked herself up, he'd leaped back to the archway to begin preparing another attack.

Jade's ears flicked behind her, where she'd last seen Tyranitar grappling with Leaf, his rocky hide crossed with burns, but still enduring everything that'd been thrown at him. Every instinct was screaming at her to go after Ralsen, but if Typhon got his momentum back, he could easily steamroll with how beat up they all were.

Couldn't go after both. Or... could she?

'Virga.'

'Yes?'

'I need a better vantage point if I'm gonna hit both of them. You can carry me now, right?'

"How typical," Virga remarked, angling her wings to alight onto the grass next to Jade. Standing side-by-side, Jade was finally stuck by just how big the Corviknight was now, staring down at her. Maybe not as big as her old form, but a far cry from the tiny bird she'd been stuck as for the first few weeks on Forlas.

"Guess I didn't get to keep the height advantage for long," Jade said as she leaped up onto the Corviknight's back and did her best to grip the armor plating on Virga's shoulders.

"Indeed," Virga replied, in a not-dissatisfied tone. "Rather like old times, isn't it?" A few powerful wingbeats later and they were airborne, the feeling at once exhilarating and nostalgic. It'd been months since she'd been able to do this. This was how going into battle was supposed to feel.

Her eyes scanned the battlefield below, locking onto both Ralsen and his Tyranitar. Two targets to hit before their attacks went off. She could feel the buzz of Radiance in the back of her brain, urging her onward. Her grip loosened on the armor as she prepared to—

"Do not tell me you're about to do what I think you are," Virga said flatly.

Jade opened her mouth to speak, and then immediately felt self-conscious about explaining. She resorted to dragging a paw down her face and muttering, "Look, I—I don't know why, I just... it helps, okay?? Besides, you can catch me, can't you?"

"It would appear that's why I'm here," Virga retorted with a huff.

She decided she'd take that as a yes.

Cool air rushed past, clearing Jade's mind. A shot of Radiance for the Tyranitar, and then she turned her focus to Ralsen. She could feel her focus sharpening around him, the one who'd trained her, the reason she'd fought the Rockets, the reason she was here, from a certain point of view. He didn't even know her. But if she couldn't escape being tied to him, then he couldn't escape from her either.

Spoiler: Jade Turn 5

Jade (240 STM, 13 TMP, +0 SPD, +4 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- CRITICAL Shining Freefall @ Typhon (-40 STM, -13 TMP, +9 TMP, +32 RAD)
- Activate ability (Magician) @ Typhon Mag
- Umbral Determinism @ Ralsen (-40 STM, +6 TMP, +32 SHD)
- SHADOW Soul's Adversity (ACTIVATE: Umbral Aura) (-30 STM, +2 TMP, +24 SHD)
- STRONG CRITICAL Thunderbolt @ Ralsen (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-31.5 STM, -13 TMP, +8 TMP) [+50 BP, HH, STAB]
Net change: -142 STM, -1 TMP, +56 SHD, +32 RAD
Net totals: 98 STM (98 after regen), 12 TMP, 56 SHD, 32 RAD
(TAKE COVER)

Spoiler: Virga Turn 5

Virga (Aux)
- Brawler Skill @ Ralsen [Flying]

 

[Tetra]

"Watch out!"

Somewhere in the back of Koa's mind he'd known that hulking beast was preparing to do something. But there'd just been too many targets, too many threats. The high of striking down Vesta was still buzzing through his whole body when he registered Jade's words. Oh no. His trainer-brain registered the telltale stance and shift in energy.

Run! His paws dug into muddy earth but the strike was already long since in motion. 'Anubis hel-!'

The jaws of the earth opened and crunched upon him and suffocating earth swallowed him.

Blazing heat and a deathly howl of rage awoke him from his temporary muddy grave. It took another eternity for the rest of his senses to reassert himself in the wake of the Reviver Seed. Slowly, his blurred vision came into focus. Standing protectively over him was a huge Houndoom. The earth under its paw steamed from the heat and the air shimmered. Toxic flames poured from its jaws, lashing out at Aggron with a vicious fury Koa had seen only once before.

Anubis...?

Dizziness swamped him and his body cried out as Koa forced himself to his paws, stifling a whine. He was pretty sure he might have actually broken something. His throat burned and he hacked up a lungful of grit. "Anubis, y-you evolved!"

'Alpha!' Anubis ceased his assualt upon the Iron Beast long enough to hurry to Koa's side. Seeing Alpha swallowed... It had lit a primal power within him. It didn't matter if Alpha was a pokemon now and stronger than him. Alpha was his pack, and nobody hurt his pack like that.

This new strength... It felt good to get back his old body. Weird to look down on Alpha though.

Koa could sense Anubis' anxious and angry worry rolling off him. "I'm fine," he coughed, shaking himself. Mistake. Ouch. His mind snapped back to the battle at hand. There was no time to relish the change or for proper congratulations. Or to consider his own weakness. He turned, racing toward the hill. "Leave Aggron, we have to take down the Tyranitar!" he called.

Almost there.

His body cried in protest but he ignored it. There'd be time to breathe after the Tyranitar was dealt with. With Anubis, now a Houndoom, at his back, Koa leapt at the Tyranitar.

You're next, Ralsen.

Spoiler: Turn 5: Koa

Koa (155 STM, 4 TMP, +0 SPD, +0 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Bulk Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- Dash to Hill (-2 TMP)
- AGILE Mach Punch @ Typhon (-9 STM, +3 TMP)
- Mach Punch @ Typhon (-6 STM, +3 TMP)
- Mach Punch @ Typhon (-9 STM, +3 TMP)
- Ganbatte Soul @ Typhon (-30 STM, +3 TMP)
- **Act:** Item (Root Beer)
Net change: -72 STM, +12 TMP, +0 SHD, +0 RAD
Net totals: 83 STM (153 after regen), 16 TMP, 0 SHD, 0 RAD

Spoiler: Turn 5: Anubis

Anubis (Aux)
- Support Skill @ Koa
+1 Atk

( >:{ Big mad @ Aggron)

 

[Chibi Pika]

Turn 5
Player Phase​

Blue's Rogue Skill lowered Typhon's Def!
Anubis Support Skill boosted Koa's Atk!
Virga's Brawler Strike hit Ralsen's Protect!
Malachai's Caster Wave broke Ralsen's Protect!

Laura's Coaching boosted Koa & Leaf!
Laura's Shining Clarity boosted her next move!
Laura's STRONG Umbral Aspiration dealt a CRITICAL 181 damage to Typhon! It's super effective! Frostbite! Laura took 45 damage in recoil.

Koa's TRIPLE Mach Punch dealt 26+33+30 damage to Typhon! It's ultra effective!
Koa's Ganbatte Soul dealt 19 damage to Typhon and boosted his next move! Healed 12 HP. +1 Def.

Leaf's AGILE Play Rough dealt 42 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Leaf's Play Rough dealt 58 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective! Covert Cloak blocked the effect.
Leaf's Zen Headbutt dealt 29 damage to Ralsen! Flinching!
Leaf's Shining Stormlance dealt 49 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!

Jade's Shining Freefall dealt a CRITICAL 109 damage to Typhon! It's super effective! KO!!
Jade's Magician stole 1 Mag.
Jade's Umbral Determinism dealt 42 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective! Jade and Ralsen became Fated.
Jade's SHADOW Soul's Adversity boosted her next move!
Jade's STRONG Thunderbolt, boosted by Fated, dealt a CRITICAL 235 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!

Ralsen was hurled to Stone Archway!
Pointed stones dug into Leaf.

Jade pumped a fist as Ralsen was knocked flying by Leaf's Radiant blow. He somersaulted several times in midair before reaching out a claw and clinging to the stone archway to keep from falling to the ground. The draconic energy within his body had reached a breaking point, seeping through his scales. Brilliant teal and magenta leylines crossed his limbs, concentrated in the leaf blades.

Until finally, the power burst free.

Enemy Phase​

Ralsen became Awakened!
Ralsen gained +1 Innate Omniboost and an extra HP bar!
Ralsen gained a new Move and a new Ability!

Boss Attack: Ralsen's Soul's Ambition struck Arch Shadow for half damage!

Leaf: 38, It's hardly effective...​

Ralsen let go of the stone arch, dropping down to the grass below, eyes wide and unblinking, as if he'd come under a spell. His breathing was labored, energy burning in his blades as he charged up another series of attacks.

+4 Speed - Ralsen gained an action!
Ralsen's Frenzy Plant dealt 149 damage to Leaf!
Legendary Action: Status Cure! Paralysis was cured.
Ralsen Agile-dashed to Marshy Flats!
Ralsen's AGILE Spacial Rend, boosted by Fated, dealt 96 damage to Jade! KO!!
Legendary Action: Multi-Enemy Targeting!
Ralsen's Spacial Rend!
Laura: Protected!
Koa: a CRITICAL 85
Ralsen's Solar Beam dealt 142 damage to Koa!
Ralsen was flinching and couldn't do more.

Tako is taking a breather.
Tako focused twice.

Koa, Laura, and Leaf's Rhythm activated!

"I remember," Ralsen said quietly, staring at one palm like he'd never seen it before. His gaze lifted to meet the others', eyes as wide as they could go. "I remember how I got here."

He didn't know what to do with this information.

Ralsen walked to Sloped Lawn.
Ralsen is preparing Roar of Time.
Target: Sheltered Hill

 

[Jackie Cat]

Mega evolution. Of course. They called it 'Awakening' on Forlas – something only the greatest warriors, those with perfectly-realised self actualisation (as she understood it) could hope to achieve. For all that he was infuriating, she couldn't fault Ralsen's sense of purpose. The guy's willpower was obviously something else.

"We're almost there," she breathed over the network, trying to still her frantic heart as she realised Jade had already collapsed. "It's just one guy. He's not even tanky."

If she put everything shehad into her next Blacklight attack, maybe she'd collapse, too, from the sheer exertion it would demand from her. That was okay. Once she was deep enough in the flow of light and dark, stuff like 'doing yourself in' started to feel like just another cost, like items, time, and Commonwealth dollars.

"I remember how I got here."

Laura leapt from the hill to the turf, rolled with the impact, and kept going. She had to know what his deal was but. But. He could talk after they knocked him out, right?

"Does it change anything?" she yowled. "Is it anything you regret?"

Spoiler: Laura Turn 6

Laura (107 STM, 12 TMP, +0 SPD, +1 ACC, 36 SHD, 36 RAD)
- Walk to Sloped Lawn
- **Act:** Item (Ether) (+60 STM)
- Coaching @ angy punchers (ACTIVATE: Support Feat) (-18 STM, -8 TMP, +2 TMP)
- Shining Clarity (-40 STM, +2 TMP, +36 RAD)
- STRONG Umbral Aspiration @ trash son (ACTIVATE: effect, Hex Maniac) (-60 STM, +5 TMP, +36 SHD) [309, crit]
Net change: -58 STM, +1 TMP, +36 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 49 STM (109 after regen), 13 TMP, 72 SHD, 72 RAD

and Malachai shoots laser beams at him too

 

[Tetra]

Despite his evolution, Anubis felt his own strength waning. Alpha looked even worse for the wear, barely on his paws. Strange energy danced around his form, bled into the shine of his eyes and the sparks in his fur. A foreign sensation ran through Anubis, his body still alight with the energy of evolution. Buzzing in his ears, his head, like a hunters cry, resolving into... Voices?

Fight better. Tighten your strikes. You can't afford to be sloppy. Take it easy. The fearful hunter is a failed hunter. Just relax.

Those voices... they were familiar.

Will you let him hurt your pack? A leader who does not protect his pack is not a leader at all. You can't control everything so don't get worked up. Pick a target, give it a shot. If you miss just try again.

The clamor in his chest rose to a fever pitch. Heat distorted the air around him as his inner flame surged into an inferno. For Alpha. For his pack.

I won't miss.

A howl of fury erupted from him. Shimmering white electricity and shadowy flame coalesced into sphere and shot towards Ralsen.

---

Spots danced across Koa's vision as he picked himself off the ground with a groan. His vision was beginning to clear but he still felt as if he were reeling, as if the ground underpaw had vanished. Ralsen's markings. The move he'd used before solar beam. For split second he wasn't on the chilly slope of a castle but in a cold room watching a screen, red chains digging into divine scales. Impossible. What Ralsen had just done was impossible.

How dare he?

Koa blinked, realizing he'd spaced out. His awareness faded back. His limbs were trembling and his vision kept fuzzing in and out. The pounding ache in his bones had returned full force, a reminder that his adrenaline was waning. No more reviver seeds. They had to take out Ralsen now.

'That was- That was Spacial Rend!' Koa choked out the words across the network, still unable to reconcile the knowledge. 'That's Palkia's power! A-and Dialga's-!'

He called the shadow and light and they came forth easily, with brilliant certainty. For once he wasn't powerless in the face of someone trying to misuse the power of legends.

"I remember how I got here."

"How do you have their power!" he snarled. "What did you do?"

Did it matter? His ambitions would end here.

He would end them.

He would make Forlas safe.

Spoiler: Turn 6: Koa

Koa (153 STM, 16 TMP, +0 SPD, +0 ACC, 0 SHD, 0 RAD)
- Walk to Hill
- Bulk Up (-18 STM, +2 TMP)
- STRONG CRITICAL Shining Blindside @ Ralsen (-60 STM, -18 TMP, +5 TMP, +36 RAD)
- RADIANT Ganbatte Soul @ Ralsen (ACTIVATE: Shining Aura) (-30 STM, +3 TMP, +27 RAD)
- Umbral Retribution @ Ralsen (-40 STM, +3 TMP, +36 SHD)
Net change: -148 STM, -5 TMP, +36 SHD, +63 RAD
Net totals: 5 STM (5 after regen), 11 TMP, 36 SHD, 63 RAD

Spoiler: Turn 6: Anubis

Anubis (Aux)
- Caster Skill @ Ralsen [Blacklight]

 

[Phoenixsong]

The initial blast was nothing, really. Too turned around to aim right, too off-balance to put any real power behind it. But he'd recovered too fast, grown too strong with the sudden mega evolution, and before Leaf could wheel around and chase after him again the lawn exploded underneath her. Hulking roots and vines tore free of the earth and slammed into her, lashing her to the ground and burying her under their weight.

"Leaf!"

Blue rushed for the tangled mound, tearing at the overgrowth with burning teeth and claws. Even with the vines cleared away she looked like she could barely stand. She didn't seem to acknowledge him as he helped her up, just stared off down the lawn in the direction Ralsen had gone, until he finally caught what she'd managed to choke out.

"Kh... h... h-how many random guys 're just... just running around Forlas with legendary moves? 'S... 's not fair. We should get some."

Blue snorted, both nervous and relieved. "I was gonna ask if you're okay, but..."

Leaf nodded. "...Just a little more. Run his stupid destiny into the ground."

Fucking mega sceptile. Of course. Couldn't just lie down and give up without one last melodramatic magical girl musical number for the road, could he. The temperature around him rose and his fur began to smolder, but then he stopped. No. That wouldn't be enough, not now Ralsen was technically a dragon. Couldn't fight that fire with any old fire. He'd never done that before, but something inside assured him that he could, that this was his, too.

So. Deep breath. Hold it for a beat. Feel the sparks catch in his chest with the rush of oxygen (and the last flickering scars of the spacial rend in the air, the blast of energy Malachai fired overhead). Let the heat build in the back of his throat (and the anger that he dare threaten something that matters to your friend, and the certainty that you're better than this deluded maniac who can't get his head out from up his own Christmas tree). Focus (because he doesn't get to dictate how this fucking goes, you will not allow him to), and exhale—

Blue roared, and a jet of blue-green dragonfire scorched the earth on its way to scour Ralsen's destiny right off of Forlas.

Blue used Scathefire Soul!

Leaf shook the stiffness out one last time. Just a little more. She had that much in her. They all did. They had covering fire. They had the network, sharing encouragement and energy and just the right angles to sweep in and end this. They had a whole universe riding on their shoulders, and like hell were they gonna let them down.

She charged, flying up the hill, light and lightning burning together, focused on one single, searing point, an arrow aimed unerringly at the bullseye.

Destiny. Sure. Ralsen could call it that if he wanted, she supposed. There was only one way this was ever gonna go.

Spoiler: Leaf, Turn 6

Leaf (130 STM, 16 TMP, +1 SPD, +5 ACC, 16 SHD, 36 RAD)
- Walk to Sloped Lawn
- Quick Attack @ Ralsen (-6 STM, +6 TMP)
- Quick Attack @ Ralsen (-9 STM, +6 TMP)
- AGILE Play Rough @ Ralsen (-24 STM, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Tenacious Soul @ Ralsen (-30 STM, -10 TMP, +6 TMP)
- CRITICAL Play Rough @ Ralsen (-16 STM, -15 TMP, +5 TMP)
- CRITICAL Shining Stormlance @ Ralsen (-40 STM, -10 TMP, +6 TMP, +36 RAD)
Net change: -118 STM, -4 TMP, +0 SHD, +36 RAD
Net totals: 12 STM (12 after regen), 12 TMP, 16 SHD, 72 RAD

Spoiler: Blue, Turn 6 (Aux)

Blue (Aux)
- Caster Wave (Dragon) @ Ralsen

Spoiler: Turn 6 Order

- Malachai
- Blue
- Anubis
- Virga
- Leaf and Koa walk to Sloped Lawn
- Laura
- Leaf
- Koa

 

[Chibi Pika]

There'd been an endless moment, hanging suspended in midair, feeling the world slowing down around her and her senses honing in on the dark threads connecting her path to Ralsen's, the certainty of Shadow drawing her energy to his. And then her lightning stuck true, and the moment ended, and she had to deal with everything that came after. Namely, the part where she was plummeting to the earth with blades of draconic energy tearing the very air around her.

...

Everything hurt. Jade could feel wings beating on either side of her, felt the cold metal plating contrasted with soft feathers. Her surroundings rushed past in a blurry patchwork of dark forest and gleaming moonlight.

'Don't move. We're trying to end this,' came Virga's voice in her head as the Corviknight pitched into a dive, talons outstretched.

Jade might have wanted to respond, but her voice didn't work, and even directing her thoughts toward Virga took too much effort. So she did the only thing she could think of and reached out her paw, a small crackle of sparks lighting up around it. She didn't have enough energy left to fire, but he didn't have to know that.

Spoiler: Virga Turn 6

Virga (Aux)
- Brawler Strike (Flying) @ Ralsen
- Interact @ Jade feinting an attack to burn a dodge

 

[Chibi Pika]

Turn 6
Player Phase​

Malachai's Draconic Brawler Strike dealt 15 damage to Ralsen!
Blue Draconic Caster Wave dealt 13 damage to Ralsen!
Anubis's BLACKLIGHT Caster Wave dealt 19 damage to Ralsen!
Virga's Aerial Brawler Strike dealt 20 damage to Ralsen!

Laura's Coaching boosted Koa and Leaf!
Laura's Shining Clarity boosted her next move!
Laura's STRONG Umbral Aspiration dealt a CRITICAL 166 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!

Koa's STRONG Ganbatte Shining Blindside dealt a CRITICAL 135 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Koa's RADIANT Ganbatte Soul dealt 43 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Koa's Ganbatte Umbral Retribution dealt 96 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective! Healed 71 HP.

Leaf's Quick Attacks dealt 16+16 damage to Ralsen!
Leaf's AGILE Play Rough dealt 42 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Leaf's Tenacious Soul dealt a CRITICAL 75 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Leaf's Play Rough dealt a CRITICAL 88 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective!
Leaf's Shining Stormlance dealt a CRITICAL 113 damage to Ralsen! It's super effective! KO!!

The final strike landed and Ralsen staggered backward, dropping to one knee as the overgrown foliage receded from his scales, and the draconic leylines faded from his limbs and blades. His chest heaved with each breath.

Aggron Tako lumbered over, his expression one of resignation. "Not gonna be able to finish this alone," he rumbled. He stood ready to put himself between any further strikes aimed at his trainer, but his posture was noncombative. The fight was done.

Ralsen held a clawed hand over his face, pulling it down as he fought to center himself within the throes of the Blacklight energy leaving his body. He gave a small cough and said, "If I'd known that what I was looking for was right in front of me the whole time..." His words trailed off as he shook his head.

Virga flared her wings to land on the grass next to the others, leaning forward to allow Jade to slide down from her shoulder.

"What you were looking for...?" Jade muttered weakly, fishing through her bag for a berry and coming up empty. Dammit...

Ralsen lifted his gaze to meet hers. "The power I needed to get home. The power I used to get here. I was searching for it, but it never left." He shook his head again, unable to keep himself from chuckling at the sheer irony of it. All that time he'd spent...

 

[Jackie Cat]

"The power I needed to get home. The power I used to get here. I was searching for it, but it never left."

Laura gasped out her words between heaving, panting breaths.

"So, wait... You have the power... of spacetime saints...?" Legendaries. Dialga and Palkia, Koa had said... "How'd you get... something like that? Did they send you here? Did you come here intentionally?"