BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

“RYDER.”

he’s a man who needs no introduction. fernando knows every gym leader that both promotes and resigns within the league. he knows their names the same way he knows the cities they represent.

because he has to. because it is his job to know hoenn and those in power. it goes beyond his responsibilities as a council member. it comes from within because those in power will be the same people who represent the very region he looks to revolutionize.

“welcome to the slateport gym.”

a bow is met with a nod of approval. to each their customs and representative pokemon. except, fernando’s remains in his pokeball, hand selected to give maverick what he deems a ‘worthy challenge’.

“how have you enjoyed your retirement?”

he lobs a pokeball in his hand while making small talk.

“i see you’ve moved on from accepting challenges to making them. i hope your journey through the circuit has been fruitful.”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

“VERY WELL.”

he’s prepared well beforehand. with a list of maverick’s intended roster, he’s created a team he’s deemed capable of pushing the challenger to the limits. the fact maverick used to be a gym leader means there’s little need to coddle. after all, this is a test in itself.

a casual toss of his pokeball reveals a gym staple: fernando’s heatran. the bulky pokemon shakes its head free as it assesses its surroundings.

“battle routine set.”

spots of maroon start to light up as the magma comes to life. it glows delicately, in flashes, as it focuses on the pokemon in front.

“execute!”

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

BARE TEETH caution the heatran away from physical combat. despite its steel hard exterior, the pristine nature of the canine’s teeth start to unnerve its opponent. the snarl only amplifies the effect, INTIMIDATING it to step back, rumbling as the heatran tries to unfurl its uneasiness by shaking its torso side to side.

fernando makes no initial command. win or lose, he’s not too invested in the outcome. what’s more important is to see how his pokemon copes naturally. lacking the intelligence and coordination of a trainer, how will his pokemon react.

instincts aren’t always optimal but they’re tried and true.

so when the arcanine takes off in a wild sprint, the heatran doesn’t give chase. it’s EXTREME SPEED is way too fast to catch up. the heatran knows this and handles it the same way it would with any other speedy prey.

“heat!”

it takes a deep inhale before expelling a MAGMA STORM that floods out in all direction. waves of heat and molten fire spread across the field, trapping, binding.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

THE MAGMA STORM spreads out in all directions. it’s all encompassing but by no means as fast as the EXTREME SPEED arcanine. furious paws find safety underground and the DIG allows the pokemon to evade the approaching heatwave.

but what’s left afterwards is an empty field rife with fire and brimstone. where did the arcanine go? it’s not above. it’s not within eye sight.

however dumb the heatran maybe, it knows well enough not to stand idle. fernando’s whipped laziness out of his pokemon. so regardless, of what or where the pokemon may be, it still prepares for its next offensive transition.

EARTH POWER starts to rumble across the battlefield. dirt becomes loose and disheveled as it molds to the heatran’s constant stomping. it doesn’t know where the arcanine is so it starts to implode random places, narrowing down parts of the battlefield.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

FROM BEHIND, the arcanine will find an easy path to ram into the heatran with its WILD CHARGE. electricity cackles as it make contact, successfully ramming the less agile pokemon. but what it lacks in nimbleness it makes up with its steely weight and fortitude.

the physical attack lands but does not bulge the stalwart pokemon. instead, slams its foot onto the ground, causing STONE EDGE spikes to erupt upwards from underneath the opponent.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

THE BURLY HEATRAN HAS NO HOPE OF PREVENTING SUCH AN ATTACK. for all its bulk, the pokemon lacks the means of cutting such distance instantaneously. it is the bear to arcanine’s canine. a force to be reckoned with once in motion but unable to keep up with the start and stop agility of its opponent.

before it can rear its head to follow up with another attack, the arcanine blinds it with its sudden acceleration. this time, the impact uproots the pokemon altogether, a stark contrast to the WILD CHARGE from before. sturdier than the earth itself, the arcanine is able to hit heatran with enough force to send it airborne, twisting under the disparity of its own heaviness.

it lands on its back with a resounding thud, flailing about as it tries to turn itself over. flames jut out in all directions as its coalescent skin turns hot. a MAGMA STORM barricades it away—lest its opponent wants to find themselves singed—in a bid to buy enough time to rearrange itself into a less vulnerable position.

“a bit much, no?” is fernando’s observation, none too concerned despite the awe inspiring display of maverick’s Z-MOVE.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder

BLADES OF GLORY

HONED FROM THE BLUNTEST SHARPENER

THE LACK OF FOLLOW UP GRANTS THE HEATRAN THE TIME IT NEEDS TO CORRECT ITSELF. upright, on its back, the pokemon was resorting to flailing around until it could flip itself over. prime time to strike at its underside, should someone prove brave enough to get past the MAGMA STORM.

now, that opportunity is gone. but the HEATRAN seems to take a bit longer to turn to face its opponent. its back legs look like they’re straining right before it launches a mortar like LAVA PLUME at the ARCANINE.

[attr="class","spiralpee"]
maverick noah ryder