The COMEUPPANCE multiplied Aleph's added muscle power twice, overwhelming the Normal-type with his own strength. The tip of the hellhound's tail discharged an explosive blast, sending the Type: Null high into the air. Tumbling, Aleph fired one last TRI-ATTACK toward the dark-type dog before the impact of the fall sapped the rest of his energy.

Seeing the cone of flames coming, Josh flicked his Zeraora's reins hard. The instant the pulse reached the feline's halters, mount and rider BOUNCED skyward, lining up to come crashing down upon the Pyroar with electrified paws. "Too slow!" Josh taunted in a rote effort to use Dorian's emotional attacks against him.

Dorian wasn't bluffing; the robotic Pokémon, one the Gym Leader had never seen before, charged toward Raikiri with the speed of a Beast. It was speed not even the thundercat could match. Josh heard a cracking noise. In the heat of the moment, he could not tell whether that was his body or his harness giving way.

For his sake, he hoped it was the latter.

With a frightening glare, the bloodied Gym Leader stared down Dorian and this new foe with absolutely no fear. Emboldened by his companion's presence, Josh leaned as low as his strength and harness would allow, the Zeraora's four PLASMA PAWS glowing brightly. The feline leaped toward the Genesect, attempting to flood the metallic Pokémon with electricity and short out its cybernetic weaponry.

Josh and Raikiri stared down dorian westcliff with equal defiance. "You're not getting away! After them, Raikiri! QUICK ATTACK!" With blistering, sickening speed, the Zeraora lunged toward Genesect and rider, gaining on them. Just as the electric feline was about to make another move, the Genesect's thrusters flared, the duo shooting ahead in a jet of EXTREME SPEED. There was no catching them now.

Reining his prized mount around, Josh rode back toward the spirits of those who had crowded around him. His eyes shifted toward that of SHAWN RICHARDS. "Shawn... you've been avenged. Pass through the gate to the afterlife, where you can at last get your rest." He, and the spirit of former Mauville security guard NATHAN MARTINEZ, pointed skyward as a deep, Y-shaped shadow started to blot out the sky. Though their souls had been avenged, the two Gym employees, two students, and two spectators that had lost their lives that day could not pass on to the afterlife. One being still held their souls hostage while they were in The Border.

YVELTAL.

As the Gym Leader rode back to and through the rift to Mount Pyre, one name came to mind. There was only one person he knew that knew a lot about the black and red legendary Pokémon. After all, that person used to be one of their Avatars.

Thomas Benoit .