Killian was looking forward to this fight. Win or lose, it would give him a chance to see the kind of battler the underboss was. The only thing he didn't like about this situation was the location.

Battling underwater sounded irritating. A challenging battle, too, given the deity that had bonded with Gavin. While Lugia wouldn't be making an appearance - too identifiable of a Pokemon for Liam King. Killian imagined owning it had to give the man some advantage.

He dived, joining his Slowking underwater as the battle began. Meteor Beam is countered with Power Gem. The two beams of energy clash, exploding into a mass of bubbles.

Slowking charges forward, Surfing on a tidal wave that's ready to come crashing down atop Armaldo.

The ocean's dark depths had once been a source of primal fear for the underboss. Now, with knowledge of the ocean deity who'd taken him under its protection, he feels nothing but a firm determination to give Killian a good fight.

Underwater battles are difficult; here, without sound, they're forced to rely on signal alone. Armaldo, trained to look to its master for command, turns away from the incoming wave.

Gavin signals PROTECT; a barrier shimmers just in time for the surf to cascade harmlessly over its rocky carapace.

Killian trusts his Slowking to act on its own. A Pokemon's ability to think for themselves is as important as a trainer's skill to command it. So when the tide crashes harmlessly against an invisible force. He knows for a fact Kingsly's next move will be Disable.

Slowking's eyes glow dimly with a purple light. The jewel embedded into its crown pulses, releasing a rippling wave of psionic power upon Armaldo. It attempts to root itself deep inside the bug's mind. Temporarily sealing away Armaldo's capability to Protect.

Recognizing the move, Gavin offers Killian an approving nod.

With their defenses effectively disabled, they're forced to go on the attack. Gavin signals for Armaldo to do just that, and the swift-swimming fossil maneuvers through the water with aquatic grace.

When it's close enough to strike, it aims to score through Slowpoke's hide with SHADOW CLAWS.

Shadow Claws slice deep into Slowking's chest. He winces, blood pooling in the water around him. Eyes narrow to dangerous slits at the creature that wounded him.

Slowking reaches out to grab hold of Armaldo before it can flee. Successful or not, a Power Gem fires from Kingsly's jeweled crown at his foe's face.

Stay close, Gavin signals.

Unable to protect itself, Armaldo is forced to take the attack, maneuvering only enough to ensure that it collides with a tough carapace instead of its face. Propelled back slightly by the force of the blow, it kicks its legs to swim back close.

Through the water, its claws score again, this time looking to land a brutal X-SCISSOR.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839921454543142962/850727027669073980/Xenoverse_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_-_VS._Victor_Generale_Team_Dimension.mp3[/player]

It's not the hit he wants, but the beam lands and blasts Armaldo back. Predicting the counter-attack, Kingsly already on the move. His tail launches him up and out of X-Scissor's path. That makes two close-range and super effective attacks.

Killian signals for Slowking to keep his distance. If Armaldo can't get close, neither of them will be a problem.

Slowking continues to swim, tail and legs kicking rapidly. But he's slow, too slow to make it far against such a swift swimmer. So he turns Nasty Plots brewing as he charges another beam.

Slowking attempts to gain some distance but the SWIFT SWIMMER that is Armaldo is more than capable of keeping up. Its wing-like protrusions slice through the water as it surges forth, its clicks and chatters muted by the deep.

As its opponent has chosen to bolster its offenses, Armaldo is given a signal to attack.

Another X-SCISSOR follows the last, claws glowing sickly green.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839921454543142962/850727027669073980/Xenoverse_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_-_VS._Victor_Generale_Team_Dimension.mp3[/player]

Kingsly expected the distance to be closed quickly. He frowned, X-Scissor slashing across his chest and filling the water with blood.

Time to counterattack now that the rocky bug is close.

Power Gem launched from Kingsly crown toward Armaldo.

Even agile Armaldo would have trouble maneuvering to dodge in such close quarters... and so it doesn't bother trying. Rocks clatter against its carapace and some find chinks in the bug's armor but the prehistoric Pokemon is relentless in its advance.

CLAWS wreathed in SHADOW slice through water already bloodied from battle.

Gavin keeps a mental tally of the moves he's seen the Slowking use, wondering as to what other tricks it might have up its sleeve. Were they saving their ace?

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839921454543142962/850727027669073980/Xenoverse_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_-_VS._Victor_Generale_Team_Dimension.mp3[/player]

They had no ace, sadly. A specific person hadn't thought about updating move sets until after this battle had taken place. A fucking shame, honestly, because they could really use Focus Blast or - wait, isn't that neutral against Armaldo?

Oh well.

Shadow Claws connect, tearing deeper into flesh.

Kingsly howled in pain and reacted with a tidal wave of Surfing energy.

Though it's a swift swimmer, Armaldo isn't particularly strong against the current. It's swept back by the surge of water despite its best efforts to remain, claws clicking together to display its irritation.

Gavin would tell it to remain calm if he had his voice to give the command.

It begins charging a vengeful METEOR BEAM from the spot it's been delegated to.

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/839921454543142962/850727027669073980/Xenoverse_Per_Aspera_Ad_Astra_-_VS._Victor_Generale_Team_Dimension.mp3[/player]

Armaldo's charing something, but Kingsly doesn't care. He repeats the attack. Unleashing a second Surf out at the fossil. The last one had worked out so well, after all.