Picked out of the crowd after his first battle, and what he assumed to be his last, Derek promptly walks up to the battle platform. "Nice to meet ya, I'm Derek. As for your offer..." A smirk lacking genuine confidence came across his features, unsure of what to expect from a man who had a badge to offer.

"We'll do our best - Rasputin, come on out!" Clutching the orb between his fingertips, a finger would click twice, once to enlarge the ball and a second to release the Metagross onto the field. Quick to ascertain the reason for it's summons, the steel and psychic type takes a combat ready stance and prepares itself for the battle to be had.

Derek chooses METAGROSS!

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
The man's chosen pokemon cut a suitably impressive visage, the youth grinning wide as he reeled back and threw his own netball.

A blazing bug was released onto the field, its body unfurling to look around the battlefield before its gaze fell upon its opponent. Well, he knew what to do now.

"Ya may have the first move!" Doug offered, sweeping across the air with one arm theatrically while grasping his cap with the other, the jacket hanging off his shoulders flapping in the wind.

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TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Sizing up the opponent that had it's advantages, Derek mulls over the first move that would set the rhythmn for him and his pokemon. Reluctant to go for an outright offensive, he decides to think long-term, trying to use Rasputin's few strengths to their benefit. "Let's give'em a taste of your Meteor Mash!"

Without a morsel of mercy or hesitation, the Metagross launches itself at the opposing Centiskorch, aiming to pummel it with it's front legs as if it were a mere bug. But it wasn't, and the steel type move wasn't likely to be very effective at all. But if their labor were to bear any fruit, then perhaps this match wouldn't be as one-sided he imagined it to be.

Metagross uses METEOR MASH! (1-20 Atk Buff Chance)
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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
"Coil!" Counter-ordered the gym leader, his pokemon swiftly wrapping around itself tightly as the massive arm came soaring at high speed, smashing into its tightly coiled form and sending it hurtling across the field!

Yet, it continued rolling around at high speed, blazing fires that rushed out of its many... 'stoves' pushing it forth through the rocky terrain.

---

Got hit by Meteor Mash!
Used Coil!

TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Witnessing the Metagross' adversary shake it off with Metagross seeming no better off than before they attacked, Derek decided to switch things up momentarily. "Alright, Try Zen Headbutt this time!" Once more launching itself at the Centiskorch as it bolstered it's power, the X-shape of Rasputin's face aimed to collide with the Centiskorch's own in hopes of making them flinch from the staggering blow.

Metagross uses ZEN HEADBUTT! (1-20 Flinch Chance)
jJY7VPD7

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
"Fire Lash!" Counter ordered the Gym Leader once again as the Metagross flew at the centipede at highspeed.

The Centiskorch unfurled like lightning to meet the Metagross in a booming clash, his long body snapping at the Metagross like a whip, chipping away at its defenses even as it too was sent reeling back from the clash!

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Matched Zen Headbutt with Fire Lash! Fire Lash lowers Defenses!

TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Quick to make out the attack being made, Derek can hardly get the word "Agility!" out of his mouth before his Metagross begins to move, boasting a momentary boost in speed that allowed it to avoid the FIRE LASH headed it's way.

Although this sense of safety was brief, Rasputin's large frame not being meant to move at such a rate and causing it to become too fatigued to move like that again anytime soon. At the very least, it gave Derek more time to decide what their next move would be...

Metagross uses AGILITY to evade!

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
"Lunge! After him!" Ordered Doug as the Metagross dodged the attack, impressed by his opponent's reaction time, and even more so by his pokemon's response time.

As he finished unfurling from the Fire lash, the Centiskorch let his body be dragged forward by the force instead of resisting it, his head planting onto the soil for a firm 'foot' hold before he utilized his body's whiplash to lungea at the Metagross with his tail!

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Centiskorch used Lunge! Lunge lowers Atk!

TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Knowing his pokemon well enough, Derek could see there wasn't much of an option but to roll with the punches and see how they made out. Allowing the Centiskorch to come closer for an attack, both trainer and pokemon seemed to be on the same page, waiting for their opponent to close the distance for them. "Hyper Beam! Quick!" Condensed energy accumulated at Rasputin's maw, which opened and fired just as the Centiskorch began backing away after a successful LUNGE.

The move appeared to be at full strength, but as hopeful as he might've been, there was still the need for Derek's pokemon to recuperate before it could battle any further. "C'mon, c'mon...tough it out, Rasputin." Mumbling under his breath, wary eyes gaze towards Doug and his Centiskorch in anticipation of their next move.

Metagross' Attack is lowered!
Metagross uses HYPER BEAM!

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
The move landed dead on at such a distance, blasting back the Centiskorch several paces until it met the wall of the battlefield on the other side.

"Ya okay?!" Asked Doug as his bug lurched forward and off the wall, panting hard.

At that, he turned his attention at Derek, grinning.

"Pretty damn good, challenger!" He said as he lifted his hands to his hat, energy crackling through them. "I don't do this for just anyone! Yer in for a treat!"

"Manda, MegaEvolve!"

Power surged through the mega hat accessory, before his pokemon was enveloped in a cocoon of light which grew several times larger before it shattering.

Out came a gargantuan, extremely lengthy pokemon, its head about the size of a steelix's but its body almost twice as long, flowing through the air like it weighed nothing.

"Let's go, Manda! Use G-Max Centiferno!" Ordered the youth as his cape flapped wildly behind him, the heat wafting off his pokemon creating a powerful draft all over the battlefield.

Its body twisting and snapping into a shape as it faced the Metagross, the Mega blasted it a massive surge flames!

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Centiskorch used G-MAX Centiferno!

TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Watching the already large Centiskoch grow to a gargantuan size, Derek can't help but feel defeat looming overhead for him and Rasputin. Left with nothing to do but try and bide their time, the trainer can only hope to encourage his pokemon to endure the scorching heat that envelopes it and most of the field.

"Rasputin, you can take it! Get ready!" Although his words reach the Metagross, the unwavering intensity of the flames has them both worried. And that was just the beginning of this giant's onslaught.

Metagross' CLEAR BODY cleanses it's debuff(s)!
Metagross is hit by GMAX CENTISKORCH!
Metagross is recuperating from HYPER BEAM!

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan

[player]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/850907874325823529/850908024340086784/Hoenn_Leagues_Gym_Leaders.mp3[/player]
"Smokescreen!" Ordered Doug, and a thick, black cover of smoke began to expell from the massive Pokemon's maw, flooding the battlefield in darkness, flashes of heat and red alighting the darkness, its great length making it difficult to determine were it truly was, each alternating gleam suggesting at one place or another.

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Centiskorch used smokescreen!

TAG: DEREK HOFFMAN

Closely watching as the smoke obstructed the field of view, Derek knew his pokemon to be mostly ill-equipped. There was little chance they would hit their mark, but simply sitting back and allowing his pokemon to burn wasn't an option. "If you get'em in your sights, use Zen Headbutt!" Though whatever it was in the dense plume, remnants of the Centiskorch's fire or part of it's body, they wouldn't be able to tell. Regardless, the pokemon anticipated the faint traces and hurled itself, predicting when the next would show. But only the pokemon would know whether it hit or not...

Metagross uses ZEN HEADBUTT (Hit Roll & 1-20 Flinch chance)!
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tl;dr you can decide if it hits or not but I decided to roll it just because

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DEREK HOFFMAN vs. John Sullivan