A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

HER SMIRK IS MET WITH CASUAL DISDAIN. Bravado should be reserved for those who can lie with a straight face. Hers crumble under the slightest pressure, something he’s seen twice now.

But progress is not cemented in a day. It bakes over time, giving form, solidifying with time. He cannot fault her for pursuing the correct choice.

It’s why he entertains her challenge in person.

“Then show me,” he answers with two Pokeball capsules. Each one lands on his side of the field, dozens of meters away, giving way to the two giants within.

“Battle routine set!”

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

“EXECUTE!”

Likewise, Fernando’s Pokemon do not stand still in the midst of battle. Just because they’re Gym Pokemon doesn’t mean they’re mere punching bags. These Pokemon are seasoned veterans that have grinded a lifetime of experiences by being put through the ringer. Yui is just one of many who’ve attempted this challenge.

‘Clink!’

Her SHADOW BALL bounces harmlessly against the polished shine of Aegislash’s KING’S SHIELD. Despite being aimed at the Golurk, her attack will have to find a way past the golem’s greatest shield. In an unsightly testament of a tag-team battle, the Golurk seems to wield the Aegislash as a HELD ITEM as opposed to a distinct ally.

And, with one foot forward, the it starts to charge forward with its HIGH HORSE POWER. The Aegislash is pointed straight at its primary target, the Ditto, amplifying the force of its IRON HEADed tip with the velocity of the Golurk’s approach.

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

‘CLANK!’

the sound of steel clashing echoes within the gym as an IRON HEAD meets an IRON DEFENSE. up close, the attempt at grappling the aegislash into place becomes a struggle against two identical pokemon.

fernando’s golurk is the first to give in. it unhands the shield, allowing the ditto to preoccupy its hands with aegislash, as it rears a SHADOW PUNCH in return.

stuck between ditto’s hands, the aegislash starts to struggle in an attempt to free itself. unable to, its use of AUTOTOMIZE detaches itself from the shield, casting the appendage off to escape being held in place for yui’s eevee.

the HIGH HORSE POWER comes in and the sword twirls to meet it, poised with an AERIAL ACE to match the physical blow.

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

FOR SUCH A DAINTY POKEMON, the way the eevee clashes and even overpowers the aegislash is a sight for sore eyes. it’s almost unbelievable that such a small fruitcake could match and push the sword back. it ends with both pokemon being blown back, fernando’s aegislash reeling in an exaggerated cartwheel.

the displacement of their clash leaves it open for the incoming SHADOW PUNCH. the strike is set to land, too quick for the aegislash to react to, empowered by the HELPING HAND. however, this leaves fernando’s golurk unattended. as ditto’s SHADOW PUNCH comes down onto his aegislash, his golurk is set in place to land a perfect strike in return.

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

THERE’S NO QUESTION, the punch lands. in a domino effect, a ripple of attacks connect along a chain of cause and effect. aegislash is struck by the ditto who in turn is dealt a blow from golurk. the only one free, yui’s eevee, finds a window to blow the arena sky high.

a NEVER ENDING NIGHTMARE rises from the ground. tendrils of shadow lash out in frenzy, picking at the aegislash as they try to tear the pokemon’s very soul out of its body.

by default, the aegislash erects a barrier of KING’S SHIELD but the hands are endless. they pound and batter, shattering the shield into harmless projections of glass. the protective moves proves useless in the face of yui’s z-move.

“golurk!”

fernando redirects the pokemon’s focus as the golurk immediately charges for the eevee with it’s HIGH HORSEPOWER. anything to intercept and put an end to the merciless beatdown being inflicted on its partner.

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

YUI’S DITTO is able to land a clean score with the discarded aegislash shield. however, it’s impact seems negligible when confronted with golurk’s speed and momentum. whatever damage it sustains is impossible to calculate due to the pokemon’s lack of reaction or facial expressions. the only things that’s for sure is its commitment to the linear charge.

unfortunately, that’s not enough to prevent the SHADOW BALL that comes out shortly after. still pivoted by the earlier NEVER ENDING NIGHTMARE, the aegislash is unable to move out of the projectile’s path in time. the blast only further entrenches the pokemon into the ground, leaving it unable to do much aside from project its own SHADOW SNEAK.

as ditto looks to slam a SHADOW PUNCH against the original golurk, the pokemon turns to confront it. it is barely able to reinforce its chest with a silver IRON DEFENSE as the attack lands, ripples echoing from the point of impact. up close and between their lumbering size, the only thing it can do is devolve into a simple slugfest.

its own SHADOW PUNCH is reared back before attempting to retaliate against the large ghost type. likewise, aegislash’s SHADOW SNEAK starts to crawl closer to the ditto, looking to hold it in place, the inky extension looking to litter its legs with nicks and cuts.

Yui Fujin Silph

A TEST OF PROGRESS

TO SEE HOW FAR WE'VE COME

SHADOWS INTERTWINE. on one hand, aegislash is more proficient in the technique. it’s mastered it over dozens of battles, enamored in its own affinity for ghastly attacks that no mimic could truly understand. however, significant damage has worn the pokemon down. fatigue leaks where stamina once stood, allowing its SHADOW SNEAK to falter as it tries to snake past the imitation of yui’s eevee.

the same cannot be said for the golurks. SHADOW PUNCH lands only to be replaces by the others. a pummeling of lumbering titans leave resounding echoes in the gym until the ditto finally disappears with PHANTOM FORCE. fernando’s golurk lurches forward as its SHADOW PUNCH fazes through the ethereal aftermath.

it glimmers and shines with an IRON DEFENSE, anticipating a surprise attack from its blind spot.

Yui Fujin Silph