as keenan stands, greyson moves off to the side to allow him room. he's silent in the face of the challenger's defiant expression, only quirking a small smile in response. then, with a flourish of black mist, he disappears once more.

the next flare isn't a simple choice, however. two colors burst, one on either side of the city.

one is a combination of red and yellow — ORANGE.

the other is a combination of blue and yellow — GREEN.

Keenan Toral

The fallout from your loss against Rayquaza has yet to be seen, but you push on regardless. The challenge is winding to its climax.

Two flares present themselves. Different colors than what you've seen thus far — what could they mean?

Decide.

by the time keenan arrives, night has settled.
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the endless sea of black above them is an ominous, almost oppressive shadow to the city below. light trickles up, but not in the typical way a city would greet its dusk, but through the lenses of chaos. [break][break]fires fill the corpses of ruined buildings and sirens of blue and red dance on brick and stone surfaces, their sirens a shrill reminder that the effects of tonight would be felt for weeks to come.
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but perhaps more striking of all, coiled around the uppermost building, is the god-serpent itself. it's emerald scales glistened beneath moonlight, and in the shadows cast by the flames, the visage of a king passing judgement.
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for the second time today, keenan would need to go toe-to-toe with a god.
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but, he wasn't alone.
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dozens stand beneath him in the streets, defiant gazes looking up in rebellion to a false-monarch. they're dirtied, caked in blood, and nursing wounds that would leave them bedridden for weeks, more than likely.
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but here they stood. defiance in the face of the fall.
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one of them looks up and catches sight of keenan and his dual-type, an older man with a bandaged head. with one hand he beckons them down, eager to speak, while the other nurses a wound in a sling.

[attr="class","notes"]Keenan Toral[break][break]

so you stand a rebel, ready to face down the wrath of a god-king. will you do so alone? or will you stand with the many?

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

your words bring skepticism at first, but your actions up to this point have proven that you can back them.
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one-by-one you gain the support of those around you.
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one-by-one they agree to fight.
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the god-serpent roars in challenge.

[attr="class","notes"]Keenan Toral

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you know that you all are not strong enough to defeat the legendary, but you can certainly run it off.
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your final stand against the god-serpent has come to head. he roars in defiance, smug over his victory against you previously.
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prove him wrong.
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write the FINAL CONFRONTATION between MAN and GOD.

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

anger wasn't the only thing that coursed through the god-serpents veins. exhaustion, and a cocktail of poison worked hand-in-hand, turning the boiling pit to rage into but a simmer of what it once was.
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it hovered there, emerald scales flashing beneath fire-light, as it stared down the boy that dared defy it. killing him would've been effortless; the human barely worth a passing thought. but, he flinches again as a barrage of attacks land on either side of him.
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weak, pathetic, cowardly creatures. he wanted nothing but their destruction. but, he was tired. rayquaza wanted nothing more than to sleep for the next millennia.
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amber hues flick back down at the challenger, a huff of indignation following, as rayquaza flees for the atmosphere.
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all around Keenan Toral, men and women release warcrys of victory. it goes on for a few moments as those who he helped, and in turn helped him, pat him on the back and give him congratulatory remarks.
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then, like someone had hit pause, everything stops.
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the city and it's people (with the exception of a select few) begin to dissolve into black smoke, each piece moving to gather on the street ahead of keenan. in a manner of seconds a door is created, and from it, steps Greyson Connors. he claps quietly into his hand, smile wide.
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"congratulations — you've finished the simulation."
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but had he passed?

[attr="class","notes"]Keenan Toral

[attr="class","wizzcredit"]☉

he knew that, even now, the adrenaline was coursing through the challenger's veins. so, he allows him to speak every word, not bothering to interrupt, or change the smile on his face.
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when he finishes, greyson's chuckling, hands-up.
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"woah, woah. take it easy," he says in an easy-going manner, lowering his hands. "you're right — the work isn't done. more than the damage to the city, and it's cost, people's lives have changed irrevocably. men, women, and children will be displaced and forced to congregate into packed shelters, and the search for survivors will carry on for weeks to come. more than likely, thousands might've died here tonight."
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greyson casts his gaze to the void around him. he watches as a vast majority — not all, but most — of the buildings are turned into a smokey black essence, revealing the true city below to be much smaller and more compact.
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"most people, mr. toral, would be satisfied just fighting back a god. then, they will go on their merry way, satisfied with what they've accomplished. i hope that you will not be one of them." his smile this time is more subdued, lips forming a thin line. as his chest rises, and falls beneath the pressure of a deep breath, it brightens once more.
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"but, to better news! you passed! oh, and—" from the gate behind him a streak of white and black shoots past, the houndour returning to his owners embrace once more. crumbs line the canines mouth, and he pants heavily. "my boltund gave yours a run for its money," greyson says with a laugh, unfolding a piece of paper from his pocket.
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"i've graded you on three areas, should you wish to see them. if not..." he fishes for something else, this time twirling his fingers like a magician. when it settles, a small piece of metal, black and gold, sits between thumb and forefinger.
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"congratulations mr. toral. should that emerald serpent ever attack a city — i expect to see you standing right beside me in the front lines."

GYM CHALLENGE ASSESMENT[break][break]CHALLENGER: KEENAN TORAL[break][break]THREAT: RAYQUAZA[break][break]BEGINNING REPORT...

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ADAPTABILITY(S): by routing the gas underground, you not only saved the lives of those trapped in the downed bus, but any future civilians that might've brought a fight to that area. not only that, at the final battle you realized that even standing together, you would be unable to rout the god-serpent by sheer firepower alone, and instead aimed to wittle it down. you show a tremendous ability to adapt to situations as they appear, and i am eager to see how you progress moving forward.
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STRENGTH(B): in terms of raw firepower, you are lacking. still, this never once deterred you, and you made choices based around the fact you could never truly stand-up to the legendary. using your sticky webs as you retreated granted you precious seconds, time that you'd use to get yourself to safety. these choices turned abilities that would've otherwise been weak, or not very effective, and made them far more effectively tactically.
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WILLPOWER(A): you faced challenge, after challenge, with determination and grit. even when you'd lost one of your own and left to sulk by the legendary, you picked yourself up and continued the fight. not many would be able to push through that grief, that pain, but you did. you took that pain, and anger, and frustration, and brought it to you in the final confrontation.

[attr="class","notes"]Keenan Toral

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congratulations!

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though your work is never done, let the REQUIEM BADGE serve as a reminder that lives are precious and that everything we do, has a cost.

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