The Gym Leader would make his appearance. By his body language, Josh could tell he was tired. It seemed that the job was as stressful as he had imagined, though he had to wonder if the Gym was actually what was causing it as Greyson would soon claim that he was the only challenger for today. Perhaps he would look into this Gym Leader a bit more following this. He had done some basic research, enough to get some idea of what the Gym was like. But he hadn’t done a background check on the Gym Leader himself per se.

“Thank you. No questions, I am ready to proceed, Mr. Connors” Josh responded politely with a respectful nod. He sucked in a quiet breath, doing his best to keep his composure and hide his nerves behind a countenance of stone.

@tag

-Notes-

It was to begin, then. Josh recalled the Flying Type Gym to be quite the ordeal, but nothing could prepare him for what was to come. What seemed to be a VR function with technology that would give RaiCorp's own a run for its money. Or perhaps it really was using RaiCorp's holographic technology? He didn't know if his mother had been selling full playsets to Gyms like this, or not. Perhaps he would ask her later. What he did know was -- he was definitely not in Fallarbor anymore.

It was peaceful, serene even. Which considering this was supposed to be a challenge, Josh knew that it wouldn't be for long. He had mentally prepared himself for the screams that followed, but he couldn't possibly be ready for the sight of its source. A Pokemon that he had only seen in pictures. The explosions around them, the fires, the screams...

It wasn't new territory for the Ranger at all. But it was terrifying all the same. He was alone for this, no backup, facing down a legendary Pokemon. Even if the people here weren't real, even without knowing their safety was the best way to win the Gym Challenge, his heart still panged enough to ensure their safety. He fell into a familiar mindset as he would bring out his Swampert.

"Dunamus, I need you to put out those fires with Muddy Water, on the double. Watch for civilians" Josh commanded in a calm manner as the Swampert would get to work on the fires. He watched carefully, not wanting people to get caught up in the large waves. Only fires where people had already escaped away from were doused with that. If he found anyone trapped, he would need a more delicate hand.

"Let's follow it" Josh told the two Pokemon, once enough fire was out of their way to get moving. "Lightning, the first chance you get that we see the thing, I want you to try to stun it. The sooner we knock it down and take it out of commission, the sooner we can focus on the fires."

Greyson Connors

-Notes-

Ensuring that the area was safe for civilians was part of his training early on, and it was a priority that he had always taken in these scenarios. Simulation or not, this was the way that he did things. And for the time being, it seemed to be working out at least. Some would escape, others would bring out Water Types themselves to help. "Focus on anything preventing escape or that serves an immediate danger! Hit surplus only if it looks like it could spread to a vital spot, or if you've cleared out the vital ones!" Josh called to the supporting Trainers. He was unsure if they would register his commands, considering this was a simulation. But he knew the best thing to do was to handle this like a real life scenario to the best of his abilities.

Which then left him able to pursue the creature. Climbing aboard Dunamus, the Swampert would run across the ground, its bulk ensuring that anyone in its path got out of the way compared to if Josh had tried to navigate on foot. But he would be stopped by even more fire. And then...

"Oh, you have got to be shitting me."

He knew that form as soon as it appeared. It was the same as the creature that had attacked not too long ago. Josh had hoped to save it, but they had been unable to keep it from dying, and all of its little Meltan inside with it. Though for one reason or another, it had spawned eggs... Many of them, in fact, and Josh now had a Meltan of his own to care for. But he wasn't looking forward to fighting a Melmetal again by any means. He just had to remind himself that this was a simulation. The best thing to do was relax and think logically on how to handle this.

Of course, the main threat was still at large too, but he couldn't leave these people to die. "Dunamus, use Mud Bomb and have it explode above the vehicles, rain down mud and dirt on them to smother the fires" Josh instructed first, before calling for people to get out of the way of both the fires and the large rampaging Pokemon. To fully take out a fire this big, he was going to need Muddy Water. And he couldn't do that with people in the way.

Dunamus meanwhile, would shoot an array of Mud Bombs into the air, watching as they exploded and the contents rained down upon the fires. While it wouldn't put them all out at once, the cooling would weaken them severely and anywhere that wasn't on fire when mudded on would be a spot that the fire could no longer spread due to the insulating capabilities of dirt and mud.

And some of it happened to rain down upon Melmetal. Hoping that it would be distracted, Josh would put his Raichu on offense.

"Thunder!" Josh called to Lightning, as the Raichu would unleash a Thunder straight at the Melmetal in order to halt its assault.

Greyson Connors

- "Focus on anything preventing escape or that serves an immediate danger! Hit surplus only if it looks like it could spread to a vital spot, or if you've cleared out the vital ones!" is directed to those using Water Types for support.

- Quietly swears at the sight of Melmetal.

- Starts trying to get people to move their ass so he can deal with the fires and Melmetal with a heavier hand.

- Swampert uses a barrage of Mud Bomb that explodes above the vehicles and Melmetal, with the mud coming down smothering and cooling the fires, while reducing spread. Josh hopes that some of the mud will impede Melmetal too.

- Raichu uses Thunder on Melmetal.

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