[attr="class","skullbody"]Overwhelmed by numbers as they were, Johanna's team valiantly refused to back down. Her goal was to hold out for three rounds of combat, and by Arceus, she and her team held each other to it. Pallosand in particular was on full bro duty, sacrificing its own ability to hang in the fight in order to protect Houndour from every attack coming its way.[break][break]
Johanna, too, had internalized the purpose of this exercise very well. In a contest of brute strength, her team would come up short every time. But this was a battle of endurance, and the best way to survive was to limit what the other team was capable of. A Hypnosis put Charles right to sleep, and the Fire Spin wreathed around Kiryu held her back from charging into close quarters combat. Just like that, Isaac was down to only four Pokemon that could feasibly chase the Haunter down.[break][break]
Yet those four were as scrappy as they came, and they had a plan. Ivan, ever the opportunist, noticed the
Fire Spin being generated by Houndour and decided to take it for his own. The flames he launched with a flick of his tail curved and coiled, aimed not directly at Haunter but instead all around him. Much as the flames held Kiryu back, so, too, did Ivan hope they would keep Haunter's room to dodge limited.[break][break]
Ringo opted for the sacrifice play instead, flying down by Charles' side. He rang the soothing melody of a
Heal Bell into Charles' ear, snapping the Rapidash out of his slumber. Groggily shaking his head, he fired off another
Psycho Cut in Haunter's general direction, hoping that the wreathed flames would help make up for the lack of aim he put into his hasty shot.[break][break]
The Houndour was still fresh from the fight, but two could play at her tactics. Kiryu punched the ground in front of her feet, causing clouds of dust to form on the ground around Houndour. In but a moment's time, a
Rock Tomb shot up from the ground, hoping to hold the healthiest member of Johanna's team back so the remaining team members could get to work.[break][break]
With how much of a beating Mori had taken, a Leech Life would spell her end and easily get Pallosand back into the fight. For this reason, Knuckles intervened, letting the speed of a
Bullet Punch propel her into the path of the Pallosand's energy pulse. From there, she waved Mori onward, even as the Riolu grit her teeth and endured the pain of her life being drained away.[break][break]
The Duskull looked at Haunter, looked at herself, and then sighed. Without further ado, she plunged a hand right into her own mask, pulling out a chunk of her soul orb. As she crushed it in her hand, she whispered a
Curse against the Haunter; even if he survived the onslaught being fired his way, fate would eventually make him pay up.[break][break]
Would the Curse have what it takes to push Haunter over the edge? Or would Johanna's team defiantly stay up until the end of Round 3? Isaac watched with bated breath, secretly hoping that the Haunter would push through. He just had that little bit further to go![break][break]
TEAL DEER:[break]
Charles is Hypnotized! Ringo uses Heal Bell to break him out of it, foregoing an actual attack for the turn.[break]
Kiryu is struck by the Fire Spin. Unable to join the larger fray, she tries to trap Houndour with a Rock Tomb.[break]
Ivan uses a copycat Fire Spin to try and restrict Haunter's movements.[break]
Charles, groggy from just waking up, quickly launches a Psycho Cut towards the (hopefully!) trapped Haunter.[break]
Knuckles uses Bullet Punch not to attack, but instead to take a Leech Life hit for Mori.[break]
With what energy she has left, Mori Curses Haunter to try and knock him out of the fight.
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