Crystals licked over flesh. As Alexei Ivanov made his approach the blond haired man had smartly called out a pokemon. Chu-e twitches in place, as if rooted to the spot. His eyes are somewhere else and vacant, yet they slide slowly over to take in the other approaching.

Chu-e, mentally, is somewhere else. Blood is still fresh on his clothes when he turns around to face the other.

Darting from behind him, quick, a Mawile. Titania doesn't wait, real mouth lifted and open to Intimidate. Rocks raise from the ground before being flung at the other man and his pokemon. The Ancient Power made Titiana glow briefly, feeling an excess power.

Chu-e does not answer. Alexei Ivanov isn't wrong in his assessment that Chu-e is in a trance. Battles of the past flash behind his eyes; slowly, he takes one creeping step towards the other. Crystals drip from him like water, forming long whip-like claws that dance and shift as if alive at the end of his fingertips.

Titiana flinches back but doesn't falter. Shifting, her body glows as she Mega Evolves- body warped and changed and more powerful.
Her new Huge Power promises trouble for the other pokemon as she stares the dragon down. She squats down, still, then darts forward to try and close the distance.

Fairy type energy fills her as she tries to Play Rough with the other, not afraid to use her many mouths to crunch and chomp down on the dragon.

The attack is a cacophony of noise. Yet, Titiana is unaffected. She finishes her Play Rough and dances around the dragon type as it moves.

In fact, she Mimics it. Her own metal body bangs against itself in a cruel mockery of the Clanging Scales. The noise level rises stronger, which drowns out Alexei Ivanov's words even more so than the daze Chu-e is in already.

Chu-e does pause, though. Not due to the attacks themselves, but the flashes he sees of Alex, that drips through the clutter in his mind- something wants him to hesitate. To stop. But why? But why?

He can't remember.

The Sky Uppercut connects. It works as the Kommo-o had expected and wanted- almost. Titiana achieved some liftoff, which was good, but those multiple mouths chomped down on the dragon type before she could get too far. Dragging him further from his trainer with his own attack. Fangs sank deep and tore into flesh.

The end of Kommo-o did not come from Titiana, though.

Chu-e had been approaching. Slowly. On wobbly steps as if drunk and trying to stay upright.

Crystal tendrils wrap around the dragon type. Razor thin and even more deadly. Blood creases.

Then the pokemon falls to pieces.

Sliced as if by piano wire.

Blood drips from Chu-e's fingertips when the Crystals wink back into his skin, sitting on top and moving in unnerving patterns. He glances up from the bloodied mess of flesh and glances up at Alex.

One step is taken towards the other. Titiana looks ready to jump the Gym Leader.

But Chu-e groans and falls forward, only keeping his balance because of his Mawile grabbing onto him. He holds his head as if in great pain.

"... hn... G-go.... ugh..."

@alexie flees and Chu-e recovers. He groans and straightens up, resolve shaken but not broken- yet. That would be up to Hideo Kino, later.

For now, he goes back to wandering around the theater and finding people to battle.

His Mawile stays by his side.