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Arbok flares its hood, forked tongue snaking in the air with a hiss as it reared its head to match their aggression. Adrian realizes too late, his sclera flickering to capture an image of these three—their true nature. None of them were exclusive; either they were marked, or guarded by a fabled pokemon, two of which were readily apparent before him. Mesprit he recognized, but the other...? He could only guess their origin. $#%&!—[break][break]

Bewitching his Arbok, Adrian braces as the attack sends a fallout breezing past him. He can feel Arbok's aura dwindling, on its last leg, offering some insight into the nature of the enemy's attack and the caliber of its battle prowess. With unforgiving candor Adrian places a hand upon Arbok as it reels from the attack, before shock and betrayal set in. He steals what little is left for himself, withdrawing it.[break][break]

ARBOK FAINTED!

[break]

"...That won't happen again, I promise." Adrian manages not to sound defeated, quickly brandishing a new pair of pokeballs and unleashing pokemon more suited to the situation he found himself in.[break][break]

"Take them out," Adrian demands, placing a hand against the Smeargle to hold it back, allowing only Urshifu to advance on the enemy LATIAS next.[break][break]

WICKED BLOW

[break]

For its part, Smeargle would stay by his side as a deterrent; would they wield these pokemon's fabled power so freely, knowing he could just as easily claim it for his own? He almost wished they would...

[attr="class","bottom"]Locke Jamison Raziel Beckett Eris Halla[break]
^{09 engage in battle with a member from the opposing faction.}[break]

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As the flames come forward Salem reacts along side the Luxray, using HELPING HAND to help with the defensive use of the SPRINGTIDE STORM. Meanwhile Razz has more than been trained for stressful situations as he grabs out a pokeball to call out his Charcadet, Tango. The fire child pokemon absorbing the FIRE SPIN with its FLASH FIRE ability. [break][break]

He's trying to think of what to do about both situations, but as he sees Eris begin to act more like what he would expect from a child he faulters slightly. Figuring the Rocket their main concern rather that whatever was going on with Locke. So Razz switches priorities slightly as their Team of Pokemon keep up the defense. As far as he knows this is just the Adrian Malcolm Rocket has made them, and Razz doesn't feel so different, nor does Eris seem too far off herself just maybe... "Get in close, and hope the infinity energy does something," he guesses as he grabs Eris, "Salem!" he calls for the cat as he throws Eris at Locke, expecting the cat to smooth out the toss the best he could. [break][break]

Reiner may hate him, but Eris asked for a plan and this was it. The rocket would have to be 2nd priority.

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Adrian Malcolm + Eris Halla + Locke Jamison

[break]+ Salem uses HELPING HAND to assist Reinder
[break]+ Tango is called to absorb the FIRE SPIN with FLASH FIRE
[break]+ Razz throws eris, best plan.. of all time...

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They do not answer his challenge as he might've hoped, but the deterent serves him just as well. Although they have as yet to leverage their manpower advantage against him, Adrian hardly feels to be playing from a position of strength. It's all so very bothersome, and their little charade has since attracted Yveltal's notice.[break][break]

But he is loathe to rely on them overly. Though Adrian can distance himself from the immediate harm of the FIRE SPIN, his Urshifu and Smeargle are subject to it, under duress from the extreme temperatures. What a relief it is then, when they seem to turn on one another... Though equally vexing. Was it some trick...? He had only questions.[break][break]

"Smeargle, handle them," he spat in demand.[break][break]

Brandishing its tail, its tuft appeared drenched with coal black ink before it flourished it to form a series of strange geometric gestures (ダークホール) before the vicinity, though alight from the blaze, was now cast into a deepening darkness...[break][break]

DARK VOID

[break]

Despite the scale of the attack, Adrian did not wish to rely on it so. And recognizing the treat Luxray posed, armed with the power that had been granted at the FLEUR TEA ATELIER, he was reluctant to rely upon Urshifu further. Once again, he found his pokemon coming up short, and the seething malcontent left him eager to tie up their loose ends...[break][break]

URSHIFU FAINTED!

[break]

Once more he finds himself stealing away any opportunity they might've had, borrowing their power for himself. Feeling his body swelling with infinity energy, he feels more comfortable about his odds. But still, he mustn't let down his guard, either. A HEATRAN at his side helps to alleviate any worries there, however. For now, it PROTECTS them.[break][break]

Despite his preparations, it seems they weren't needed; he can only stare incredulously as one of them is tossed at the other, something that leaves him confused. What the actual fuck...?

[attr="class","bottom"]Locke Jamison Raziel Beckett Eris Halla[break]
^{09 engage in battle with a member from the opposing faction.}[break]

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All he could really do is hope his plan would work. With Salem having help give added force to the throw Razz can only think back to his own logic. Figuring whatever it was that was making Locke Jamison act so out of character was something that was effecting him because he was missing something: infinite energy. Something he believed Adrian Malcolm and him had because their Patrons, and Eris Halla had because of her suit. [break][break]

Though as the Rocket seemed to knock out the other's consciousness, the voices behind Locke Jamison's actions made him pause. Noting their hate toward him, claiming him to be the worst of all. And there was only one thing that held Eris, Adrian and him in common, Rocket. He only had a brief moment to think about what the spirits who formed this Spiritomb were but he didn't have much time as the PHANTOM FORCE came up from under him, Salem using PSYCHIC in order to throw his trainer away from the attack even if the Psychic pokemon himself takes the hit. [break][break]

For now Razz just tries to trust his plan of the Infinite Energy coming off Eris to expel whatever was haunting Locke as he recoves from the ground to see that Adrian had called out another pokemon to battle. "Look we aren't here for you or the league alright, if you can even recall I helped you against them when they were attacking you so how about," Razz will gesture toward the Spiritomb, "You return the favor?"

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Adrian Malcolm + Eris Halla + Locke Jamison

[break]+
[break]+

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Adrian begins to see that something is off with... these three. They go so far as to act out against each other—Adrian takes a step back when the altercation erupts between Jamison and Kingsman. His instinct compels him to check their aura, and as his eyes darken, it's clear there is something else entirely off about Locke.[break][break]

As they've already figured, however, he is possessed by the rogue spirits of a SPIRITOMB. It's not something he would ordinarily leave be, but his League resentments had been stoked—he considers leaving him to this fate. If not for the kindly words of rationality reminding Adrian of their brief stint in the ruins, Adrian just might have stood by doing nothing.[break][break]

"..."

[break]

Even if he trusts Razz, he cannot say if he speaks true about his intentions here. In the end, the League always interfered at times like these, often when they were least wanted. He wouldn't trust them—[break][break]

This one is... truthful to a fault

...Or perhaps he would, though a part of him is sparked by its intrusion, tempted to spite its safely wisdom... But Adrian folds, hoping only to fulfill the worldly service that caused them to embark on this journey to begin with. Anger fades, for a time.[break][break]

"Smeargle, with me," he mutters begrudgingly as he hopes to cross the distance to Locke. A hand reaches out, and there is a hidden thread he tugs at, a tangled weave of lifelines that grow more tangible as he closes in. To any but him, it would appear as if he did nothing—but to the hundred-and-eight spirits, his hand was as a death knell, an act of divine intervention that could be likened to Yveltal's will.[break][break]

Was that enough to deter these wayward, misbegotten souls from their ignoble misdeeds?

[attr="class","bottom"]Locke Jamison Raziel Beckett Eris Halla[break]
^{🗺️ ADRIAN MALCOLM will experience spirits revering his presence, much to his pleasure or dismay.}[break]

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[attr="class","setting"]

Razz can't say he really understands what is going on in the end. His theory seems to somewhat hold from throwing Eris Halla at Locke Jamison. Though as Adrian Malcolm runs at the possessed courier things finally seem to take place as the young man seems to call for Eris's name. Okay maybe they were finally out of danger, least for just a moment. [break][break]

A pang of guilt flows through him when they seem to beg not to take this from them. Question was what did they want more? A body to live in or revenge against Rockets that killed them?[break][break]

Though their influences still seemed to effect the spiritomb as it had no intention of letting them go. Razz was ready to fight and prepared to give orders for his pokemon. Least until the SEARING SHOT came. Obliterating the ghost with ease. Some V shaped flame seeming to be the target who then focused on them. "Just one thing after another," he grumbles as Reiner grabs Locke and Eris and starts running. He gives one last look at Adrian before he haves Salem and Tango climb on top of him before he uses an explosion to take off after the others to leave this place. Hopefully with some more knowledge now for when he comes back.[break][break]

aDDK30Bf

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Adrian Malcolm + Eris Halla + Locke Jamison

[break]+
[break]+

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What moment might've been allowed for a welcome respite is engulfed in flames. Though the others respond to the threat more appropriately, Adrian is not so quickly resolved to flee—but to stick to his guns. What now?[break][break]

Ahead of them a VICTINI—a creature Adrian doesn't recognize—fires of SEARING SHOTS of fire that he is able to withstand, owed to his reliance on Yveltal. HEATRAN moves to intercept, unfazed by the heat, while SMEARGLE is forced to retreat for fear of being set ablaze. The altercation remains prolonged, but as they weather the vengeful spirit's attacks, it slowly becomes apparent that no meager force can quell the raving spirit's rancor. What, then—[break][break]

[break]

He feels the weight of Yveltal's presence, mayhaps amplified in its natural state, as it avails itself to their location. Where the spirits seem to hold Adrian in some reverence, it is clear the benighted legend commands a level of respect hinging on fear.[break][break]

The spirit is dissuaded from further battle after Yveltal signals its arrival, but there is a righteous fervor roiling in its lingering glare that is telling. Adrian could not hope to tame the tempers afflicting this creature—to force its reconciliation—with his current means; perhaps these other fugitive aspects would be similarly predisposed. What, then, could he hope to accomplish in confronting them?[break][break]

As always, he is left wanting for something more.[break][break]

Xa6q7Gwp

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^{14 engage in battle with the vengeful and vestigial spirit of victini.}[break]