Isaac Merlo[break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION[break]
- Reinhardt braves the storm, and gives the Hulk equivalent of Earth Power. Now that's Nature![break]
- Ana is returned for Sunny, who Flame Charges and warms and speeds up.[break]
- Who was going to go down first? The Marowak or the Nidoking?[break]
- And how was Ashley going to even the playing field?

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Duster tried to pull his weapon back. If only he knew it was exactly what Reinhardt wanted. He grabbed Duster by the arm and pulled him into a grapple, a move equal parts dangerous and baffling. What did any of this have to do with Earth Power?[break][break]

When Duster hit the ground, and cracks of gold spread across the floor, Isaac realized all too late. The second slam spent the power of the earth itself shooting up like a geyser, the attack's true manifestation searing Duster and leaving him shouting in pain. Combining a physical grapple with a special move to make both stronger than the sum of their parts . . . Brilliance.[break][break]

Yet even as the storm gathered, Reinhardt refused to let up. This was looking grim for Duster. He'd already taken two hard Ground type attacks, and a third like this could knock him right out of the fight. Isaac had to do something, and fast.[break][break]

"Get in there, Kilimanjaro! We need your support!"[break][break]

It sure was a good thing that Isaac had a near-unharmed Pokemon holding down the fort on his side of the field. As Reinhardt swung Duster down like the hammer of an angry god, he found his strike landing not on the cold, hard ground but instead on a thick mop of hair.[break][break]

When Isaac said support, it turned out he meant it literally. With his soft fur and strong neck muscles, Kilimanjaro had literally become a support platform for Duster. Letting out a grateful sigh, Duster grabbed a thick fistful of Kilimanjaro's hair, holding on for dear life to avoid being pulled away by Reinhardt.[break][break]

It wasn't going to be easy. The Earth Power still rippled on the ground below, and Kilimanjaro was hit painfully in the underbelly by the erupting move. He tipped back, and for a second it seemed like the attack to his most vulnerable spot would tip him right over.[break][break]

Instead, as he bellowed in pain, the Camerupt opened his big old jaw and bit down on Duster. Turning Reinhardt's own strength against him, Kilimanjaro held fast and started lowering himself back down to the ground. More importantly, this little tug of war was now keeping Duster stable.[break][break]

"Time to wish an "Alola!" from me to you, brother," Isaac said, eyes gleaming. "Prime that Z-Move before he can wrench you out, Duster!"[break][break]

Kilimanjaro dug his heels in, fighting to hold his position. As he did, Duster held his bone high to the sky. The flames around his bone turned a sickly green and purple, and the air around the training room dropped to an eerie chill. Rather than burn, these dlames seemed to siphon warmth from the very soul. Duster grew weaker and weaker by the moment, as if he was giving every last bit of his energy to fuel the pyre. At one point, his bone clattered from his hand, Duster sagging limply into Reinhardt and Kilimanjaro's grips.[break][break]

And then the bone erupted into a towering inferno of Bone-Chilling Balefire, consuming all within.[break][break]

TEAL DEER;[break]
Duster is hurt real bad by Earth Power.[break]
Kilimanjaro catches Duster to prevent him from being KO'd outright, eating massive damage from an Earth Power in turn.[break]
On the edge of fainting, Duster uses his Bone-Chilling Balefire (deals Ice damage and leaves the target Burned).[break][break]
Who of the three are still standing? In the raging inferno, it's hard to see . . .

[break][break]

[break]

Isaac Merlo [break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION[break]
- Who hits first, the Poison Jab of a lifetime, or the Bonechilling Balefire? Either way, he would ensure to take the two with him, if he can.[break]
- Either way, Reinhardt is out cold, literally. Hopefully, if Kilimanjaro is still up, he'd have taken two down.[break]
- Sunny does come in to ensure that Duster hits the floor with a Bounce once open.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]By now, the battlefield had been ravaged by the wrath of the elements. Earth, frost, and flame left deep scars across the length of the Rocket training arena, toxic spikes and jolts of electricity dancing between what few gaps were left in the mess. It was like Ash and Isaac had front row seats to the apocalypse.[break][break]

The freezing inferno of the Balefire began to smolder, then burn out. A final cloud of green smoke rose from Duster's bone, leaving the resulted painted in silhouette. Kilimanjaro and Reinhardt's shadows stood, locked in frozen combat like fossils preserved mid deathmatch. Duster, having fallen entirely, was leaped upon and kicked out of the smoke by Sunny. Gently, Isaac gave the Marowak a pat on the shoulder, returning him to his ball. "Way to make me proud out there, Dust."[break][break]

Hia faith wasn't misplaced. When the dust cleared, Reinhardt's eyes were blank and his stance was rigid. He'd been taken out, KO'd on his feet as defiantly as ever.[break][break]

Kilimanjaro looked to his flank, flecks of purple scattered across his fur. He looked to his foe, eyes narrowing in irritation. He leaned back, as if ready to double tap the Nidoking and make sure that their duel was at an end.[break][break]

Instead, he braced himself against the Nidoking, helping keep him on his feet until he could be recalled.[break][break]

"Kilimanjaro's a dead 'mon walking," Isaac pointed out, noting how his eyelids fluttered and his head dipped. "I give him a round. Two if I'm lucky. You and Rein've become some damn good fighters."[break][break]

It was only when Reinhardt was recalled that the Camerupt would return to the battlefield, sending another avalanche of rocks in Sunny's direction. The Scorbunny was dangerously quick, and a Rock Slide would at least force him to reconsider further asrial assaults.[break][break]

As he fired off, Isaac threw another Pokeball. Shockmaster emerged from containment, recharged, amped up, and mad as hell from the Toxic Spike embedded in her foot. She pointed at Ash, bellowing a challenge that left Isaac smirking. "I think we know who she's looking for."[break][break]

As soon as Ana was out, Shockmaster would rush towards her, fists raised. However, as she raised an arm to attack, her body would blur forward, her previous lumbering gait accelerating into something far quicker. After making this loop, she would tackle Ana from behind in a vicious Quick Attack.

One of Isaac's Pokemon was practically a goner. The other was on a time limit. If Ash played his cards right, he could outlast them both without much more struggle.[break][break]

But what about mysterious Pokemon #4?

[break][break]

[break]

Isaac Merlo[break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION[break]
- Sunny dodges from rock to rock thanks to his increased speed, gives Shockmaster a Kamen Rider dive-Hi-Jump-Kick.[break]
- Ana is slapped to the side with the Quick Attack. She tries to stay conscious.[break]
- Ashley says it's okay. Ana is out cold.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Shockmaster let out a triumphant cheer as she barreled Ana over. Ha! Who was playing rough now, huh? She struck a pose, then dramatically pointed towards her fated adversary. Their battle would be legendary![break][break]

The Pikachu didn't get up.[break][break]

Dejected, Shockmaster groaned. "I, uh. I don't think she got the memo that Ana took a bone club to the face," Isaac said, almost bashful. "Now c'mon! Head back in the game!"[break][break]

Too late. Shockmaster's pride left her eating a High Jump Kick to the back. The Scorbunny's small size meant he wouldn't be knocking her around, but he had more than enough momentum to leave her planted into the ground. Shockmaster hit the ground with enough force to crack the cooled magma beneath her.[break][break]

She rose, clutching her jaw with one hand and her ribs with another. She tried to focus on the battlefield, but poison shot through her veins, leaving her vision swimming. She, too, had been brought to her last legs. Judging by Kilimanjaro's low groan, he was in a similar vote.[break][break]

It was two on two, three Pokemon on the edge of fainting and a full-functioning Sunny. Yet no sooner did Ana rise than she already fell again. This wasn't a sustainable condition for any fighter.[break][break]

"Kili, Shock, you two don't have anything left to prove. Take five," Isaac said. Kilimanjaro accepted immediately, ambling back to Isaac's side. Shockmaster put up more resistance, gesturing to the fallen Anna and letting out a roar of protest. "Shock, you can barely stand. You two can settle the score later, okay?" Begrudgingly, Osaac's offer was accepted, and the two Pokemon returned to their balls.[break][break]

"I'm going double down, Ash," Isaac said his grin sharklike as it spread from ear to ear. "No distractions. Two healthy Pokemon, one on one. Battle's all yours. But if you want it, you're gonna have to climb Mt. Everest for it."[break][break]

Isaac grabbed his Pokeball, rolling it to the ground as if he was afraid of disturbing it. A ball seal glimmered at the front of the ball, a peal of ominous grey smoke rolling out from its front. Isaac's Mega Ring, proudly worn atop his arm, started to shine in all colors of the rainbow, yet it was answered only by an ominous flash of red from within the cloud.[break][break]

As if out of nowhere, a colossal Mega Metagross burst from the smoke. It rocketed straight towards Sunny with a single mission in mind. Its two lower arms jabbed into the ground like stakes, attempting to block off routes of potential retreat as energy gathered in its upper arms. The resulting Hammer Arm rained down with cold, mechanical precision.[break][break]

Project: Omega had come online.

[break][break]

[break]

[attr="class","skullinfo"]MOBILE POST / Ashley Shepard

Isaac Merlo[break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION, Sunny's Theme[break]
- With acceptance, Rein and Ana return. One-to-one, Sunny and Ashley stare the mountain.[break]
- As the Hammer Arm comes, the faster bunny slides upon Omega's arm with an Agility, changing type to Psychic via Libero.[break]
- Launches off the arm, and prepares to run. Never stopping.[break]
- Sunny begins to circle around Omega quickly, flash-stepping around him.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]The Scorbunny was fast. Way fast. Between its small size and enhanced speed, it was able to weave through the gapes between Omega's arms. Its body slid across the Mega Metagross' cold, silver frame, their respective psychic powers ever so slightly repelling each other.[break][break]

The second it landed, it began running circles around Omega. Yet Omega remained completely still.[break][break]

Much like a preying mantis, Omega was not one for excess movement. Instead, the main muscle that the living supercomputer stretched was its brain.[break][break]

It analyzed the velocity at which Sunny was running, and how much it accelerated with each spring in its step.[break][break]

It analyzed any patterns, any fakeouts, any jukes and jives, for no living brain could create true randomness.[break][break]

It analyzed the current and charge of the floor beneath it, and was content to note Ana's earlier rage had elevated it to extreme levels.[break][break]

It analyzed the structural damage that the battlefield had faced thus far, noting where heat and ice shock left it particularly vulnerable.[break][break]

And then, with terrifying, mechanical precision, it struck.[break][break]

Four auxiliary arms stretched down from its back, tearing out a chunk of the ravaged battlefield. It held the chunk behind it like a springboard, magnetic power of identical charge and magnitude building up in its back. Normally, a Magnet Rise offered a minor boost of speed, at best, from ignoring friction.[break][break]

Today, Omega would repurpose it to launch himself like a cannon.[break][break]

He sailed not towards where the Scorbunny was, but where he calculated he would be. As he did, his arms pumped like hydraulic pistons, taking advantage of Sunny being liberated from the fire type to Meteor Mash him at full force.[break][break]

On his adventures with Temp, Omega had pushed Isaac to his very limit. The isolated, battle-crazed Metagross had practically run roughshod through his entire team. Even now, Isaac felt less like Omega's trainer and more like his handler. But how do you even train a Pokemon that's smarter than you? It was all the more reason this battle was important. Ash needed to face a foe that left his brother in arms sweating bullets, and Isaac needed to understand his greatest challenge yet.

[break][break]

[break]

Isaac Merlo[break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION, Sunny's Theme[break]
- The final gambit was here; Sunny attempts a super sonic kick.[break]
- Using the friction from Electric type and the speed, Sunny speeds up the wall only to run back down and go for the kick.[break]
- Omega wins by being fully evolved. One hit KO.[break]
- Ashley is laughing. Oh well. He loses today.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Isaac's eyes widened as Sunny started breaking out all of the stops. He slipped his Pokeballs from his pocket, letting them hit the ground and release their payloads. Shockmaster slapped Duster across the face a few times, rousing the Marowak from unconsciousness before setting him atop Kilimanjaro's hump. Once that was set, she flopped weakly against the Camerupt's side, leaving its knees quivering.[break][break]

Okay, so the whole team looked and felt like shit right now. But they didn't want to miss this chance to watch and learn.[break][break]

They watched as Sunny discharged an Electro Ball, less to attack and more to supercharge himself. His static-coated feet let him run across the supercharged walls, a parallel to the technique that Omega was cooking up at that very moment. He then shifted gears from electricity to fire, liberated from the wall and launching off with a leg coated in flame.[break][break]

Had the majority of Isaac's other Pokemon taken that technique, it would've been over in a heartbeat. Even with the size and strength difference, the amount of momentum and preparation that Sunny had kicked up was terrifying. This was a move three rounds in the making, everything Sunny was capable of squeezed out into a single move. Even a beast like Omega had even odds of being put in critical condition, especially with the type matchup not on his side.[break][break]

Something unrecognizable flashed in Omega's eyes as he made this calculation. And that was why he made this next hit count.[break][break]

Both parties were moving at insane speeds, Sunny from his massive cavalcade of buffs and free-running momentum, Omega from a single, furious burst of energy. Both lashed out with a single, precise blow, their legs thrust out in a single strike. And both refused to move from their plan of attack, hurtling inevitably towards a final conclusion.[break][break]

The force of their collision sent a sonic boom launching through the room. Isaac flinched, throwing up an arm to shield himself from the shards of ice, stone, and magma kicked up in the wake of their collision. Kilimanjaro and Duster passed out just from being walloped by the shockwaves from the collision, Shockmaster supporting herself against the fallen camel just to avoid following suit. Some say the entire Team Rocket sub was left shaking from the force of impact.[break][break]

Yet when the dust settled, conventional Pokemon battling logic gave way to conventional martial arts battling logic. Sunny's kick had missed Omega by a hair, if only due to the sheer size difference of their legs.[break][break]

Even then, the momentum that Sunny brought in his wake sent Omega spiraling back. The intensity of his flames, stoked with each footstep the Scorbunny had made, left a sear across Omega's cross guard. Such was the exertion that he put out that the Infinity Energy erupted from his body earlier, regressing him back into his standard chassis. Omega had won Isaac the battle, but both parties had put themselves through war to make it here.[break][break]

"Holy shit, dude. If that hit, I think Omega'd be joining the other three over there," he said, gesturing to the pile of bodies that he'd once called a Pokemon team. Shockmaster weakly tried to flash him a thumbs up, only to succumb to her injuries and her poison and pass out right on Kilimanjaro's flank. "You've got a hell of a creative mind, and your team's gotten so strong since last go-around."[break][break]

A devilish smile spread across his face as he considered their respective battle strategies. "Now imagine what happens if Sunny whips up a kick like that while I'm putting on too much pressure to let the other guy focus."

[break][break]

[break]

Isaac Merlo [break][break]

NOTES

- OUTFIT, MISSION[break]
- Ashley thanks his Pokemon; all of them happily accepting the defeat. Humbled.[break]
- Despite that humbling, Ash assures Isaac it won't be easy next time.[break]
- The boys be growing up.

MADE BY GUNSMILE

[attr="class","skullimg"]

[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]"Whoa, whoa, whoa. Don't go saying it like I'll make it easy for you," Isaac said. "You're not the only one training his heart out. Sure, you'll be able to run circles around the me you fought today . . . but the me you're gonna fight next time's gonna be lightyears ahead, too."[break][break]

He offered Ash a fistbump, excitement sparking in his eyes. "So let's promise each other we're gonna give it our all, alright?"[break][break]

Of course, Ash and his team weren't the only ones Isaac was proud of. He headed over towards his own team, ready to excitedly cheer them on for their own successes. Instead, he found them passed out in a giant, warm looking cuddle pile. Omega shook his head as he approached them, only for Isaac to shoot him a glare. "You wouldn't have gotten half as far if they didn't have your back. Ease up," he warned the Metagross. He may've ended the battle untouched, but that didn't mean he was in any position to judge.[break][break]

He checked the Pokemon, made sure that they weren't too injured, and then let Charles loose from his Pokeball. The Rapidash took one look at the exhausted pile, one look at Isaac, and sighed. He began trotting up and down the length of the training field, dispensing Heal Pulses to help all of the exhausted Pokemon on both sides get back to their feet. "You all fought your hearts out today. If any one of you wasn't in position, we could've lost this one," Isaac said as his crew stirred back to life.[break][break]

"So how bout we celebrate? Let's get some all you can eat and put some pep back in our step!"

[break][break]

[break]