[attr="class","text"]
His heartbeat was loud in his ears, but narrowly avoiding death would do that to you. He found himself on the edge of the interdream zone again, that wretched world leaking into reality that writhed and fluctuated of its own volition.[break][break]

There was a little part of him fascinated by the nature of the realm, but he had little time to concern himself with metaphysics of the interdream zone. The mere fact he’d found another person so shortly after his first encounter made his anxiety very nearly erupt into paranoia. And the mask he was wearing would all but give him away as a Rocket.[break][break]

“You could say that…” Kaname murmured, slipping a hand into a pocket and grasping a pokeball just in case. ”It’s far more dangerous than you realize.” He wasn’t threatening the other man, it was just a statement of fact. This was war, and no one was safe.[break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

He scowled under the mask. Go? Going was never an option for him; there was too much at stake here to run off. The seal stone, his own personal goals, his social standing… they were all at risk if he left now.[break][break]

“I’m afraid I can’t leave.” He replied, producing a pokeball from his pocket. “But it doesn’t mean you can’t go. I’m willing to let you turn around and leave…,” he pauses for a brief second, releasing his Metagross from its pokeball. “Otherwise things will have to get ugly.” As he spoke, the Iron Leg Pokémon moved to position itself in front of its trainer. [break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

A pokemon he had never seen before was released from its ball. It was odd looking, almost like someone had forced together the pieces of a puzzle that didn’t quite fit. He wondered what it was, or if it was some trick of the eyes. Even after a few blinks, the pokemon still stood between its trainer and his metagross. It was definitely real, but there was something about being inside the rift that made things worse. It was like the rift itself was trying every possible way to reject his very being.[break][break]



He wanted to make the first move, to order his pokemon to strike with ferocity but he had no chance to; his opponent shouted his orders and his pokemon took off, wreathed in flame as it slammed right into the Metagross. The steel/psychic type groaned in pain, after all a fire type move was a good choice to use against a steel type like Metagross. This was going was indeed going to be ugly.[break][break]



“Retaliate with Zen Headbutt!”[break][break]



The Iron Leg Pokemon roared in response to the order, a dome of psychic energy covering its face as it attempted to charge into the Silvally headfirst.[break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

His mind was racing, full of fear and possibilities. The metagross had landed a hit, sure, but if it took another couple flame charges it would likely be over. It would be better for him to end this quickly.[break][break]



He was going to speak, going to issue a command but instead his body rebelled. Waves of nausea washed over him and his head began to pound; the effects of being in such a foreign place were catching up with him. He wavered briefly, as though he was being buffeted by an unseen breeze.[break][break]



He managed to gather enough willpower to croak out a command. “Flash Cannon…”[break][break]



As watery talons found purchase against its metallic body, metagross let loose a pained grunt. That, however, wouldn’t stop it. The steel type stamped its legs into the rocky terrain and took up aim; brilliant light that was once scattered over its body coalesced into a glowing sphere that would become a shining beam aimed for the Silvally.[break][break]



It was a highly telegraphed attack but one that would hopefully have a good payoff if it connected.[break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

Kaname sucks in a few deep breaths and straightens himself, the nausea finally passing; his headache, however, would not abate. His body ached and he was starting to feel the effects of exhaustion more heavily now. He had to end this battle soon. [break][break]



A wave of weakness passes over his Metagross, but it doesn’t phase him. No, Kaname is focused only on the pokemon on the field now. He glares at the Venusaur, it was an interesting choice to replace the unknown pokemon with the grass-poison type. “Use Psychic,” the grunt sounded sure of himself, sure that this move would do enough to take down the venusaur. [break][break]



The Metagross’ eyes gleamed as pink waves of psychic force were fired at the Venusaur. Kaname hoped that even with being weakened his Metagross could finish it off in a single blow. He needed to finish this battle in a single blow and retreat from Ultra Sea, this foreign world seemed to weigh on him more and more as time went on. [break][break]



The longer he remained inside the Ultra Sea rift, the more he felt ill. There was a building fear inside him that if he stayed too long, he might die.[break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

A fissure forms under his Metagross and it explodes with energy, striking the underside of the Iron Leg Pokemon. The steel-psychic type roars in agony and collapses, unable to continue to fight; meanwhile Kaname fumbles with a pokeball before recalling it. “What do I do…” He murmured, swallowing a hard lump in his throat and stared at the Venusaur for several seconds, it was mega-evolved. It was stronger, sturdier. He needed a pokemon that would be decisive in its strikes. [break][break]



He pulled a pokeball from his pocket and pressed the button, releasing a Crobat. The chiropteran pokemon hovered in the air, his four wings silently beating. “Air Slash, and don’t let up!” The Crobat let out a cry as its main pair of wings took on a silvered glow and fired forth multiple blades of air with every wingbeat, aiming for the Venusaur. [break][break]



His plan was simple, bombard the grass-poison type pokemon with Flying attacks until it couldn’t stand anymore. It was a plan of desperation, a final gambit before he would attempt to escape. [break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]

[attr="class","text"]

A knock out! He had done it, he’d caused the man’s Venusaur to faint; the tide was going to turn for him. There was no chance of him winning, but there was a chance of him escaping at this rate.[break][break]



As his opponent sends out a medicham, Kaname is reminded of his own. He knows how dangerous the Meditate Pokemon can be. He prepares to order another barrage as the fighting-psychic type charges in but is cut short by the sudden appearance of a swarm of poipole and naganadel pass through.[break][break]




“Run!” He shouts, holding up a pokeball to quickly recall his crobat as he witnesses one of the passing Ultra Beasts sting the champion’s medicham. His stomach churns as he watches his opponent’s medicham become so horribly maimed by the potent toxin. That death would be one of the many things that stuck with him.[break][break]




Rather than suffer the same fate, he turns and begins to run. Fear forcing his legs to carry him hard and fast back through the cavern; away from the Ultra Beast swarm, away from the Leaguer. He may have lost one of his more important pokemon, even may have lost the battle, but at least he would live free for now.[break][break]

[attr="class","kaname"][break]

[attr="class","credit"]