Twoey watched the Scraggy bounce across the ground in satisfaction, wiping dust from her hands as she went to retrieve her bamboo shoot and pop it back into her mouth. The Mawile was clearly quite smug with her KO streak, an arrogance Colton hoped would hurt her performance for the next Pokémon.

”You can still walk away. I’ve had my fill of action for the day and I’d be more than happy to let bygones be bygones here,” he said, though he knew what he was saying would ultimately fall on deaf ears. The guy appeared to be hyper fixated on the battle, as if it was the most important thing in the world that he successfully jump this one random researcher wandering around Ultra Space.

Of course, the next Pokémon came, a Sneasal this time. Twoey seemed eager to jump back in the fray, her giant jaw quite literally chomping at the bit. But, given how the Absol had so easily avoided a few of Lodestone’s attacks, he expected that more than a few of this guy’s Pokémon shared the same trick. ”Take it easy, Twoey. Just Stockpile for now,” Colton said, the Mawile rolling her eyes as a white glow formed around her body.

By Stockpiling, he could build Twoey’s defenses up, which would hopefully bait his opponent into making the first move by taking the defensive option. Too many Stockpiles and her defense may get too high for the Sneasal to feasibly hurt her through, while also giving him the option to either heal Twoey up or take the Sneasal out in one decisive blow.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post), 10 MP (Knocked out opponent’s Pokémon)
Total: 220

Twoey readied herself as the Mawile charged in, its metal claws glinting in the low light. She brought her horn around to use defensively again, only to receive a shot of dust right into her face from the initial impact. The Mawile doubled over, coughing as her vision and lungs were filled more and more by the ever growing cloud of dirt in the air. With no way of seeing what was around her, she was helpless as stars barraged her from the dust cloud. Scratches appeared along her skin, thin trails of blood leaking down as each one made contact.

Colton glared at the man as he smirked before recalling Twoey back to her Pokéball. A bit of dust and some stars wouldn’t do much to a Steel type other than annoy her, but this wasn’t about how mich damage the Mawile had taken. This guy had decided to punch below the belt here and Colton wasn’t above doing the same.

Burnout soon replaced Twoey on the field, his tongue wagging as his engine revved excitedly. ”Shift Gear,” Colton ordered, the whine of the Revavroom’s engine pitching upward before suddenly dropping as his gears clicked into place. Toxic purple flames flared from his cylinders as his tires squealed and he took off right towards the Eevee.

”Donuts!” Colton shouted just before Burnout was about to slam headfirst into the other Pokémon, prompting the Revavroom to brake hard into a circular drift, his wheels kicking up dirt and dust directly into the Eevee’s face. With his heightened speed, it was hard to keep up with Burnout as he circled the Eevee over and over again.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post)
Total: 230

Colton’s gaze was trained on the Eevee as it tried to escape from the circling Revavroom. Something told him to stop, to hold back before it went to far and just let the poor Pokémon go. Its terrified cries and panicking face made his heart scream to show mercy to it.

But he couldn’t. He couldn’t let up, not without risking a complete shift in the momentum of the battle and giving his opponent something to abuse for an advantage.

”Crank it up higher!” Colton ordered. The whine of Burnout’s engine raised in pitch again before dropping just as suddenly as his gears shifted to allow for even higher speeds. The look of glee on the Revavroom’s face showed that he lacked the same trepidations as his trainee did. His tongue wagged with excitement as the donuts it bullet became tighter and tighter, pulling itself in ever closer.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post)
Total: 240

Colton's heart pounded in his chest, blood singing in his ears. His mind and soul warred with each other, both screaming in his head to press the advantage or let up on the terrified Eevee as it desperately tried to fight back against Burnout.

The stars bounced off of the Revavroom's steel body, hardly even affecting him as his engine kicked up into its final gear. The fastest he would ever get. His tongue wagged excitedly, violet flames burning out from both his cylinders and in his single eye as he stared the Eevee down.

Time slowed. Colton could see every single movement play out, each second feeling like it took an eternity. The war inside him raged on, both sides screaming louder and louder, making it feel like his ear drums were going to burst.

Until, suddenly, everything went quiet. One of the voices had won.

"Spin Out!"

Burnout's tires squealed as he suddenly braked, his donuts turning into a rapid spiral that made him look like a shapeless gray blob, rotating with such blinding speed it was dizzying to look at. And, like some sort of giant top, his path sent him right towards the Eevee, catching the small Pokémon and sending him tumbling end over end along with the Revavroom in a twisting spiral of death.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post)
Total: 250

Colton could only stare in horror as he watched the poor Eevee get thrashed about by Burnout's tires, blood staining the ground around its shattered body. Even the Revavroom seemed in disbelief at what he had done, his metallic body drenched with crimson liquid as it slowly rolled down his body.

Both trainer and Pokémon backed away from what they had done as the other cradled his Pokémon in his arms. "I...I warned you...b-but you didn't listen..." he said, his voice hollow as he spoke. Not that his words mattered. He was simply trying to justify this heinous action to himself, something to absolve the earth shattering guilt that gripped his chest.

Burnout's single eye was focused on the Eevee, not even paying attention as the Sneasal and its teammates jumped him, their shadowy fists slamming into him and sending him tumbling back. He made no move to fight back, though, merely zipping behind his trainer to cower in fear.

As for Colton, when the other man suddenly charged at him, he could only stumble back and fall to the ground. His dislocated arm was jarred as he hit the ground, sending a fresh wave of pain throughout his body. He feebly held his good hand out, trying to ward the other man off from hurting him.

"I...I didn't mean to...!"

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post), 10 MP (Pokémon killed)
Total: 270

Fear was clear on Colton's face as he was dragged up by his collar, his good hand feebly trying to pry the other guys' fingers off while his feet kicked wildly.

"B-Burnout!" was all he could say before the fist connected with his face. Stars filled his vision as he reeled. Colton had never been hit by another person before. The sensation didn't feel real, but the painful stinging in his cheek made sure he knew it was.

The Revavroom, despite its heightened speed and attack, slowly rolled forward at his trainer's command. It was clear he hesitated to attack again after what he had just done, yet he still tried to use IRON HEAD to at least free Colton from Kouji's grasp, however feeble the effort was.

Burnout wouldn't need to though, as the Rocket very suddenly pushed Colton away, screaming about proving himself before landing a solid kick right into his chest, knocking the wind out of his lungs and sending him back to the ground. He coughed and sucked in, trying to regain his breath. A task made all the more difficult by the white hot pain searing from his dislocated shoulder.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post)
Total: 280

Colton slowly got back to his feet, still sucking wind as he hobbled backwards. Burnout, upon meeting the Sneasal in combat, just as quickly shrank back, still unwilling to fight for fear of repeating what he had done. There was little he could or would do, not with the Eevee's blood still dripping down his body and fur being caught in his tires.

Colton's fingers fumbled at his waist, returning the Revavroom to his Pokéball before calling Twoey out again. She appeared far more eager to scrap, though it was clear it the mood of her trainer was affecting her all the same. The Mawile stared the Sneasel down, white energy building up around her as she STOCKPILED, raising her defenses just as the Sneasel and its shadowy allies slammed their attacks into her.

As for Colton, he was at least still coherent enough to see the Rocket go for the biggest wind up into an uppercut he'd seen. Despite how fast it was, it gave too much away, giving him enough time to leap up slightly and use his foot to absorb the blow. It stung, but the momentum transferred up to his body and sent him floating upwards through the air where he landed on a platform above.

Kouji Matsubara
OOC: Clash 1/3
10 MP (IC Post)
Total: 290