[attr="class","skullbody"]Mugen was a chimeric beast, an apex predator reconstructed into a war machine. Far from the peace that Isaac had tried his hardest to foster, this was what the Genesect had been born for. With the Inteleon knocked from his perch, now the Genesect could turn his attention to the army at large. Its fist slammed into the ground, a Max Quake erupting from the site of impact and tearing a fissure into the army. From there, he dove into the exposed flank, relentlessly punishing that opening it with a Max Steelstrike.[break][break]
Isaac could never hope to catch up to his Genesect, but he wasn't shying away from the front lines, either. He stood at the front of the mixed Galarian armies, his Light Screen continuing to turn away attack after attack. Whatever the wall of light couldn't stop, his sturdy shield was able to turn aside. When they made it out of this mess alive, he'd have to treat
Aurelie Lefevre to a royal feast for her invaluable efforts.[break][break]
Provided Calyrex would be kind enough to give them one last day together.[break][break]
Gritting his teeth, Isaac shook the thought and redoubled his efforts. It didn't matter that he was leaving. It didn't matter that this Galar was a memory. It didn't matter that, live or die, he would never see how his efforts paid off. Galar had been his home for 20 years, and he would do his damndest to see it off safely.[break][break]
Each swing of his blade was for one of Galar's fallen heroes. Each bash of his shield was for a Pokemon that fainted in the line of duty. Each war cry was for a friend, displaced from their home, fighting for their chance to take their lives back. As the offense pushed forward,
ana fell's sword dripped with blood and toxic ichor, each drop a sign of bittersweet triumph and glorious vengeance.[break][break]
In an ideal world, they could do this all day. But what set the mortals apart from the gods were their limits.[break][break]
Isaac's swings grew heavy. The edge of his blade dulled. The radiant light of his Aegis started to flicker and fade, Isaac needing to hold it skyward so the black ore could absorb the sun's rays. Bodies on both sides were beginning to pile up, but when half of them were berserk monsters and half were people with hopes, dreams, and lives, it was hard to see the losses as equivalent.[break][break]
Smoking and sputtering, Mugen burst from the horde in an explosive Flame Charge. His chassis was cracked, his headlights were flickering, and his rigid, mechanical posture was starting to sag.
"You too, eh, buddy?" Isaac asked, dashing past Mugen to bash a poisoned Pokemon to the ground with his Aegis. The Genesect wheeled around, splattering it with a Techno Blast. Trainer and Pokemon weakly leaned against each other.
"You fought hard. Return."[break][break]
In a flash of red light, the Genesect returned to his Pokeball . . . and the Pokemon he blasted came charging out, having not been quite as dead as Isaac hoped.[break][break]
His guard was down. His arms were heavy. The Pokemon's looming shadow, miasma cloud, and hellish screech overwhelmed him on all sides. For a second, Isaac saw his life flash before his eyes.[break][break]
Then he felt a rough hand on his shoulder.[break][break]
Atticus, captain of his royal guard, had intervened on the edge of disaster. His blade sunk into the hostile Pokemon's wound just as its claw pierced straight through his armor. Their death rattles blended into one as monster and man slumped to the ground. Desperately, Isaac separated them, turning his captain, friend, and confident over to look him in the eye.
"Atticus, please! Why did you . . . you can't . . ."[break][break]
A weak smile spread across Atticus' face. In lieu of any last words, he reached up to give Isaac a gentle pat on the shoulder. With that last touch, he fell limp in Isaac's arms.[break][break]
His fighting spirit redoubled, and there was no better time for his wrath.[break][break]
The enemy commanders and generals had been toppled. The people of Galar had broken ranks through their armies. Now, with their hated children defeated, the twin legendary threats descending into Postwick to continue their feud. Their war, just as much against each other as they were against Galar, crushed buildings and ended lives without a care in the world. The illusory Zamazenta ran into the Slumbering Weald, leaving the Galarians to their fates. Despite being so injured and so weary, they would need to finish this fight themselves.[break][break]
Would Isaac choose to stand against Eternatus? He was the god that had spelled Galar's doom. He was why, for the past 15 years Arceus knows how much longer, they were forced to struggle against invasions of corrupted beasts. He was why they starved and toiled, forced to sustain themselves on the remnants of tainted lands. Were he to survive, the land Isaac had grown to love would never be free.[break][break]
But then there was Necrozma. If Eternatus was the scourge of Isaac's new home, Necrozma was the scourge of his old. He'd appeared in Hoenn time and time again, claiming lives and spreading ruination wherever he went. Were he to consume Eternatus' power, who knew how much havoc he would be able to wreak in the present day?[break][break]
Which home would Isaac fight for?[break][break]
He'd already prepared for Necrozma. Releasing Ogrelord from his Pokeball, Isaac held his Dynamax Band to the sky. It was going to take all the power left in that band, but in a pulse of red light Ogrelord started to grow. With longer limbs, a more elegant body, and a menacing red glow, the Grimmsnarl stood at the ready. He looked towards Isaac, nodded, and charged off towards the Necrozma.[break][break]
The light predator would be met with the full force of a black hole, shadowy gales erupting out to assail it from all sides. With any luck, Ogrelord's
G-Max Snooze would slow its assault.[break][break]
Yet while Ogrelord charged Necrozma, Isaac made a beeline towards Eternatus. Whenever it tried to strike next, he would hold his Aegis high, letting the energy from their brawl infuse the shield and kick his
Light Screen back into gear. Were Isaac to have his way, he would see both of these mad gods put in their place. He wasn't alone in his planning, either.
Julia Davis had the same idea, their Pokemon bombarding Necrozma while they stood as Galar's sword and shield. As he stood firm, he turned her way, shooting her a smile and a nod.[break][break]
Could he have his cake and eat it too? Maybe if he had two cakes.[break][break]
TEAL DEER;[break]
A lot of battle preamble that doesn't quite matter, just me fleshing out the timeskip between the two posts.[break]
Atticus, Isaac's captain of the royal guard and confidant, falls in battle protecting him.[break]
Isaac switches Genesect for Grimmsnarl, Dynamaxing it and sending it after Necrozma with a G-Max Snooze.[break]
At the same time, he uses his aegis to interrupt Eternatus' attacks with a Light Screen.[break]
Isaac has chosen to ruin both legendaries' days, because Isaac ain't about choosing lesser evils.
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[attr="class","skullinfo"]MOBILE POST / M-M-M-M-MEGATHREAD