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[attr="class","skulltitle"]導通抵抗

[attr="class","skullbody"]Priam was right. If this was graded by person, Isaac had shot himself in the foot so the other two could win the race. But this wasn't your average Rocket assignment. This was SPECTRA. This was about tight-knit units willing to go to bat for each other no matter how grim the odds got. Loyalty to each other, to the mission, and to Rocket was paramount here. Even if Isaac's own dedication didn't get the B-Stie Boy's score pumped up, their furious counterstrike would surely do the trick.[break][break]

Besides, something told Isaac he wouldn't need to worry about his score.[break][break]

Alba was right, too. Pokemon were built for battle. Trainers were built for commands. They didn't put themselves in harm's way. If a Pokemon fell, a trainer had reserves. If a trainer fell, a Pokemon had only their instincts to depend on. Isaac had just flipped the script in a way that seemed insane. But sometimes, the math on paper didn't play out. Sometimes, it took the sacrifice of a king to let a pawn shine.[break][break]

The blinding pain that Isaac's stab put Darkrai through opened up an opportunity for actual hits to follow. Espeon's Hidden Power pushed the shadow beast to the ground and splintered its illusions, allowing wave after wave of the Iron Moth's Fiery Dance to keep it pinned down. The rapid onslaught melted away at the Darkrai's fortitude. Worse still, it separated the master of shadows from his bag of tricks. The dances came at different meters and tempos, preventing Darkrai from finding any consistency in the shadows left behind by the flame.[break][break]

It would have to make its own.[break][break]

The Darkrai swept an arm in a bid to deflect the flames, curling inward as it drew power into itself. Light started to drain from the arena. The combatants, and even the spectators, would begin to feel their energy draining. The Darkrai's blue eye burned hatefully, calling to attention the trickle of ichor leaking from its wound. In moments, it would unleash its ultimate technique, and the mortals who dared to defy it would-[break][break]

Promptly opt to crush it instead. Ferrus Manus' massive hands clamped around the Darkrai, their fingers intertwining like a vice. The ghostly legend's semi-corporeal body only made it easier to squish, the Paradox tightening its grip until Darkrai was completely contained. The floating hands twitched and quivered as the god fought back with all of its might. Jagged eruptions of darkness spilled from the gaps between its fingers, the remnants of a Dark Void long since smothered.[break][break]

It was an admirable effort, but it was never going to last. Two Dark Pulses tore from the grapple, sending each of the hands flying in opposite directions. Its body was bent from the agonizing squeeze. Its cloak was tattered and ashen, some embers still dancing along its surface. Its aura of shadowy energy flickered, as if held back by the miraculous light of Hidden Power. But it had escaped. It had triumphed. And now, it would enact vengeance against the two fools that dared to defy it-[break][break]

Two?[break][break]

Snarling, the Darkrai sank into a fighting stance. It looked around through its bleary, blood-blotted eye, trying to find where the Iron Hands had gone. Another Dark Pulse swelled in the palm of its hand as it prepared itself, waiting for the most opportune moment to strike. And perhaps, that time had come! A fresh layer of shadow pooled around it, which would give it all the power it could possibly need.[break][break]

Such a shame that this shadow wasn't on Darkrai's side.[break][break]

Ferrus Manus came crashing down like a ton of bricks, driving the Darkrai into the ground with enough force to leave a crater on impact. While Darkrai was too busy fighting out of its grapple, the Paradox Pokemon had leaped high into the sky. He had left his floating hand units behind in the process, but they fulfilled their roles as distractions wonderfully. With the sudden change in position, Darkrai had no way of seeing his Heavy Slam coming.[break][break]

All was quiet. All was still. And just to be safe, Ferrus put a pin on this encounter by giving the Darkrai a stomp for the road. His hand units floated back towards him, allowing himself to slowly, exhaustedly pull himself out from the wreckage. He gave an appreciative bow towards Priam and Alba, then walked over to check on Isaac.[break][break]

The injured trainer could only muster a chuckle as his Pokemon approached, laughter giving way to wheezes and then to a pained groan. "Just like we rehearsed, eh, buddy?" he breathed, before turning to Priam and Alba and flashing them a winning smile. "Knew we'd tell 'em the B-Stie Boys were #1. You guys crushed it out there."[break][break]

Okay. No more talkie. Talkie hurt ribs. And organs. And everything. But victory? Victory good. Acceptable trade.

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