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Derek listens intently as his new friend of sorts offers what cautions he can about what lies ahead. "Zombies, huh?" That could be a problem, depending on just how mobile they were...
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"Good to know." He waited for more, but was already getting the measure of this place. Tip-toeing around a collection of rubble that could barely be considered the building that it was. There is nothing close by, but he can see something in the distance.
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Whatever it was, it appeared to be moving.
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A brief moment would allow Blackburn to take the lead if he desired. Otherwise Derek would peak around for a second look, mouthing the words I'm going before darting for a section of rubble closer to a structure seemingly untouched by apocalypse.
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tl;dr beginning prompt 15. search for suitable locations to set up camp/base (e.g. an abandoned building).

[attr="class","bottom"]dorian westcliff[break]

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The first time he looks back, he can see Blackburn tapping upon the remains of calcified megalopolans. Nothing to bat an eye at, though he's admittedly curious as well. But with his own agenda in mind, the first order of business is finding someplace to lay low while he scopes things out. He's never stepped foot in this place, after all.
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Several stories high, the abandoned building's upper floors would be the closest thing to a birdseye view that wouldn't put them out in the open. He would relay those wishes to Blackburn, who he assumes to the be the one that could be heard opening the door he'd just entered moments ago.
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Instead he is received by the likes of a lone deviant. This BLACEPHALON is quick to offer it's head in hostility. Reflexes bid him to bear a pokeball in-hand, but he observes the wrong pokemon come out...
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Instead of the Metagross he once knew to reside within, he watches JONESY spring forth from the pokeball. The Sobble appears to have stowed himself away in a different device, tired of being left back home during these dangerous departures.
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Derek watches in disbelief as the Sobble jumps forth, it's DRAGON HAMMER batting away at the Blacephalon's engorged head. Even this premature explosion directed out the door would still send it's trainer flying to the back of the room, and the Sobble that was closer yet into a sanguine confetti.
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tl;dr prompt 15. ✓[break]
23 encounter a blacephalon that has slithered toward you and/or your party stealthily. they will attempt to explode their head for a surprise ambush.

[attr="class","bottom"]dorian westcliff[break]

The scene after the explosion is summed best by one word. Blood. Blood everywhere. Blood on his face, and blood on the floor. Sinews, like tinsel, decorated Derek as he stood. Fell to the ground as the ranger stepped over them, audible mushing sounds that no trainer should have to endure.

Not like this.

Anything but this.

Wide eyes grow shaky as they struggle to accept what had transpired, with Derek straying from disbelief to favor denial. If he could just put the pieces together...

But they don't stay together. And he doesn't have time to find them all.

The next sound for sure should be BLACKBURN entering the building. Arriving just on time to witness the tragedy that took place whilst Derek frivolously handled the remains of the dead. Instead it's more of the same. More of the damn Blacephalon, and their heads that swelled to a humurous size. But it wasn't funny anymore.

The sound of agony is enough to incite his pokemon to release itself. Escaping the confines is GHELEON, the Zeraora he raised from a litter taken in by the rangers over a year ago. Little time is afforded, but with it's fabled AGILITY, the feline manages to take hold of it's trainer and rush past the Blacephalon before detonation. The eruption that ensues was something that not even the ultra beasts were likely to survive. At least, not now that the building collapsed over them.

But it wasn't enough. This place had more evils to offer, as soaked hues would rise to find a them in a horde of Megalopolans overtaking the horizon.

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tl;dr
prompt 22 encounter one or several blacephalon slumbering in a building, alleyway, or any place else in the city. they will use their move, MIND BLOWN to detonate their ever-spawning head like a firework. every explosion will attract danger to the area as they prance about before fleeing.

utilize a mythical pokemon in an advantageous way. 1/2

luckily escapes blacephalon, forced to confront the horde of megalopolans out in the open

LESSER MEGALOPOLIS: DD

☉

"...Uh, a little help here?" The ranger calls out, appealing to the fact he wasn't supposed to be alone in all this. But as the horde closes in, even with all their eyes, nothing comes of it. This silence of his partner stings. Isn't he going to help me?"

"HELLO!? BLACKBURN?!" Even louder this time, but the only thing it incites is a swifter pace from the megalopolans who take it as aggression. Why won't he just come out already?

Breaking out in a run, Derek herds the zombies, bobbing and weaving around rubble alongside his Zeraora. Eventually he realizes there is no losing them. Not without a distraction. The sound and bright lights from the explosions seemed to work well enough.

Turning down the next avenue, Derek finds a dead end in the form of rubble. As he turns, a distinct pose conveys the message to his pokemon. Harnessing enormous sums of power, it's energy manifests in the form of a GIGAVOLT HAVOC.

Radiant currents ripple along the ground and up along half-toppled walls, stunning this horde and shocking many electrical circuits and lights running through the cityscape. It was enough to power everything in the area. Some flickered, though a few circuits blew up from the excess power, shooting sparks across the road and igniting some kind of fuel pooling on the road.

As the horde trips over itself, Derek is able to escape into the building. Though some zombies are not far behind, the Zeraora takes hold of it's trainer and covers the distance to the rooftops. From there they are able to push past the obstructed avenue, leaving the danger behind for now. But seeing now that it could be done, why was Blackburn too scared to act?

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tl;dr
🗺️ utilize a mythical pokemon in an advantageous way. (2/2)

13 use a light source in some way to distract a swarm of mad megalopolans.

LESSER MEGALOPOLIS: DD

☉

Maybe he was wrong to expect help. The guy must've watched him make every mistake in the book. The golden rule was to keep quiet, lessen the footprint, and well... he didn't.

Derek shares a quiet look of defeat with his Zeraora before getting back into gear. A stealthier approach this time lead him around this ruined district of Lesser Megalopolis. He saw more than just the dead bodies Blackburn was inspecting upon their visit.

Large gusts of an ebon shade tore through a section of the cityscape up ahead. Had he carelessly moved too fast, they might've been swept up with it. Gone in an instant.

But there is still no sign of Blackburn. As the hours draw on he loses hope. Maybe Derek was the one who got off easy? It was impossible to say, but he wonders anyway.

Eventually the prospect of dying here outweighs the search and (potential) rescue. In other situations, such as underwater cave diving, there was a cardinal rule. Don't save anyone. Getting yourself home was all that mattered. Maybe there was a little more nuance than that, but there seemed to be no point wasting anymore time looking for his "partner".

It takes another couple hours to navigate through this disaster, but Derek soon finds himself staring back at this hellish place before stepping through to his world...

He could always look into Blackburn on the other side.

bEsGGXaZ

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tl;dr
-spends hours looking for "JONATHAN BLACKBURN"

- escapes through the rift many, many hours later

LESSER MEGALOPOLIS: DD

☉