BOOM!!!

You don't remember when you'd fallen asleep, but the sound of a nearby explosion gets you out of your chair and onto your feet in an instant. Good news: Nothing in your immediate vicinity is blasted apart or on fire, so clearly, you weren't the intended target of that bombing. Bad news: It was still close, and that meant you're still in trouble. Just what the hell is going on outside of your secret little cave? And why do you get the feeling that it's going to ruin your day?

The safer option would be to just hunker down, stay quiet, and keep hiding, but how safe really is safe? Not safe enough for your liking. You can't risk Operation Yoink being ruined this late into the conflict. At the very least, you'll need to need to poke your head out, gauge the situation, and make a choice based off that. At least, that's what a smart person would do, right?

But that doesn't mean you have to like it. Grumbling to yourself, you grab your Pokeballs, hastily don your disguise, and skulk out to check on the situation outside...

---

What the FUCK.

As you peek over the rock you're crouching behind, you look upon the smoldering remains of what was once a Rocket encampment. Choked by smoke and lit by burning flame, it looks like nothing short of a disaster. You don't even know what to think. Your head is swimming with questions, but you're not sure you'll find any answers here. In fact, it seems like all you're going to find is a bunch of burnt bodies, wounded survivors, and whatever the hell did this.

You pause. No point rushing in to a situation this miserable. Better to just wait a minute and make sure that the coast is clear, lest you get caught with your pants down, so to speak.

---

MATIAS SILPH
Shred's Disguise

As you peer at the wreckage from your hiding spot, you can just about make out a silhouette through the smoke and the ash. Blurry, indistinct, but nevertheless radiating with a pure, destructive malice. One person did all this? It's unbelievable, but you don't have much other choice than to believe it.

The figure calls out, and your body instinctively tenses up. Does he know you're here? No, that's a stupid question. If he knew that, you'd already be blown to smithereens. Despite how bad the situation seems, he doesn't know you're here. As long as you're quiet about it, you should be able to creep away without getting caught.

So, you move to sneak away, and--

CRUNCH.

--Shiiiiiiiiiit. You slowly raise your foot, revealing the source of the offending noise: A shard of crispy blue shell. Is that… Is that a chunk of Pineco?

Calm down! It's fine! Maybe he didn't hear it…?

---

MATIAS SILPH

Well, fuck. You've really got and stepped in it this time, haven't you? The rock you're hiding behind rises up, leaving you exposed and with nowhere to go. Like a Deerling caught in the headlights, you slowly turn to face your foe.

Wait, he doesn't have a Psychic type out? Then how is he making the rock levitate like that…? Shit, is this guy a wizard or something?! Arceus wept, this situation just keeps getting worse and worse for you, doesn't it? How the hell are you supposed to fight a sorcerer? You brought a gun to a magic fight!

Your gun. Your gun! Yes, that's it! You just need to wait for the right opportunity, then you'll pump him full of lead! Course, saying that is one thing, and doing it is another. So, time to brainstorm:

HOW DO I DEEP SIX THIS WIZARD?

Idea #1: Trick him. Use your words and your deeds to confound his clairvoyance. After all, he's clearly specialized in some strange earthen thaumaturgy, not mind reading. You just need to deceive him, get his guard down, and THEN you can bust a cap in his ass.

"I am neither friend nor foe." You deepen your voice as you lie through your teeth, putting on the ill-defined persona of your ill-defined disguise. "I am not killer, nor am I victim. I am judge of all things below heaven, witness to all above hell. My purpose is beyond your understanding."

None of this means anything. It might just mean less than nothing. Still, you stare at him expectantly, as though he's meant to understand this profoundly meaningless tripe you're spitting out.

---

MATIAS SILPH

That worked.

...Wait, that worked? What the fuck? The fact that you haven't had an earthen spike driven through your spine confuses you just as much as you've confused him. You're glad you've got the mask on, because it hides your puzzled expression plenty well. Well, you're not one to look a gift Ponyta in the mouth, are you? You wanted him to be distracted, and now he's distracted. You're not going to get a better opportunity than this. Even if it isn't perfect, you have to take it.

"How little you truly know, stranger..." You murmur, just barely loud enough for him to hear. Slowly, you reach a hand into the pocket of your trenchcoat, and rest your hand upon the grip of your gun. "You are a puppet in the greater scheme of things, and I have come to cut your strings. Perish."

With that, you pull out your junker of a pistol out, aim it towards this monster of a man, and hammer the trigger as hard as you can, over and over, until the last bullet leaves the clip.

---

MATIAS SILPH

While your flurry of bullets puts plenty of holes in the man, none of them are particularly fatal. Before you can find the decisive shot, your line of fire is blocked by an invisible, impenetrable wall. Well, shit, huh? Your gamble paid off, but instead of hitting triple sevens, you got three cherries. It feels greedy, but considering the circumstances, you were still hoping for more.

Oh well. You’ve still got the advantage here. Even if he’s stronger than you, you’re the one with the momentum. If he wants to hide in his box, then that just means it’s time for you to start laying on the pressure…

Idea #2: Keep hitting him. Of course, your pistol is running short of ammo, and you’re not eager to relent and reload with him right in front of you. Luckily, he’s not the only one with Pokemon to call on, and you have just the scheme in mind to keep his back against the ropes.

”Cofagrigus! OMINOUS WIND!”

In the same instant that it emerges from its Pokeball, the sentient sarcophagus obliges, releasing a gust of sinister energy towards Matias and Mime alike. 

---

MATIAS SILPH

The Ominous Wind and Dazzling Gleam clash against one another, but that proves to be little more than a distraction. The real attack is the stone spike that bursts out of from below, aiming to stab you through the chest. But he's already shown his hand, and you're well aware of his rock magic. The moment you hear the earth begin to shift, you reach for another Pokeball to counter it.

CRACK! With a First Impression, Slither Wing crashes straight through the spike. All that remains is a pile of rubble at its feet, and a trickle of blood from where it smashed into the point. With a heavy hitter like this on your side, it shouldn't be hard to break through his defenses and start laying to hurt on him, right? First, you break the mime, then, you break him. It sounds simple, and it should be easy, but even you aren't stupid enough to get your hopes up. You need to keep putting the screws on him. Every failsafe and back-up you've got is another chance to avoid getting your ribcage ripped apart by jagged rocks, so of course, you'll need as many as them as you can get.

"Toxic Spikes!"

With a grin, the Cofagrigus opens a portion of its body, reaching in a shadowy hand and scattering a selection of wretched-looking caltrops all around Matias and his Pokemon. Meanwhile, you hide yourself behind Slither Wing, fumbling with your gun as you reload.

One more shot. All you need is one more good shoot, and you're home free. You've just got to find it...

---

MATIAS SILPH

Man, this bastard won't quit. Just who the hell is he? Actually, what the hell is he? Does the League have some kind of laboratory somewhere dedicated to pumping out psychic super soldiers? Did you miss a memo? Well, no point fretting about it now. It doesn't matter where this freak of nature came from, because he's right here right now, and you have to deal with him before you can worry about anyone or anything else.

Your Toxic Spikes are all but nullified by a Safeguard, while Slither Wing takes a nasty Ice Punch from Kanghaskhan. To his credit, the bug takes it well, pushing past both the bruising and the frostbite to retaliate with a Close Combat. At the same time, Cofagrigus keeps up the offensive against the Mr Mime and its trainer, this time tossing forth a Shadow Ball to keep them pinned.

...This fight is a little closer than you'd like it to be, especially when your life is on the line. Maybe it might be a good idea to start thinking about an exit plan?

---

MATIAS SILPH