MATIAS SILPH 's silence was golden. Perhaps he had underestimated the Master of Faster. As he was about to find out, there was more to his arsenal than just speed. He had listened to the suggestions of Elinor Anderson . Of Melody Miro . Of Callan Young . They and others had refined Josh's battle strategy into not only revolving around speed, a brutal weapon on its own, but one that was ready to counter every common way to use his Pokémon's high speed against him.

Had he never become Mauville Gym Leader, he likely would never have had the exposure to such strategies to counter them. Though the Mr. Mime was not an explicit target of such a counter-strategy, it would be collateral damage.

"TAUNT," was Josh's stern, sole word. After the exchange, the Absol's own stern look would turn to a strange smile he had never seen on her face before. Taking a deep breath, the challenger kept the arm attached to his MEGA GLOVE outstretched. With the Absol delirious from the TEETER DANCE and the Mr. Mime perhaps too angry from the dark-type's demeaning gestures to do anything but engage in a direct confrontation, perhaps he had at last turned the corner.

Coming was the most important Mega Evolution of his life so far. If this wasn't timed perfectly, he would be defeated a second time, and would need to return to the Elite Four's quarters after months to get another chance.

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS 
Raikiri         Zeraora           KO 
Rime            A!Ninetales       KO 
Twilight        Absol             Confu 
Expresso        Espathra**        KO  

The earthquake-inducing SHADOW RAVE rocked Twilight, threatening to drop her in a single blow and send Josh back to the drawing board a second time if he didn't intervene at the perfect moment. He was ready for it. If there was one person in Hoenn that could react with split-second precision, it was the Master of Faster himself. Right as the horrific wave of hatred washed over, she and Josh simultaneously let out war cries, Josh's MEGA GLOVE and Twilight's ABSOLITE glowing with the blinding light of MEGA EVOLUTION.



"This is for all the people you have wronged, Matias!!" Josh shouted, a look of fury on Twilight's face in a rare display of emotion. "And all the lives you've irreparably ruined!" His conviction caused a surge of Infinity Energy between himself and his partner, the Absol rearing up high before plunging her forehead blade toward the Shadow Pokémon in a brutal-looking NIGHT SLASH.

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS 
Raikiri         Zeraora           KO 
Rime            A!Ninetales       KO 
Twilight        M-Absol           Good
Expresso        Espathra**        KO  

Josh was confused when Matias did not send out another Pokémon; had the challenger lost track of how many Pokémon he had defeated? It was over. He had defeated four of the Elite Four's Pokémon. He had won. Was he taunting Josh by giving Twilight a breather before unleashing the full might of his Kanto ace? Perhaps the Kangaskhan whose Mega Evolution defeated him last time? Was Matias going soft on him just so he didn't have to see him again? A maelstrom of thoughts raced through Josh's head as the deafening silence of the arena washed over him, its only noise now the duo's bickering.

"I won't deny you've done Hoenn and Kanto a great service. You're a war hero. The same type of war hero Navy is. But the difference between you and him is that he uses his sword to protect. You use yours to destroy. I remember our interview all too well, Matias. You wish to see Rocket razed from the top to the bottom, from declan walsh to every initiate under him. Where he eclipses you as an Elite Four, as a leader, and as a human being is his compassion toward those trapped behind Rocket's veil, under Rocket's iron fist."

Fury grew in his eyes, as though he wished to continue the battle with his other two Pokémon on top of Twilight. He even clicked their Poké Balls open, taking a seat on Aslan's back to give him added height and make himself look more intimidating. His thunderous words drowned out even Bladestorm's cry.

"Matias, I cannot deny that your actions saved countless lives. If you could only see that the rank and file of Rocket are fearful human beings who only do the things they do out of coercion and not out of fealty to Rocket, would you still carpet bomb them with an eruption? Would you?!"

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS 
Raikiri         Zeraora           KO 
Rime            A!Ninetales       KO 
Twilight        M-Absol           Good
Expresso        Espathra**        KO  

What did MATIAS SILPH do in Dewford, both times it was invaded? Navy was there, protecting his people. He was a war hero. True war heroes did not murder swaths of enemy soldiers needlessly. They showed discretion. Matias, though? From what he just said, Josh felt he would behead an entire platoon of soldiers under a rain of Precipice Blades if it meant victory. If a few of his own men had to die in the process, so be it. "Despicable. You're no war hero, Matias. If anything, you are a war criminal. Every Rocket soldier you murder means their family will have a vacancy. They will feel empty for the rest of their lives. No wonder you are so hated. You don't even kill out of self-defense. You kill because you have an addiction. An addiction for power. For blood."

Josh huffed, his Absol reverting from her Mega Evolved form as Aslan bellowed a NOBLE ROAR to help drive his rider's point home. "They're the ones strong enough to escape Rocket and go to the League on their own. What about the ones not strong enough to get away from Rocket long enough to make it into the amnesty program? As an Elite of Mauville, I am deeply involved in the amnesty program. I know the kinds of people who come through it. How much it takes to get out of Rocket. They're a fortunate few, Matias. If I were in your position, I would not mass murder them. Extend a hand. Show some compassion. I still find it incredibly difficult to believe someone in your position, one of the Elite Four, lacks compassion. Pardon my Kalosian, but grow the fuck up."

He huffed a second time, reining his on-edge Pyroar closer to Matias. "Sometimes I wonder... Matias. Do you control Groudon, or does Groudon control you? The more I see of Avatars, the more I wonder if they are truly in control of their Patrons, or their Patrons enslave their Avatars. And if that's the case... my freedom is not something I would be willing to give up. My dream of being Raikou's friend means a lot to me. But my free will means more to me. I truly wonder... how much freedom do you really have?" He didn't expect to get an answer to his rhetorical question.

The Gym Leader hung up the reins and crossed his arms. "I'm sure Greyson Connors 's waiting for me. You gonna move out of the way so Aslan and I can talk to someone who's willing to listen?"

NAME            SPECIES           STATUS 
Raikiri         Zeraora           KO 
Rime            A!Ninetales       KO 
Twilight        Absol             Good
Expresso        Espathra**        KO