Finally, someone he could relate with.

This far into the tournament, all Howard wanted to do was find a lonely bathroom stall and cry for six hours. He had been drowned, crushed, humiliated, and every other negative verb under the sun by now. He had fought several Gigantamaxed Pikachus, and he had even seen one surf the waves.

At this point, he didn't even know who Howard Slate was. All he knew was that he'd find him and kick him in the shins before running off.

"Hey, Shalin." Howard's voice was hoarse and raspy. "Tournament kicking your ass too?"

Even Serizawa looked ready to drop, and Howard had seen him throw hands with Pokémon ten times his size.

---

Shalin Nariya
3/3 (NO MECHANIC)

Shalin never considered Howard a battling type. Explorers needed to have some battle skills by their nature, but this type of tournament was something she never expected the Admin to participate in. She was too tired to express that surprise. "...In more ways that one," the girl moaned before her Beedrill's giant wings made conversation between them impossible.

For Shalin's sake, Queen Zing sought to end the match as soon as possible. She buzzed toward the Larvitar and extended her rear FELL STINGER in an effort to lodge it deep enough within the Pokémon's armor to fill its soft underskin with burning venom.

"Yeah... Yeah..." Howard rubbed his eye in clear annoyance. As he began to issue out an order to Serizawa, Queen Zing's wings made it impossible. After a few attempts to communicate, he shrugged and decided to simply watch. It wasn't like Serizawa listened to Howard anyways.

At least in this match, he couldn't give Serizawa the wrong order like he had with the League's Head Scientist. That was a nice addition.

"LARVITAAAAAAAAAAAR!" Serizawa's roar rang out over Queen Zing's buzzing wings. The little monster ran forward, before punching the ground with his fist. It trembled for a second, before several Stone Edges erupted from the arena to intercept the Fell Stinger.

That's not a bad move, actually. Howard blinked, surprised. Why didn't I think of that?

---

Shalin Nariya
3/3
DTFEs9YX

Serizawa's STONE EDGE pinched Queen Zing's rear shut, preventing her rear barb from being pushed out of her insides and into the Larvitar. Shalin gasped at how quick the reaction times of both the bee's foe and their trainer were. She felt grossly outclassed, but she wasn't quite giving up yet.

Dizzily flying away from the rock-type, Shalin's Pokémon swerved behind the small but ferocious enemy. Needing every edge she could get, she loosed a TWINEEDLE barrage from her foreleg stings. Though most of them would bounce off the rocky armor, their sheer number meant a few were likely to slip through its cracks!

Larvitars did have chinks in their armor. Ironically, it was far easier to aim for the chinks in a Tyranitar's armor, given the beast's monstrous size. Larvitar was smaller, which would make hitting through Serizawa's armor far more impressive.

The chance of it happening, though... Howard chuckled and shook his head. It was statistically improbable. Serizawa was saf-

"LARVITAAAAAAAAAR!" Serizawa yowled as a few Twineedles poked out from the Pokémon, making him look like a Pinchurin. Howard winced at the damage. He had seen Serizawa get stepped on by gigantic Pikachus, Eevees, and everything under the sun. A few needles looked like they hurt way worse.

Splinters sucked.

"Serizawa, you gotta go in for the kill! Thrash 'em!" Serizawa listened, lunging forward in a ferocious rage. Immediately, Howard realized his error.

Beedrills were fast. They had stingers. Getting close probably wasn't the best idea. Nonetheless, Serizawa was lunging forward to Thrash Queen Zing.

---

Shalin Nariya
3/3 (no mechanic)
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Serizawa bucked and kicked haphazardly around the winged insect, one thrust leaving the Beedrill momentarily stunned. The next knocked her all the way back to Shalin's side. The rock-type was one tough cookie if he could shrug off venom in his juvenile form. Though he wasn't looking great, neither was Queen Zing. She was in trouble.

Intervening, Shalin raised her right index and middle fingers level with her MEGA CIRCLET. She and Queen Zing glowed with the purple and pink light of MEGA EVOLUTION, the Beedrill's menacing buzz louder than before. Refreshed from being intoxicated with an Infinity Energy high, her four foreleg stings spun like a Rhydon's horn in a DRILL RUN, seeking to bore through the Larvitar's natural armor.

Mega Evolution, huh? Howard's eye twitched as he thought about the Key Stone buried in his socket, about the day he had lost his eye. It had been a day like any other, a day like this.

He shelved the thought and pushed it aside.

"Not bad. I respect the choice of Key Stone! It's impressive!" Howard called out to Shalin, unsure if his voice would ring out over Queen Zing's buzzing. He was unsure if it'd be louder than the screaming in his ears. Why was he remembering that day now?

Serizawa lunged forward, preparing to meet the Mega's strike. Taking a deep breath, Serizawa slammed his foot into the ground, causing several more Stone Edges to erupt at abstract angles, giving the little monster plenty of places to hide out of sight. If he was lucky, a few would even strike Queen Zing.

Howard's breathing grew rapid. Stop thinking about it...

---

Shalin Nariya
2/3 (no mechanic)
aBoggyP2

The second STONE EDGE volley sliced into Queen Zing's green and black carapace, her wings buzzing all the louder to keep her aloft. There was no hope for Shalin to hear anything Howard was saying, especially with how tired she was after so many long battles. It took much of what little strength she had just to remain standing in the ferocious winds her Pokémon was kicking up.

Her blue eyes flickered like she was going to collapse any moment. Queen Zing was running almost purely on an Infinity Energy high. Desperate, she attempted to snatch Serizawa and plunge her FELL STINGER into the rock-type. Were she successful, she would start vibrating -- not with speed, but with power, to shake the Larvitar into exhaustion.

Chink. The Fell Stinger scraped against Serizawa's armor as it found a gap. Serizawa let out a shrill yowl that made Howard's heart ache. Vibrations were an excellent way to piece through Serizawa's armor. Howard had heard of Kommo-os in Alola doing something similar to boulders.

Serizawa's maw opened, and a bright light emerged. After a moment of charging, it became clear what was happening. Larvitar was releasing a Hyper Beam.

There was a bright flash of light as it fired. Howard tipped down his hat to avoid the worst of the light, but it still got spots in his eyes. Then came the noise.

BOOM!

---

Shalin Nariya
2/3 (no mechanic)
GPL2sLuV

The close-range HYPER BEAM sapped the consciousness from Queen Zing completely. With the Infinity Energy link between the two, Shalin felt the blow as well, but in a different way. The sudden cutting of the conduit between the two sapped the remainder of the trainer's energy, as well. As the judge waved the red flag in her direction, she collapsed in the trainer's box. The Beedrill would be forced back into her Poké Ball after reverting from her apex form.

Were Howard to approach his unconscious opponent, he would be able to hear her snoring. No bruises, no apparent injuries. Just a girl in need of sleep.

"...Shalin?" Howard stared down at Shalin's body, clearly worried. Was she unconcious? Was he going to be accused of assaulting her? He looked around, nervous, before relaxing. After a quick glance, he realized that she was simply asleep. "Stupid. There's no shame in quitting. Just look at me."

With a whistle, Serizawa comes waddling up to Howard. He gestures at her, and Serizawa growls, before preparing to kick her.

"NO." The archaeologist's voice is calm, but firm. His eye is icy as he stares at Serizawa, who quickly deflates. "C'mon, let's take her to the doctors. Pick her up."

Serizawa picked up the girl and carried her above him like a great prize.

"Drop her off and let's go. I need some sleep, too."

---

Shalin Nariya
2/3 (win)