Zev stood at the lip of the Power Spot found in the depths of New Mauville. He gazed down into its abyssal depths with an intensity of focus unlike any he'd had to employ in the past, for the great well emitted such a high volume of Dynergy. [break][break]

A part of him wanted nothing more than to lose himself to it. He could feel the way it clawed at his willpower, whispering seductively into the far corners of his mind. A mind he shared with Necrozma, who had fought Eternatus to drink deeply of the dragon's nectar. [break][break]

That same cosmic hunger filled Zev, that primordial need to gorge on blood and light. His mouth watered as if he'd been starving for days. But he had to resist. He knew what Dynergy did to his blood, to his body. [break][break]

How much could he handle? And would the war between temptation and resistance kill him first? [break][break]

He had to find out. [break][break]

"I'm going in," he told Bee, who had accompanied him to this entrance into hell. "Can you make your way down by yourself?" [break][break]

The admin seemed unchanged since he'd chased after Galarian Moltres, but Zev knew better than to assume otherwise. Avatarships changed every human. [break][break]

TAGS – BARNABY FINCH[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation: extraction

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev Harcourt[break]
TOTAL RKS POINTS: 50 PTS

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]authentic power spots

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]STAGE: VENTURE

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]Exploration of these power spot dens brings you to rich deposits of dynite ore. It is dark here. Foreboding. Poison oozes from corrupted mosses, and Pokemon made aggressive by dynergy's effects, roam the caves.[break][break]

You may encounter a paranoid Pierce Creighton, one of Hoenn's Scientists, exploring the caves too. Should you approach him, he does not let you come close. The keenest eye may scry blood splatter on his shoes. Despite his haggard appearance, he bestows supplies should you require them. Otherwise, encounter poor bystanders trapped here, like backpackers or even a feral Megalopolan.[break][break]

There are two paths to take (OOC: they will lead to the same scenario).

Bee responded with such confidence that Zev had no reason to doubt him. So, without a second thought for the other man, he stepped into the opening. Gravity warped. His descent was steady, the speed almost leisurely. Above all, he did not want to rush in without knowing what was inside. [break][break]

And all around him, the Dynergy grew. He could almost taste it on his tongue. In fact, it took more mental fortitude than he'd expected to suppress the urge to suck some in. All across Zev's body, crystals emerged—as if the living metal knew where he was going. The shards rippled along his skin in anticipation. [break][break]

Finally, he and Bee reached the bottom. The accumulation of Dynergy there was almost overwhelming. Zev swallowed, teeth clenched. He tried to focus on their surroundings: the moss oozing poison, the cries of maddened Pokémon. [break][break]

A person? He squinted. Yes, a person lurked in the shadows nearby. [break][break]

Zev withdrew a flashlight from his kit and clicked it on. Its beam found the skulking figure, illuminating a pair of glasses, brown hair, plain clothes, and a large backpack. The man flinched from the light. [break][break]

"Bee, look," Zev said, pointing the flashlight at the stranger's shoes. Dark liquid splattered across them. "Blood." [break][break]

TAGS – BARNABY FINCH[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation: extraction

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev Harcourt[break]
TOTAL RKS POINTS: 50 PTS[break]
TOTAL CURIOS: 1

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]authentic power spots

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]STAGE: OBSTACLE

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]Throughout the den, STONJOURNER can be encountered. Perhaps, they too, are imbued with dynergy, their ability, POWER SPOT, allowing it to empower others. However, the human mind is more fragile. Able to touch upon horrid thoughts of the abstract, mortal cognition brings your trainers closer to madness.[break][break]

Even here, TERA CRYSTALS are present. Like a virus, they've spread across the underground. Due to the concentrated dynergy in this place, encounter hallucinations—or hallucinations that become temporarily real by TERA CRYSTALS.[break][break]

And/or encounter a DYNAMAXED/GIGANTAMAXED POKEMON WITH A DYNAMAX SHIELD that must be downed. Regardless, the Pokemon will perish after its transformation. Investigating its carcass will reveal that it has somehow incorporated Dynite Ore onto its body. Though it is no Regi-titan, one may make macabre parallels.[break][break]

Or, you may continue to simply mine.

The shadows that swathed Bee reminded Zev of declan walsh's powers. The Beast watched his associate closely, trying to ascertain more from observation alone. What he noted did not surprise him—specifically, Bee's bearing had changed since their last encounter. [break][break]

He stood and moved with the air of a man who believed he possessed uncontestable power. How unlike Elisabeth Fiorelli and jayden cross, when their Avatarships were thrust upon them, and how like Zev himself. [break][break]

And like Zev, Bee coated himself in shards of lightless black. This earned him a raised eyebrow, though Zev was so distracted by the pulse of Dynergy around them and the appearance of the stranger that he didn't comment right away. [break][break]

Instead, he waited until he and Bee were walking along a rightward path. "Your armor—it's made of shadow, too?" he asked. Because that was the logical conclusion. [break][break]

Without warning, the Dynergy swelled, pulled toward the direction they were headed. Tera Crystals glittered with promise. An agonized bellow filled the air as a Meganium surged in size, towering over the landscape. [break][break]

[break]

Zev recognized the phenomenon instantly, the memory of a twenty-year dream triggered by the sight. [break][break]

Dynamax. [break][break]

TAGS – BARNABY FINCH[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation: extraction

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev Harcourt[break]
TOTAL RKS POINTS: 100 PTS[break]
TOTAL CURIOS: 1

[attr="class","itemcolicon"]

[attr="class","itemcolname"]authentic power spots

[attr="class","lgdcol"]

[attr="class","itemcoltexttit"]STAGE: DEPARTURE

[attr="class","itemcoltext"]After dealing with your obstruction, you come away with experience. Knowledge. Heavy burdens of dynite ore. However, retracing your steps may prove to be difficult. If you are not already encumbered, the disorienting effect of dynergy may hinder you and your Pokemon's return.[break][break]

Should you have encountered Professor Creighton or another poor soul that has found themselves down in this den previously, you will find no sign of them as you leave...[break][break]

Zev gave a single nod at Bee's suggestion of testing out the latter's new powers. Then he turned his attention to the Dynamaxed Meganium. As magenta-black flames sprung up, presumably at Bee's bidding, Zev reached out with his mind to bend the Pokémon's body to his will. [break][break]

Dynergy swirled and swelled around them. Its demanding presence was so distracting, so tempting. He found himself putting as much effort into resisting it as he was into crushing their foe. And so the struggle against the Meganium took longer than he expected or wanted. [break][break]

Eventually, though, the Grass-type fell to its knees. The earth quaked and Dynergy dispersed from its body. It returned to its normal size, unconscious, inert. [break][break]

Zev scanned the immediate area. All around them were clusters of loose Dynite ore, while more lay embedded in glittering mineral veins. "There's ore everywhere here. We might as well collect as much as we can before leaving," he suggested. [break][break]

With the help of their own Pokémon, they gathered what they could carry. Zev fought the urge to drink the energy around them for as long as possible. It was exhausting mental work, especially with the hallucinations that increased with disturbing frequency the longer they lingered. As they returned to the main shaft of the Power Spot, he could no longer hold his hunger at bay. [break][break]

He absorbed a sliver of Dynergy, a small sip from a vast ocean. Immediately, he coughed but felt fine otherwise. Time would tell how even a small amount of Dynergy in his body affected him. [break][break]

TAGS – BARNABY FINCH[break]
NOTES – the rks simulation: extraction

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev Harcourt[break]
TOTAL RKS POINTS: 100 PTS[break]
TOTAL CURIOS: 2