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"A weak link indeed." Weak enough to be split in two. Barnaby remembered it vividly; he was there when it happened, after all.[break][break]

Unfazed by the gruesome display, the admin simply turned to leave the alleyway, gesturing for Mint to follow.[break][break]

"Do you think he could be persuaded to our side, then? Maldacena helped, once." Why not Father Winter?

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They materialized in front of the barren Tree of Life, surrounded by stone figures resembling Pokémon. Barnaby feels the essence of the tree beckoning him, but he does not immediately heed its call.[break][break]

"Agreed," The admin responded instead, eyeing Cillian Quinn with a sidelong glance. "Though I wish we knew more of his... motives."[break][break]

Maldacena was drenched in mystery. [break][break]

And Barnaby hated it. He detested the feeling of not knowing. [break][break]

With that said, he approached the tree and grasped the large watering can at the base of its trunk. He knew where this scene would lead.[break][break]

Watch fell from the spout, drenching the soil below.

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TYPE: NULL lunged forward with its insectoid claws extended, landing just-so in order for the TORCHIC to fall between the two limbs when it hit the ground. The bird struggled to get free, but ultimately succumbed to the Safari Ball Barnaby levied at it.[break][break]

"Better. Minimal injuries this time."[break][break]

Pushing its body up to regain its footing, the creature eyed its master with an unsettling stare. It was an expression that was hard to read, given the mask it wore. [break][break]

Was it unsatisfied with that sort of hunt? Did it want something more?[break][break]

Perhaps a small break would do it good.[break][break]

"Come. There's a pond nearby." As they approached the water, Barnaby silently wondered if the thing even needed nourishment.[break][break]

TYPE: NULL approached the bank. Before dipping its feet in, it noticed a small fish near the surface. A FEEBAS, unaware of its presence. Immediately the Synthetic Pokémon began to crouch, preparing to attack.

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Ice melted and the sludge manifestation disintegrated before Barnaby's eyes, only for the wellspring of hatred permeating the room to crescendo into...[break][break]

The birth of a new Avatar. A furious storm of snow and ice heralded his coming, forming stinging crystals around Barnaby's eyes and mouth, where flesh was thinnest. Many attempt to brave the maelstrom and heed declan walsh's commands, while others like fern delaney decide to defy.[break][break]

Some even plead for the admin's compromised humanity.[break][break]

But mint frost was wrong. jayden cross was a threat now, freshly beckoned by a ruinous creature and under the influence of its power. There was no guarantee he could control that which he'd just gained. Elisabeth Fiorelli was proof of that.[break][break]

jayden cross needed to be subdued. [break][break]

He and CHIEN-PAO.[break][break]

Cillian Quinn's directive confirmed as much.[break][break]

A sharp whistle passed through BARNABY FINCH's lips, calling his STEELIX's attention. Between the snowstorm and the clangorous sounds of battle, it was the only thing that could cut through the noise. Barnaby gestured to the newly-freed, mysterious book on the cavern floor and to the ruinous cat still stirring up dissent. [break][break]

With a swing of its crystalline tail, large, jagged rocks erupted from the earth. STONE EDGE would entomb both the book and CHIEN-PAO, protecting the former and imprisoning the latter.

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[break]
• outfit check[break]
• STEELIX uses STONE EDGE[break]
• stones jut up to protect the curious book[break]
• stones also attempt to entomb CHIEN-PAO

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TYPE: NULL gave its grudging assent with a low, deep rumble. Again, not trying to be stealthy.[break][break]

There was little use now, as the TORCHIC was sprinting through the undergrowth, terrified of the enormous beast at its heels.

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The warning did little to lessen the TYPE: NULL's inherent viciousness. [break][break]

Against such a small creature, even an attack meant to subdue rather than kill was overwhelming. The TREECKO screeched in pain, grabbing at the open wound that had been ripped into its side. Slick blood wet the grass beneath its webbed toes.[break][break]

"Not your best attempt." Barnaby remarked dryly, clicking his tongue. [break][break]

He'd have to be sure to seek medical treatment for the TREECKO. For now, it remained within the Safari Ball used to capture it.[break][break]

A fluttering of tiny wings nearby drew Barnaby's attention to the side. There, he saw a small TORCHIC trying to escape from what it perceived to be a threat.[break][break]

It was right to be scared.[break][break]

"Try again. This time without cutting it open."

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The thing was massive, really, compared to most Pokémon. Measured from the tip of its shackled crest, TYPE: NULL outdid Barnaby's height by a few inches. Its bulking shoulders pushed through the brush easily, but that also meant stealth wasn't exactly on their side.[break][break]

The scurrying of critters and the fluttering of wings proceeded every stride. Nothing wanted to get in the creature's way — unfortunately, some didn't have much of a choice.[break][break]

Quick on its feet, an oddly-colored TREECKO sprinted from a nearby cluster of shrubs. Where its teal sheen may have hidden it better in the spring months, now the surrounding vegetation was beginning to brown, leaving it starkly vulnerable.[break][break]

"Remember, temper yourself." The TYPE: NULL snorted roughly and pawed the ground, ready to strike.[break][break]

"Go."

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The upper floors proved to be more hospitable than the last few. It was a relief to wander into a space without moaning Megalopolans.[break][break]

Working technology was quite the surprise, though.[break][break]

"How hard could it be?" [break][break]

Barnaby likely had more experience with computers than most. He used them and even more advanced equipment on a regular basis to monitor his intelligence network. [break][break]

Pulling the chair in front of the desk back, he plopped down, displacing dust particles into the air. [break][break]

A few clicks and some tapping on an oddly-shaped keyboard? later, something eventually happened. Barnaby wasn't exactly sure what, though.[break][break]

Light spilled from the screen. He half expected a zombie to pop out at them when it did, but thankfully the room remained quiet.[break][break]

"... hm." Images and documents began springing up from nowhere, one after the other. Flashes of information.[break][break]

"Zev," Barnaby called, pointing to the screen. "Look familiar at all?"

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[break]
34 encounter documents or depictions of necrozma traveling around ultra space, granting its light to various planets, civilizations, before coming to megalopolis.

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Caleb's little act of defiance earned him the slightest smirk, barely even enough to curl Barnaby's lip.[break][break]

"Yes."[break][break]

There was no anger nor frustration in the way the word was spoken. Only languid certainty.[break][break]

It was simply a matter of time, after all. Soon enough, Caleb would be irreversibly broken and so detached from the man he knew outside these four stark walls.[break][break]

He'd cry, he'd beg, he'd whimper at Barnaby's feet like a dog.[break][break]

It was inevitable.[break][break]

"Your kingdom is gone now, Caleb." His memories of a shared affection between them meant little now, in this prison below Sootopolis.[break][break]

Abruptly, Barnaby used one hand to grip the hair at the back of Caleb's head and pulled, hard, so that the man's throat was exposed.[break][break]

The movement caused his crown to clatter to the floor.[break][break]

"All you have left is me."[break][break]

The other hand plunged the knife into Caleb's thigh. More than enough to cut the rope there; deep enough to cause immense pain; exact enough to not kill him.[break][break]

Kingsblood trickled to the floor, sullied into something meek and common.[break][break]

Galar was gone. Only Hoenn remained now.

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It was time to pivot the interrogation. Laurence Anderson and Zev Harcourt aside, there were more personal questions that BARNABY FINCH wanted answers to.[break][break]

"Oh? Do you want me to stop?" Though his body betrayed his true reaction, Caleb's words were more combative, provocative, goading.[break][break]

Unfortunately, the ranger had a bad poker face. He was practically transparent, so stark and naked as he was.[break][break]

"But isn't this what you wanted?" The words left Barnaby's lips with a soft, teasing lilt; it sounded so at odds with the way he forced himself onto Caleb.[break][break]

"What was it you said?" Barnaby's hand paused and he leaned in close again, whispering, "Like we were somewhere else and things between us were different..."[break][break]

He let the words linger for a moment, but ultimately pulled away. Then, leaving Caleb where he was — bound and bloodied — the admin went to fetch a particular trinket from his coat.[break][break]

"Maybe you'd feel more inclined while wearing this?"[break][break]

Upon Caleb's head he bestowed a pitiful little wooden crown.

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