In the background of man's duel against monstrosity, Zev's Iron Crown aimed a HYDRO CANNON at the Iron Valiant. His Iron Leaves, meanwhile, charged from the hospital to re-engage the Aegislash with NIGHT SLASH. [break][break]

Bracing himself, Zev took the ICE PUNCH fully in the chest. He could have stepped aside or blocked the blow, but he knew the effect that tanking the attack would have on human minds. Frost coated his torso. Ice crystals shattered upon it. [break][break]

"Try again, Navidson." [break][break]

Zev reached out to grasp Navy's outstretched wrist. If the other man did not pull back to escape Zev's grip, he'd twist the arm in an attempt to bring Navy to his knees.

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The recognition in kyle lopez's face was oddly gratifying, as was his declaration. Kyle knew him, Zev was certain, though he couldn't figure out why that was the case—or why he was so sure. They had only known each other for a short while, and Zev had worn his civilian mask the entire time. [break][break]

Right? [break][break]

That black knife came swinging. Zev blocked it with a crystalline hand, his movements second nature. The blade did not shatter. Of course it didn't. It was forged of the same impervious metal as the Beast himself. [break][break]

Kyle and Zev had only fought once before on that new island on Route 105. Yet Kyle's hand-to-hand fighting style seemed so familiar; Zev's body reacted almost instinctively. Every dodge, parry, and counter tugged on dust-laden memories buried deep in his subconscious. [break][break]

But before even the hint of one could surface, an EARTH SPIKE barreled at Zev from the side. Thankfully, TRICK ROOM slowed the attack; he had just enough time to react. Deciding to tank it, he increased gravity's hold on himself so the impact wouldn't send him flying. [break][break]

Stone broke upon his torso, ripping through his jacket to reveal cold, black crystal underneath. [break][break]

"Elisabeth! Do something about Silph!" Zev shouted. His gaze remained fixed on the Top Champion in front of him. Crystals spread across his neck and head, pockmarking his face with spots of void. "Leave Kyle to me." [break][break]

Zev lunged, raking claws seeking to tear Kyle's flesh. His Genesect continued to fight with Matias' Mr. Mime, shooting an ELECTROWEB at the clown. [break][break]

TAGS – Elisabeth Fiorelli kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH[break]
NOTES – az excursion d: confrontation[break]
– Zev is visibly armored[break]
– Genesect uses ELECTROWEB on Mr. Mime

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Zev whirled around at the sound of another AURA SPHERE, steeling himself for the blow. But the attack had not been aimed at him. Instead, Navy had launched himself into the air high above the battlefield. For the briefest moment, he hung suspended there, as if he could fly. [break][break]

What a pain, that Sygna Suit. [break][break]

Zev's perception shifted. The invisible strands of gravity tethering Navy to the planet came into a sharp and sudden focus, though only Zev could see them. [break][break]

The other man's fancy costume meant nothing if he was obliterated into dust. [break][break]

The SPOTLIGHT was the Gym Leader's saving grace. Its sudden brightness blinded Zev, causing him to flinch and close his eyes. When he opened them again, squinting through the light, he'd lost his mental hold on Navy's form. [break][break]

"Fool," Zev said, keeping any hint of growing frustration out of his voice. "All light is mine." [break][break]

In a blink, the light bathing him vanished, absorbed into his body. Renewed strength surged through him, heating him from the inside.

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – mission

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Zev followed Nenet to the strange altar. His movements were tense and cautious, like that of a prowling wolf. Blue eyes darted across the landscape, searching for any hint of whatever still lurked in the area. [break][break]

Before they reached the center of the structure, however, the very air quaked with power. The Pokémon that emerged from a sudden rift was not one Zev expected—a shiny Tapu Bulu. [break][break]

Before he and Nenet could react, the island spirit attacked with a guttural growl. NATURE'S MADNESS whipped up, but Zev's Zoroark leaped to take the brunt of the attack. She tumbled across the ground, her body bleeding from numerous wounds. A moment later, she jumped back up to counter with an AERIAL ACE. [break][break]

Even with Zoroark's efforts and the contributions of Nenet's Celesteela, the Tapu Bulu proved a formidable enemy. Knowing he had to enter the fray, Zev cast a backward glance at his wife. Stay back, his eyes conveyed to her before crystal consumed the entirety of his head and body in a brutal carapace. [break][break]

Then he dashed forward, serpent-like tendrils erupting from his upper body. They sliced at the Tapu Bulu, seeking its blood.

TAGS – Neffatari Nzingha[break]
NOTES – ultra crater #5

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Genesect focused on the Mr. Mime at once. The Bug-type descended from the stone pillar with alacrity, aiming an X-SCISSOR at its foe. [break][break]

Zev hung back as Elisabeth Fiorelli dashed into the cloud of POISON GAS. Unlike her, he had no immunity to poison. But neither did he intend to leave her to fight by herself. [break][break]

When the noxious gas dissipated enough, he launched himself from the upper ledge of the cliff face. He soared through the air in a downward arc, unimpeded by gravity's pull. Black crystal covered his body up to his neck and wrists, hidden under his clothing. [break][break]

Zev landed in a crouch next to Elisabeth with a crunch of earth and stone. The ground beneath him buckled. Slowly, he stood to his full height. Blue eyes met kyle lopez's first before pinning MATIAS SILPH with a cold, loathsome stare. [break][break]

"Your florist?" A note of incredulity colored Zev's speech. And then he made an abrupt, amused sound. "As if she'd let you own her." [break][break]

TAGS – Elisabeth Fiorelli kyle lopez MATIAS SILPH[break]
NOTES – az excursion d: confrontation[break]
– Zev is armored up to his neck and wrists (his clothes hide it)[break]
– Genesect uses X-SCISSOR on Mr. Mime

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Before Zev could pulverize another police car, the AURA SPHERE slammed into him. As impervious as he was to damage, he was still beholden to the laws of physics, especially when caught off guard. [break][break]

He flew backward through the air, through the broken front entrance of the hospital and into a pile of wood and plaster debris. [break][break]

The rest of the police squad escaped, fleeing the scene with wheels screeching. [break][break]

Zev wasted no time getting back on his feet. Outside, his Pokémon continued to battle. A BULLDOZE from Iron Crown made the earth ripple outward, thick pillars of hardened soil aimed at friend and foe alike. [break][break]

At the same time, Iron Leaves used ALLY SWITCH. Zev felt the familiar tug of teleportation. In the blink of an eye, he reappeared before Navy's Aegislash, arms and shoulders flaring with jagged spikes. [break][break]

Those spikes burst outward into half a dozen crystalline tendrils. Their scythe-like ends swept toward the Ghost-type and Navy both, seeking to split steel and skewer flesh.

TAGS – Navy[break]
NOTES – mission

[attr="class","pkmn"]

The woman's reason for wanting to be present during the assassination spoke to a personal matter. Regardless of what happened to her, she wanted revenge. [break][break]

Zev could understand that desire. He turned toward her, making his body language more open and accepting—something he'd learned early in his adulthood when he was still fooling people into believing he was like them. [break][break]

"I'm a contract killer by trade," he explained with the same detached aloofness as a man reading the newspaper. "I started my career in Kanto eleven years ago, after finishing my service in the Kantonian Army." [break][break]

How strange it felt, to discuss such mundane matters from a past life. Even though he still took on such jobs, he no longer did it under the moniker of The Black Hand. [break][break]

"If you're looking for an expert assassin, you won't find a better option in this whole region."

TAGS – ameena abadi[break]
NOTES – social

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev noted Rhys' choice of words and the way the younger man's lip curled. He aimed his phone at another section of damage and took more photos. [break][break]

"You should volunteer to help with the studies," the Beast suggested, though his tone was more apathetic than encouraging. "The more we know of the creatures, the better off we'll be in fending against them." [break][break]

He glanced at the blue-scaled monstrosity that emerged from Rhys' Pokeball. It was one Zev had seen before. "Especially since you have one of our own." [break][break]

Zev pocketed his phone, satisfied with the evidence he'd gathered. [break][break]

"Let's keep going. Once we've seen enough, we'll head back to report our findings. And I want to test how your battle skill has improved." [break][break]

And to see just what this Suicune-like creature was capable of. [break][break]

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – gc excursion a: explore

[attr="class","pkmn"]

Zev nodded, wordless agreement of Rhys' assessment. Too many of the reports from their research stations suggested a high population of Paradox Pokémon in the chasm—more than anywhere else in Hoenn. The numbers made sense, too, considering the abundance of Tera crystals beneath soil. [break][break]

At the unfamiliar cry, Zev's head snapped up, too. "Judging from the sound, it's pretty far from here. I don't think we'll be encountering it—at least, not yet. But there's a chance it will wander back in this direction." [break][break]

They continued down the path with greater caution. More slash marks marred the trunks of trees and larger rocks on either side. Strange tracks were embedded in the dry dirt, several days old. [break][break]

"Are you involved in any of the research of these new Pokémon?" Zev asked Rhys as he took photos of the footprints with his phone. The younger man had a background in science, after all, even if his career was in medicine. [break][break]

TAGS – Rhys Collins[break]
NOTES – gc excursion a: explore

[attr="class","pkmn"]