"Would you be surprised if I told you this was all part of the plan?" she says, watching from the corner of her eye as the giant pokémon does nothing to evade the oncoming attacks. "There's more to be exploited than just the common type weaknesses, sir Tamer," A thing pokémon and mankind had in common, and something she'd been drilled upon in the past. So that she could be who she was now; and be damn good at it as well. "Like their physical weaknesses, for example... if you know where to aim."

Duraludon's retaliation is a harsh one, and in mid-air there's nothing Mythras can do to dodge the upcoming onslaught of its Metal Burst. Kyrenai notices the panic in the smaller pokémon's body language and calls out to it. "Mythras, all-out Flamethrower, NOW!" The Growlithe's jaws burst into heat, spewing forth flames with the intensity of a fire hazard on dried out fields, mere seconds before the impact of its foes Metal Burst. The pained yelp that echoed upon impact made her cringe, worry for the small pokémon bubbling in her stomach as she saw it plummet to the ground.

In the end, it had fought bravely, but gone asunder against its mighty foe. How the Duraludon would fair against the last-minute counter upon its counter however, she did not know. Kyrenai did not wait for the outcome and recalled the Growlithe, wanting it out of harm's way as soon as possible; which was ironic, considering.

Oh, the disrespect she garnered from his words. Was she not worth his time and effort to face properly in combat? Although it stung ever so lightly, it wasn't something she would feel bothered by; each had their own code to live by. And by the looks of it, hers and his differed just as greatly as their opinions. "You have to do a lot better to gain that right," she scoffed back at his amusement, though there was no hostility present in her voice. "Why, afraid I might prove an actual challenge? Kyrenai would tease back, her grin apparent. Yet when he mentioned protagonists and antagonists, her stance broke momentarily, her sword lowering. And for all the ferocity she'd held before, there was a calm falling over her.

"If anything, I am the antagonist of my own story, sweetheart."

Like her demeanor had changed, Kyrenai shook her head and tilted it back a bit, regarding him with eyes that had grown devoid of emotion. It was hard not to notice that whatever he had said had flipped a switch and demanded something more serious to surface. The sword at her side rose, not in attack, but to rest in her other hand, her gloved fingertips caressing the sharp of her blade without cutting herself. Her eyes remained on her blade for a moment and when she looked back at him she sighed and nodded, sheathing it. "Not that I was planning on any of that, but you're right about one thing. It's futile to continue this farce… especially with one who does not understand." She would not fall for the expertly-woven taunt the armored man had given her.

When she did not kill, she enjoyed crossing blades with others to get a feel for their being, to get to know them. A sword fight for her was like a handshake, but it seemed his views upon it went no further than the standard black and white views. Going all out was reserved for those who'd earned it; earned either her respect or her ire. One she could trust with seeing her full potential, the other would not survive seeing it. Survival? If he knew her true profession he'd known she was prepared to face death at any given time, and that survival was just a means to an end, as long as she succeeded in her sworn duty. The assassin had liked to get to know this man, but she was not about to educate him on her views on a field of battle. Not now.

With a flick of her wrist, a pokéball was sent out. From the crimson light rose a looming silhouette; a massive Tyranitar had entered the stage.

"Let's just be done with this. Vox, deal with them."





Amor Rose

tldr;
- Counters Metal Burst with Flamethrower
- Mythras is KO'd
- Kyrenai spills a little secret and sheathes her sword
- Tyranitar has entered the fray

"Should that discourage me?" she retorted with a smile as her sword connected, singing its song as it dragged through the metal of his armor. Her first proper hit after having breached his defenses, followed by a parry equalling her in strength. It had been a daring move on her side, and she was quite sure it was his mercy that had kept his sword from striking her down the moment it connected; a courtesy she wouldn't forget.

Yet with the steel dragon ready to rumble, and her Tyrantrum all but ready to go toe to toe after taking its damage, she could see hwo this would end. The look Mori gave her however was one she understood more than anything, and she nodded, focusing back on Amor. Mori did not like retreating, even in a vastly disadvantageous situations the Tyrantrum would rather stand her ground and perish in the heat of battle. It was something Kyrenai appreciated about her; especially since it had saved her more than once in the past.

So when she clashed with the Duraludon, she looked defeat in the eye ever so defiantly. The Breaking Swipe slammed into her side and sent the despot pokémon crashing into the slopes, unable to rise again from the dust that settled from it. A red beam recalled the fainted pokémon almost immediately, followed by a smaller beam calling forth the next contender for this battle's victory.

From among the dust a low growl resonated, small flashes of fire hopping back and forth from within, though what spewed forth the fire was still clouded from the steel dragon's eye. For now. It watched its foe patiently, prowling, waiting for its sign to attack. A shrill whistle, and it appears before the Duraludon, its fur gleaming as it speeds up, using Agility to move swiftly and agile among the graves and rocky terrain until it's become a blur. A blur that becomes a blaze as it launches itself at the steel dragon's face, engulfed by Flame Wheel's fire.

The assassin's attention only breaks momentarily, watching as her Growlithe performs the combo as it was taught. If she hadn't, she wouldn't have allowed her foe to get this close to her face, yet before she could react he'd deftly moved around her, claiming the integrity of another leather strap in the process. There's a hiss when she realises he's doing it on purpose, and falls out, blade against blade like two gusts; touching but never cutting through each other.

And then, she breaks their clash, pushing herself off and away with a backflip. She crouches and tugs at the last remaining strap of the armor on her thigh and tosses it aside, the piece of metal disappearing in the nearby thicket. Her voice betrays she's ticked off by the display. "Enemy might be a lot, but there's only one group of idiots waltzing their way up this mountain, so that makes your statement rather redundant, no?" Kyrenai points her sword at the man, an invitation of challenge. "Fight me properly-- not as as members of rivaling factions, but as masters of the sword. Unless you prefer these childish tricks." she said, alluding to the way he had been aiming for her straps rather than her sword.


Amor Rose

tldr;
- Mori the Tyrantrum faints
- Mythras the Growlithe is called forth to fight
- Uses Agility and Flame Wheel to blind Duraludon
- Kyrenai breaks away for a moment, discarding part of her loosened armor
- Insert coin to sass again

"Maybe the League's cause isn't my main priority?" She says it plainly, as if it weren't strange to fight for a faction she wasn't quite that interested in. She didn't mind others knowing that her reason for being here defered greatly from the reason others had gathered; the Primal Crystal's defence was of little concern to her. But the fact her employer cared and was heavily involved sort of made it her business.

The armored man's parry was smooth, the way her sword vibrated upon impact betraying his steady hand and the strength behind it. The assassin noted as such, huffing underneath her breath as they clashed. When he moved she too tried to parry, but found him inching through her stance and towards her body-- yet strangely, what should have been a clean hit felt like a mere graze. Kyrenai would've thought it a feint to create distance between them if she didn't feel the tightness of her armor wavering ever so slightly. She'd look down to check if she trusted the difference in skill enough, but alas she didn't, so her eyes remained trained on the swordsman instead. Was it intentional, or just a lucky strike?

"Ice Punch."

The assassin knew very well that such a move would have devastating side-effects for her Tyrantrum if it hit cleanly. Too bad for her, Mori had been trained to excel in close-combat, which meant she wouldn't be able to fight the Golurk from a distance unless she kept on spamming Ancient Power. But that too took its time, and toll, on the Tyrantrum... but she'd have to make do, for now. "Intercept with Stomp, don't let it get a clean hit in!" she ordered, readying her sword anew.

Mori jumps at the charging Golurk, using her momentum and weight to add force to the stomp meant to counter the Ice Punch. They connect and a struggle of giants follows as the ice starts creeping up the Tyrantrum's leg; when it tries to solidify however, a protective glow flashes across her scales. Callan Young's Safeguard, applied before the arrival of any foes, comes to her rescue and dispells the Frozen Status she'd otherwise be inflicted with. But the damage is done, and with a loud roar Mori is pushed back, having to yield to the Golurk's Ice Punch. It's limping slightly, showing signs of damage, but steadies itself and charges on ahead, planning to go in with a Dragon Tail.

Kyrenai on the other hand just chuckled at Amor's words. "Bold of you to speak of corruption when you're part of its source, too." she lashes out again, upward this time, only to have her sword slash down diagonally, like she's trying to make a cross. Yet there seems no killing intent behind it. "Then again, tell me of a place where corruption isn't present. Maybe I'll be more inclined to listen."

Amor Rose


tldr;
- Kyr's aware of the strap being cut, but not that it's intentional (yet)
- Mori uses Stomp to counter-kick the Ice Punch
- Mori's leg seems to freeze, but Callan Young's earlier Safeguard (in main thread) nulls it
- Mori uses Dragon Tail
- Enter: philosophical talks of corruption and loose morals

"Seems like you already got burnt, sweetheart. You sure you want to fight this fire as well?" she mused, honey-sweet. Yet the way she moved the sharp of her blade towards his neck was all but inviting him. Had he not been wearing his suit of armor, his skin would've been broken if she as much as grazed it. Even the Golurk he'd called forth did little to make her falter.

So, he wouldn't be backing down. Shame, really. "What's truly shameful is the fact those pretty little eyes of yours work perfectly fine, yet you decide to be blind to the obvious facts. I'm not moving. And unless you beat me down, I never will." The grip on her sword strengthened, and an attempted slash at his throat followed without her body moving into a striking position. If he'd return blows she'd parry and try to move back to block his path up.

"Mori! Ancient Power, block their path!"

The Tyrantrum roared loudly, stabilizing its stance while a multitude of giant rocks were torn from the ground by a strange energy, and thrown towards the Golurk and his trainer.


Amor Rose


tl;dr
- Kyrenai uses counter-sas
- Tries to slash his throat
- Mori uses Ancient Power on Golurk and Amor

The cry catches her off guard, and she turns to glance over her shoulder, at the nothingness towering beyond her vantage point as the earth below her feet slowly rumbles. Trying to guard her eyes from the incoming wind she finds herself blasted away moments later, with a strength powerful enough to send even Mori flying down the slope. Had she chosen another location she might not have to deal with the change in altitude, but did not let that fact knock her out of the field. Not figuratively, at least.

With a short flick the cloak she'd been wearing came undone from the ring on her shoulder, and snaps it at the Tyrantrum. The prehistoric beast bites down and pulls, lunging its trainer into its proximity so she can settle on her back. From this height, sticking a landing would prove difficult for the assassin, but for the giant Tyrantrum it'd barely take any effort.

When they hit the ground it vibrates, a sizeable dent left in the rocky underground as small rocks and debris are sent flying around them. Mori roars in frustration at the force that has sent them flying now she's sturdily afoot again, but a calming hand quells her just as fast. Kyrenai doesn't allow her tantrums, and shows it as she slides off her back, attaching her cloak back unto its ring. Her hand rests on the sword at her side as she scans the location, and at the sound of skirmishing and shots starts making her way up again, only to find herself locking eyes with Amor Rose as he comes speeding up the mountain.

@

☉