[S][RIVAL 3] A Friendlier Rematch

"You don't have to worry about that again," Aravan assured him. "I've done some tinkering around, and there's actually a PVP mode you can set when you battle someone in the field. It prevents Pokémon from being knocked out, and is perfect for pickup matches like this one. Now that we're friends, we can use that mode together. Cancel the match and let me remake it."

Josh nodded, surrendered, and waited for his rival to resend the request. "What about the coin toss? Are we redoing that?"

"No, not at all. If I win the coin toss, I'll just switch my Pokémon out and back to what it was to use my turn."

"That's a really good idea," the child replied. "You're smart." It didn't take long for Aravan to restart the match. Indeed, he did win the second coin toss. It did leak information, though; since their last meeting, he had added a Quagsire and a Duraludon to his team. The Quagsire was clearly in response to Josh's bent for electric Pokémon. For now, he would be up against Pranky and the newly-evolved Ohm... as well as Aravan himself.

Had he become a Player, too?

No matter. He was ready to fight for himself, too. Climbing onto Keleth's saddle for mobility, he started things off fast, tapping into his newly-acquired TOME OF WATER. Bubbles formed from the palm of his hand and blew toward Aravan and his two Pokémon partners: his first casting of MARAQUA. While it didn't do a lot of damage, it struck an all-important WEAKNESS, letting one member of his team perform an extra action.

With a whinny and a rear that caught Josh off guard, Keleth charged the enemy line, a FAIRY WIND blowing behind it. With they and Ares now locking their foes in a pincer attack, it was simple for the Charmeleon to corner Ohm and SLASH at the Zebstrika's left flank, sparks flying from it as the Zebstrika reared and kicked in pain. The claws left nasty burn marks, too. With mastery of the KINDLER CLASS, the rider's attacks would be NEVER NORMAL again.

"You've come a long way," Aravan remarked. "You've been exploiting even the slightean weakness, and you've even figured out how to fight for yourself. But you're not the only one with that knowledge. Now I'll show you how it's done."

Josh cleared his throat. "See that marker? That means it's not your turn yet." Wheeling Keleth around, the boy swept past all three of his foes with another dense wave of bubbles, Pranky squealing upon the second casting of MARAQUA drenching him. He wasn't done yet, either; Keleth rammed and trampled the Monferno, STOMPING at him with hooves electrified thanks to his rider's mastery of the BOLTER CLASS.

"Excellent opening volley," Aravan applauded. "I now know not to hold back."

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Had Josh really only won the last battle because of his level advantage over Aravan? It sure looked like it, what with how carefully planned and coordinated the acoustic guitarist's attacks were. Even so, the child didn't back down. "I can do that same thing right back to you, you know!" he barked as Raiden likewise CHARGED up for an electric explosion of his own. "Keleth, HEAL PULSE!" Josh ordered his support. With a burst of positive energy from his horn, the Ponyta breathed new life into Josh and his team, blue numbers representing healing bouncing in front of their models.

Combat Log> Raiden is focusing for a powerful attack!

Josh did have one advantage over his RIVAL. As realistic of a player as Aravan was meant to be, he was still a NPC. And only players had the functionality to PASS their turn and save on turn economy. Were his calculations right, he would be able to survive the next attack.

"Now, Raiden, DISCHARGE!" Josh shouted, turning toward Aravan. "See how you like it!" The boy got a sense of deja vu, though the cutscene was more satisfying to behold when it was his Pokémon that was to mete out the electric punishment. With a strong shake of his head, Raiden launched the electric sphere toward Aravan and his two Pokémon, his RIVAL's muscles convulsing even more harshly than Josh did from absorbing two sets of damage. It was that sacrifice that kept the Zebstrika standing.

"Not... good... enough..." Aravan huffed, his skin bursting red and white with electrical burns. Just how much of a Tank was he? There was no way he should have been able to survive such a vicious attack, let alone while remaining in the green!

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Josh couldn't afford to hold anything back anymore; his back was against the wall... and a Discharge wouldn't be enough to take any of Aravan's Pokémon down on its own. Sliding off Raiden from knowing what he would do, the young Pokémon racer took a deep breath. "Raiden, THRASH!" With his mastered BOLTER class, the bucking and kicking attack would turn Electric-type, bolts flying from the Zebstrika's hooves. His Pokémon haphazardly smashed into Pranky, smashing the Monferno's shoulder and removing it from the battle. Despite scoring a knockout, it was not the outcome Josh was looking for. He needed multiple knockouts, and got only one.

Josh had to make sure that Zebstrika didn't get another attack off, and he was willing to take drastic measures to do it. Opening the REDACTED LEDGER and chanting the words of one of its pages, he unleashed a forbidden art upon the electric-type and its trainer. A sphere of colorless energy, resembling Corruption itself, formed between the water specialist and his Pokémon, drawing them to its center. Small explosions rocked the center of the sphere before it detonated in a larger blast of pure hatred.

MEGIDO.

Aravan stammered upon absorbing the Almighty blow. "Where did you...?" he weakly asked.

"As you can see, you're not the only one with new tricks," Josh smirked as he watched his foe's electric horse fall.

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