victory_road | Island Time [Semi-Open]

[It would be a relief for Dhokla to not use a damaging move, expect with the level discrepancy Min-Gi really could have benefitted from status effects. It's not the only trick he had up his sleeves, but it had been one he'd been hoping to use to his advantage. None of his preselected team have anything that can do much about it though, so he inhales, weighing up his other options.

He's not sure he has time to bulk up Rodeo's stats even if that would be ideal before he goes on the offensive.]

Okay. Try Shadow Bone.

[It's one of Rodeo's more powerful moves anyway, especially since he's part ghost-typing. The chance of it dropping the Sylveon's defence is low, but it's still there. He hopes it's wiser than taking an extra move or two while Rodeo's health is inevitably knocked down.

Rodeo rushes at the Sylveon in response to the adore, bone club aloft and aflame as he readies himself to attack.]

Edited 2023-05-02 19:47 (UTC)

[Oof... yup, not only does the attack connect, but Dhokla seems to be standing a little more unsteady now, even if the damage was relatively light. See, Min-Gi's holding his own for a bit.]

Keep going, Dhokla! Moonblast!

[Sooo yeah, even with an Impish nature, the Sylveon's still a pretty strong special attacker, and Min-Gi did ask Allura not to hold back. It's a powerful hit, and there's a one-in-three chance of Rodeo's Special Attack dropping.]

[Not only does it hit hard despite not being critical and the Marowak theoretically having some resistance to the attack, but Rodeo does look a little weaker than he had before. Min-Gi knows he should probably consider healing at this point, but he has a limited amount of items at his disposal. He doesn't like taking chances, but when he's only staving off the inevitable he might not have much option. He has to try and get in the hits where he can.]

Shadow Bone.

[Rodeo nods, doing his best to recover himself before he goes in for another attack. Thankfully he's a primarily physical attacker, so for now the knock to his special attack doesn't hinder him much.]

[Aaand yup, more damage and another stage down in Dhokla's defense. If this keeps up, he might not stay standing for long. Still, there's one way to even things out.]

Dhokla, use Charm!

[The Sylveon aims its cutest, sweetest pout at the Marowak. Have pity, kind sir, I'm just a sweet little babu~]

Edited 2023-05-04 13:29 (UTC)

[It works. Of course it works. Which essentially cancels out any of the damage he's done to the Sylveon's defence, and he has to remind himself that at least shouldn't put him at any more of a disadvantage than he'd been when he started.

And it does give him another opportunity to heal. One he'd be stupid to pass up again.]

Come here, Rodeo.

[He has to be sparing, but he hands the Marowak a Hyper Potion and it definitely perks him up. He has some of his strength back, and there's a glint in his eye as he turns his attention back to Dhokla.]

[Oof... she's not pleased with the disappointment there. She won't make her move just yet.]

You two are doing very well, even with the experience difference. [And it's clear she means that. Dhokla chirps in agreement too, yeah, he's definitely getting more of a workout than he thought! Hang in there, opponents!] Hm... Calm Mind.

[The Sylveon takes a slow, deep breath, a soft blue glow surrounding him as his ribbons float even more through an ethereal breeze.]

Edited 2023-05-05 01:04 (UTC)

[It isn't much comfort to him even if he knows she isn't trying to patronise him, but Rodeo at least seems pleased with the praise. He raises up his bone club to his opponent, clearly not upset despite the difficulty of the battle.]

I know. My strategy just... doesn't work here.

[He can't inflict status effects yet, and even freshly healed he's not sure Rodeo can last until Misty Terrain clears. He had a few potential ideas coming in, but there's only one that works reliably at the moment and it's getting predictable.

None of his team have a great special defense (Empoleon, frustratingly, would have been very helpful here), but switching out may still be the best option he has.]

Rodeo, that's enough for now. Red Eye, let's see what you can do.

[He calls the Marowak back, releasing his Corviknight with a flash of light. The Leftovers she's carrying should help a little, at least.]

[Another nod of approval at the switch. Good, Min-Gi's not giving up, and preserving Rodeo's strength might help. Allura has plenty of experience with Corviknights; between her and Keith, they have three of them. She also knows Dhokla doesn't have any counterattacks for Steel, let alone Flying/Steel with an immunity to Ground- she makes a note to fix that in the future- so she'll need to take Red Eye out quickly and keep his distance as he attacks.]

Moonblast!

[Another trilling glow and another blast of light.]

[Moonblast not only hits, but unluckily once again seems to weaken her a little. Considering Sylveon's ability that's not ideal, but his best chance was always going to be having her attack physically. She heals up a little thanks to the Leftovers, and that does make him feel slightly better about this tactic even with the risks attached.]

Screech!

[Red lets out a harsh cry that even has Min and Ry wincing, but its power is directed at Dhokla.]

[Oof... Dhokla winces hard at the sound, slower to recover than ever. Allura only takes a little shorter to recover herself (darned Altean hearing), before taking a breath to think. Especially with Rodeo wearing Dhokla down already, Allura really can't afford a Steel Wing barrage. So...]

Moonblast again!

[Dhokla shakes himself free of the ringing in his ears aaaand bam, another Moonblast!]

[A Steel Wing barrage is exactly what Min's hoping to do next. She weathers the second Moonblast, and though she doesn't get hit with the secondary effect this time she has definitely taken a lot of damage from the two attacks.

He could take a chance here. Dhokla's already been worn down by Rodeo's Shadow Bone attacks. Even with her resistances, though, Red is dangerously close to losing the last of her health. If Dhokla doesn't faint now, he's all but guaranteed to knock her out if he uses another damaging move.

It brings him close to the end of the healing supplies he'd allocated himself, but he takes out another Hyper Potion.]

Come back for a moment, Red. You're doing well, but I can't lose you yet.

[Oof... Now Allura's really on the back foot. Dhokla's defense could only get a little lower, and he doesn't have any type-counter attacks, or Reflect or something to boost his defense back up. In an equal fight, she would either switch out or take some time to heal herself, but given how frustrated Min-Gi's been getting... Well, she's not going to let him knock out Dhokla either, so there is one thing she can do. So Allura will wait until Red Eye returns to position and then...]

Dhokla, use Charm!

[Another soft pout, pwease don't hurt me pretty crow lady~]

[Red Eye is charmed by him. Min-Gi can see the way her desire to attack falters. And that could get worse if she is taken in by Cute Charm...

Even so, delay tactics won't work for much longer, and Dhokla clearly has the movepool to counter them. He needs to go back on the offence, otherwise he's delaying the inevitable without even giving his Pokémon chance to take down their opponents.]

Steel Wing.

[She follows the order, albeit with less force than she might have done before Dhokla decided to look at her like that.]

[With the damage done to the Sylveon's defenses, it's still a decently hard hit, and it's clear he can't handle much more. So...]

Moonblast, once more!

Edited 2023-05-16 18:46 (UTC)

[With the healing Min-Gi had done she is able to take the hit, but while the Leftovers she holds may buy them a little extra time it's still a significant dent. Red is the most experienced Pokémon he has left in the fight, and once she's done it feels like Allura's team will be able to make quick work of the rest of them.

She might last a couple of extra turns, and he has to make the most of her while he still has her.]

Steel Wing. Again.

[The resistance and the Leftovers are definitely compensating for the experience difference; Min-Gi's lasting a lot longer than she thought he would, and if she's not smart Dhokla could easily be knocked out. (Not to mention Misty Terrain has long since worn off, thank goodness Rodeo was switched out.) Hm... there might be a way to hit two Pidgeys with one Rock Throw. Or rather, one Corvikight with...]

Draining Kiss, Dhokla!

[Yup, the little Sylveon is going to launch himself in the air and plant one on the side of Red Eye's beak. It's a special move and he's the aggressor, so no Cute Charm, but it'll do damage and restore some of Dhokla's health instead of using a turn on a potion.]

[Min-Gi winces. He's already healed her up and after this attack she desperately needs to heal again, but he knows he can't keep putting off the inevitable. If it wasn't for the Leftovers he definitely would have lost her by now.]

Steel Wing. Sorry.

[The apology feels necessary because if Dhokla isn't knocked out now this is it for her. Red Eye doesn't seem upset, but it's visibly a struggle for her to summon the energy for this one last attack. He'll have to make sure he rewards her somehow after this is over.]

[Barely, BARELY, Dhokla remains standing.]

Draining Kiss, once more!

[It won't keep him up for long, but at least he should last one or two more rounds with whomever Min-Gi brings out next, and she has two fresh Pokemon in the wings.]

[It's over for her as soon as Dhokla withstands that last attack. He has her ball ready to return Red Eye almost before he has a chance to sap her of the rest of her energy, and she doesn't hit the ground before she vanishes back inside with a flash of light.]

Okay, Rodeo. Let's finish this. Retaliate.

[It might actually be overboard, but he's not willing to take that risk. It's been a struggle to even get this far, and he's not taking any chances now.]

[Allura flinches almost as much as Dhokla does as Rodeo rushes in and takes that final blow. The Sylveon is knocked all the way to Allura's feet, and she takes a moment to give the barely-conscious Sylveon some scritches before taking out his Pokeball.]

You did very well. [Dhokla withdrawn, Allura stands and gives Min-Gi a firm nod.] Chumirra, your turn!

[And out comes her Azumarill, who gives the opponents a few soft, cheerful squeaks, a necklace of bright crystal bound in gold hanging off her shoulders.]

Edited 2023-06-18 18:46 (UTC)

[Oh. Wow. That was definitely overboard, but at least Allura doesn't seem mad. He isn't sure how to take the compliment when he's just pummelled the poor Sylveon that had already been pretty clearly on his last legs and Min-Gi's basically already lost this match now he doesn't have Red Eye on his side, so he just nods with a short hum that could mean just about anything.

Rodeo doesn't stand a chance against an Azumarill, and while Min isn't sure about his other option's odds either... it's really their only chance of doing any damage.]

Rodeo, come back. Ice Age, it's your turn. Use Hail.

[He switches out the Marowak for an Alolan Sandslash, equipped with Never-Melt Ice. She glances back at him before executing the move, unused to being given an order so quickly upon taking the field. Min knows this is the only way they might last more than a couple of turns though, and that's if they're lucky. They need her increased evasion and the damage caused by the storm. Even then the odds are stacked against them.]

[Ah, that gets a knowing smile out of Allura. Not only does she have an Alolan Sandslash of her own, but using Hail for Snow Cloak is a favorite tactic of hers for Coressa. Not that she plans on telling Min-Gi that.

Let's see... tempting as Rain Dance is, it wouldn't be sporting. And the Defense Curl/Rollout combo isn't that effective with Snow Cloak, too easy to interrupt. Best to stick with moves with the highest accuracy.]

Hm... Water Pulse, Chumirra.

[The Azumarill takes a breath and lets out a note of Water energy to form a sonic pulse into the hailstorm. Not the most powerful move in her arsenal, but that confusion chance should help quite a bit if it takes hold.]

Edited 2023-06-18 20:56 (UTC)

[The move hits even with the thick storm of ice surrounding the Pokémon. Worse still, Ice Age does look dazed from what he can see of her. That's not good...

Even so, he doesn't have time to spare. He could heal her up, and it goes against his instincts not to, but he'd only be delaying the inevitable. He has to take a chance here, though his hesitation to do so is clear.]

Metal Burst.

[He knows that if Chumirra uses another damaging attack it will take a miracle for Ice Age not to faint. She'll need to evade it. He also knows she could hurt herself instead of her opponent here. He still needs to try and do something, otherwise he won't stand a chance.

Thankfully her confusion doesn't get in the way of her attacking this time. Now he can only hope she gets lucky a few more times.]

[Oof... one and a half damage bounced back. That was a good choice. She needs to avoid that happening again, or make sure that her next damaging attack knocks Ice Age out.]

Chumirra, use Dig!

[And with a surprising amount of speed, considering her tiny rabbit-mouse paws, Chumirra starts burrowing into the sand beneath them.]

[Now he has to think quickly. He could take the chance to heal Ice Age up, or he could get her to boost her defense. Min isn't sure either one of them is enough on their own.]

Ice Age, come back here.

[He has his third and final Hyper Potion ready, hoping it might give her some hope of enduring the attack if she's once again unable to evade. He doesn't have much hope given her weakness to ground-type moves, but he has to give her the best chance she can have.]

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