EPISODE 43: Tribulation*

I am a qualified agent of the Combat Category, yet I am required to undergo training with the Pillar Leader. Of course, since me and Charlotte belong to opposite categories, we will be separated for the meantime.

Every combat agent gathered unto one room. I tried to stay as far from the crowd as possible to avoid my overthinking thoughts to commence. Me and my Pokemons waited patiently for Cliff to arrive, and I do hope that we don't get to battle the pillar leader.

For half an hour my brain got exhausted from listening to Cliff's lectures. I barely remembered most of them. I think it was something about stones and devices which helps boosts a Pokemon's stats.

My mind wonders however, why do we need to fight Pokemons in the first place when we can fight the trainer with our Pokemons? Wouldn't that be much easier? I don't know why, but those questions randomly teleport to my mind. I feel a sudden shift, but I'm not quite sure how to describe it.

"Does anyone have any questions about our topic?" Cliff queries. Everybody stands still except for my mind. A timid girl like me however, has no courage to ask questions in front of a huge crowd. There are two results if I do so, one is that many would probably think that my question is idiotic, and the other is that many would probably laugh at me.

"Alright. If there are no questions, then let us proceed to the battle siege. Will anyone be willing to volunteer first?" Cliff questions upon the crowd. An arrogant voice starts to come forth, it has an accent of a mad scientist.

"Mr.Cliff, I would like to volunteer for the first match." A young man wearing fine glasses raised his hand. He has a fair complexion with eyes coated with the color of gold. He seems eager, yet his posture looked arrogant.

"Before Quartz chooses an opponent, will anyone be willing to challenge him?" Cliff questions. The crowd remains silent as so as I.

"Is that so? It looks like we have a drowsy crowd today. Alright Quartz, please choose your opponent."

"This will be a piece of cake. I'll choose the easy opponent of course." Quartz beams with determination as his fingers pointed towards me. Another man, trying to prove that men are better women.

Personally, I am not in the mood to battle for the time I've spent for grooming my Pokemons will all be wasted. Every battle, my confidence hides like a shadow, and this is no different.

"This match will be between Quartz Vermillion and Luna Evergreen. Please proceed to the stage immediately." Cliff proclaims with a deep and confident voice. Just like every day, my body trembles while walking out of the shadows.

Facing humiliation is like piercing the mind. The scar will remain, never to fade away. My mind is filled with too many scars, I can't bear another one.

"Based on my calculations, I have a ninety-nine percent chance of winning this match," Quartz speaks just like a high-pitched connoisseur or in this case, a scientist. He twitches his glasses, probably trying to impress me or intimidate me.

"This will be a one on one Pokemon battle. The match ends when either side no longer has any Pokemons to battle with. Now please send out your first Pokemon!" Cliff proclaims. He lifts his hands high up into the sky, marking the start of the match.

"Let's finish this quickly. Ninetales, it's battle time." Without a moment to lose, Quartz tosses an ultra ball to the sky, releasing his pokemon in the process.

Ninetales is a fox-like, quadruped Pokémon covered in thick, luxurious golden-white fur. It has a small mane of thicker fur around its neck and a long, fluffy crest atop its head. It has slender legs with three-toed paws and nine, long tails with pale orange tips. It has red eyes, pointed ears, and a triangular black nose. It looks like a majestic yet dreadful creature.

I remembered Vulpix, a Pokemon belonging to Chloe. My heart pounds deeply for it was like a rematch except for the fact that the Pokemon has evolved and the trainer is the opposite gender.

This time, I'll try to keep a keen eye on Ninetales. It's probably fast just like Chloe's Vulpix. I figured to use a Pokemon with an opportunity to match its speed. Absol, a Pokemon which brings terror into one's eyes.

"Ninetales, let's use Flame Charge right now!" Quartz beams with determination. His scientist accent really irks me.

"Absol, try using Sword Dance." My voice stutters, a symbol of low confidence.

"Idiot, Absol's sword dance will only raise its attack but Flame Charge both deals damage and raises the user's speed." Quartz boasts while watching Absol getting run over by a flaming fox.

Sweat trickled down my face, for flame charge's impact was immense. I am under fire and tribulation. Things started to intensify, especially my mind.

"Absol, try using Night Slash." I stutter with low confidence once more. Quartz continued to laugh at my filthy decisions, causing my mind to intensify with anger.

"Pfft, an attack like that is useless against Ninetales. Now dodge it then use Flame Thrower.

This match is ours." Quartz mutters. The crowd's attention was dragged by Quartz's intelligent looks and decisions. Sad to say, I have to agree. He is a man who pursues in Pokemon Battling unlike me.

I feel guilty for letting Absol fight. Her once silky skin is now nothing but scars and scratches. She tries her best to stand firm, proving to me how powerful she is. Still, it is quite bewildering to see two moves nearly fainting Absol.

"What are you gonna do now? I thought Absol is a bad omen. A Pokemon which brings terror to one's eye but it seems to me that it is Ninetales who brought terror to her eyes. You're not fit to become an agent of the Combat Category.

If I were you, I would surrender and face humiliation instead. Don't even try to insult me back." Quartz mocks and triggers both me and Absol. My patience can no longer withstand the pain, so let my mind take over.

"Your very existence is insulting me." I badger hysterically.

My teeth grate against each other. I clenched my fist, and you wouldn't want to know what lies in my mind. I will be the one to humiliate him. For some, it may seem unreasonable for me to rant, but a lot of people have said the same things to me, its time to teach them a lesson.

"Absol use Night Slash!" I instruct with an infuriated tone. No, I wasn't targetting for Ninetales, I was targeted for the trainer. Clearly, Absol knows the target for both of us can sense each other's resentment.

Before Quartz even commands Ninetales to attack, Absol surpasses the foe and pounced at Quartz. She glares at him with her claws slowly piercing her skin just like a lion pouncing at a hippo.

"You'll b,e the one to be humiliated," I utter with an angry tone.

"Hey! Hey, Luna this is too much." Cliff scolds but I didn't respond. I order Absol to strengthen her move and make Quartz bleed. Yes, the thought suddenly popped into my mind. Ninetales tried to protect her trainer but Absol managed to intimidate her causing the foe to flinch.

Everyone got scared because of my actions, and I did not care. Quartz pleads for mercy but my mind is too shrouded with anger to listen with the trainer's plead.

"Come out Alakazam, use hypnosis." Arlo rushes to the scene with Charlotte beside him. His Pokemon causes Absol and me to fall under a drowsy spell. Charlotte's mind got bewildered by the incident she saw, she remembers the first mission wherein I almost killed two guards.

I drop and fall under a sleepy slumber yet no one dares to move due to the terror I've brought upon. Quartz is still shivering, and both of the pillar leaders are frightened and surprised. When it comes to battling, my mind has its own rules...