Tribe of Fusions

by PokeMaster64

Fusions, a rare phenomenon in the Pokémon world where a Pokémon is born with altered DNA, transforming them into powerful creatures. For a millennium, they were seen as a dangerous force and a threat to all life. Fusions, even to present day, have been ostracized from society. As they are feared for their power, is change still possible?

36. Overpowered

Night was setting in the abandoned outskirts that hid the infamous black market. Word hadn't immediately gone around the authorities were aware of the market's possible location, though rumors were spreading after the apparent battle that took place quite recently. The destruction near the main entrance made that evident. Even so, no one was worried as they could easily change locations should they get caught. They've been hiding for this long, after all.

Two Pokémon had just left the market briefly before shops closed up, a Rampardos and a Tyranitar. They headed towards the tunnel entrance with smug, proud smirks adorning their faces.

"Hehehe, I hate to admit it, but those Rogues aren't so bad!" the Rampardos laughed. "Scummy Fusions or not, they know how to make a deal!" He sighed in disappointment. "A shame I couldn't afford any of their weapons. Looks like I need to make a few…'withdraws.'"

Tyranitar snickered. "I know what you mean. I have my eye on some of their guns. They look pretty sick. Could tear down a whole building if I wanted to."

Rampardos clenched his fist and raised it as high as he could. "I say we head out in the afternoon tomorrow for a drink! Crime just got a whole lot easier!"

"Well said!"

They laughed all the way to the tunnel door. Rampardos reached out to open it, but stopped when he saw the door swinging open on its own. They stepped back and watched curiously as, in actuality, a figure stepped out from behind the entrance.

A Poliwrath with a stoic look in his eyes, keenly observing the outskirts. The two dinosaur like Pokémon don't believe they've seen this particular Poliwrath around in the market. What drew their attention was the bandages on each of his upper arms. Possibly because of swollen spots on the arm, but it was hard to determine.

Before they could ask him anything, specifically to get out of the way so they could leave, the Poliwrath directed his gaze to them and beat them to the punch. "You two…where is the black market?"

"Huh?" the Tyranitar grumbled lightly. He bent down and huffed through his nostrils. "Who the hell are you? If you're looking for the market, you should have been notified through the criminal underground. That's not info you want flying around publicly."

Rampardos crossed his arms. "Besides, market's closing up. Tough luck."

Poliwrath narrowed his eyes. "How disappointing, but I'm not here to purchase weapons. I'm not new to the criminal world, but I'm not after gain in power. I'm looking for the Rogues, to eliminate their production line."

"Huh?!" the dinosaurs gasped in surprise.

Rampardos snarled at the frog creature. "Buddy, you're putting yourself on thin ice here." He poked his chest forcibly. "Those weapons are a miracle sent down to us. Who are you supposed to be, a cop?"

The Poliwrath crossed his arms. "Hired help, more so. My only concern is eliminating your suppliers." He shoved them out of the way and started walking. "Try and stop me if you want, but it might be difficult with your skulls split open."

Tyranitar growled and took on an aggressive stature. "Say that again, bastard!"

Rampardos dragged his foot back repeatedly as he prepared to charge. "I'll smear this creep into paste." He let out a ferocious roar and stampeded for the frog creature while his back was turned. "Head Smash!" His body erupted in a blazing blue energy.

Poliwrath stopped and calmly looked through his peripherals. He extended his arm out to the side and clenched his fist. A red tinge of color brightened under the skin, emitting a light steam from the heat. His muscles tensed up, demonstrating control of his strength.

With a quick turn of his heel, Poliwrath's palm faced the charging Head Butt Pokémon and gripped down on his skull, forcing the immediate stop of his Head Smash and momentum. The force sank his feet a bit into the ground, but the shock through his body didn't faze him.

Rampardos was choked with shock. "H-How-?!"

"I did warn you." With only the movement of his arm, he flung the Rampardos into the unfinished bridge structure with tremendous force, sending cracks up the leg.

Tyranitar stumbled back and gaped in horror as his friend slid to the ground and fell unconscious, bleeding from the head. "What the hell?! What are you?!"

He felt a hand suddenly grip his own head before shoving him face first into the ground. He tried to push back, but the hand had a tight hold on him and was giving more than he could exceed. The hand pressed down hard on his skull, threatening to break under the pressure.

"I demand answers this time." Tyranitar looked up in fear at the Poliwrath, who remained completely stoic with a darkness in his eyes. "Where is the black market…and the Rogues?"

---

After closing up shop for the night, the Rogues took to celebrating another fine day of selling their Fusion Arsenals. They tapped glasses of soda and berry juice together before taking a commemorative sip, though Norris chose to stay out of the festivities and stand off to the side with his shoulder supporting him against a wall, crossed arms, and a stern glare in his eyes.

Eli laughed and waved his glass. "My friends, we are living on easy street! We're the big-time hotshots now!"

Zoey smirked as she leaned against their weapon cases, her glass hanging near her lips. "We almost sold out yesterday. We've got some promising buyers on our hands."

Sunny danced on her friend's head, holding a glass equal to her height. "Goodbye starving nights, hello buffet night!" She downed her Oran berry juice.

Sullivan sat above them on the crates, resting his head and left arm over his massive claw. "I'll be honest, Eli, I was pretty skeptical about weapon dealing, but you proved me wrong."

Mikayla nodded, sitting on top of the stand's counter. "You really came through for us when we needed it."

Eli tipped his hat crest over his eyes and smirked. "You all are too kind."

Norris grumbled in annoyance as he listened to them, rolling his eyes at the praise. "Yeah…just great…"

Eli let go of his crest and looked at his leader. "What's got you all mopey, boss? Aren't you happy we're finally getting somewhere with our group?"

Norris closed his eyes and quietly snarled through his teeth. "I've never been happy…not for a long time…" He dragged his claws against the wall. "I wanted to be something…something the public could fear, but…I never imagined this…"

Gordon, who was laying on the ground next to the counter, narrowed his eyes tiredly. "What? Becoming weapon dealers?"

Braith landed on the railgun zebra's head and laughed. "Get over yourself, boss! What are you talking about?! You live to be feared! Seeing all those smiling faces turn upside down with bloodcurdling screams of agony!" she growled maliciously before finishing with her cheery, "Yep, yep, yep!"

Norris covered his face. "…guess I'm not used to being lucky…should I be happy? Or am I doomed to be miserable for the rest of my life? Always angry? Never satisfied?"

Eli patted his shoulder. "That's just your nerves talking. You said you wanted us to grow as a gang."

"I want people to suffer for my torment…" he grumbled. "For all the horrible things they've done to me…"

With the main part of the Rogues was Augustus, the Minccino-Cofagrigus who wanted to tag along out of interest. He looked at his boss with sadness shimmering in his eyes. The young Fusion looked up to Norris, so it pained him to see his superior so distressed.

"Why…should I be satisfied with getting the best life ever…when I still feel like crap?" Norris clenched his fingers down on the wall, cracking it with his restrained strength. "I don't know what I want anymore…I just have all this hate in my heart…"

Sullivan narrowed his eyes. "Boss, come on…"

"And what kind of leader am I for not solving our food shortage sooner?" he growled at himself. "I'm the leader of the Rogues, yet I suck as one."

Eli crossed his arms. "Don't beat yourself up over it. This wasn't an easy task for any one of us. We got off lucky."

Norris glared at him. "Yeah…coming from the guy born to be lucky…"

Mikayla stepped up to him and gently wrapped her arms around him to soothe his tension. "Don't be like that. Why can't you be happy for once? I understand you've been through too much stress in your life, but you can't ignore the good parts of life."

The Golduck-Electrode snarled. "Then why do I still feel like crap?! Nothing ever goes my way! For all I know, this is just another shitty disappointment waiting to rear its ugly head at me!" He shoved Mikayla off, unintentionally knocking her over, but he didn't care. He pinched between his eyes and growled. "Damn headaches…" He started walking away, grumbling under his breath before announcing, "I need a moment alone…"

The Rogues kept quiet for a while moments after the mad duck marched off. Mikayla picked herself up and brushed some dirt off. She didn't take offense to the crude shove, but she did worry for Norris with how stressed he could get over the most minor things.

Augustus stared off where Norris left, ears drooped against the sides of his head. "…Mr. Norris is angry again."

Mikayla sighed. "I'm worried about him, too, buddy." She lightly patted his helmeted head.

Zoey swirled her drink around in glass, giving a long, hard look at the path Norris left on. "I keep hearing about the shit Norris went through as a kid. Physical abuse…punishments that drove him mad…" She grimaced. "And I thought living on the streets was bad. At least I could run away from my problems…like I always have. But him?"

Sunny frowned. "He looks so sad! Should we talk to him? I could give him a hug to make him all better!"

Eli held his hand up. "Don't…at all. When he gets this huffy, friend or foe becomes a blurred line for him, more so than usual. The dude just has a lot of hate welled up in his heart. So much anger clouds his mind, he doesn't know what he truly wants to be anymore. Feared, powerful, happy, relieved…it always comes back to anger."

Mikayla sighed. "Makes me almost feel sorry of the poor soul who's with him on the date he wants to vent all that frustration out. Like a living time bomb." She sat down and rubbed her head. "I just wished he could finally be at peace with himself."

Zoey narrowed her eyes at the two, then finished off her drink before sitting off to the side and resting her chin in her hands. "I have to wonder…" Eli and Mikayla faced her curiously. "You keep mentioning how Norris doesn't fit the qualities of being a leader. All of us can see that. But, I have to wonder…why do you follow him?"

Eli blinked with an inquisitive shine in his eyes. "What do you mean?"

She shrugged. "I'm just following orders like everyone else. However, he's…too destructive to properly lead."

Gordon lifted his head. "Actually, she makes a valid point. There's no denying his remarkable talent for combat, but he doesn't strike me as…" He paused for a moment to yawn. "…the leader type." He narrowed his eyes. "I know he started the Rogues, but…is that enough qualification to give him his title?"

Zoey closed her eyes. "Lest we forget he has little regard to collateral damage, especially with his own team. He blasted me and Sullivan with his Discharge when we were off collecting parts." She focused on Eli and Mikayla. "So, why keep insisting he's the leader if you feel he's not fit to be one?" The two looked at each other with some unease. "I'm not being hostile. It's an honest, genuine question, one that needs to be addressed."

Eli narrowed his eyes at the Rogues, now having their attention focused on him and Mikayla. He sighed, then turned his back to them as he held his hips. "Listen…some things are better left unexplained, they say…but, in our case, some things can't be explained at all." He closed his eyes. "Believe it or not, even I don't have the answers."

"What do you mean?" Sunny asked.

"Norris as a leader is probably one of the stupidest decisions any thinking creature could possibly make and, to some degree, that might be true." He glanced to the side wearily. "However, with Norris, there's…this feeling you get when around him. It's hard to explain, but…he has this drive to go the extra mile. He's effective in battle, but it's his ambition that shines through the brightest."

Braith shot him a deadpan stare. "You don't have a clear, concise answer, do you?"

Mikayla held his hip and shook her head. "Like Eli said, it's not so simple. It's a quality about Norris that can't be rationally explained, but…there's this spark you feel when he's set into motion." She looked down. "I don't think any of us have a real answer for following a self-destructive hothead, but…what he lacks in adequate leadership qualities, he makes up for with…unwavering determination." She looked straight at Zoey. "Does that answer your question?"

She narrowed her eyes, then sighed. "Not really, but…it's the best answer I'm going to get, I suppose."

Eli waved off the somber air and walked towards the weapon crates. "This is a discussion best saved for another time. Let's get these stored and locked away for the morning. We've got another day of selling to get through." He rubbed his hands together, smirking deviously. "Cyrox promised the new designs tomorrow. They should sell like hotcakes."

The crew got to work carrying the crates off to their personal safe locker. Augustus watched the older Rogues carry the items back and forth before turning his gaze back onto the empty path Norris left on. His ears flopped against the sides of his head again with clear sadness.

He felt a gentle pat on his head and looked up to Mikayla. "He'll be fine. He just needs to clear his head."

Augustus blinked at her, then continued looking forward. "…I don't like seeing Mr. Norris angry. He makes him look unhappy. Like he's hurting himself."

Mikayla sighed. "I'm with you on that one." She rubbed his head. "Don't let it bug you too much. He's thick-skinned, but hard to put down. That's why you admire him so much, right?"

Augustus smiled a bit. "Yeah…"

Mikayla lightly tugged on his arm. "Come on, you can help with some of the small crates."

"Okay…" He followed her to the weapon piles.

Eli gathered some of the cases into a pile when he felt a new presence making its way over to them. He turned to the new face curiously, then smirked upon meeting the eyes of a Poliwrath. "Yo, a little late to be hanging back, don't you think? If you're looking for something to purchase, we're closed. You can try again tomorrow if you want."

The Poliwrath, however, wasn't focused on the weapon casings being packed away. Instead, his eyes shifted between each individual Fusion in front of him. "…you're the Rogues, yes?"

Eli chuckled. "Stupidly obvious question, but we are."

Poliwrath examined his surroundings thoroughly. "I would have never guessed for a black market to be hidden underground in abandoned outskirts."

Sullivan dropped a case and walked over. "Is this guy causing trouble?"

Eli raised his hand to stop him before going on, "You say that like this is your first time here." He leaned forward and held his chin. "You certainly don't have a face I would remember." He tapped his chin. "You don't look too keen on buying our supplies, though." He looked around. "Quite a coincidence you would happen upon us for the first time…after hours."

Poliwrath narrowed his eyes. "What are you implying?"

"I don't know…what do you want?" Eli asked with a sly grin.

Poliwrath sighed and crossed his arms. "Eli, the dark poisoner of the Rogues. You're as perceptive as they say." He shrugged. "There's no need for me to tiptoe around the subject, so I'll just get to the point." He pointed at the group. "I'm here to put an end to you."

Eli smirked. "Us, huh? Not our business?"

Zoey joined him at the stand with a serious glare. "What are you, a cop?"

"Or a Fusion Hunter?" Braith suggested, hanging upside-down by the stand's awning.

"Neither." Poliwrath cracked his knuckles. "I was hired, no questions asked, to come here and dispose of you creeps. I have no particular side when it comes to the justice system, but I can't refuse high paying profits if killing you troublemakers is my only task."

"Ah, the infamous 'K' word," Eli muttered playfully. "That's real cute, you know." He pressed his hands down on the counter and leaned forward. "Listen, pal, I'm not sure if you're nearsighted or stupid, but you're not only outnumbered, but outmatched. If you're not a Fusion Hunter, then you're just some hired mercenary writing his own death sentence. One Pokémon against seven Fusions, excluding the kid and our boss who stepped out for a moment. And don't get me started on the firepower sitting behind us." He waved the Poliwrath off. "Now, run along and let the adults continue with their business."

Poliwrath sighed. "I was also informed of your condescending nature. Perhaps I should rephrase myself: I'm here to kill off the Rogues, so don't make this any more difficult than it will be."

Eli narrowed his eyes. He's serious. He snapped his fingers, gesturing the Rogues to take cautious stances against their possible enemy. "You want to try that again, friend?"

Mikayla glared. "You're messing with the wrong batch of criminals, bub. Leave while you still have legs to stand on."

Poliwrath glared back. "You freaks just don't know when you're beat, do you?" He tightened his fist. His arm glowed in a red tinge of heat.

Sullivan finally had enough of his attitude and lunged forward with Aqua Jet. "Screw you, asshole! Go to Hell!"

Eli smirked inwardly. What an idiot. What could be possibly do against all of us?

Poliwrath focused on the approaching boiler Fusion, then threw his hand out and caught the Heatmor-Clawitzer by the pincer. Sullivan gasped as his Aqua Jet absorbed into the muscular tadpole's body. "So, you have Water Absorb? Whatever! I still have other ways to-!" He tried to open his pincer, but the Poliwrath forced it shut, still holding on tightly to him. "Argh…I can't…open my…!"

"My turn." Sullivan's face instantly twisted with pain as the muscular tadpole struck him in the gut. The kinetic force sent him flying through the stand and barreling through rock and buildings that shook the air. The Poliwrath's fist steamed from the heat building inside his arms. "And what did you plan of doing again?"

The Rogues, thrown through a loop, stood paralyzed in shock and, as much as they didn't want to admit it, fear. They knew immediately that wasn't any normal punch they witnessed, nor was it a battle move.

"What…What the hell?" Eli breathed in disbelief.

Poliwrath flexed his fingers and stared at them with his stoic glare. "That's the thing with you Fusions. Always so cocky with your power that you can't see when defeat is in your future."

"Sullivan!" Mikayla ran to the injured Fusion and helped him sit up. He grimaced and reached for his stomach, but retracted his hand and snarled in pain. "R-Relax! You're going to be fine!"

Sullivan barely had an eye open as he glared at the mercenary. "That…guy…that wasn't a normal punch…he's…he's…" Blood dripped from his mouth. "He's too strong…"

Mikayla was silently panicking before snapping her head at Eli. "We need to get out of here, now!"

Poliwrath leapt over the table and pulled his fist back. "I won't allow any of you to leave alive!"

Eli glared at their assassin and put up a protective stance. "Foul Play!" He redirected the flow of the punch and threw the Poliwrath into the crumbling building. The dark poisoner pointed intensely at Augustus, making him jump in fright. "Get Norris! Now!"

Augustus was shivering through his feet, but he swallowed his nerves and nodded hesitantly. "Y-Yes sir!" He spun around and bolted off as fast as he could.

The Rogues turned back to the mercenary, but gasped as he dashed past them and went straight after Augustus. While he didn't seem to have any speed that matched his absurd strength, he was much faster on foot than the young Rogue. "And just where do you think you're going?!" Augustus looked over his shoulder and screamed.

A hand suddenly grabbed the mercenary by the wrist, pulled him off his feet, and slammed him down on his back with a sharp drop. He was stunned for only a moment before looking up in time to see a Minccino tail disappeared around a corner. His eyes moved up and glared at his assailant: Zoey.

The locksmith thief sneered down on him. "I'm willing to admit I'm pretty cold, but attacking children?" She bared her teeth. "Not happening." She flipped back from a straight up punch, putting a couple meters distance between them.

Poliwrath picked himself back up and stretched out his arms. "Very well. Perhaps bringing your fool of a leader would be beneficial." He turned around, poured power through his arms, then sharply clapped ahead of himself.

The Rogues were thrown back by a powerful shockwave that tore up the street and other buildings. The underground market rumbled from the bouncing of sound and shockwaves. Rock rained from the ceiling. They caught themselves and hid behind some of the destroyed debris.

Eli sneered from behind their cover. "It'll take a while before Augustus returns with Norris. We can't risk direct conflict. Everyone, suppress him!" He leapt out of cover and formed toxic sludge in his palms. "Toxic Bane!" He threw the sludge at the mercenary.

Poliwrath glared at it, pulled his palm back, and threw a straight palm strike that blew the Toxic Bane apart with a sharp gust. He lowered his arm and sauntered towards them as the sludge harmlessly dropped around him. Eli aimed his claws and rapidly fired Venoshock. Poliwrath tore out a chunk of ground and blocked the poison shots with it.

Eli glared. I feel the power coursing through him, but it's…just not normal. Nothing like a Fusion or Pokémon. Certainly not something a normal Poliwrath is capable of doing. What the hell is he?

Poliwrath tore out two more chunks of rock. "Do you wish to die like cowards?" He threw the rock with incredible force with a cone of air shaped around them.

Sunny quickly zipped out of hiding and molded together some of her Pollen Puffs before tossing them into the rock. She took cover as the puffs exploded the rock, sending dangerous, flying pebbles scattering. "W-We're not cowards!"

"The fairy's right! Yep, yep, yep!" Poliwrath glared up, spotting Braith as she jumped along the market buildings with a cheery skip in her mood. "Besides, you look like fun! Fun to beat into a BLOODY PULP!" She spun in the air, wrapped in a light blue aura. "Acrobatics!" She swung her foot down and threw herself at him.

Poliwrath jumped back and went for a palm strike, but the slippery monkey swung around his arm and pounded his skull with Double Hit. Poliwrath pulled back on his finger and flicked compressed air against the chameleon monkey's chin. Braith crashed into another stand face first.

"Ugh…" She screamed again and dodged another air flick before angrily shaking her fist. "No fair, no fair, no fair! I call hacks!" She dodged two more air flicks that pierced the stand like bullets.

"Save your childish ranting for hell, freak!" Poliwrath threatened as he took aim once more.

Gordon's eyes sharpened as he entered his serious state, extending out his mandibles. "Charge Beam!" Electricity coursed between the mandibles, then fired a straight, fast electrical beam into the tadpole's exposed back. "Got him!" he neighed, blowing steam from his nostrils in excitement.

Poliwrat shot a glare at him and growled. "Wait your turn, freak." He slapped his hand across the ground, triggering a land tidal wave rising up to sink them.

Mikayla ran into action. "Ice Beam!" The icy energy beams blasted against the land wave and encased it in ice. The frozen rock loomed over them dangerously. She sighed in relief. "That was too close."

Poliwrath reached out and grabbed the jumping monkey by the face. "Hey, hey, hey!" Braith cried out angrily, but immediately went silent as the mercenary aimed his pulled back finger for her face.

Poliwrath glared. "Say goodnight."

"Let go of her!" Pollen Puffs rained down on his back and exploded. Poliwrath growled in pain and released Braith, who made a hasty escape. The mercenary spun around and flicked air bullets at the buzzing cotton fairy. "Giga Drain!" Sunny fired the energy sapping beams from her hands and into the tadpole.

Poliwrath raised his hands over his head. "Enough!" He clapped and sent out a shockwave that stunned Sunny midflight. Her eyes widened in horror as the mercenary pulled his fist back and threw it right for her tiny form.

"Sunny!" The fairy was suddenly pushed out of the way by her best friend, who unfortunately took the direct hit of the punch to her stomach. Zoey spat out blood, then went skipping across the ground and crashed into their rock cover.

"ZOEY!" Sunny cried out.

Mikayla tended to Zoey immediately. "Are you okay?"

Zoey spat out more blood that dripped over her cheek. She glared at the frosty Fusion. "This…is why I stay out of direct fight…GAH!" She scrunched up as her injury flared. Her face twisted with pain. "AGH, it hurts, it's HURTS! ARGH! GAAAH!"

Eli quickly jabbed her with his Acupressure, though specifically to neutralize her pain receptors temporarily. He glared at their opponent. "His strength is unreal…that wasn't acquired from normal training…maybe not any training." He glared at the Poliwrath's steaming arms. "What the hell is up with his arms? Why are they heating up like that?"

Mikayla gulped worriedly. "Please tell me you see us getting out of this safely…"

He closed his eyes and gritted his teeth irritably. It pained him to even say this, but, "There's no way we can beat him like this. We're too weak."

Gordon took offense to that and stomped his hooves down. "Oh, is that so?! Then I'll give this jackass a beating he'll forget!"

"Don't you mean 'never forget?!'" Mikayla exclaimed.

"Not when he has a concussion!" Gordon neighed and charged into battle.

"Idiots!" Eli shouted before biting back his tone. He gripped his face and forced his scattered mind to compose itself. "Keep it together, Eli…" He glared at the mercenary as Braith, an enraged Sunny, and Gordon fought back as best they could. "One normal punch is enough to take us out for the count. We can't risk any heavy hitters."

"So, you're suggesting an escape?" Mikayla guessed.

"Do you have any better options?"

"…" Mikayla glared at the mercenary and sneered. "His strength is the only worrying factor. I'll slow him down as much as possible while the rest of you make a bolt for the exit."

Eli helped Zoey up. "Don't get yourself killed." Zoey glanced weakly to her side and noticed a separate weapon case lying nearby. She glared at it, then reached up to her key-earring and plucked off the Secret Storage key.

Mikayla called out to the three Rogues fighting. "Keep pushing back! Give me an opening!" She broke into a sprint and ran towards them.

Gordon snorted and roared fiercely. "You heard the lady! Give it everything you got! Flame Charge!" Coated in the energizing flames, he rammed his head into the tadpole's spiral stomach and pushed him back.

Poliwrath glared, dug his feet into the ground, and gripped the zebra's head tightly. "A Flame Charge?" He lifted him up, preparing to bash his body down like a ragdoll.

"Braith, now!" Gordon shouted.

"Camouflage!" Braith grabbed Sunny and turned her back to Gordon. She turned light orange, matching the ground floor.

"Discharge!" Gordon fired off the wild electrical attack, directly hitting Poliwrath with all he had.

Poliwrath grunted in pain before tossing the railgun zebra away. Gordon landed on his hooves, then charged into him with Flame Charge, much faster than before. Poliwrath brought his hands together and readied to slam them down on the zebra's skull, but Braith flew in from behind and attacked him with Double Hit.

"Nope, nope, nope!" Braith shouted.

Gordon turned around and bucked Poliwrath into the stomach before blasting him with Charge Beam. "We will not fall by your hands!"

Sunny slammed down a Moonblast on Poliwrath, seething through her teeth. "We're not scared of you!"

Fed up with their constant attacking, Poliwrath slammed his hand down and shot up rock from the ground, staggering the Rogues so he could palm strike them out of his sight. They screamed, soaring through the air, and crashed into the stands. Poliwrath cracked his knuckles, then pulled out another large chunk of earth, this one around the size of a Wailmer. With a hefty roar, he chucked it at the fallen group.

They covered themselves in anticipation, but were saved by Eli, who cleaved the rock down the middle with Night Slash. He reared his head up and shouted, "Mikayla, NOW!"

Poliwrath immediately settled his stare back in front of him just before Mikayla fired a point blank Moonblast. He caught the attack between his hands and suppressed the energy before crumpling it into sparkles.

Mikayla inhaled sharply, then shouted, "Winter Storm!" She puffed her cheeks out and, as hard as she could, expelled the icy mist from her straw appendage like smoke from a train funnel. The mist wrapped around the two in a wide area, obscuring them from the other Rogues.

Eli narrowed his eyes, then pointed to Gordon and Braith. "Get Sullivan and move it!" He helped Zoey up once again and carried her on his back before running, with Sunny flying by his side. Braith helped get Sullivan on Gordon's back, then jumped onto the zebra's head as he galloped after Eli.

With Poliwrath, who panted slightly from the excitement, he glared around in the icy mist curiously. "What is this?" He looked down at himself and saw ice forming around his body and legs. Ice tried to coat around his arms, but the heat they gave off allowed it to melt. He glared at a barely visible Mikayla. "Is this your plan…or a last-ditch effort?"

Mikayla narrowed her eyes cautiously. I can't guarantee this will stop him for good. I just need to hold him off until he's completely frozen.

However, due to the desperate planning they put into escaping, Mikayla overlooked a minor detail about her opponent. Poliwrath raised his hand up and cupped it. "Have you forgotten how strong I am?"

Mikayla's eyes widened in shock, then she turned and bolted after her friends just before the mercenary swiped the air and sent out a powerful gust of wind that nearly tripped her over her own feet. She felt her Winter Storm blowing away with it. No!

Poliwrath glared and started chasing after her, but he winced at the stiffness in his legs. His arms may have been spared, but his legs weren't so lucky. They were coated in ice. "Damn…that's going to be a problem…"

Confident that she slowed him down, Mikayla increased her pace and dashed for the Rogues, barely managing to catch up to them before slowing and matching their speed. "I…I slowed him down!" she wheezed.

"Good!" Eli shouted before glaring seriously. "Just what the hell was that guy?! How can a Poliwrath possess that much strength?!"

"Seriously, that dude was intense!" Gordon shouted. "One direct punch and we could have been KO'd!"

Braith smirked. "Hehe! At least he can't chase after us!"

Back with Poliwrath, he watched as their fleeing forms slowly escaped from sight. He narrowed his eyes calmly. I was hired to eliminate you troublesome pests. He raised his fist. No morals, no redeeming qualities. In the end, you're still criminals. He pulled his arm back. Hypocritical of me to say, but I'm not the one planting a target on my back. You freaks had this coming from a long time.

His fist glowed red, this time with energy pouring into it. "…Dynamic Punch."

The Rogues refused to look back, only caring about finding the exit. However, they became overwhelmed with fearful curiosity as they heard the sudden sound of rushing wind growing increasingly louder behind them. Eli grimaced. "Don't tell me…Braith?"

The chameleon monkey hesitantly turned around, then paled in horror. "…we're going to die."

The Rogues screamed out in pain as a violent shockwave blasted into them, ripping apart the very market with its wrathful force and firing rock and debris that scratched or even pierced through their skin. They felt their bones rattling and aching from the stress, their internal organs tingling from the frenzy.

Through the high-speed impact, they crashed onto the ground, the impact flaring their injuries to uncomfortable levels. Their two injured comrades, Sullivan and Zoey, screamed out the worse as their tender injuries ache at unfathomable degrees. The stress on Zoey caused her Secret Storage to open up and eject the weapon case she snagged earlier.

"Zoey!" Sunny tended to her side, as she was the least impacted by the fall. Tears streamed down her eyes. The nasty bruise over her front was too much to see. "N-No…" She quickly started making healing Pollen Puffs, tossing a couple over to Mikayla before feeding some into Zoey.

Mikayla, who immediately went to Sullivan after landing, grabbed the Pollen Puffs and fed them to Sullivan. "Stay with me, Sully! You're going to be alright!"

"We're not…" Mikayla gasped, then looked at a despondent Eli as he stared down the path, eyeing their assassin with hidden panic. He pushed himself onto his knees and panted lightly. "We can't escape…we can't fight back…he's too strong…"

Mikayla's eyes shimmered with sorrow and stared down their approaching killer. "No…"

The foot of the tadpole stomped the ground firmly. His arm ached from using Dymanic Punch, throbbing from the overexertion. He warned me about using moves with this stuff. At least it paid off. Poliwrath loosen the stiffness in his arms, then cracked his knuckles once again.

"Didn't I tell you?" he asked with a murderous glint in his eyes. "None of you…are leaving here alive."

The criminal Fusions were stunned. They couldn't find the will to move. The Gappei Fusions were one thing, but…this guy had overwhelming strength they couldn't possibly match or endure. Braith's lips twitched up into an uneasy grin. "Heh…it was nice knowing you guys, I guess…"

"Y-Yeah…" Zoey muttered quietly. "Can't…r-run away this t-time…"

Eli clenched his fists angrily, seething through his teeth with vile hatred for the Poliwrath. Move! Move, you damn idiot! Stop being scared! He's nothing! You never had to rely on strength to win! You never backed down in the face of fear! Just move! But he couldn't. He didn't have the drive to fight this man. All he could do was protect his…his friends.

Eli stood in the way of the Poliwrath and spread his arms out. "That's far enough! I won't let you hurt them any further!"

Poliwrath glared, then broke into a sprint straight for them. "Don't worry, you won't feel a thing after this last punch!" He charged up Dynamic Punch and leaped into the air, planning to end them in one final attack.

The Rogues stared up at him, anticipating with dread the incoming punch. Eli was the only standing, trying to keep some resolve alive in the Rogues. His claws glowed weakly with Poison Jab. What was he supposed to do? He couldn't risk getting himself hurt. He had to protect them, no matter what. That's what a leader would do…right? What would Norris do?

"…hey…asshole."

Speak of the devil.

Poliwrath glared to his left, then received a brutal, unrestrained punch to the side of his skull. It felt like his skull crumpled under the force for a moment. To only add to the brutal impact, the fist exploded and used the propulsive force to fire the tadpole through the ground like a meteor.

The Rogues sat, agape with awe as their savior landed before them. Eli's legs gave out and he fell on his rear with a relieved, perturbed smile. Right…like he ever cared about personal safety…

Norris lifted his head and fixed his fired-up glare at the Poliwrath he spiked into the ground. He clenched his teeth, then shouted, "Just who the hell do you think you are?!" His voice boomed for all to hear, presenting his powerful presence.

"NORRIS!" the Rogues cheered loudly. Augustus worked a miracle for them, just in time.

Poliwrath pushed himself out the ground and felt his head, then retracted with a wince. It stung, a lot. He glared at the new fight, though with a bit more intrigue. "The infamous leader of the Rogues…"

Norris scowled at the man, but then, surprisingly, turned his anger on his own crew. "You idiots…"

"Huh?" they expressed with confusion.

"Don't act stupid. I heard what you said, just a moment ago. Saw it with my own eyes." He sneered furiously. "Giving up already? Accepting death?" He growled. "Don't you ever say shit like that again or I'll give you hell! I'm not the leader of a bunch of pansies! I don't care if the odds are against you! I don't care if you're injured! You want to live to see tomorrow?! Then stop with your shitty whining and fight, even if there's no point! You got that, you damn morons?!"

The message, for however mixed it sounded, rang loud and clear. Eli smiled shamefully at his leader. "O-Of course…boss. Understood…" The others nodded slowly, but didn't hesitate to agree.

Norris snorted through his nostrils. "Good…" He returned to scowling at the mercenary. "As for you…I don't know who the hell you are and, frankly, I don't care…" He clenched his teeth. "But you have some nerve coming down here and starting shit like you own the place. Shit like that…makes me angry…" He tightened his fists as his wrist orbs crackled with electricity.

Poliwrath narrowed his eyes. He raised his steaming fist and asked, "And what difference could you possibly make that all of your subordinates couldn't?"

The mad duck's beak twitched up into an angry smirk. His eyes shook with rage and vigor. "Oho…because unlike them…you came at a bad time, my friend. Something like this would make be pretty angry on a normal day. However, the difference is…I WAS ALREADY PISSED OFF!"

With a furious roar that could shake the heavens, Norris dashed straight for the Poliwrath with his wrist orb charged with Explosion. Poliwrath reacted quickly and countered his Explosion with Dynamic Punch. Their punches collided with each other and exploded with a menacing shockwave that rumbled the surrounding area.

Suffice to say, the Rogues were stunned by his monstrous fighting spirit. "He's so AWESOME!" Sunny squealed.

Braith raised her fists and laughed. "Yeah, yeah, yeah! Kick his ass, Norris!"

Eli narrowed his eyes, feeling just a bit skeptical. But will it be enough?

"RAWR!" Norris roared, slamming his Explosion fist into the Poliwrath's stomach. Poliwrath grunted as the explosion pushed him back. He attempted to counter with his strength enhanced arms, but Norris dished out punches faster than he could move. "Fall! You! Damn! Bastard!" He slugged him across the face, with an added Explosion.

Poliwrath bounced across the ground, then caught himself. He panted lightly and felt the scorched marks over his body. He narrowed his eyes. "I see…" He stood up and went into a stance, stating, "You truly live up to your rep-"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Norris interrupted, surprising the mercenary with an Explosion between the eyes. Norris glowered at the tadpole hidden behind the plume of smoke, then scoffed. "Tsk…"

Poliwrath, after smoke cleared, had caught his fist and minimized the explosion into his palm. Even so, he regarded his power in high respects. "As I figured. Powerful, brash…and completely predictable."

Norris grunted from a swift backhand to his side. Despite the crap he gave his crew, he now understood why they decided to run. Already, he felt the infuriating jolt of agony surge through his body as he was slapped into rock, covered in a cloud of dust.

Poliwrath sighed and eased up. "He was certainly a dangerous wild card." He focused back on the other Rogues and walked towards them. "Now, where did we leave off-?"

"Where are you looking?!" Poliwrath, thrown in a brief state of surprise, barely blocked the explosive punch aimed for his head. He caught the steely, furious gaze of the mad duck. "Don't you DARE turn your back on me!"

He recovered from that attack already?! He took down Sullivan and Zoey in one hit, but this guy, after taking one of his hits, was moving just as fast as before, maybe faster. Mr. Roteman's sources say this one's dangerous. Taking him out quickly is the only option.

Poliwrath brought his hands together and slammed them down on the Golduck-Electrode's back. It clearly harmed him, seen from his harsh coughing, but the tadpole then found himself on the receiving end of a Signal Beam, blasting him apart from the Fusion.

Norris, stiff in his movements for a moment, raised himself to full height and roared angrily at the rock ceiling. "GO TO HELL, BASTARD!" He rushed down the mercenary with vehement fury burning from his eyes.

Poliwrath, ungracefully, landed on his feet and defended against the mad duck's relentless punches. He's clearly injured, but his body is moving with incredible persistence! His stamina, strength, ferocity…I doubt he feels any pain now! I've never met anyone this pumped up on adrenaline! He glared. But even he has to tire out sooner or later! He can't go on forever!

Poliwrath slugged Norris in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him. He reached to grab and crush his head, but the mad duck's tenacity forced him in his breathless state to dodge the hand and retaliate with Signal Beam. Poliwrath blocked the attack with his hands, noticing it was a lot weaker since it was in a vulnerable state.

Norris rolled across the ground and gasped for air, then spat out blood. He panted quickly, feeling his nerves burning with excitement. His muscles, moving on combative instinct to win, threw him towards the muscular tadpole. "You can't stop me!" He roared and pounded Explosion after Explosion against the Poliwrath, tearing apart the destroyed earth.

Poliwrath had to keep blocking with his arms. The Enhancer Serum that amplified the energy in his arms gave him muscles a higher tolerance and impact absorption towards brute force attacks such as this. Any more direct shots would guarantee his defeat. He's acting only on instinct. He should know getting up close like this is suicide, right?

Norris, noticing his opponent wasn't focusing on him for a moment, snarled angrily. "Take this SERIOUSLY!" He threw both fists against the tadpole's defense.

Poliwrath was thrown back by the force, but kept his footing. His arms smoked from the repeated blockings. He glared through his arms as he huffed. "You're a fascinating Rogue. I have to wonder what hell you went through to gain this unwavering tenacity."

Norris growled and stomped the ground. "Gawk all you want, but I'm still going to destroy you!" He lunged once more, charging up both his wrist orbs.

Poliwrath predicted his movements and caught him by the fists. "I won't fall for any more of your Explosions!" He readied to bash him into the ground, but Norris slipped out of his hold and flipped on top of his head. "Hey-!"

"I don't know what kind of freaky, mumbo jumbo got you this stupidly buff, but you seem to be channeling all that raw power through your arms!" Norris gripped down on the muscular tadpole's shoulders. Poliwrath noticed the wrist orbs were still sparking. "And by the way! If I'm so predictable, then counter this! DISCHARGE!"

The Poliwrath tried his darnedest not to uproar in screams of pain as electricity blasted into him, as well as blasted everything around them. The Rogues, getting a clear view of the action, could see Norris was putting his all into every ounce of power he could manage.

"He's nuts!" Braith exclaimed. "I've never seen him go all out like this before!"

Sunny grinned happily. "Mr. Norris has a chance! He can win!"

Eli grimaced. "Maybe, but he's putting a lot of stress on his body and mind…" They looked at him, confused. "When he gets this serious, it's like his limiters are turned off. He's not fighting with strategy or elusive play. He's giving everything he can to defeat that mercenary. But…how long until his body finally gives out?"

Mikayla suddenly turned concern and looked back at the battle with newfound worry. "Norris…"

"DIE, DIE, DIE!" Norris screamed, finishing his electric assault with two deliveries of Explosion straight down on the mercenary's head.

Poliwrath barely managed to shield himself with his arms. He glared at the mad duck, feeling riled up that a single Fusion was giving him this much trouble. "I've had enough of you, freak!" He grabbed Norris by the ankle before he could flee, then proceeded to beat him against the ground like a limp ragdoll five times. "Remember your place, Fusion!" He tossed Norris away.

Norris grabbed the ground and halted his flight. He pushed himself up, struggling with fatigue, and glared straight at his opponent with an unending well of hate. "Bastard…I'm not done…" he panted.

Poliwrath raised his arms and kept on his guard, but stated, "No…you are done." He glared. "Surrender and accept your defeat."

Norris scowled at the man. "Didn't you hear me? I said I'm not done!"

"You're a talented fighter, no point denying that. I dare say any time before today, you would've beaten me ages ago. However, I've been outfitted with the means of putting you down permanently. Pests like you aren't my concern."

Norris bared his teeth. "I'm…still standing…" He paused and coughed up blood in a harsh cough. He rubbed his beak and continued, "Still standing…aren't I?"

Poliwrath glared at his determined attitude. "You're reaching your limit."

The angry smirk returned. "Ha…then I guess I'll have to kill you before I crash!" He threw himself forward and sprinted with uncoordinated grace.

Poliwrath glared. He can't be serious. He pulled his fist back. It glowed red with energy. That's it. One Dynamic Punch and he's history.

However, Poliwrath caught a glimpse at something held between the mad duck's hands. A light blue, glowing sphere of psychic energy being concentrated into a powerful attack. Norris held it in his right hand and pulled his arm back, winding up his attack.

"Defend against this! Psionic Bomb!" He threw his hand forward with the Fusion Move.

Shit! A Fighting-Type like him couldn't possibly match the power of a Psychic-Type move like that. Forced onto the critical defense, Poliwrath threw his fist into the Psionic Bomb and used Dynamic Punch to minimize the blast against him.

A violent explosion triggered between them, shining a blinding blue light into the Rogues' eyes as wind soared past them. Buildings collapsed further and rock was smashed up in the explosion into particle rock. Sunny shrieked and hid behind Gordon. "SO SCARY!"

"He's not fooling around here!" Gordon exclaimed.

Eli covered his eyes and peered through the blinding explosion. We're counting on you, Norris. Please tell us you have a plan to win.

The explosion died down, revealing both fighters pushed back from the blast. Both were panting heavily, showing signs of deep fatigue, though Norris suffered from severe injuries all over himself. He knew he was going to feel like shit the next day, assuming he could beat this overpowered tadpole, that is.

Norris, however, was beginning to feel those negative side effects. Working his body so hard to deal maximum damage left his arms in a paralyzed state. D-Dammit! Move, you shitty arms! MOVE!

Poliwrath gripped his shoulder and rubbed the soreness between his arm and shoulder blade. His arms felt numb, but everything else felt like crap. Both were bloodied and bruised, with Norris taking the worst so far. The tadpole still couldn't get over the Rogue leader's vicious tenacity. He took so many direct hits that put two of his subordinates out of commission. Perhaps his drive to win surpassed theirs.

"…heh…" Poliwrath closed his eyes. "You live up to the reputation you've set for yourself. You truly are the strongest Rogue."

Norris sneered. "I don't flippin' care. They'll finish the rest even if you take me out."

Poliwrath glared. "Do you really think they will stand a chance? I can eliminate them with a single Dynamic Punch. All at once. None of your subordinates are a match for me."

Norris, for once, presented a calmer glare, which he directed off to his peripherals, looking at something through them. "Not all of them…"

The active Rogues tried and traced his gaze before finding a shocking sight hiding from the battle. It was Augustus, watching the battle with evident worry and fear.

Braith nearly jumped out of her skin when she spotted him. "What, what, what?! Why is he still here?!"

Eli narrowed his eyes. "Norris…what are you up to?"

Norris clenched his teeth, then sprinted at full speed yet again. "NOW DIE!" He charged up his wrist orb with Explosion, putting all he could muster into his next hit.

Poliwrath glared and pulled his hand back for a palm strike. "This ends now!"

Their attacks landed their marks. Norris delivered the Explosion into the Poliwrath's stomach, detonating with all his remaining strength. Poliwrath bashed his palm against the mad duck's face. Winning out on superior force, Norris was thrown across the destroyed field and crashed into the area Augustus was hiding in.

The coffin chinchilla shrieked. "Mr. Norris!"

Norris' face twitched aggressively, expressing great deals of pain. Dammit!

Poliwrath dropped to one knee and groaned, holding the searing scorch mark across his torso. Ugh…that one did a number on me…he packs a punch…

The Rogues stared in concern and fright, now that their last shot at freedom has been taken out of commission. "What do we do?!" Gordon shouted. "If Norris can't beat him, what chance do we have?!"

Eli's jaw trembled as he tried to find the words. "I…"

Augustus went to Norris' side immediately and grabbed his arm, trying to pull him up. "Mr. Norris, get up! You can't lose! You just can't!"

"Augustus, stop!" The coffin chinchilla ceased his efforts and let go of him. Norris scrunched up and growled irritably. "I…can't move my body anymore…everything's…not responding. I've worn myself…to my limit…"

Augustus' eyes watered fearfully. "B-B-But, you…you can beat him! You're the strongest!" He bent down and cried into Norris' chest. "Please, Mr. Norris! I don't want to die! PLEASE!"

Poliwrath stared at the weeping Fusion for a moment, then scoffed. "The little one should have run when he had the chance." He turned back to the other Rogues. "As for the rest of you, I-WHOA!" He barely blocked a massive electrical beam fired at him that shot with raw, intense force.

Everyone turned to Gordon as the culprit, but even he was stunned by the attack. They then set their eyes on the one holding one of their weapons: Zoey. She forced herself, despite her injury, to sit up and supported the weapon over her shoulder: a rocket launcher shaped blaster with a rotating gun barrel shaped like Vikavolt mandibles and painted to look like a Clawitzer pincer.

She clenched her teeth and bit back against her pain. "I…only have…two more…shots left…" She weakly reloaded the internal weapon chamber, then took the next shot.

Poliwrath held his hands out and pushed against the powerful beam. He felt his feet sink through the ground. "Now I see why your weapons are so popular! Quite the destructive force, they carry! But…I will surpass them!" He pushed against the beam until the shot was used up, then he made his way towards them.

Eli clenched his teeth, then stepped forward. "Everyone! Stand your ground!" He crossed his claws. "Norris did the heavy hitting! Honor his defeat by finishing the job! We're not backing down anymore!"

The Rogues narrowed their eyes and nodded. "Right!"

"R-Right…" Eli saw Sullivan was catching his second wind and aiming his pincer. "Y-You can c-c-count on m-me…"

Poliwrath glared as the Rogues prepared themselves for one final battle. "Fools…" He slowly powered up Dynamic Punch. "Don't you see I have already won-?"

"Oh, shut UP already!" Zoey forcibly screamed, firing her final shot at the mercenary.

Poliwrath depowered Dynamic Punch and threw both fists against the beam, staggering its course and disrupting it entirely. "Why should anyone feel sorry for you pathetic freaks?! Just because your lives were sad?! Grow the hell up! Shit happens!"

"Shit that you Pokémon bring us!" Eli growled. "Maybe you're the one who needs to grow up!"

Poliwrath glared. "Children shouldn't defy their superiors." He walked towards them as they readied for a desperate fight.

Norris listened in on his followers giving their last stand speech. He narrowed his eyes at the rocky ceiling above him. He felt enough of those punches to know one misstep would lead to inevitable defeat. What other option did he have?"

"M-Mr. Norris…" He looked at the crying Fusion still weeping on his chest. "W-What are we g-g-going to do?" The small Fusion looked up at his leader with reddened eyes.

His shimmering eyes turned confused as they met Norris' somber, hardened expression. He felt that face staring through him thoroughly, as if contemplating something about the little one. Norris blinked, then glared at the Poliwrath. He was too burned out to get angry, but it boiled his blood the closer he approached them. "I have no choice…"

"N…No choice…?" Augustus repeated with a quivering lip. "W-What are you…?"

Norris sighed, then, for the first time in a while, shared a soft, apologetic stare with the child. "Kid…just know that I don't do this to hurt you…"

Augustus recoiled in confusion. "W-W-What…?"

Norris closed his eyes, mentally preparing himself for what he had to do. He knew it was their only shot at seeing another tomorrow, but forcing Augustus into an uncomfortable state was wrong, even for him. Still, it had to be done. He breathed in, then recalled the phrase he dreadfully memorized so he would never say it out loud unless the time called for it.

"Augustus…would you care to partake in another informative game?"

The coffin chinchilla's eyes widened out of reflex. His right eye twitched as both slowly turned red with black, ghostly energy flowing around in them, then shaped themselves into a glare. Out of instinct, his golden helmet closed in around his mouth like a mask. The coffin shape on his back split open, releasing four shadowy arms that waved with eerie movements.

Norris looked away, ashamed of forcing the child into this hidden state of his. He would have covered his face to hide his shame if his arms could move. He sighed shakily, then glared. "Here's the game…destroy that Poliwrath." Almost like a robot, Augustus started to move with stiff, mechanical movements.

The Rogues kept their guard up as Poliwrtah walked closer. Eli, Gordon, Mikayla, and Sunny fired off Venoshock, Charge Beam, Ice Beam, and Giga Drain, but the mercenary batted them away with the air and continued on his path. Mikayla almost went for a Moonblast when she noticed Augustus walking out into the open.

She gasped. "Augustus!" This got the Rogues, even Poliwrath, to stop and look at the approaching chinchilla. "What are you doing?! Get out of here! It's not sa-!" Eli suddenly covered her mouth. "Hmph?!"

He narrowed his eyes suspiciously. "Something's not right."

Gordon narrowed his eyes. "The kid doesn't look right. Wasn't he cowering a few moments ago?"

"Worst time to act brave!" Braith screeched.

Poliwrath glared at Augustus. "That kid again? Weird looking, though." He tried to shoo the Fusion off. "Beat it, kid, or else." And yet, Augustus continued on his path. "Didn't you hear me? I said scram, brat!" It was like Augustus couldn't hear him at all. Poliwrath sighed in annoyance. "Good grief." He rushed for the Fusion. "I'll make this as quick as possible!"

Augustus' glare sharpened as his shadow arms spun around him and expanded outward, creating a thick black mist that obscured Poliwrath's vision.

"That's Haze!" Mikayla exclaimed. "What's Augustus doing?"

Poliwrath looked around through the black mist cautiously. "Damn brat…where are-GAAAH!" Two fists slammed into his already injured stomach, then a third slapped him across the ground and smashed him through a building. He pushed himself up and wheezed with discomfort, then glared as the mist lifted. "What the…?"

Augustus' shadow arms floated around him protectively. His steely gaze focused exclusively on the Poliwrath, devoid of emotion.

"When did the kid learn how to fight?!" Braith shrieked.

Eli took this opportunity to dash for the immobile duck. He picked his leader up, but not before asking, "Norris…what is that?"

Norris glared at his second-in-command. "Augustus gets nightmares. I'm not sure about what…but there are occasions where they set him off. That is why I never wanted you idiots to provoke or bother him." He coughed harshly, aching his sensitive chest. "That kid…is a monster if left unchecked…"

Poliwrath pulled himself off the ground and raced towards Augustus with two Dynamic Punches. However, in his desperate attempt to put the chinchilla down, he overlooked his typing. The Dynamic Punches passed through Augustus due to his Ghost-Typing.

"Shit, I forgot-AAGH!" Two shadow fists uppercut him and send him flying upward. He growled and regained his balance in midair. "In that case, Payback!" Both fists glowed purple as he fell back down. "This'll put you down for good!"

He came close to hitting him, but the shadow arms moved faster than he could punch. They disabled his arms and held him in place for a two Shadow Ball collision. He was thrown back and tried to land, but the arms struck out and bashed him repeatedly. They moved with incredible speed that he couldn't anticipate or prep for their attacks.

Mikayla elaborated on this out loud. "Augustus could certainly be taken out by any one of those punches, but he exceeds the Poliwrath where he falls behind. Precision, reach, speed…I never knew Augustus was so talented in fighting."

"Yet he's too scared to try it…" The Rogues saw Eli carrying Norris with him. The mad duck grimaced. "Augustus knows how to fight…but he won't do it on normal terms." He looked down shamefully. "Except when he hears a certain phrase. That's when his childlike innocence becomes suppressed." He glared at the battle. "I've seen it before…and I pitied him."

Poliwrath trembled as he lifted himself up. The injuries sustained from Norris were acting up. He shouldn't be this weak against a child. "You…I'm not…done…yet-!" A powerful Ominous Wind slammed into him and threw him around in a tornado before dropping him. "Ugh…" He looked up, then paled at what stood above him.

Augustus' shadow arms joined together and compiled into a mass of darkness that towered over the destroyed buildings around them. The mass split apart and took on the form of spikes.

Poliwrath's eyes shook with…fear. "What…is this?"

Norris closed his eyes and sighed. "…Do it."

Augustus narrowed his eyes, then commanded the shadow spikes to fire down and pummel the mercenary deep into the ground with unrelenting force. The mercenary screamed out in pain.

Sunny covered her eyes out of fear while the others turned away uncomfortably. Norris sighed. "Augustus seems to be highly adept at controlling his separate appendages. He can mold and shape them as he pleases. And their hits are nothing to scoff at."

Mikayla was petrified in horror as she listened to the relentless beatings. "Augustus…"

They weren't sure how long the coffin chinchilla was beating down on the mercenary, but his rampage soon came to an end. They dared to look and spotted a deep crater where the Poliwrath lay. Augustus stared into the shallow pit as his shadow arms flowed ominously.

The Poliwrath was mangled unconscious, surprisingly still alive. However, he was beaten into a pulp, with one arm twisted and both legs twitched. The heat channeled through his arms finally cooled.

"Gah…ack…guh…" was all he could say in his stupor.

Augustus stared at him for a moment longer before starting to pass out. His shadow arms retreated back into his back coffin while his mask separated back into his helmet. His eyes glazed over as they turned back to normal. He went to sleep on his back, snoring soundly.

Norris cringed as his injuries acted up, then ordered, "One of you…grab him so we can get out of here…"

Mikayla ran over and cradled the unconscious child in her arms. She lightly patted his head. "You poor thing…"

Eli sighed. "I'll have to call Cyrox about repairing all of this. The heads of this community are going to have words about what happened." He glared at Norris. "You owe us an explanation."

Norris scoffed. "You say that like I know myself…"

"You're the one who found him, not us."

Mikayla walked up to them with the coffin chinchilla resting comfortably in her arms. "Norris, what happened to him?"

Norris glared at the ground, then sneered. "If I'm willing to guess…the same shit that's terrorized us our whole lives." He clenched his teeth. "Augustus told me he came from…somewhere. All he knew was he was supposed to get stronger, like it was an order. I found him with a piece of paper telling me never to say a certain trigger phrase in front of him…that alone tells me how sinful this world is."

Gordon, with Sullivan and Zoey on his back, calmly walked over. "Someone made him like that?"

Norris growled. "That's what I believe…" He closed his eyes. "This is why I fight…why I hate…nothing but wicked deeds casted down on us." He glared at Augustus. "Whether they be mistreatment or turning kids like him into that. Berserker monsters…it makes me sick." He took a moment to control his rising anger.

Mikayla looked down at Augustus with pity. "I see…"

"There will always be Pokémon who think they're superior to us, that they can do whatever they want…" He growled. "Remember that…because I want this world to know that I'll destroy anyone who tries to defy us…"

Nothing else was said after that. The Rogues went silent as they followed Eli with the limping Norris to the market's main exit. Now they were beginning to see more of why Norris does what he does. There will always be those who try to oppress them, and they'll be the ones to destroy those evils by their own means.