“Pin Missile!” the two trainers commanded in unison.

Both Beedrill unleashed their moves. Countless needles shot through the air like cannonballs, assailing each other and creating violent explosions upon impact.

“X-Scissor!” they shouted again.

The two Bug-types clashed once more, emerald lights crisscrossing in the night sky. The fierce collisions sent terrifying shockwaves through the air, giving the president of Silph Co. a flicker of hope as he prayed for Red’s Beedrill to win.

“Aerial Ace,” Giovanni said indifferently.

His Beedrill, relying on raw power, pushed Red’s back before vanishing into an afterimage. It reappeared behind Red’s partner, striking its back at blinding speed. Fortunately, Red’s Beedrill used Double Team in time, avoiding fatal damage.

“A good strategy, but I don’t want to waste any more time.” A brown, earthy aura burst forth from Giovanni’s body. Affected by it, his Beedrill’s muscles swelled, its body visibly thickening. The twin stingers it used as weapons grew even larger, looking as if a single hit could cause an opponent to collapse.

“My Beedrill and I will not fall here!” Red declared, a terrifying crimson aura erupting from his body. Beedrill, synchronized with his spirit, also received a boost. Its muscles swelled to enhance its strength, and its twin stingers became incredibly sharp.

Battle Intent versus Earth Power.

“Drill Run!” Giovanni commanded.

“X-Scissor!” Red shouted.

The two Beedrill collided like lightning in the sky, their stingers clashing as they constantly tested each other’s strength. The raw aggression released by Battle Intent and the unshakeable steadiness released by Earth Power continuously devoured each other.

“What a fascinating sight,” Giovanni mused, a rare note of genuine appreciation in his voice. “The night sky seems even more beautiful because of it.”

“If you surrendered, perhaps future nights would be even more charming,” Red said indifferently.

“I’m sorry, kid. I will not stop until I achieve my goal!”

As soon as the words fell, Giovanni’s Earth Power intensified. Red’s Beedrill was barely able to withstand the assault, almost revealing a fatal weakness.

“Beedrill, use Fury Cutter!” Red commanded.

“Trying to defeat my Beedrill by stacking damage? What a childish idea,” Giovanni said with displeasure. “Beedrill, use Drill Run!”

Red’s Beedrill continuously struck the spinning Beedrill with its stingers. With each successive hit, its Battle Intent sharpened its instincts, allowing it to detect a flaw. A fierce X-Scissor struck its opponent’s vital point.

(The damage is a bit exaggerated…)

Giovanni frowned, looking at the scene with confusion. During his Gym battle with Red, he had witnessed Beedrill activate its Swarm ability, so he hadn’t paid too much attention to its damage output then. But now, the power of this critical hit was simply too much. He glanced at Red’s crimson eyes, then smiled faintly and shook his head.

(Perhaps it’s because of the awakened instinct of his Battle Intent.)

“Is the injury recovering?” Red said in surprise. The place where Giovanni’s Beedrill was injured was slowly healing.

“Earth Power also represents endless vitality, but it is not so exaggerated,” Giovanni said lightly, his gaze seeming to tell Red not to be surprised. After all, they were both possessors of Viridian Power; why make such a fuss?

(Why isn’t Lance here yet?!) Red thought, displeased. He looked into the distance, his slightly agitated heart urging Lance to come and support him. Dragonite had Extreme Speed, yet it was failing him at this crucial moment.

At this very moment, Lance, riding his Dragonite, was desperately rushing from the Indigo Plateau to Saffron City.

“It’s strange. The incident at Silph Co. happened this afternoon, so why was I only notified a dozen minutes ago? What is the League’s intelligence team doing?!” Lance said urgently. Upon learning that Red was dueling with the leader of Team Rocket, he had hastily set out.

Although Lance was an Elite Four member and even a Champion-level trainer, he still wasn’t fully aware of the issues involving the League’s vested interests. After the top brass learned that Giovanni hadn’t yet obtained the Master Ball, they intended to continue their private beneficial transactions with him and didn’t want to break ties too early. After all, it was a world where profit came first. Furthermore, until now, the Pokémon League had not been able to cultivate a trainer who could contend with Giovanni, so they naturally dared not fall out with him easily.

(Red, you must not get into trouble! I’ll be there soon!) Lance gazed at the increasingly clear Saffron City in the distance, his heart tense. He didn’t know Red’s true strength and mistakenly thought his friend was just being reckless.

Back on the rooftop…

“Mr. Giovanni, the League’s intelligence team has notified us to evacuate as soon as possible. Lance has arrived in Saffron City!” The assistant leaned close to Giovanni and whispered, signaling that it was time to leave.

Not far away, a helicopter with an ‘R’ logo slowly descended. Seeing this, Giovanni put on his sunglasses, having already slightly disguised his face.

“I have no intention of letting you go!”

Blue light emitted from Red’s eyes, intending to use his psychic power to restrain Giovanni’s movements.

“Little boy, you are still too arrogant,” Giovanni said coldly as an energy barrier appeared out of thin air in front of him, blocking Red’s psychic power. “In this world, technology is the weapon that dominates everything. Your psychic abilities are just petty tricks.”

Sensing Dragonite’s aura rapidly approaching, Giovanni’s Beedrill used all its strength to unleash Giga Impact. Seeing this, Red’s Beedrill did not hesitate to use Giga Impact as well, engaging its opponent in one final showdown.

“I must say, in just a few months, your growth and Beedrill’s have greatly surprised me,” Giovanni praised. Back when Red challenged the Viridian Gym, his Beedrill couldn’t last more than a few rounds. Now, it was putting up a decent fight, although part of that was due to Giovanni holding back.

“Red, I’m here to support you!”

Not far away, Lance, riding his Dragonite, shouted as he finally arrived at the battle.

“What a restless fellow. A headache, truly,” Giovanni said coldly, fully unleashing his Earth Power. The pressure, like a mountain, suppressed the speed of both Lance and his Dragonite.

Lance had now spotted Giovanni and intended to expose his true identity, but Giovanni had already done enough facial disguise and was not afraid of being recognized.

“Although you’ve been granted the title of ‘Dragon Master’ by the League, don’t show off in front of me,” Giovanni said disdainfully. His Beedrill, which had recovered from the stalemate first, aimed a Drill Run at Dragonite’s weakness.

(End of Chapter)

***

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