"Doomsday Bug?"
Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly at the name.
Just from the sound of it, he knew—this wasn't an ordinary Pokémon.
"So, Giovanni, you'd better be careful," Dylan said with a casual grin. "Genesect is a Mythical Pokémon—Bug and Steel-type."
He dropped that information deliberately.
He didn't believe in taking advantage of an information gap—that wasn't his style.
"Mythical Pokémon, huh?"
Giovanni nodded slowly. A Legendary-tier Pokémon, and Bug-Steel at that—a near-perfect type combination with no weaknesses except Fire.
This was going to be tricky.
"Sand Tomb."
Dugtrio's three heads trembled, and the ground beneath Genesect began swirling like quicksand.
"Genesect."
Genesect's red eyes flickered eerily, scanning Dugtrio's movements.
Download activated—Genesect's Attack increased!
Because Dugtrio's Defense was lower than its Special Defense, Download automatically boosted Genesect's physical power.
The robotic predator didn't hesitate—with a burst of energy, it lifted off the ground.
"Flying capabilities?" Giovanni murmured.
This… just got worse.
He hated dealing with Flying Pokémon.
As a Ground-type specialist, airborne opponents were always a problem.
Especially ones that hit this hard from a distance.
"Techno Blast!"
Genesect's cannon hummed to life, blue energy gathering rapidly.
A highly concentrated water-based beam erupted from its cannon, hurtling straight at Dugtrio.
Giovanni's response was immediate.
"Dugtrio, Dig!"
Dugtrio vanished underground, barely dodging the blast.
BOOM!
The battlefield shook violently, water exploding across the field, completely washing away the Sand Tomb trap.
Giovanni frowned slightly.
That wasn't a normal Water-type move.
Genesect's Techno Blast… packed serious power.
As the battlefield settled, Dugtrio poked its heads up from underground, cautiously surveying the situation.
"...Return," Giovanni said, recalling Dugtrio.
No point forcing a losing fight—Dugtrio had no effective way to counter a Flying, long-range attacker like Genesect.
"Not bad," Giovanni admitted. "I expected no less from a Mythical Pokémon."
"So, how will you deal with it, Giovanni?" Dylan asked, eyes flashing with curiosity.
What would Giovanni send out next?
Nidoking?
That was possible. Giovanni was known for using Nidoking and Nidoqueen as his powerhouses.
But—
Giovanni suddenly chuckled.
"Dylan, did you know?"
His gaze turned nostalgic, fingers idly spinning his next Poké Ball.
"I was born in Viridian Forest—just like you."
Dylan's smirk faded slightly.
But Lillie's reaction was far more extreme—her eyes widened in shock.
Because she saw it.
The faint green glow on Giovanni's hand.
That wasn't Pokémon energy.
That was his own power.
Giovanni had… Viridian Aura?!
This was never mentioned anywhere!
Her thoughts raced.
Giovanni… chosen by Viridian Forest?
No one had ever spoken of this before—not even rumors.
"Viridian Aura," Dylan said, eyes narrowing slightly. "Giovanni, that's something you've never told anyone."
Giovanni smirked, the green glow fading from his hand.
"I never cared for it," he said calmly.
Ever since he had become the leader of Team Rocket, he had barely used this ability.
Viridian Aura represented harmony with nature.
But Giovanni had long since abandoned that path.
It was ironic—he sought to control the world through money and Pokémon, yet nature had once chosen him.
"Dylan," Giovanni said, his voice lower now, more serious.
"You and I are more alike than you think."
His eyes gleamed with something almost dangerous.
"Unlike Lance."
A sharp sneer curled at his lips.
"Lance is too extreme. He won't end well."
Lillie froze.
This…
That's not something a Gym Leader should say.
She was certain of it now.
Something was seriously wrong with Giovanni.
Dylan's gaze remained calm.
"If Lance heard you say that, he wouldn't be happy, Giovanni."
"But you wouldn't care, would you?" Giovanni murmured.
He leaned forward slightly.
"Dylan, tell me… do you truly like the Pokémon League?"
Silence.
Dylan didn't answer right away.
Finally, he exhaled.
"It's… fine, I suppose."
"I don't hate it. The world would be a mess without it."
He meant it.
Dylan wasn't some noble, self-sacrificing hero.
But he knew that without the Pokémon League, things would descend into chaos.
Sure, the League had its corrupt officials.
But people like Charles Goodshow, Steven, Cynthia, Alder, and even Wallace—they were genuinely trying to do good.
And then there was Lance.
Lance hated corruption with every fiber of his being.
He wanted a world where justice was absolute.
But Giovanni was right about one thing—
Lance was too extreme.
His worldview was… dangerously rigid.
People who refused to bend eventually broke.
"You're not wrong," Giovanni murmured, watching Dylan carefully.
"But we've talked enough."
He finally lifted his Poké Ball.
"It's time for my fifth Pokémon."
He tossed it.
BZZZZZZZZT!
A familiar buzzing filled the air.
A yellow insectoid Pokémon hovered before Giovanni, its long, twin stingers gleaming sharply.
"...What?"
Lillie blinked.
"A… Beedrill?"
But something was off.
Dylan's gaze sharpened slightly.
He recognized this Beedrill.
He had seen it once before—deep underground in Celadon City.
It was this Beedrill that had swooped in and rescued Archer and Proton from him.
And now, it was standing before him again.
"Huh," Dylan said, tilting his head. "Funny running into you again."
Giovanni smiled faintly.
"...Shall we finish this battle first?"
Dylan chuckled.
"Sure."
"This was my first Pokémon. Back then, I was still young when I encountered it as a Weedle in Viridian Forest."
Giovanni spoke slowly. Every trainer tends to have a special attachment to their first Pokémon, and he was no exception.
"All these years, it has remained my most loyal and powerful partner. Dylan, its strength is beyond comparison to the Golem and the others I used earlier."
Beedrill's wings vibrated gently, its red eyes locking onto Genesect.
"So, Giovanni, you were once a Bug Catcher too?"
Dylan sized up the Beedrill and teased Giovanni.
"Heh… In a sense, I suppose I was."
Giovanni was slightly surprised, but after a brief pause, he chuckled and nodded.
After all, his first Pokémon was a Weedle—calling him a Bug Catcher back then wasn't wrong at all.
"Well, I'll have to test its strength myself."
Dylan glanced at Giovanni standing behind Beedrill. This Beedrill was only his fifth Pokémon? Then what was Giovanni's final Pokémon?
Or had he sent out his ace Beedrill early just to counter Genesect?
But Dylan felt that wasn't the case. Judging by Giovanni's approach today, he was clearly here to settle things with him.
Giovanni's final Pokémon… seemed obvious now.
This was getting interesting!
"Genesect, Flamethrower!"
Dylan's eyes lit up with excitement—this was Giovanni's ace, Beedrill!
He knew that if he used Reshiram, he could defeat Giovanni. But he also believed that even without Necrozma or any Legendary Pokémon, he still wouldn't lose!
After all, he was practically cheating!
Genesect let out a low hum, and a scorching flame shot toward Beedrill.
"Poison Jab." Giovanni gave his command calmly.
Beedrill raised its right lance, a deep purple glow illuminating its tip.
As the flames approached, Beedrill thrust its arm forward, executing a precise and deadly Poison Jab!
Bang!
The Flamethrower stalled for a moment before shattering into pieces—completely neutralized by Poison Jab. Beedrill's execution was swift, precise, and ruthless!
"Huh?" Lillie was stunned.
What was with this Beedrill? That was a Flamethrower from Genesect! The power gap didn't make any sense.
"Brick Break!" Giovanni's lips curled into a sinister grin.
Beedrill's wings fluttered rapidly as it charged at Genesect at high speed.
"Zen Headbutt!" Dylan reacted immediately.
This Beedrill's strength was insane—it wasn't just a matter of high level. Compared to a regular Beedrill, Giovanni's was on a whole different tier.
It made sense—this was the Pokémon Giovanni had raised since childhood. He had poured his heart and soul into it.
Genesect showed no fear as it met Beedrill head-on, a colorful aura forming around its head.
A Psychic-type Zen Headbutt!
But Beedrill had no intention of dodging. It raised its right arm and swung down hard—
A Fighting-type Brick Break!
Boom!
The two moves clashed violently, sending a tangible shockwave rippling outward from the point of impact.
"What incredible power."
Seeing that Beedrill hadn't immediately overpowered Genesect, Giovanni narrowed his eyes slightly.
"But Beedrill has two arms."
Beedrill raised its left lance and swung it heavily at Genesect.
"Dodge!"
Genesect abandoned the struggle and quickly retreated to evade the strike.
"Thunderbolt!" Dylan immediately countered, certain that Beedrill would pursue.
Sparks crackled around Genesect, and sure enough, Beedrill was already lunging forward with its lance raised.
"Pursuit!"
Electricity surged forth, striking Beedrill directly and halting its advance.
But in the next instant, Beedrill powered through the Thunderbolt, closing in and driving its dark-glowing lance into Genesect's chest.
A vicious Pursuit attack!
Genesect let out a cry of pain as it was blasted backward like a cannonball, crashing hard into the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust.
"That Beedrill is insanely strong!"
Watching Beedrill dominate Genesect, Lillie gasped in disbelief. Genesect was a Mythical Pokémon that her brother had fully trained.
And yet, it was being overpowered by a Beedrill? Who would believe that?!
"Not even a single advantage…"
Dylan gazed at the Beedrill hovering in the air. Its power and speed were exceptional, and its special defense seemed remarkable as well.
Then again, that was expected—even normal Beedrill had similar traits, but Giovanni's Beedrill was far superior.
Still, it wasn't unbeatable. The fact that Genesect had been able to hold its ground proved that much.
Once he defeated Beedrill, Giovanni's final Pokémon would finally be revealed.
(End of Chapter)