Chapter 140: The King's Decree
"Beedrill, Focus Energy! Then, Poison Sting!" Giovanni's voice cut through the din of battle.
Beedrill's body trembled as its aura condensed, then it unleashed a torrent of toxic needles, each one a death sentence aimed at Heracross.
Kaito's expression was grim. "Aerial Ace!" he countered.
Heracross became a blue phantom, carving a graceful arc through the air at impossible speed, weaving through the storm of poison as it swung its horn in a powerful counter-attack.
Beedrill met the blow head-on, its twin stingers clashing with the horn once more in a deafening shriek of chitin on chitin.
"Do not let up! Fury Attack!" Kaito roared.
Heracross unleashed a relentless barrage, its claws raining down on Beedrill's stingers, each blow creating a shower of sparks. Beedrill was overwhelmed, forced back by the sheer ferocity of the assault.
Giovanni's eyes were cold, his mind analyzing the battle with inhuman speed. "Hone Claws. Fury Cutter."
Beedrill's form blurred, evading the Fury Attack as its own power surged once more. It lunged, its stingers a silver blur, striking Heracross's carapace with a series of precise, powerful cuts.
Cracks began to spiderweb across the blue shell, but Heracross did not yield. The damage only ignited a deeper, more desperate fighting spirit— this was the final stage.
"Heracross, hold on! Focus Blast!" Kaito bellowed, putting all his hope into one final move.
Heracross roared, its body erupting in a brilliant light as it channeled all the damage it had sustained, all its remaining power, into one dazzling sphere of energy. It fired the Focus Blast directly at Beedrill. The sphere tore through the air, colliding with Beedrill's ongoing Fury Cutter assault. The world dissolved into a deafening explosion and a thick, rolling cloud of smoke.
"It is over," Kaito said, confident of his victory.
But Giovanni showed no sign of discouragement. He raised his hand. "It is over," he agreed.
The smoke was suddenly split in two, blown away by an unseen force. From within the cloud, Beedrill emerged. Its body was a tapestry of scars, but its aura was a terrifying, suffocating wave of pure power. Its twin stingers gleamed with a cold, merciless light.
It moved.
Boom.
Heracross was slammed into the ground with a single, devastating blow, its body leaving a distinct imprint in the dirt. It had fainted instantly.
Beedrill struck its twin stingers together with a sharp hiss. Its regal, overwhelming aura washed over the arena, causing the assembled apprentices to flinch and shield their eyes.
The battle between the warrior and the king had ended. The king's decree was final.
Kaito stared at the last, untouched Poké Ball on Giovanni's belt before recalling his fallen Heracross. "Though it was my second team, I must concede. You have won. I did not expect that even Heracross would be unable to force out your strongest Pokémon. I hope I will have the chance to see it when we meet again."
Giovanni offered a noncommittal shrug. When Beedrill flew to his side, looking puzzled by the sudden end to the fight, he patted its head, and its terrifying aura subsided. He touched the Poké Ball containing his Kingler and smiled faintly at Kaito. "You will."
Kaito walked up to Giovanni, his tall frame completely eclipsing him. "This is the Saffron Fighting Badge," he said, holding out a small, expertly crafted emblem. "You have earned it."
Giovanni took it without ceremony. "Thank you."
"Do not thank me," Kaito shook his head. "And according to the League's revised rules, you are entitled to have one of your Pokémon learn a new move from my dojo. I am offering you Mega Punch."
This was an unexpected bonus. "My Machoke will learn it," Giovanni accepted immediately.
"Let me be clear," Kaito said gruffly. "Your Pokémon has one week. If it cannot master the technique in that time, then you are out of luck."
Giovanni patted Machoke's Poké Ball. "I have confidence in my Pokémon."
Kaito released the Hitmonchan that Persian had defeated. "It will be your Machoke's instructor. It may have lost to your Persian, but no Pokémon in this dojo understands Mega Punch better." He would not waste his primary team's time with such tasks.
"Fine," Giovanni nodded.
"You may stay at my dojo for the week," Kaito continued. "I will assign an apprentice to see to your needs." He scanned the crowd of students, but they all bowed their heads, avoiding his gaze. The fear Giovanni inspired was palpable. Impatience flashed in Kaito's eyes.
Then he saw the one exception. Kenji stood with his back straight, his eyes bright with energy. "Kenji," Kaito pointed. "You will be his guide for the week."
The boy hesitated. "But Master, my training..."
"Are you defying me?" Kaito's face contorted with anger. The sheer force of his presence made Kenji break out in a cold sweat.
Giovanni frowned. It seemed the boy was not highly regarded here. He stepped forward. "You need not worry about your training. I am not without skill myself. I would not be opposed to sparring with you."
Kenji's eyes lit up at the offer.
"Hmph," Kaito snorted, still angry. He barked at Kenji, "What are you standing there for? Take him to a clean room."
"Yes, Master!" Kenji responded quickly, then turned to Giovanni. "Please, follow me."
Giovanni offered a slight bow to Kaito. "Thank you, Master Kaito."
"It is merely the rules," Kaito said bluntly. "And if your Pokémon has not learned the move in a week, I will personally throw you out."
"That will not be a problem," Giovanni chuckled. "But I do have a question. If my Pokémon learns the move, and I win our next battle... I cannot learn Mega Punch again, can I?"
"You brat!" Kaito's aura flared for a moment before he let out a ferocious laugh. "Kehahaha! Do not worry! The fighting techniques in my dojo are more than enough to keep you busy!"