"SCREEEE!"
A sharp, ear-piercing cry echoed across the battlefield — a strange, layered shriek that seemed to come from multiple throats at once.
The three-headed fused bird spread its wings wide, and all three of its beaks opened simultaneously.
Flames, lightning, and frost, three distinct elemental powers began to gather madly in front of it.
In the blink of an eye, as the fused birds beat its wings, a torrent of Fire Blast, Ice Beam, and Thunderbolt burst forth at once, converging on the opposing Charizard like a storm of destruction.
"Charizard, use Dragon Rush!"
Under the brim of his red cap, Red's crimson eyes flickered sharply as he gave the command in a low, firm tone.
The fused bird's strength was indeed formidable. Though its combined form existed thanks to the power of the Badge Energy Amplifier, it seemed to possess not one, but three independent consciousnesses.
Each of its heads could attack separately. It was fast, chaotic, and incredibly troublesome.
But that was all it had.
Charizard spread its wings and soared upward, its refined flying technique allowing it to twist and weave gracefully through the air, narrowly evading all three incoming beams.
A powerful aura of draconic energy coiled around its body — Charizard roared, turning into a blazing dragon and diving down fiercely with a Dragon Rush!
"Pikachu, use Thunder!"
Seeing that the fused bird was about to launch another attack, Red didn't hesitate and immediately shouted another order.
Pikachu leapt up onto a large rock and then into the air, sparks crackling wildly from its cheek pouches as it summoned its full strength.
A massive pillar of lightning struck down from the heavens, slamming directly into the three-headed bird.
BOOM!
The roaring thunder hit dead-on.
The fused bird let out a sharp, agonized screech. Red watched silently though he couldn't be certain what the exact typing of this fused creature was, there was no doubt that it contained Flying-type traits.
And if that was the case, Electric-type attacks would deal at least neutral damage if not more.
The lightning storm raged wildly, electrocuting the creature with relentless intensity. The fused bird thrashed desperately before finally managing to tear itself free from the electric torrent… only to be met head-on by Charizard's Dragon Rush!
The impact landed heavily, slamming the fused bird straight into the ground with a thunderous crash.
"Impressive… As expected of the one the Boss personally favors to think you could actually defeat the fused Three Birds."
Sabrina's tone was flat, her expression unreadable, but her words carried reluctant praise.
There was no need to think twice, the fused bird had already expended a great deal of stamina earlier, and after being consecutively struck by Pikachu's Thunder and Charizard's Dragon Rush, it could no longer hold out.
After all, it was only a forced fusion sustained by the amplifier, such a heavy blow could easily disrupt its balance and cause it to collapse.
"I'll never lose to twisted, unnatural creations like yours," Red said solemnly, his voice ringing with conviction. "To disregard a Pokémon's will and subject them to such cruelty — you'll never achieve true success!"
"Perhaps," Sabrina replied quietly, glancing toward the fallen fusion. "The Three-Bird fusion wasn't strong enough. Losing to you… that's a fact."
As she expected, the fused creature's form destabilized, then split apart.
Articuno, Moltres, and Zapdos, the three legendary birds all lay unconscious on the ground, completely unable to battle.
Sabrina raised three Poké Balls and recalled them one by one.
"You still won't surrender? You've already lost."
Seeing this, Red's sharp gaze narrowed. This emotionless woman still had something up her sleeve.
"Don't be so tense," Sabrina said coolly. "My final measure has already been defeated. I'm no longer your opponent. But that doesn't mean Team Rocket has lost."
"Team Rocket will be destroyed today!"
Her words made Red's expression darken.
"You haven't defeated the Boss… nor have you defeated Lucas. What makes you think you've won?" she asked with the faintest smirk.
Even if every elite agent and commander of Team Rocket were defeated — so what?
As long as Giovanni, the Boss, and Lucas, the strongest executive, remained standing… Team Rocket would not fall.
"I don't know how powerful this Boss or Lucas you speak of really is," Red said, pulling his cap lower. "But there's no other ending for you today!"
He spoke with unwavering confidence. No matter what, he believed the Pokémon League would prevail.
"It's about time I head to the other battlefield."
Red's crimson eyes glanced toward the distance. Because of the fused legendary birds, he had been delayed far too long here. He needed to go help the others.
…
Meanwhile, in another part of the city.
"Dragonairs, Draco Meteor!"
Lance's cold voice cut through the air. Suspended above him were two elegant Dragonair, both raising their heads to the sky.
A brilliant sphere of concentrated draconic energy ascended and then exploded midair, releasing a storm of blazing meteors that poured down like a dragon's wrath.
Dual Dragon Combat Technique — Dual Draco Meteors!
"Dragapult, Dragon Rush!"
From another corner of the battlefield, Leon issued his command without hesitation.
Dragapult shot up into the air, moving so fast it left shimmering afterimages in its wake. Its body was enveloped in an aura of savage draconic energy.
"How pointless," Giovanni said with a dismissive glance toward the charging Dragapult. He knew this Pokémon well — during Leon's match with Lance, Dragapult had been the star of the show.
High attack power, incredible speed — those were its greatest strengths.
But speed meant nothing before Mewtwo.
"Mewtwo."
At Giovanni's call, Mewtwo turned its gaze upon the oncoming Dragapult. Its piercing eyes gleamed with an eerie blue light.
Psychic!
A tidal wave of immense psychic power erupted forth. Dragapult's lightning-fast charge froze in midair as a pale blue aura enveloped it, locking it firmly in place.
"What overwhelming psychic power…" Leon muttered, his eyes reflecting shock and awe.
He had already known Mewtwo's psychic ability was monstrous, but to completely stop Dragapult's Dragon Rush mid-flight? That was simply absurd!
"Charizard, Fire Blast!"
Without hesitation, Leon gave another order. Seizing the opportunity while Mewtwo was preoccupied, his Charizard X soared high into the air, gathering scorching flames in its mouth before unleashing a massive, burning kanji-shaped fire pillar straight toward Mewtwo.
"Psystrike."
Giovanni's telepathic command resonated instantly.
Mewtwo's right hand sliced through the air then the restrained Dragapult was suddenly hurled like a projectile, smashing violently into a nearby skyscraper.
After that Mewtwo's left hand rose high, glowing with deep blue energy.
The wind stilled. The rain stopped.
A massive sphere of psychic power formed in its palm and shot forth to meet Charizard's incoming flames.
Psystrike vs. Fire Blast!
The two mighty attacks collided midair, exploding with a deafening roar.
No matter how Charizard intensified its flames, Mewtwo's psychic energy steadily overpowered them, pushing through with terrifying might.
"Charizard, dodge!" Leon barked, already realizing his attack wouldn't hold.
Charizard X immediately stopped its flames and attempted to bank away but the Psystrike tore through the Fire Blast too quickly. Even though Charizard dodged early, the edge of the psychic wave still grazed its left leg.
The dragon roared in pain, its left foot twitching violently from the impact.
The rain of meteors from Lance's Draco Meteor was now upon them yet even that, with Mewtwo's agility, could be easily evaded.
"Dragon Rush!"
At that instant, a shadow lunged from behind Mewtwo it was Dragonite!
The timing was perfect. Having just countered Dragapult and Charizard, Mewtwo had little time to react.
Its eyes narrowed, trying to summon a barrier of psychic energy in haste — but it was too late!
Dragonite's Dragon Rush tore through the weakly-formed psychic shield and slammed into Mewtwo with thunderous force.
Mewtwo staggered back, its body visibly shaken.
Then came the Draco Meteors, raining down and exploding across its body — another fierce blow.
Even Mewtwo couldn't ignore that level of damage.
"Dragon Claw!"
Lance wasn't done. His icy eyes gleamed with defiance he would not acknowledge this so-called "perfect" creation of Team Rocket.
He despised them.
Even if Mewtwo was a true legendary being, as long as Giovanni controlled it, Lance would never recognize it as worthy of the title of "Pokémon."
No matter how powerful it was — against his alliance with Leon, Mewtwo would crumble under pressure!
Dragonite's claws flared with sharp cyan light as it charged once again.
"Psychic!"
Giovanni's calm eyes darkened — Lance was pushing too far.
Mewtwo's expression finally twisted in anger. Though still reeling from the last impact, it unleashed another surge of psychic force, forming a glowing blue barrier before slamming itself forward.
Boom!
Dragon Claw and the psychic barrier collided violently, sending out a shockwave that rippled through the air.
Then, with a final burst of power, Mewtwo shattered Dragonite's claws' energy and sent the dragon hurtling backward.
Lance's expression turned grim as Dragonite crashed down, smashing into the earth like a falling meteor.
The impact was brutal — being struck by Mewtwo's psychic shield was nearly the same as taking a full Psychic head-on.
"Lance, your Dragonite looks about done for," Giovanni said mockingly, his tone dripping with arrogance as he glanced at the champion's darkened face.
Nearby, Agatha was locked in combat with Giovanni's Mega Beedrill, struggling to hold her own.
Giovanni had cleverly sent Beedrill to keep her occupied leaving him free to deal with Leon and Lance together.
And now, Lance's Dragonite was on its last breath.
It had already taken a direct Psystrike earlier; even with its sturdy body and deep reserves of stamina, it couldn't last much longer.
"Lance's Dragonite is definitely close to its limit," Agatha muttered, her brows furrowed as she commanded her Arbok and Gengar to fend off the lightning-fast Beedrill.
She could feel it clearly — the dragon's life force was flickering weakly.
If Lance's ace Dragonite fell, they would immediately lose a pillar of strength on their side.
He still had his second and third Dragonites, but none could compare to this ace.
Leon's expression was equally grave. Without Lance's Dragonite fighting beside him, his own burden would skyrocket.
"How pathetic," Giovanni sneered. "Did you really think that once your Dragonite fell, you'd still stand a chance?"
Lance's eyes were cold as frost, his tone low but mocking. "You think I'm done just because one of my dragons fell?"
He returned Dragonite to its ball, his expression unreadable yet beneath that icy calm burned a furious resolve.
Even he had to admit, Giovanni's strength far exceeded expectations.
He had fought alongside Leon and Agatha, yet his ace was the first to go down.
That humiliation burned deep.
Not even when he lost to Lucas in Celadon had he felt this angry. Lucas was, after all, his cousin — a rival, but still family.
Giovanni, however… Giovanni was the embodiment of everything Lance despised — the leader of Team Rocket, the shadow corrupting Kanto.
And now that same man had nearly crushed his pride as a champion.
Giovanni smirked. "Ah, I almost forgot our dear Champion Lance doesn't have just one Dragonite, does he?"
His tone was mocking, taunting.
Lance's team of three Dragonites had become famous after his battle with Leon but compared to Giovanni's power, they were like toys.
"Watch closely, you filthy rat," Lance growled, his voice laced with icy fury. "You think you understand my dragons? You'll see what a Dragon Legion truly is!"
His eyes gleamed like frozen steel as a fierce grin spread across his face — both terrifying and exhilarating.
"Dragonite!"
He threw out another Poké Ball — but Giovanni's sharp eyes immediately noticed something unusual.
That was a Heavy Ball.
Why would Lance use a Heavy Ball for a Dragonite?
Then came the thunderous sound of impact.
BOOM!
The ground trembled violently as something enormous landed. Giovanni's eyes widened in disbelief.
It was indeed a Dragonite… but it was colossal, towering over the battlefield at least ten meters tall, its massive body radiating immense power.
"What the—? Gigantamax Dragonite?!" Leon exclaimed, staring up in shock at the titanic dragon.
How was that even possible? Gigantamax forms were supposed to be exclusive to Galar!
Yet here, in Kanto, Lance had somehow managed it.
Leon could only gasp in admiration.
"This guy… really knows what he's doing."
(End of Chapter)
TN: This should be the giant Dragonite from the lighthouse in the anime, right? I think this is the only way the author could power up Lance with his Dragonite without Mega Evolution. Poor Lance never gets to see mega Dragonite.