"Charizard, Dragon Claw!"
The young man wearing a cap gave a deep command to his Charizard X, his glowing crimson eyes locked tightly on the enormous Mega Beedrill opposite him.
It was Red!
Charizard X's twin claws gleamed with a razor-sharp azure light as it darted through the air, engaging in a fierce close-quarters battle with Mega Beedrill.
Dragon Claw clashed again and again with Twinneedle, each collision bursting with raw, dazzling force. Neither side showed even the slightest intention of holding back.
However, Mega Beedrill's speed was astonishingly fast—so fast it almost defied the eye.
Moreover, after Mega Evolution, Beedrill's Lances had increased from two to four in total!
Two of the lances struck aside Charizard X's claws, while the remaining two thrust forward in a deadly cross aimed directly at Charizard's throat!
"Thunder!"
Red's gaze sharpened, his tone cold and commanding as he shouted to Pikachu.
Sparks crackled violently in Pikachu's cheek pouches before erupting into a blinding burst of electricity. A colossal bolt of lightning split the sky, crashing down from the storm clouds straight toward Mega Beedrill!
If that Beedrill dared to continue its attack then even if it managed to wound Charizard X—the Thunder strike would definitely hit it head-on!
"Dodge."
Giovanni's eyes narrowed slightly, his voice calm but decisive.
His Mega Beedrill was powerful but its strengths lay in speed and the lethal precision of its stingers. Yet, its Bug-type moves weren't particularly effective against Charizard X.
On the other hand, if Thunder landed on Mega Beedrill, it would unquestionably spell disaster.
Thus, Mega Beedrill stopped its attack an inch away from Charizard X's neck before vanishing in a blur of light.
"Red… it's been a long time. You've grown even more terrifying than before. I must say, I'm truly impressed."
Giovanni's eyes briefly flicked upward toward Mewtwo, who was locked in aerial combat against both Leon and Lance. Then his gaze returned to Red, a faint, almost appreciative smile curling his lips.
His tone carried a quiet astonishment at Red's growth.
Earlier that year, Red had come to challenge Giovanni. Back then, Giovanni believed defeating him wouldn't be too difficult.
But now—Red was actually able to fight head-on against Giovanni's ace, his Mega Beedrill!
"I didn't expect this either, Mr. Giovanni… that you'd turn out to be the leader of Team Rocket."
Red's eyes trembled slightly. Then he lowered the brim of his cap, his tone deep and restrained.
He knew Giovanni. In fact, Red had always admired him deeply.
Among all the Gym Leaders he had faced, Giovanni had left one of the most profound impressions—his refined demeanor, his formidable strength, his encyclopedic knowledge of Pokémon, and his absolute mastery of Ground-types.
Red had learned much from him.
In truth, Giovanni had always been a model mentor on Red's journey as a Trainer.
But now… Red had discovered the truth.
Giovanni was the leader of Team Rocket.
"The world isn't just black and white. Everyone lives behind a mask—that's the cruel truth of it all."
"The person you think you know… perhaps you've never truly known them at all. Red, the world of adults is far more complicated than you can imagine."
Giovanni smiled faintly as he spoke. Even though he was surrounded by powerful enemies on all sides, his tone remained calm and steady especially in front of Red.
As he said this, Giovanni's eyes swept briefly toward Lance. Yes, in truth, Giovanni had long been interested in Red and not only in him, but also in Blue.
Perhaps it was the curse of a man who loved talent too much. Whenever Giovanni found individuals with monstrous potential, he couldn't help but take notice.
If he hadn't chosen this darker path—perhaps he truly would have taken Red and Blue as his disciples. They were both exceptional beyond words.
As for Lucas? Giovanni doubted even he could teach that monster anything.
"I just don't understand," Red said, his fists trembling slightly. "Hurting people, hurting Pokémon… how can you find that entertaining?"
Every life deserved respect. But Team Rocket… they had none.
"You're still young. There are many things you won't agree with—but that doesn't mean they don't exist," Giovanni replied faintly. In his eyes, Red was still just a child.
"Don't give me that noble speech," Lance interjected coldly, a sneer curling on his lips. "All this talk of balance and philosophy—it's just to hide your filth. Today, there's only one end waiting for you!"
"Dragonite, Draco Meteor!"
With a voice like thunder, Lance commanded his massive Dragonite.
He had no interest in listening to the words of this filthy rat any longer.
Dragonite roared, shaking the heavens. A massive Draco Meteor rose into the sky before exploding into countless blazing comets that rained down like the judgment of dragons themselves.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed. "Mewtwo!"
He knew this attack couldn't be ignored.
Dragonite was his greatest threat.
Mewtwo, after forcing back Leon's Charizard X with its psychic power, turned its gaze toward the incoming storm of blazing meteors.
"Trying to defend, are you? I won't give you a chance."
"Dragonite, Dragon Claw!"
Lance's voice rang out again.
Dragonite's claws flared with blue light as it charged Mewtwo head-on, unwilling to let it block Draco Meteor unscathed.
"Ice Beam!"
Mewtwo pressed its palms together, summoning icy-blue energy that burst from its hands in a twisting beam of frost.
Dragon Claw met Ice Beam midair—frost spreading rapidly along Dragonite's claws as the two forces clashed violently.
"Dragon Pulse!"
Lance's brow furrowed sharply. Of course, Ice-type attacks!
Dragonite roared, opening its maw to unleash a massive beam of draconic energy even larger than Mewtwo's body.
Mewtwo simply raised one hand—its Psychic power condensed into an invisible barrier that stopped the Dragon Pulse cold.
Giovanni wanted to have Mewtwo counterattack with Blizzard but at that moment, Agatha's Arbok suddenly coiled tightly around his Nidoking, constricting it with terrifying strength.
Even Nidoking couldn't break free!
"That death-binding technique… tch, troublesome old woman."
Giovanni's brows knit tightly.
Because of Red's arrival, he had to send Mega Beedrill to occupy him, leaving Agatha to face his Nidoking.
But clearly, with Giovanni's focus divided, Nidoking couldn't hold its own.
Agatha's battle experience was immense, and her style was strange and sinister with her unpredictable Ghost-types. It was only thanks to Nidoking's Poison-type immunity that it wasn't already down.
Otherwise, it would've fared much worse.
Even so, Nidoking was struggling.
Arbok's death-binding coils squeezed tighter, its jaws sinking into Nidoking's shoulder, drawing blood.
Nidoking roared in agony—just as a Shadow Ball from Gengar slammed into it with a violent explosion!
"Nidoqueen!"
Giovanni immediately hurled another Poké Ball. Nidoqueen burst forth, charging toward Nidoking to break the bind.
If he didn't act fast, Nidoking would soon fall.
"Heh… looks like your end's coming, Giovanni. Let's see how long you can last."
Lance's lips twisted into a grim, savage grin.
Facing four powerful opponents simultaneously, Giovanni's downfall was inevitable, it was only a matter of time.
"Heh~ is that all you're capable of?" Giovanni mocked. "Ganging up on one man and you're proud of it?"
Even as the situation grew worse, his tone carried no hint of panic.
"For someone like you," Lance sneered, "there's no need to talk about fairness."
Arrogant as Lance was, even he understood that the head of Team Rocket couldn't be given mercy. Eliminating him came first.
Red fell silent at that. Lance was right—talking about morality and fairness with a man like Giovanni was meaningless.
"Mewtwo, Psychic!"
Giovanni ignored them, scanning the battlefield rapidly.
Mewtwo bore the brunt of the assault—it faced Lance and Leon's combined offensive alone.
Mega Beedrill was locked in battle against Red's Charizard X and Pikachu.
Meanwhile, Agatha's Gengar and Arbok held back Nidoking and Nidoqueen.
The situation… was dire.
Giovanni was fighting four simultaneous battles and in none of them did he hold any advantage.
Even Mewtwo was under tremendous pressure.
It faced five Pokémon at once: Lance's Dragonite and two Dragonairs, plus Leon's Mega Charizard X and Dragapult.
Five versus one!
And because Red and Agatha were also in play, Giovanni couldn't devote his full concentration to commanding Mewtwo. If his frontline collapsed, the entire defense would crumble in an instant.
This wasn't a tournament match—this was a full-blown raid.
They weren't here to battle fairly. They were here to capture Giovanni.
Hearing Giovanni's command, Mewtwo spread its arms wide, psychic energy flaring in blinding waves.
A terrifying storm of psychic force erupted, blasting back both Charizard X and Dragonite. Two of the descending meteors shattered midair under the mental shockwave.
"Still struggling in vain?"
Lance's eyes gleamed coldly as the next wave of Draco Meteors descended.
"Thunder!"
"Flamethrower!"
Both Lance and Leon shouted in unison.
The skies flashed white as a massive thunderbolt and a blazing inferno converged on Mewtwo.
"Barrier!"
Mewtwo's eyes flared, hands raised. It couldn't dodge—there were too many attacks converging from every direction!
Draco Meteor, Thunder, Flamethrower—all at once!
A radiant blue psychic shield enveloped Mewtwo completely.
BOOM!
The explosion rocked the heavens. Shockwaves of raw power blasted outward, scattering the rain clouds themselves.
"...Mewtwo?"
Giovanni's brows drew tight in concern.
"I'm fine."
The telepathic reply echoed faintly in his mind.
A sound like glass cracking followed—the blue light faded, the barrier shattering piece by piece.
Mewtwo's figure reappeared, visibly strained, its breathing shallow.
It had withstood the storm, but not without cost.
"Their power is immense. I can't hold out forever," Mewtwo said solemnly in Giovanni's mind.
"You've done well," Giovanni replied softly.
"Human… if you wish, I can attempt a breakthrough," Mewtwo said quietly.
It didn't understand why Giovanni insisted on staying. The odds were hopelessly against them.
"Team Rocket is the culmination of too many years of my life," Giovanni murmured after a pause.
For the first time, Mewtwo sensed genuine emotion—something complex, heavy, and almost… wistful.
"Your creation… I owe you, my life. I'll do what I can to help you," Mewtwo said.
Though it had great intelligence, Mewtwo never truly understood human emotions. Yet it respected Giovanni's determination—and that was enough.
"If things turn for the worst, Mewtwo… go find Lucas," Giovanni said quietly. "He'll treat you well. Better than I ever could."
Mewtwo fell silent.
"I am Mewtwo. The strongest Pokémon. That's what you told me," it said at last, its voice deep and resolute.
Even as exhaustion faded from its eyes, cold determination replaced it.
"No matter how dire the odds, I will get you out of here."
Giovanni smiled faintly. "Then let's show the Pokémon League what true power looks like, Mewtwo. I—"
But his words froze halfway.
His sharp eyes caught movement—four more figures approaching the battlefield.
Steven. Cynthia. Blue. Iris.
Giovanni's faint smile stiffened. His expression sank into silence.
So now it would be… one versus eight?
One vs Eight?!
He clenched his jaw.
"…Are you kidding me?"
(End of Chapter)
TN: Ahhhh, I was so hype for this and next chapter but I loss my internet connection. If you guys notice any misspelling or mistranslation please leave a comment, I just managed to copy and paste this when I lost my internet connection so I edited this without being able to compare it to the raws.