Chapter 252: The Viridian Gym Leader, Green.
Author: Samsung Charmander (Author Name)
"Do you see? This is true power!"
Giovanni sneered, his gaze fixed on the Armored Pokémon beneath him, filled with greed and desire.
With such terrifying power at his command, what was the Pokémon League?
And what was Champion Lance?
"Damn it!!"
Gary's composure had completely shattered. Ignoring the rules of the battle, he waved his hand and roared, "Arcanine, Rhydon, Scyther!! Attack together!!"
"Oh? A three-on-one? You might as well send out all your Pokémon today."
Giovanni looked at him as if he were an ant, seeing nothing but a cornered beast's final struggle.
Although he could have easily crushed this novice trainer with his own strength, to create such a vast, heavenly disparity…
It was like being a deity, a feeling he thoroughly enjoyed.
With the help of this Pokémon, even the world itself would be his for the taking!
Giovanni's eyes burned with fervor. A grand ambition was already unfolding in his mind!
"Arcanine, use Flare Blitz!! Rhydon, use Double-Edge!! Scyther, use X-Scissor!!"
On the other side, Gary's frantic roars twisted his handsome face into a contorted mask.
"Awooo!!"
"Roooar!!"
"Chaa!!"
Gary's three Pokémon lunged forward in unison. A ball of fierce flames ignited on one side, a golden glow of energy on another, and the sharp light of a crisscrossing cut on the third. The energy of three different types reverberated through the Viridian Gym, and then three powerful attacks shot out at once!
"Vmm—"
The Armored Pokémon's expression remained unchanged. It made no move, but its eyes suddenly lit up with a strange and profound blue light that spread outward once more…
In the next instant, the flames, the golden light, and the X-Scissor were all frozen in place.
Then, as if struck by a massive hammer, Arcanine, Scyther, and Rhydon were all sent flying backward. This time, upon landing, they instantly lost all combat capability, unable to move another inch.
Even three-on-one, it was a complete rout.
"I… lost…"
Gary stumbled back several steps, finally voicing the fact.
His once arrogant and handsome face instantly became incredibly bleak, and his expression as he looked at the Armored Pokémon was now tinged with intense fear.
Even in a three-on-one, he couldn't even move half a step toward his opponent, or even get it to lift an arm…?
"Is the gap between me and an expert really this huge…"
He couldn't help but lower his head in dejection. In Gary's heart, he knew there was a gap between his current self and a supreme expert, but he had never imagined it would be this immense…
His mental fortitude was broken.
"Hmph, has his willpower to battle already been completely shattered? A newcomer is a newcomer. In that case, let's just finish him off!"
Giovanni sneered. A trainer who hadn't matured was useless, no matter how high their aptitude.
"Vmm—"
The Armored Pokémon projected a blue beam of telekinesis from in front of its body, which coalesced out of thin air into a transparent blade. Without a shred of hesitation, it shot straight out.
It seemed to have no emotional fluctuations whatsoever, like a ruthless machine.
"Swoosh—"
The telekinetic blade cut through the air, emitting a chilling slicing sound as it shot toward Gary's neck.
That's right. Since this kid had witnessed this Pokémon, he would have to leave his life here today!
This was the survival rule of Team Rocket, not some childish Pokémon battle!
Still lost in his dejection, Gary finally sensed the sonic boom from in front of him. He sluggishly raised his head, only to see the Psycho Cut, capable of severing anything, was already infinitesimally close. He had no time to defend himself!
The white light of the blade was blinding.
In an instant, countless scenes flashed through his mind: his childhood with his sister and grandpa, playing house with Ash and Blue…
*I haven't become the strongest trainer yet…*
*I still have to make the name of Pallet Town known throughout the world…*
*I haven't even had a proper battle with Ash yet…*
*Am I going to die?*
He even closed his eyes in despair. This Psycho Cut would surely slice his head clean off.
"I'm sorry, Elder Brother Green… I'm the one who dragged you into this…"
Finally, Gary muttered in a daze, his face filled with the despair of facing death.
"Then remember this feeling well."
Suddenly, a steady voice resonated in his heart.
"Clang!!"
In the next moment, a barrier of green light suddenly appeared around his body, shielding him within. The Psycho Cut that could slice through anything slammed violently against the barrier, creating a shower of sparks and a terrible sound as they clashed.
"Clink—"
Soon, however, the green light barrier shattered into pieces like glass.
But it had been enough. The Psycho Cut dissipated into transparent energy in mid-air.
At that moment, Gary's back was completely soaked, and profuse sweat dripped from his forehead. He was filled with lingering fear, almost collapsing to his knees on the spot.
"Crack—"
A sound came from his collar. He subconsciously looked down and saw that the egg-shaped pendant he always wore now had a crack running down its middle.
"That was the talisman your grandpa gave you. A one-time-only Protect. You've used it up," Green said slowly.
A Protect Pendant. He had also worn one in the digital world, so he naturally knew it had a Move sealed inside.
An Invincible Protect.
This wasn't some black technology invented by Professor Oak, but one of the treasures passed down through the Oak family for generations. It was one of a kind; once consumed, it was gone forever.
"Grandpa…"
"There's no time for sentimentality. Remember everything that happened today." Green interrupted Gary's sorrowful thoughts and continued, "Whether death brings ruin or rebirth, that is your path…"
To be honest, Gary's journey had indeed been too smooth. That was why his mentality had instantly shattered when he was being crushed, leaving him in a foolish state with no guard.
If his mentality had been better, victory would still have been impossible, but forcing this nearly invincible Pokémon to move even half a step was something the current Gary was perfectly capable of achieving.
In the end, his mentality was lacking.
"Leave the rest to me. This is no longer a battle you can be involved in…"
Green spoke slowly, which finally allowed Gary to let out a long breath and close his eyes.
"…"
The next second, when he opened his eyes again, the situation had changed dramatically!
A terrifying expert's Aura surged to the heavens, making the atmosphere in the entire room heavy. It even faintly suppressed the Aura of Giovanni and the Armored Pokémon, leaving Giovanni staring at the youth before him in utter bewilderment.
"A completely different person?" Giovanni's brow furrowed, the words slipping out.
The youth's clothes and appearance, even his hair that had been messy from his mental breakdown, were unchanged. But he felt as if he were looking at a completely different person.
In that pair of calm and reserved eyes, there was no longer the slightest trace of fear. In fact, they held a faint hint of disdain!
Giovanni was stunned. That was the very same expression he himself wore when he looked down on others!
Was it an act?!
No, the person before him was definitely not the novice trainer from a moment ago, but a seasoned, true expert who had been through countless life-and-death struggles!
Giovanni himself was a man who had experienced countless hardships; he recognized this feeling!
Despite his overwhelmingly great advantage, he no longer dared to be careless. He slowly rose from the sofa and looked down at the spiky-haired youth, unable to resist asking in a deep voice:
"Who… are you?"
Green raised his head, his eyes sweeping over the Armored Pokémon before him, then landing on Giovanni, seeming to see through everything at a glance. An enigmatic smile unconsciously tugged at the corner of his lips. Only then did he calmly give his answer.
"The Viridian Gym Leader, Green."
(end of chapter)