"The audience should already be quite familiar with Giovanni," the host began from his platform, skimming the info card as he prepared to hype up the crowd with a brief introduction.
"Back when Champion Lance led the previous Kanto Elite Four, Giovanni was already the well-known Viridian Gym Leader."
"For a long period, he was even widely acknowledged as the strongest Gym Leader in all of Kanto."
"During his tenure, Giovanni was diligent and responsible—not only excelling at his Gym duties, but also founding multiple successful companies in his spare time."
"A true model of a successful man in every aspect."
The host smiled as he continued.
"And after the previous Elite Four stepped down and Dylan became the new Kanto Champion, he formed a new lineup consisting of Giovanni, Red, Blue, and Leaf."
"Rumor has it that Giovanni originally refused the position, but after Dylan personally and persistently invited him, he finally agreed. At the time, many doubted the strength of this new Elite Four—but time proved one thing perfectly."
The host's words stirred discussion.Everyone knew Giovanni and Dylan were close.
Back then, Giovanni had only been viewed as a very strong Gym Leader. But how strong, exactly?No one knew—not even the Kanto League fully understood his true power.
Now, however, the entire world knew:Giovanni of the Earth was far beyond what anyone imagined.
"Father, is that true?" Silver asked, unable to hold back his curiosity.
"It's true," Giovanni replied with a low, modest chuckle. "Dylan worked very hard to convince me."
It was partly showing off—but showing off in front of his son felt great.
And besides… it was true.He had refused several times and even said he wasn't suitable. If Dylan hadn't convinced him…
"If I hadn't accepted Dylan's invitation back then, everything might have turned out different." Giovanni looked at Silver with a complicated sigh.
That choice had been one of the biggest turning points in his life.
"Giovanni's strength is overwhelming, currently ranked No.6 among the Masters," the host continued.
"But his opponent today is quite interesting as well."
The host shifted excitedly to Silver's info card.
"Just like Yellow, Silver only debuted as a trainer this year. But here's something important—"
"Silver and Yellow share the same teacher!"
The audience froze.Same teacher? Meaning Silver was also Dylan's student?
"That's right. Silver is Yellow's junior apprentice. And most importantly—Silver is Giovanni's biological son!"
The host's voice practically jumped in pitch.
"What?! Giovanni has a son?!"
"He never said he was married!"
"I'm from Viridian City—how did I not know?!"
"No wonder this kid is so strong! First year traveling and already Top 32? With that teacher and that father, how could he NOT be strong?"
"So this is… father versus son? That's insane!"
"Noooo!! Why does Giovanni already have a child— I haven't even married into his family yet!!"
The stadium erupted.
Hearing the commotion, Giovanni allowed himself a small satisfied smile.He approved of this host.
Announcing his son to the whole world felt wonderful.
"So this match will be a showdown between father and son!" the host concluded. "Who will advance to the next round? Truly exciting to anticipate!"
He was careful not to declare a winner—even though everyone assumed Giovanni would take it.But what if Giovanni held back?
With the referee's announcement, the turn-order pointer on the big screen spun and stopped—on Giovanni.
Giovanni would move first.
Hands in his pocket, he retrieved a Poké Ball and looked toward Silver.
"Silver, are you ready?"
"Come, Father!"
Silver's expression hardened."I'll give it everything I have! And I want you to fight me with everything as well!"
He knew Giovanni was frighteningly strong—his father, after all.But he would not let that make him yield.
He had grown—stronger than ever.
"Good eyes," Giovanni said approvingly. "Then as you wish, Silver. Show your father everything you've gained this past year."
Still one hand in his pocket, Giovanni cast out his first Poké Ball.
"Your first opponent—will be this!"
"Great Tusk!"
With a thunderous roar, the paradox Pokémon crashed onto the field, wild eyes locked onto Silver.
"Great Tusk right from the start? Giovanni really isn't holding back, huh?" Leaf blinked.
Great Tusk was one of Giovanni's main pillars—using it as an opener was a strong statement.
"Probably because the two already talked," Dylan said. "Silver is proud and stubborn. If they meet in battle, he won't want Giovanni to go easy."
He knew both of them well.
Giovanni loved Silver deeply. If it helped Silver, he'd absolutely forfeit—even if it meant stopping at Top 32.
He was participating in the World Championships largely for Silver's sake—so his son could have a father to be proud of.
But Silver had inherited Giovanni's pride.He would never accept a victory handed to him.Nor would he allow his father to be eliminated because of him.
Awkward as they were sometimes, one honest conversation resolved everything.
"Does Silver stand a chance…?" Leaf bit her lip. She wasn't related to Silver, but the two had survived the Masked Organization together. Their bond was deep.
Dylan gave her a strange look, and she realized she'd asked something stupid.
"Silver is a genius," Dylan said. "But defeating Giovanni is impossible right now."
"Still, Silver is already extremely strong. To reach Top 32 at sixteen? His future is no weaker than Giovanni's."
Not everyone was like Yellow, able to explode in strength during battle.
Even Yellow would struggle to beat Giovanni unless she burned herself out.
This Giovanni was far stronger than the Giovanni from the old manga storyline.If Rainbow Giovanni didn't have Dark Mewtwo, even he would be crushed.
Meanwhile, in a certain prison room atop Indigo Plateau…
Rainbow Giovanni sat silently on the couch, watching the broadcast.
"Tch—boss, look at your counterpart. He's living the dream! Even has a son." Rainbow Ghetsis cracked sunflower seeds loudly, face filling the TV reflection.
"And the kid's crazy strong too. Wasn't he Dylan's student? Same junior as Selene, right?"
Thinking of the past months, Rainbow Ghetsis shuddered.
Rainbow Giovanni's face twitched. Rainbow Maxie, Rainbow Cyrus, and Rainbow Lysandre also sat silently, expressions awful.
Because over the past months, after being forced onto sewing machines, they had been dragged out to become someone's sparring partners.
Yes—that demon Dylan!
He'd returned all of their main Pokémon to them…Only to use them as high-level training dummies for Selene, Red, Blue, Yellow, and the others.
If you want maximum growth, sparring battles are the fastest.
And while Rainbow Giovanni's group no longer had legendaries, they were still champion-tier powerhouses.
"Those brats… are seriously not human," Rainbow Ghetsis cursed, reliving his trauma.
What was it like?
Monday: Selene.Crushed.
Tuesday: Red.Crushed.
Wednesday: Blue.Crushed—and insulted the entire time.
Thursday: Giovanni.Crushed again.
Friday: Yellow.Lost, but at least not horribly.
Saturday: Selene again.Crushed so badly he questioned life.
By Sunday, against Red again, Rainbow Ghetsis had spiritually transcended.He had accepted defeat as philosophy.
Watching the pale, staggering Rainbow Maxie and Rainbow Colress made him feel slightly better.
But nothing changed the fact:
Dylan had locked them up, made them sew, and still exploited them as free sparring partners.
Dylan, you're not human!!!
(End of Chapter)