Chapter 134: The First Trial
"What kind of test?" Giovanni asked, though he already knew the answer. The arrogant posturing of the dojo's students had made their intentions clear.
Kaito's eyes narrowed, sizing Giovanni up. He decided to increase the difficulty. "First, you will defeat five of my apprentices using only hand-to-hand combat. If you have come to challenge my Fighting Dojo, you must possess some knowledge of the fighting arts."
It was a test created on the spot. As a master combatant, Kaito had discerned the latent physical power coiled within Giovanni's frame and was intrigued. Originally, a few Pokémon battles would have sufficed.
Giovanni's gaze swept over the crowd of apprentices. He knew Kaito was deliberately making things difficult, but he did not refuse. "Fine," he agreed without hesitation.
Kaito appreciated decisive individuals. Giovanni's immediate acceptance earned a measure of his respect. However, a trial, once declared, could not be rescinded. He pointed to one of the older students. "You, Ren. You are first."
Giovanni did not make the arrogant mistake of demanding they all come at once. These were apprentices trained by a Gym-Leader-level master; their strength was not to be underestimated. To be presumptuous now would be to risk a humiliating fall. He would proceed step by step.
He set down his backpack and unclipped the Poké Balls from his belt, placing them carefully on the floor. He then removed his jacket, revealing the toned, powerful muscles of his arms.
"Get him a training gi," Kaito grunted to another student.
A clean gi was brought and placed beside Giovanni. Without a hint of modesty, he stripped off his shirt, his well-defined physique exposed to the room. While he lacked the explosive, heavy mass of Kaito, he was easily on par with the apprentices.
"You have practiced the fighting arts before," Kaito observed, a statement rather than a question.
"I learned the fundamentals from a friend," Giovanni replied, his voice flat. "And I have trained with my Machoke." He did not hide the truth. His eyes scanned the venue, flicking across the sea of young, eager faces, finally settling for a brief, imperceptible moment on a youth who bore a striking resemblance to Katsu. A second later, his gaze moved on.
Kaito did not notice. "Interesting," he rumbled. "Fighting-type Pokémon are natural martial artists. What you have learned from one is no longer just 'fundamentals.'" He paused, his tone shifting. "However, my dojo's style has been passed down through generations of my family and our Pokémon. Today, I will allow you to witness true mastery."
Giovanni was unmoved by Kaito's boast. "Then I look forward to it."
Kaito found the boy's unflappable calm fascinating. "Interesting. Let us begin."
Ren moved to the center of the training floor. The surrounding apprentices cleared the area, forming a wide circle around them. Giovanni and Ren stood on opposite sides, with Kaito between them, acting as referee.
"Are you ready?" Kaito's voice was a powerful baritone that commanded silence. "Fighting is not merely a test of strength, but a clash of will. Respecting your opponent is respecting yourselves."
Giovanni and Ren looked at each other, their eyes firm. "Ready."
"Then begin!"
The moment Kaito's word fell, Ren exploded forward, his fist whistling through the air as it aimed directly for Giovanni's face.
Giovanni shifted, a slight, fluid movement that allowed the punch to pass harmlessly by. He used Ren's own momentum against him, a firm push sending his opponent stumbling aside. The surrounding apprentices gasped; they had not expected such polished skill.
Ren stabilized himself, a flash of surprise in his eyes. He charged again, this time with the unbridled ferocity of a wild beast, his speed astonishing.
Giovanni did not move to meet him. He stood his ground, his feet planted as if they had taken root in the floorboards. As Ren closed the distance, Giovanni pivoted, evading the heavy punch while simultaneously seizing his opponent's wrist. His voice was cold. "You have speed, but your power is lacking."
Stunned that his offensive had been so easily neutralized, Ren tried to adjust, kicking off the ground to spin his body free.
A slight smirk touched Giovanni's lips. He released his grip, and in the same motion, drove a precise, brutal punch into Ren's abdomen.
Ren's body went rigid. A strangled cry of pain escaped his lips as he collapsed to his knees, utterly defeated.
A murmur of shock went through the watching students.
"Impressive," Kaito commented from the side, his voice betraying no emotion. "Your Machoke has taught you well— but a true fighter requires more than skill. They need an unyielding will. I will now send out my stronger apprentices. Let us see if you can endure."
He glanced at Ren, who was struggling to rise. "Go run twenty laps around the dojo. Your training is insufficient."
Ren's face soured, but he obeyed, stumbling out of the room.
Kaito called another apprentice into the circle. He, too, was swiftly defeated and sent to run laps. Then the next, and the next. One after another they fell, until all five had been bested.
Giovanni stood amidst the defeated, a fine sheen of sweat covering his body. A few bruises and scrapes marked his skin; he had not escaped entirely unscathed.
Kaito's expression was now tinged with embarrassment. "You have strength," he conceded. "I underestimated you."
"I was merely fortunate," Giovanni replied, neither humble nor arrogant. "If I did not possess this much, I would not have dared to challenge you." It was a slight shame he hadn't faced Katsu's younger brother, but it was for the best. He needed to conserve his strength for what was to come.
Kaito snorted. "Consider the first trial passed. Now, for the second."
Giovanni simply nodded. "I await your instruction."
Kaito called forward six more apprentices. "A trainer's battle utilizes six Pokémon. You will use your team to defeat one Pokémon from each of these six disciples. Only after you have won will you earn the right to challenge me."
Giovanni's active team only consisted of five Pokémon. Before coming, however, he had anticipated such a scenario and added his Kingler's Poké Ball to his belt, bringing the count to six.
It mattered little. Six apprentices. He would defeat them all.