Chapter 137: Trial by Combat
Facing a master-level trainer, Giovanni knew his only option was to seize the initiative.
"Machoke! Focus Energy, then Low Kick!" he commanded.
Machoke roared, its muscles bulging as it gathered its power. It leaped, its legs lashing out like lightning toward Kaito's own Machoke. The Gym Leader's Pokémon reacted instantly, its own Low Kick meeting the attack in mid-air.
The two forces canceled each other out, but Giovanni's Machoke, its Guts ability now fully active thanks to the burning agony from the Flame Orb fragment, gained the upper hand, forcing its opponent back.
Kaito's brow furrowed. He hadn't expected Giovanni's Pokémon to be able to contend with his own in a contest of pure strength. He was a master of the Fighting-type; he saw the truth in an instant.
"A Flame Orb," he noted, his sharp eyes fixed on the pained tremor in Giovanni's Machoke. "A fragment, I presume. A full one would have already incapacitated a Pokémon of this level."
Understanding the source of his opponent's power did not faze him. "Machoke," he commanded, his voice calm and steady, "do not give it a moment's rest. Press the attack. Low Kick!"
His Machoke adjusted its stance, its legs becoming a blur of spring-loaded kicks. But Giovanni had anticipated this.
"Evade! Use Revenge!" he shouted.
His Machoke leaped, cleverly dodging the assault. It stabilized itself in mid-air and delivered a brutal counter-kick. The force of the blow was immense, sending Kaito's Machoke flying backward to land heavily on the dirt field.
It was on its feet in a second, its eyes wide with fury as it sought an opportunity to retaliate.
"Double Chop!" Kaito ordered.
His Machoke's hands became twin blades, chopping at Giovanni's Pokémon with incredible force.
"Scary Face!" Giovanni countered.
His Machoke's expression twisted into a grotesque, horrifying grimace. The sudden shift startled its opponent for a fraction of a second—all the time Giovanni needed.
"Seismic Toss!"
Giovanni's Machoke lunged, grabbing its stunned opponent and slamming it into the ground. Kaito's Pokémon struggled to its feet, but before it could regain its balance, the next attack was already coming.
"Overpower it!" Giovanni yelled.
His Machoke erupted with raw power, leaping into the air and bringing its full weight down on its foe. The blow nearly dazed Kaito's Pokémon, and it barely managed to struggle back to its feet.
Giovanni's fists clenched. "As expected of a Gym Leader's Pokémon. Incredibly tough." But admitting defeat was not in his nature. "Press the advantage! Knock Off!"
Machoke clapped its hands together, sending a powerful shockwave of displaced air rushing toward its opponent, disrupting its attempt to counterattack.
Kaito's frown deepened. This kid was proving to be exceptionally troublesome. "Machoke, Mega Punch!"
His Pokémon roared, its fist glowing with immense power as it swung at Giovanni's Machoke, the force of the blow tearing at the air itself.
Giovanni's eyelids twitched— a direct hit would be the end. "Seismic Toss!"
His Machoke's form blurred. It dodged the Mega Punch by an edge, using the opening to grab its opponent's arm. With a surge of incredible strength, it slammed Kaito's Machoke into the ground again.
BOOM!
A deep pit formed in the dirt field where it landed.
"Your Machoke's grappling skill is impressive," Kaito praised, a flicker of admiration in his eyes.
"It is merely adequate," Giovanni muttered.
Kaito watched his own Pokémon struggle to its feet once more. "Then let us settle this with one final blow."
Giovanni's eyes narrowed. "Agreed."
"Machoke, Dynamic Punch!"
"Machoke, Overpower!"
Kaito's Machoke roared, its body erupting in an intense blue light. It swung its fist, and a projectile of pure energy flew toward Giovanni's Pokémon.
The sheer pressure of the attack forced Giovanni's Machoke back, but then it thought of the master it served, and of the boy, Kenji, watching from the sidelines.
It gritted its teeth, its fists clenching so hard the Flame Orb fragment seemed to sink into its flesh. Its muscles bulged, veins like thick worms crawling over its skin as it unleashed every last ounce of its power.
It swung its own fist.
BOOM!
The Dynamic Punch shattered on impact. Machoke's arm was a bloody ruin, but it didn't stop. Supported by nothing but sheer, indomitable willpower, it charged forward and drove its fist into its stunned opponent.
Kaito's Machoke collapsed.
Thump.
Giovanni's Machoke let out a victorious roar, its gaze locking onto Kenji. "Kuri!"
The youths standing beside Kenji shrank back in fear.
"That Machoke's eyes are terrifying."
"Why is it looking at us?"
Only Kenji stared back, a powerful sense of familiarity washing over him as he looked at the triumphant Pokémon.
Kaito raised his hand, recalling his fainted Machoke. "Astonishing willpower," he said, looking at Giovanni's Pokémon with respect. "Truly an excellent specimen."
Giovanni let his Machoke step off the field to recover. He offered Kaito a faint smile. "This one has will."
Kaito stroked his chin, then threw out another Poké Ball. "Interesting. Then my next Pokémon will be this."
A flash of white light revealed a Primeape, its fur ruffled, its eyes burning with rage. It, too, was on the verge of the Senior Level. Kaito was not holding back.
Giovanni's hand hovered over the Poké Balls at his waist before choosing one. "I choose you."
The light coalesced into the massive, armored form of Rhyhorn. Though it had a type disadvantage, its sheer power and diverse move set more than compensated.
Giovanni patted its sturdy hide. "Rhyhorn. This is our first battle as partners. Do not disappoint me."
Rhyhorn stomped its hooves, its gaze fixed on the Primeape with raw, aggressive intent.