Red waited from morning until night, yet the Gym Leader of Viridian City still had not returned.
True to his stubborn nature, he simply spread a bedroll nearby and settled in for the night.
If he didn't challenge the Viridian Gym, he wasn't leaving. Period.
Though he usually acted as if he didn't care much about Blue, in truth, Red had always regarded him as his only rival—the strongest opponent he acknowledged.
He refused to be inferior to Blue.
Any Gym Blue could conquer, Red would conquer as well.
And so, by the next morning…
Red awoke groggily and resumed waiting at the entrance. Near noon, the guards finally informed him that the Gym Leader was about to return and that he could wait inside.
Red stepped into the Viridian Gym.
…
"This place feels way too gloomy… completely different from the other Gyms."
The moment he entered, Red sensed an oppressive, shadowy atmosphere.
Strangely enough, the silhouettes around him felt… familiar.
"Welcome back, Gym Leader!"
A sudden shout rang out from the front, startling Red. He instinctively turned his head—
And saw a face deeply etched into his memory.
"I figured you'd come here someday."
"Gia—Giovanni?! Why are you here?!"
"Isn't it obvious?" Giovanni replied calmly. "I am the master of this place—the Viridian Gym Leader. Giovanni of the Earth."
Disbelief flooded Red's face.
"That's impossible… someone like you… How could you be a Gym Leader? Don't tell me this place is also—"
Giovanni slowly walked deeper into the Gym, his voice steady.
"That's right. This is Team Rocket's stronghold."
"Now then—are you here to challenge me as the Gym Leader?"
His hand gently brushed over a Poké Ball embedded in the machine beside him.
Red erupted in anger.
"Don't joke with me! What right do you have to be a Gym Leader?!"
"The Gym Leaders I've faced may differ in ideals and methods, but there's one thing they all share—they love Pokémon!"
Red turned slowly, a piercing chill flashing in his eyes.
"Someone like you, who treats Pokémon as tools… You don't deserve to be a Gym Leader!"
"The so-called strongest Gym Leader? I'll never believe that. Never!"
Giovanni's lips curled into a faint smile.
"Believe it or not, that doesn't change reality. I am the strongest Gym Leader."
"So?" he continued coolly. "Are you fighting—or not?"
Red clenched his fists tightly, his voice icy.
"Of course I'm fighting. But this isn't a challenge to a Gym Leader."
"This is a challenge to an enemy of Pokémon!"
Giovanni's expression hardened.
With a snap of his fingers, the lights inside the Gym flared to life.
Steel walls surrounded the battlefield—reinforced, unbreakable.
Here, the battle wouldn't demolish the entire area like last time.
"Yesterday," Giovanni said calmly,
"A boy about your age challenged me."
"He was arrogant, but his skill far surpassed most Trainers."
Blue…
"But that match was merely a battle between a Gym Leader and a challenger."
Giovanni placed his Poké Ball onto the console.
"Against you…"
The device descended, revealing three high-grade black-and-gold Poké Balls.
"…it's different."
He picked one up, his heart strangely restless.
Why does my blood feel like it's boiling?
It was the same back at Silph Co…
What is it about this kid?
Very well. Let's verify it in battle.
His inner thoughts were broadcast perfectly by the projection.
[Lorelei: Pfft—sorry, I know I shouldn't laugh, but I can't help it! What is this? A CEO's inner monologue?!]
[Cynthia: Is this the tragic love-hate story between an evil boss and a righteous youth?]
[Caitlin: In a CEO novel it'd be—"Interesting. This woman (Red) has caught my attention."]
[Lance: He's the head of Team Rocket… but why is this so funny—pfft!]
[Red: …]
Red was utterly speechless.
Something was very wrong with this world's Elite Four and Champions.
Why were they all like this?!
Was it because of this so-called Heavenly Ranking?
The worst part was—he almost wanted to laugh himself.
…
Team Rocket Headquarters — Conference Room
"Pfft—"
Apollo barely managed to stifle his laughter, quickly covering his mouth.
The other executives did the same, shoulders shaking.
It was impossible not to laugh.
That stern, terrifying boss—
Suddenly rewritten into a domineering CEO.
The contrast was absurd.
A vein throbbed on Giovanni's forehead.
"Anyone who laughs again will personally experience Team Rocket's Top Ten Tortures."
Instant silence.
Giovanni glared at the barrage of comments, seething.
Curse you, Diantha, Cynthia, Caitlin… I'll settle this one day.
And that other-world me—are you insane?! Why so much inner monologue about a kid?!
He's nothing special—just grows a bit fast!
In this sealed arena… It's the perfect chance to erase him.
Other me—kill Red!
Yet despite himself, the title of the ranking filled him with unease.
…
In the projection—
The battle between Red and Giovanni erupted!
Giovanni used only three Pokémon.
Red was allowed six.
But Red was no longer a novice Trainer.
If he needed six Pokémon against Giovanni's three…
That was no different from defeat.
So—
Three Pokémon. Decide it all.
"As the Gym Leader, I'll make the first move."
Giovanni threw his black-and-gold Poké Ball.
"Click—"
Blue light flashed.
A blue-and-white Pokémon emerged—
Nidoqueen!
The same Nidoqueen that had once obliterated Charizard in seconds!
Opening with such a monster placed immense psychological pressure on Red.
Yet his face showed no fear.
In the next instant, he sent out his own lead Pokémon.
Blue-and-white as well.
A massive gray shell loomed on its back.
Lapras—the Pokémon Red obtained at Silph Co.
"Oh? A Water-type," Giovanni sneered.
"Smarter than using Charizard. Unfortunately, still not enough."
"Double Kick!"
"Surf!"
Against the Water/Ice-type Lapras, Double Kick was super effective!
But Red chose Surf.
Lapras cried out as an enormous wave gathered and burst forth!
Raging water sealed every path of advance!
Surf was a wide-area move—Red intended to block Nidoqueen's trajectory entirely!
"Kick it aside!"
Giovanni showed no hesitation.
Nidoqueen smashed the incoming wave with a glowing kick!
BOOM!
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