The torrent split apart—
But Lapras was gone.
"What—?!"
"Now! Hydro Pump!"
Lapras rode the collapsing wave itself!
Nidoqueen had broken through the front—exposing her back!
A roaring column of water blasted straight into Nidoqueen's spine!
She was hurled across the arena, slamming into the wall!
"Finish it—Ice Shard!"
Crystalline shards shot out like bullets.
Nidoqueen barely stood before being struck repeatedly.
With a final cry, she collapsed—unable to battle.
Giovanni's expression darkened.
Red's growth was terrifying.
Strategy.
Power.
Everything.
[Lance: Are you kidding me?! He just got that Lapras in Saffron City, right?! Champion-level already?!]
[Wallace: That Water-type power… unmistakably Champion-tier.]
[Lorelei: I use Lapras too. That one's weaker than mine—but it is Champion-level.]
And Lorelei's Lapras was her ace.
If even she acknowledged it—
And Red had trained it for barely a month or two—
What kind of monster was this boy?!
[Cynthia: Not just levels—his tactics are sharper.]
[Professor Kukui: Surf to obscure vision, riding the wave for positional advantage—no matter the response, Red secures initiative.]
[Professor Oak: Hydro Pump confirms the knockout window, then Ice Shard for priority. Outstanding.]
The Champions praised Red without restraint.
Now, everyone understood why this was called the Legendary Path.
If this wasn't a legend—
What was?
Even Leon, the undefeated monarch, had never shown growth like this.
Some muttered—
"Legendary Battler? More like Cheat Code Battler."
…
Giovanni recalled Nidoqueen.
"Well done, kid. But from here on—it won't be easy."
He released his next Pokémon.
A gray, armor-plated behemoth.
Rhyperior.
The Earth's king revealed his true strength.
This Rhyperior's presence far surpassed Nidoqueen's.
"Lapras, Surf!"
Red pressed forward relentlessly.
The wave engulfed the arena!
"Rock Tomb!"
Boulders crashed down, forming a fortress around Rhyperior!
Surf slammed into the rocks—yet failed to break through.
But Lapras circled behind—
Only to meet Rhyperior, already charged and facing her.
"The same trick twice? Stone Edge!"
Rhyperior stomped the ground—
The Gym shook violently!
Jagged pillars of rock erupted upward, slamming into Lapras!
Rock-type attacks—double damage!
Lapras was blasted away, blood flowing freely.
"Rock Slide!"
"Ice Shard!"
Lapras retaliated with priority Ice Shard—
But the damage was insufficient.
Massive boulders crushed down.
Lapras fell, defeated.
One-for-one.
[Lance: That counterattack was decisive.]
[Cynthia: Giovanni's strength rivals the Eight Masters.]
[Steven: That Rhyperior… even Metagross would struggle.]
[Agatha: Our world's Giovanni may be just as dangerous. Lance, be careful.]
…
Red withdrew Lapras.
His next Pokémon stepped forward.
A white skull helmet.
A bone club in hand.
Marowak.
"Marowak… this is Team Rocket. We cannot lose."
"Wakaaa!"
Fury ignited in its eyes.
[Flint: Is that—]
[Cynthia: The Cubone from Pokémon Tower.]
[Leon: A revenge battle, then?]
[Alder: From a helpless Cubone to this… how far has it come?]
[Caitlin: Go, Marowak!]
Once, it stood helpless before Team Rocket grunts.
Now—
It stood before their leader.
It could lose any battle—
Except this one.
For its mother.
For justice.
For revenge.
Within the projection—
Giovanni froze for a moment when he saw Marowak burning with rage.
This Marowak… hated Team Rocket?
"This Marowak was once hunted by Team Rocket when it was still a Cubone," Red said coldly.
"You wanted to sell its skull. Its mother saved it—and paid with her life."
"Today," Red continued, voice steady but heavy,
"Cubone stands here to personally defeat the head of Team Rocket and avenge its mother!"
Giovanni sneered.
"So you chose Marowak for such a childish reason?"
"I thought you would at least consider type advantage."
"In that case—let me shatter your naïve thinking."
"Horn Drill!"
The moment his words fell, Rhyperior charged forward.
The massive drill on its head began spinning wildly, tearing the air apart!
"That reason is not childish!"
"Marowak—Bone Rush!"
BOOM!
A deep blue aura enveloped Marowak's bone club, stretching it to twice its length!
In the next instant, the bone club collided head-on with the spinning drill horn!
A teeth-grinding screech echoed through the entire Gym.
Two overwhelming forces clashed, shockwaves exploding outward, whipping their clothes violently.
BANG! BANG! BANG!
The exchange didn't stop.
Marowak swung its bone club like a madman, attacking from unpredictable angles, raining down blows!
Yet Rhyperior was no pushover.
It perfectly anticipated each strike, twisting its massive head in response—
Every blow was blocked by the spinning horn drill!
"This is all you have?" Giovanni said coldly.
"Rhyperior—Surf!"
Even as it defended with Horn Drill, Rhyperior's hands gathered surging water energy!
"Marowak, pull back—defend with Bone Club!"
"Wak!"
Despite the fury and hatred burning within it, Marowak followed Red's command without hesitation.
Because this Trainer—
Was the one who made it strong.
The one who gave it the chance to avenge its mother.
The one to whom it owed a debt greater than life.
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