"Giovanni is coming to watch today, so I can't be late," Feng Che thought as he arrived early at the arena. To his surprise, Giovanni was already there, overseeing some light training.
"You're Feng Che, right? To advance to the finals... a good performance," Giovanni said, initiating the conversation.
"Yes, Leader Giovanni. I am Feng Che," he replied respectfully. The fact that the Boss was here so early proved how much weight this match held.
"Feng Che, how do you view the current League?" Giovanni asked, his tone neutral but his eyes sharp as a hawk's.
A test, Feng Che thought. "I believe the League appears calm on the surface, but it is in a state of decay. Influential clans are entrenched, and corruption is rampant. If not for the Elite Four holding the pieces together, the Kanto League would collapse in an instant."
Giovanni didn't immediately comment. "And what about Team Rocket?"
"Under your leadership, sir, Team Rocket is a meritocracy filled with talent. One day, it will unite the world and become its uncrowned king."
I'm laying the flattery on thick, Feng Che mused internally, but if it gets me more resources, why not?
Giovanni let out a rare, booming laugh. "The uncrowned king. I like that phrasing. Win today, boy, and you will be rewarded handsomely."
The Executives and Generals arrived one by one. Starhunt stood across from Feng Che, his gaze murderous.
"The final match between Feng Che and Starhunt begins now!" Instructor Viper announced. "The winner will be promoted to Elite status, receive a Cyan-potential Starter, and 20,000 Rocket Credits!"
"Go, Bronzor!" Starhunt sneered. "Go, Arbok!" Feng Che released Ditto.
Pokémon: Bronzor Level: 33 (On the verge of evolution) Potential: Green (Outstanding) Type: Steel/Psychic
"Bronzor, use Confusion!"
A powerful psychic wave immediately slammed into Ditto-Arbok, pinning it to the ground. "I'll crush your snake into the dirt!" Starhunt roared.
Giovanni frowned at Starhunt's lack of composure, causing Athena to worry. Meanwhile, Sabrina watched with interest. She noticed something—Ditto wasn't just struggling; it was performing "resistance training" in real-time.
Suddenly, Ditto-Arbok surged upward, breaking the psychic hold far faster than anyone expected. It launched a Fire Fang, its jaws wreathed in flames.
"Sabrina, why did it break free so easily?" Giovanni asked.
"The boy has trained its psychic resistance," Sabrina's doll chirped. "It has learned to vibrate its muscles to disrupt the mental lock."
"Impressive," Giovanni muttered, his frown smoothing out.
The battle became a whirlwind. Bronzor used Double Team, but Ditto-Arbok's reaction speed—boosted by the legendary elixir—was too high. It swatted the clones away with Iron Tail and landed a heavy hit on the original.
"Dammit! Bronzor, use Rest!" Starhunt commanded.
Bronzor fell into a deep sleep to recover its health. "While it sleeps, I'll build my defenses!" Starhunt laughed. "My Bronzor will wake up and rain hell upon you!"
Feng Che remained expressionless. He had anticipated this. During his night of training, he had taught Ditto a specific counter: Brutal Swing.
As Bronzor's Sleep Talk began summoning clones, Arbok-Ditto began to spin. Its tail became a silver blur, creating a centrifugal shield. Every clone that tried to impact was whipped back, colliding with other clones until the air was clear.
"Look at that!" Giovanni stood up, momentarily losing his cool. He quickly masked it by stretching and sitting back down.
Only the original Bronzor remained, isolated and vulnerable. But as Ditto-Arbok lunged for the finishing blow, a blinding white light erupted from the floating mirror.
"Evolution!" Viper shouted. "Match paused!"
Under the rules of both the League and Rocket, a match must pause for evolution. For two hours, the arena was silent. Starhunt smirked, knowing his Pokémon would emerge with full health and a massive power jump.
Finally, the light faded. A massive Bronzong (Level 36) hovered in the air.
"Level 36... a nine-level gap now," Feng Che noted. He recalled Ditto into its ball to let it rest during the transition.
"Return, Arbok!"
The final phase of the battle was about to begin.
.........BONUS CHAPTER IS COMING.........
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