"Gyarados, use Aqua Tail!"
With a powerful surge, the blood-red Gyarados swung its massive tail, striking Nidoking and sending it flying several meters away.
"Mega Horn!"
Nidoking's poisonous horns gleamed with a sharp green light as it fiercely charged toward the blood-red Gyarados.
(Maybe Giovanni has already figured out Gyarados's typing?) Mason thought.
As a Gym Leader, Giovanni surely knew about type advantages. Gyarados, being a Water and Flying type, wouldn't be weak against Bug-type moves like Mega Horn. (It seems that the earlier Brick Break was a test to confirm it.)
Mason quickly understood Giovanni's strategy—and also the link between this blood-red Gyarados and Team Rocket. But now wasn't the time for revenge. Mason knew that until he reached the true peak of strength, he couldn't act impulsively. He wouldn't risk dragging his family into danger.
"Freeze its feet with Ice Beam, then hit it with Aqua Tail!" Mason commanded.
Although Gyarados's Freeze Beam successfully froze Nidoking's legs, Nidoking, fueled by determination, shattered the ice and charged forward again.
The best defense is a strong offense. Without hesitation, Mason ordered Gyarados to meet Nidoking's attack head-on with another Aqua Tail. The collision of moves created a massive shockwave, the sheer pressure splintering the surrounding stone pillars. If the Gym staff hadn't reinforced the arena beforehand, a large portion of the Tokiwa Gym would have likely collapsed.
Both Gyarados and Nidoking were forced backward, each struggling to maintain their footing. Perhaps desperate to win, the lingering evil factor within Blood-Red Gyarados stirred, and dark energy began radiating from its body.
Without warning, Gyarados unleashed a Dark Pulse that slammed into the recovering Nidoking. Still regaining its strength, Nidoking couldn't dodge and took the hit directly. Seizing the opportunity, Gyarados lunged forward with Crunch, viciously biting into Nidoking, nearly tearing it apart.
"Calm down!" Mason shouted urgently. His aura of wave energy flared around him, sending a calming pulse toward Gyarados.
Feeling Mason's dissatisfaction, Blood-Red Gyarados snapped out of its frenzy and began to regain control over its body, resisting the evil influence.
"Finish it—Hyper Beam!" Mason commanded.
Still clamping down on Nidoking, Gyarados began to gather intense energy in its mouth. With a deafening roar, it fired a devastating Hyper Beam that pierced the ceiling and utterly overwhelmed Nidoking.
"Nidoking is unable to battle!" the referee declared.
"Impressive strength," Giovanni commented from the balcony above. "However, your Gyarados still struggles to fully control its power."
Mason recalled Gyarados and prepared for the next round, but Giovanni simply stood up, stretched out a hand, and said, "You've won two battles already. Technically, you're qualified for the Earth Badge."
It was clear Giovanni had no intention of continuing. After all, Gym battles were about evaluation, not total war. Most Gym Leaders reserved their true strength. And frankly, Giovanni had grown tired of these routine battles.
But Mason wasn't satisfied.
"No, Mr. Giovanni! I want to see your real strength!" he shouted.
Without hesitation, Mason hurled another Poké Ball. A well-developed Beedrill burst onto the field, buzzing with power.
Mason's Beedrill was larger and stronger than most, standing a proud 1.3 meters tall. Its gleaming Twin Needles and sharpened Poison Barb testified to years of careful training.
"Beedrill..." Giovanni murmured, his voice tinged with nostalgia.
Once, long ago, Giovanni too had started his journey with an unremarkable Beedrill. Born a commoner, Giovanni had to capture weaker Pokémon, but that hadn't diminished his passion. After receiving a once-in-a-decade blessing from the Evergreen Forest, Giovanni and his Beedrill had set off on the path to greatness. But with time and ambition, Giovanni had strayed from his innocent dreams, and the Evergreen blessing within him had faded.
"This Beedrill is the proof of my hard work over the past three years. Please, Beedrill!" Mason called out, passion flooding his voice.
"I see..." Giovanni murmured.
From the necklace around his neck, Giovanni unclipped an Ultra Ball and tossed it onto the field. A second Beedrill appeared, its mere presence intimidating. Mason's Beedrill wavered for a second—but didn't back down.
The match began at once. Mason's Beedrill attacked first, firing Pin Missile rapidly.
Yet Giovanni issued no commands, letting his Beedrill move independently. With effortless grace, Giovanni's Beedrill dodged the missiles using Agility, then struck back with a devastating X-Scissor across Beedrill's back.
Though the attack was not at full strength, it was more than enough to make Mason's Beedrill reel.
"Young man, being reckless doesn't equal true strength," Giovanni said lightly, a touch of dissatisfaction in his tone.
But then he paused, surprised at his own reaction. (Why...why am I feeling this?) he wondered.
His first instinct wasn't to crush Mason as a threat, but to observe him—or even nurture him.
"This Beedrill represents all my hard work!" Mason shouted.
He pulled his cap low, revealing only his left eye, which began to glow faint red. Simultaneously, a telepathic bond awakened between Mason and his Beedrill.
A fierce aura clashed with Giovanni's Beedrill, shaking the very atmosphere of the Gym.
"Artistic Conception?!" Giovanni gasped in genuine shock.
In the Pokémon world, Artistic Conception—or battle resonance—was a rare phenomenon where Trainer and Pokémon became spiritually linked.
Few ever achieved this bond, even after a lifetime. It enhanced instincts, drew out hidden strength, and unleashed unimaginable potential.
Mason and Beedrill had first triggered it during a desperate battle against Mew three years earlier. Through constant training, they had learned to summon it at will.
"Beedrill, use X-Scissor!" Mason commanded.
Giovanni, deeply impressed by Mason's passion, watched as his own Beedrill matched the attack head-on. The two Beedrills collided, the shockwaves cracking the Gym floor beneath them.
Despite Mason's surge of energy, Giovanni's Beedrill held the advantage, gradually forcing Mason's Beedrill back.
"Still refusing to surrender?" Giovanni asked.
Beedrill struggled to its feet.
Mason considered enhancing Beedrill with his psychic Wave power—but Beedrill refused.
This was a battle Beedrill wanted to win through its own strength.
"Beedrill, X-Scissor!" Mason shouted again.
Beedrill roared, pushing forward with renewed determination.
Seeing this, Giovanni was momentarily lost in memory.
(Can you still fight fearlessly even against overwhelming strength? I remember feeling that way...)
A faint, almost forgotten green light—the power of Evergreen—began to flicker around Giovanni.
(So that's it... It wasn't the power that abandoned me. I abandoned it.)
Giovanni's Beedrill, sensing the return of this ancient power, turned to its master in awe. It had been a long time since Giovanni had embraced his true self. And Mason had somehow reignited it.
"Thank you, young man," Giovanni said warmly. "You have helped me remember something important.
I will not suppress my strength anymore!"
"Beedrill, Drill Run!"
Giovanni's Beedrill surged forward, spiraling in a deadly drill of energy.
"Mason, Giga Impact!" Mason roared.
Both Beedrills charged, colliding at the center of the battlefield with earth-shattering force.
The ceiling of Tokiwa Gym cracked and crumbled under the force of the blast. Debris rained down, but neither Trainer looked away from the battle.
Finally, Giovanni's Beedrill landed a final X-Scissor, knocking Mason's Beedrill down for good.
"Beedrill, return," Mason said, recalling his partner, still proud despite the loss.
Surprisingly, Giovanni also recalled his Beedrill before finishing Mason's Beedrill completely.
Seeing Mason's confusion, Giovanni said, "Challenging a strong opponent is admirable. And sometimes, not finishing them is a way to show respect."
With a small smile, Giovanni tossed Mason the Earth Badge, then turned and disappeared into the shadows of the Gym.
"This match is your victory. You've earned it."
Mason clutched the badge tightly, his heart surging with emotions.
(So... the power of Evergreen never truly left me. I was the one who walked away from it...)
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