I am Giovanni

Chapter 51: A Fool's Challenge

Piercing screeches echoed through the silent night. The powerful aura of the Gym-level Venomoth scared away any other Pokémon nearby.

Giovanni and Archer, still fleeing, covered their ears, immense pain radiating through their skulls as blood seeped from between their fingers. The Venomoth hovered above, its large, light-blue eyes filled with a cruel playfulness as it toyed with its prey.

"This damn moth!" Archer roared in pain, his mohawk askew. "Boss, you run first! I'll hold it off!"

Giovanni clenched his fists, biting his lip until it bled. "No need. He's here."

As if on cue, their Poké Balls opened, and all their Pokémon, except for Archer's two injured ones, emerged, ready to fight.

The Venomoth looked down on the group of Pokémon, none of which had even reached an advanced level of strength, with utter disdain. It flapped its wings, stirring up a strong wind as blades of air began to form around it.

If it fired, Giovanni, Archer, and all their Pokémon would be annihilated.

Just then, a young voice shouted from the darkness. "Wait! Venomoth, hold your attack!"

It was Aki, the son of the Fuchsia Gym Leader, Aye. Behind him was a panting Ryū. The two children had actually run all the way from the city.

As its master's son's Pokémon, Venomoth recognized the boy's voice. Though confused, it obediently dispersed the Air Slashes, but it kept its attention fixed on Giovanni and Archer, ready to strike at any moment.

"Aki, what are you doing?" Ryū asked, finally catching his breath.

Aki shoved the smaller boy to the ground impatiently. "Shut up! What I do is none of your business!" He sized up Giovanni and Archer, his eyes finally focusing on Giovanni. He tilted his head up arrogantly. "You. You're about my age, aren't you? A poacher. How about we have a battle? If I win, I'll let you live. If I lose, I'll let you go."

It was a classic "heads I win, tails you lose" proposition. Aki had no intention of losing. He was the son of the Fuchsia Gym Leader. His Pokémon were all offspring of his father's powerful team, blessed with extraordinary talent. How could a common poacher's Pokémon compare?

"Aki, if you do this, your father will..." Ryū began, but was cut off.

"Shut your mouth, or don't blame me for what happens next!" Aki snapped. "I'm doing this to prove to my father that I'm capable! Do you think I'm as brainless as you? With Venomoth here, they can't escape, and we're in no danger. Stop interfering, or you and your sister can pack your bags and leave! Without my father's charity, you'd starve on the streets in two days!"

The taste of dependence was bitter. Ryū slowly lowered his head, his fists clenched. If I had his resources, I would be stronger than him. I could give my sister a better life.

Aki turned his arrogant gaze back to Giovanni. "Well? What do you say?"

Giovanni wiped the blood from his ears and glanced into the distance. He waved a hand at Archer, then slowly stood up and looked coldly at Aki. "If you want to play, I'll play with you. Just be careful you don't lose your life."

"Heh, you'll need the skill for that!" Aki pulled a Poké Ball from his waist and released a rather robust-looking Golbat. It was clearly the offspring of his father's Crobat, its aptitude far surpassing that of a wild specimen. Its level was around 24.

"Beedrill," Giovanni said, waving his hand. His partner flew over, hovering before him.

Aki looked at the Beedrill and clicked his tongue. "A Beedrill, huh? It looks pretty good, but I hope it's not all show and no substance."

"Don't worry," Giovanni sneered, a commanding presence slowly rising from him. "Defeating you won't be a problem." This was the confidence of one who had seized control of his own destiny. Ryū looked at him, momentarily lost in thought, wishing he could be so self-assured.

"Big talk!" Aki snorted. "Golbat, use Supersonic—"

But before he could finish, Giovanni had already shouted, "String Shot!"

The bond between Giovanni and Beedrill was so strong that his partner was already moving before he spoke— a beam of white silk shot out, sealing the Golbat's large mouth before it could even utter a sound.

"Coward!" Aki cursed. "Tear it off with your claws!"

The Golbat used its lower claws to grab at the silk, trying to rip it away.

"Poison Sting!" Giovanni commanded. Beedrill unleashed a barrage of dense needles.

"Use Quick Guard!" Aki yelled, finally getting a feel for the battle's rhythm. The Golbat folded its wide wings, which shimmered with a faint light, blocking the incoming attack.

"Damn it!" Aki roared. "Use Air Slash!"

The Golbat flapped its wings forcefully, and an incredibly sharp blade of air shot out. It was too fast to dodge.

"Fury Attack!" Giovanni commanded decisively.

Beedrill unconditionally trusted its master. It raised its massive stingers and waved them in a blur of motion, creating a shield of afterimages that completely shattered the Air Slash.

"Hone Claws!" Giovanni ordered.

Clang!

Beedrill tapped its stingers together, its aura solidifying, its entire being transforming into a weapon.

"Hyper Beam!" Aki shouted, not believing what he was seeing.

The Golbat's mouth was free now. It opened wide as energy began to accumulate, a golden ball of power slowly forming. Seeing a Golbat use Hyper Beam, a move that required immense resources to learn, Giovanni felt a pang of envy— but now was not the time.

"Let it witness your speed!," Giovanni said, his voice low. "Use Fury Cutter."

BZZZZZ!

Beedrill's wings vibrated at an impossible speed. Its movement was now as fast as a Pokémon using Agility.