Team Rocket’s Second-in-Command!

After waiting for a while with no movement from the pit, Matori had Xatu fly high to inspect it using Psychic before raising her flag.

"Rhydon is unable to battle. The first round goes to Dragapult!"

As she announced this, Matori looked at Luo Yuan with a hint of disbelief. She knew Giovanni well and hadn't expected that Luo Yuan could actually defeat him.

"So, I lost."

Giovanni's expression remained calm.

In truth, he'd known he'd lost the match the moment Rhydon's Ice Punch missed.

Using a low-mobility Pokémon like Rhydon against a highly mobile, flying Pokémon like Dragapult was a disadvantage from the start.

Giovanni had been banking on a strategy of trading blows, luring Dragapult in close with Dig to force it into a corner. Then, after taking a hit, he'd hoped to finish it with Ice Punch.

Everything had gone according to plan, except for that one missed punch.

Once Ice Punch missed, Giovanni hadn't bothered to use a defensive move like Protect to prolong the battle. He knew Luo Yuan wouldn't fall for the same trick twice, and victory was out of reach.

Giovanni recalled Rhydon. "Impressive. Your Dragapult is nearing Champion-level strength."

Giovanni had been watching Luo Yuan's progress for years and was pleased to see the growth of his organization's strength.

"My second Pokémon has been with me for many years. Watch out!"

He reached into his coat and drew another Poké Ball.

With a snap—

Out came a Beedrill, its arms ending in two gleaming white stingers, its black-and-yellow body radiating a fierce aura.

The killing intent emanating from Beedrill was unmistakable.

Anyone could tell at a glance that this Beedrill was not to be underestimated.

Luo Yuan was well aware of the power Giovanni's Beedrill wielded. He didn't let Dragapult's Ghost type lull him into underestimating this Bug and Poison-type Pokémon.

"Dragapult, Shadow Ball!"

Luo Yuan launched a probing attack.

He needed a clear sense of Beedrill's capabilities.

The Shadow Ball whizzed through the air, trailing a dark shadow.

Beedrill's red eyes remained expressionless.

But its reaction was quick.

With a beat of its wings, Beedrill's body blurred and vanished, leaving only an afterimage behind for the Shadow Ball to pierce.

The next second, Giovanni's voice rang in Luo Yuan's ear, "Twin Needle!"

In the blink of an eye, Beedrill appeared beside Dragapult, both stingers gleaming coldly as they jabbed toward Dragapult.

Incredible speed!

Even considering its agility, Beedrill's quickness was still shocking.

Evading wasn't an option, so…

"Protect!"

A blue barrier sprang up in front of Dragapult, blocking Beedrill's stingers.

With a metallic clang, Beedrill's stingers dug into the barrier, denting it slightly and spreading cracks across its surface, but failing to break through.

"The level difference is there, but not unbridgeable." With this assessment in mind, Luo Yuan gave his next command: "Dragapult, use Dragon Breath!"

Dragon Breath was one of the best moves to slow an opponent's speed.

If he could paralyze Beedrill, limiting its speed, the rest would be much easier.

Dragapult unleashed a stream of purple breath, but Beedrill swiftly dodged with another flap of its wings.

Dragapult tried to redirect the attack several times, but under Giovanni's precise commands, Beedrill evaded every time.

"He's reading me completely…" Luo Yuan frowned.

Giovanni, too, had been silently observing and analyzing Dragapult's attack patterns, accurately predicting each of its movements.

Then, taking advantage of an opening…

Beedrill launched a storm of Poison Sting needles toward Dragapult.

A hail of poisonous needles rained down like a sudden downpour.

Caught mid-attack with Dragon Breath, Dragapult couldn't mount a defense in time and had to rely on its speed to evade.

Though Dragapult was fast enough to dodge, Beedrill didn't sit idle.

A yellow blur, Beedrill cut through the air, drawing an arc and positioning itself in Dragapult's path.

"Beedrill, use Poison Jab!" Giovanni called, opting for a direct confrontation.

"Steel Wing!" Luo Yuan didn't back down either.

The venom-tipped stinger clashed with Dragapult's hardened Steel Wing.

Clang!

The sharpened Poison Jab collided with Dragapult's head, producing a metallic clash.

The powerful impact forced both Pokémon back several meters.

At first glance, they seemed evenly matched, but a dark purple mark appeared where Poison Jab had struck Dragapult.

"Dragapult's poisoned…"

Both Luo Yuan and Giovanni noticed it at once.

It was good news for Giovanni, but for Luo Yuan, it spelled trouble.

Dragapult had already sustained injuries from Ice Punch earlier. Now that it was poisoned, the battle had tipped sharply in Giovanni's favor. If he continued to press his speed advantage, he could wear down Dragapult and secure the win.

Thus, Luo Yuan decided to adjust his tactics and signaled Dragapult to retreat. "Dragapult, fall back!"

Seeing this, Giovanni—though holding the advantage—wasn't about to give Dragapult a chance to recover. "Beedrill, don't let up! Use Drill Run!"

Beedrill's stingers began spinning rapidly like a drill as it charged toward the retreating Dragapult.

But… just when it seemed Dragapult would continue retreating, it suddenly turned to face Beedrill, surprising Giovanni.

"Curse!"

A faint smile appeared on Luo Yuan's face as his telepathic command reached Dragapult.

With a dark, penetrating gaze, Dragapult locked eyes with Beedrill, successfully casting Curse. A foreboding aura enveloped Beedrill, making it shudder.

Drill Run couldn't be stopped, and it struck Dragapult directly.

Already weakened by injuries and the effects of Curse, Dragapult was now down to critical health.

Yet Giovanni showed no sign of celebration.

Luo Yuan's objective had already been achieved.

Watching Beedrill steadily lose health under the Curse's effect, Luo Yuan allowed himself a small smile.

"Dragapult, finish it with Dragon Rush!"

"Roooar!"

Dragapult, knowing this would be its final move, didn't seem sad at all. In fact, it wore a defiant grin as it soared high into the sky.

"Dragon Rush!"

"Protect!" Giovanni commanded, aware he had limited options.

Dragapult, cloaked in dragon energy, dove downward, crashing into Beedrill's raised Protect barrier.

Crack… crack…

The Protect shield absorbed a massive amount of energy, visibly cracking.

Then, with a shattering sound, the shield burst apart.

---

Greetings, esteemed reader.

Your presence throughout this chapter's journey is deeply appreciated. In Liyue, we hold that every tale, much like the enduring stone, gains strength through the appreciation of those who encounter it.

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With sincere regards,

Zhongli