Emerging from the cave, both Giovanni and Ryuuske were covered in dust and grime. Though Ryuuske had deliberately chosen a relatively spacious cave before entering—one that would allow Gabite room to maneuver while also guarding against any sneak attacks from Giovanni—the wild Pokémon inside had proven to be a serious nuisance.
(T/N: Sakaki is the name of Giovanni in Manga. Readers were getting kinda confused so I am referring to him as Giovanni now)
Paras lurking in rock crevices, Cubone suddenly hurling bone boomerangs from dark corners, Diglett darting effortlessly through the tunnels, and swarms of Zubat and Golbat too numerous to count—all of them had given Ryuuske a hard time. Even his clothes, woven from Caterpie silk, had been torn by the Zubat's relentless biting.
A dark bruise marred his arm where a Cubone's boomerang had struck him. Despite applying medicine, the pain lingered. If not for Gabite's protective energy field, the force of that bone boomerang could have easily shattered his bones.
"Hahahaha! We're finally out! I never expected this cave to be so long!"
The two of them stumbled out of the cave, and Giovanni burst into laughter. He looked just as disheveled as Ryuuske, his suit nearly shredded. However, his injuries appeared lighter—Giovanni's survival skills in the wild were undoubtedly far more refined.
For the usually well-protected boss of Team Rocket, this dangerous journey seemed to rekindle memories of his younger, more adventurous days. His excitement was palpable, even altering the tone of his voice.
"Phew… we made it."
Ryuuske exhaled in relief, brushing dust off his clothes. Gabite, standing before him, bore numerous wounds, yet its eyes burned with eagerness for more battle—a true testament to the vicious nature of Dragon-types.
"Hey, Uncle Giovanni, are you married?"
Now that they were out of danger, Ryuuske felt slightly more at ease. Glancing at the equally bedraggled man beside him, he decided to strike up a conversation.
Their frantic escape through the cave had, unknowingly, brought the two closer.
"Of course. My child is almost thirteen."
At the question, Giovanni's stern expression softened imperceptibly.
"In two more years, they'll be old enough to become a Trainer."
Noticing the shift in Giovanni's mood—as if he genuinely had a child—Ryuuske pressed further.
"Hah, I'd rather they didn't. When I was young, I had the same dream, but it's far too dangerous. Being chased by wild Pokémon in caves like this is just part of a Trainer's daily life. I'd prefer my child to live an ordinary life—maybe become a researcher instead."
Giovanni murmured, lost in thought. "...Once we get back from Mt. Moon, I should visit them. It's been a while."
A long while. Ten years, in fact.
"You're really busy with work, huh?"
"Can't be helped. Got a family to feed, and a whole team of subordinates relying on me. Besides being a geologist, I run some side businesses—trading across regions (smuggling), solving people's problems (murder and arson), keeping an eye on competitors (the Pokémon League). To stay ahead, I invest most of my funds into R&D (human and Pokémon experimentation). It's exhausting, but I'm motivated. It's all for my family."
Giovanni's face broke into a warm, radiant smile as he turned to Ryuuske. "...You're still young, Ryuuske. You'll probably fall in love a few times, worry over trivial things—but all that will pass. Just remember: none of it matters as much as protecting your bonds, your family. If you can't even do that, then as a man, you've failed."
His expression darkened, as if he himself were that failed man.
Ryuuske gaped at Giovanni, stunned that the leader of a terrorist organization was giving him a life lesson. Was this guy trying to brainwash him into joining his "holy crusade"?
"Enough of that. I'm sure the young find this kind of talk tiresome. We're not out of danger yet—in fact, the real threat is just beginning!"
Giovanni's demeanor sharpened as he gestured to their surroundings. "...I didn't expect the cave exit to lead into a basin. Look at these smooth slopes—they're not natural. If I'm right, they were formed by Geodude and Graveler rolling down repeatedly. This terrain is practically their hunting ground!"
No sooner had he spoken than Ryuuske's ears caught the sound of something rolling toward them at high speed. He turned just in time to see a Graveler curled into a ball, barreling down the slope toward them.
The Graveler, thrilled at having spotted prey, accelerated down the incline with a thunderous rumble.
Ryuuske's face paled. "Gabite, intercept it!"
Gabite moved like lightning, positioning itself directly in the Graveler's path. It raised its bladed arms and clashed against the rolling boulder. The screech of metal against stone filled the air, sparks and rock fragments flying as Gabite was forced backward, its feet carving deep grooves into the earth.
But Gabite's monstrous strength prevailed, halting the Graveler's momentum.
"Rock Tomb!"
At Ryuuske's command, Gabite treated the Graveler as nothing more than a mere rock. With a crushing grip, it squeezed—until the Graveler shattered under the pressure.
"Don't give it a chance to recover! Finish it—Stomping Tantrum!"
A single stomp from Gabite split the earth, fissures spiderwebbing outward in a five-meter radius. The already crippled Graveler was utterly annihilated.
Giovanni's eyes narrowed. Ruthless. Decisive. No hesitation to kill. He treats his own Pokémon with kindness, but shows no mercy to enemies. In that moment, Ryuuske's threat level skyrocketed in Giovanni's mind.
"Good! I can't worry about you now, Uncle Giovanni—stay sharp!"
Ryuuske leaped onto Gabite's back as dozens of Graveler and Geodude emerged from the basin's slopes—among them, a fully evolved Golem.
The ground trembled as the boulder Pokémon rolled toward them like an avalanche, dust clouds rising in their wake. Any ordinary human caught in this onslaught would be crushed to paste.
"There are too many, and we're at a disadvantage on low ground! Gabite, don't let them build momentum—Earthquake!"
Gabite's tail slammed into the earth. The ground heaved violently, sending the rolling Graveler and Geodude careening into each other like billiard balls. Many were crushed to pieces in the collisions.
Brilliant. Using Earthquake to disrupt their trajectory turns their own speed against them. But this Earthquake's power is beyond expectations—it shouldn't have affected the ones further away. This kid knows how to train his Pokémon.
Giovanni's hand hovered over the Poké Ball in his pocket, watching for any stragglers. If things turned dire, he wouldn't hesitate to act.
"Sand Tomb! Then charge in and wipe them out!"
The earth around Gabite liquefied into quicksand, swallowing any Graveler that ventured too close. Ryuuske, balanced on Gabite's shoulder like a master swordsman, guided it through the battlefield. Dragon Claw and Fury Cutter flashed as they carved through the rock-bodied Pokémon with brutal efficiency.
The screams of Graveler and Geodude filled the air, sending the lone Golem at the peak fleeing in terror. Ryuuske and Gabite moved as one, cutting through the horde like a scythe through wheat.
Slash. Crush. Devour.
Within moments, only shattered stone remained. The once-overwhelming army had been reduced to silence.
"Haah…"
Ryuuske exhaled, exhaustion washing over him. Fighting in sync with Gabite had drained his stamina and focus. Gabite, too, was panting heavily—its energy nearly spent after the relentless assault and their earlier escape.
Clap. Clap. Clap.
Giovanni emerged from the settling dust, applauding. "…Impressive, Ryuuske. No wonder the League sings your praises. Even with the terrain advantage, you dismantled them effortlessly. A true rookie would've frozen in fear and ended up as mountain fertilizer."
His tone turned mocking. "…But was it really necessary to slaughter them all? Even the ones already incapacitated?"
"Graveler's most dangerous move is Self-Destruct. If even one had used it, Gabite could've been seriously injured—or worse, if they'd all exploded at once. My responsibility is to Gabite. Eliminating the threat completely was the only option."
Ryuuske met Giovanni's gaze evenly.
"Hmph. Has anyone ever told you how mature you are? Almost unnervingly so…"
Giovanni closed the distance until barely a meter separated them. Gabite, weakened from battle, was no longer a significant threat.
His fingers brushed the Poké Ball in his pocket.
Pressing the button takes 0.5 seconds. Beedrill's speed ensures the kill in another 0.5 seconds. One second to end this.
But his hand is on the Master Ball. Mewtwo's release also takes 0.5 seconds. Without real combat data, it's unknown if Mewtwo can block Beedrill's strike in time.
Fifty-fifty odds. Either he dies, or he escapes. But either way, I'm safe.
Ryuuske, unaware of Giovanni's calculations, knew only that this was the most perilous moment yet. He couldn't even recall Gabite—any movement to do so would leave him open to attack, and Gabite would be defenseless.
Sweat trickled down his temple, landing on Gabite's shoulder. Gabite, sensing its Trainer's tension through their bond, bristled with barely restrained fury.
This was the most dangerous moment of his journey—for both Ryuuske and Gabite.
To be continued…
Guys, please donate your power stones :(