Chapter 318: Why Did You Defect?!

The battle arena behind the League building.

Dylan and the others had arrived. They were all people of action, and for the newly appointed Elite Four, settling their rankings was an important matter.

Especially since Red, Blue, and Giovanni all had no intention of backing down. A battle was inevitable.

"So then, Blue, Red—who wants to go first?"

Giovanni strolled calmly to the battlefield, casually loosening his neck and straightening his expensive black suit. With one hand in his pocket, his face half-shrouded in shadow, he wore a faint smile.

Giovanni honestly hadn't expected to find himself here.

As the former leader of Team Rocket—once called the 'Source of Kanto's Darkness'—he now stood atop the Indigo Plateau, about to battle for the title of Head of the Elite Four.

The world had truly gone mad.

But he didn't dislike it. No matter what, he was still Giovanni—the Ground-Type Master.

He had always been a proud man. If he weren't, he wouldn't have called himself "The Strongest Man."

Now that he had agreed to become an Elite Four member—well, Dylan was a special case, sure. But the others? They'd have to earn it.

"Tch… cocky old man," Blue muttered, stepping up to face him. The thing Blue hated most was people putting on airs in front of him.

"I want to see if you're actually as strong as you claim. Don't let me down, old man."

A Poké Ball spun at his fingertips as Blue grinned at Giovanni.

Sure, he acknowledged Giovanni's strength. Among the eight official Gym Leaders, only Giovanni and Blaine had earned his respect.

But that didn't mean he thought Giovanni would be hard to beat. He was just a Gym Leader—no second Dylan.

Who was he? Blue Oak, Champion-tier!

"Hehehe…"

Giovanni chuckled softly.

"Then prepare yourself, kid."

"I'll ref—" Leaf chirped excitedly, just about to jump into the referee role.

Then Dylan stepped forward and beat her to it.

Leaf rolled her eyes. "Tch!"

"As the senior, I'll let Blue decide," Giovanni said, very much in the role of wise elder.

"Full battle, obviously," Blue said without hesitation.

If they were fighting for rank, a 6v6 full team battle was the fairest way to determine it.

Giovanni had no objections.

"Then let's begin. This is a 6-on-6 full battle between Giovanni and Blue. When one side's six Pokémon are all unable to battle, the other wins!"

"Battle start!"

Dylan announced the rules, then stepped back from the field.

A large dial on the scoreboard began spinning rapidly—used to determine who would send out first.

Unlike Gym battles, where the Leader always sends first, in a fair fight like this, going first was actually a disadvantage.

The second trainer could counter with a type advantage, and if the first trainer switched out, they risked revealing team information.

"Dylan, who do you think will win?" Goodshow asked curiously.

"Blue is very strong. Given another year, he might reach Giovanni's current level."

"Oh?" Goodshow raised a brow.

Blue was already Champion-tier, and among Champions, he wasn't weak.

Was Giovanni really that strong?

Goodshow had always kept an eye on Giovanni—he was once the most famous and capable Gym Leader in Kanto.

But maybe he had been hiding his full power. Or maybe no one had ever pushed him hard enough to reveal it.

And he'd never once challenged the Elite Four until now.

"Giovanni is formidable. If no better candidate appears, I think he could serve as Kanto's Champion—if he's willing," Dylan said.

The dial stopped—Giovanni would go first.

He didn't mind and casually tossed out his first Pokémon.

"Nidoking."

The monstrous Pokémon landed heavily in front of Giovanni, letting out a low growl.

"Blue, I'll show you the true strength of my Ground-type core. Be careful."

Giovanni caught the returning Poké Ball one-handed, the other still in his pocket. His demeanor was completely different from his Gym days—cool and dangerous.

"This isn't Viridian Gym anymore."

"Tch. Save the talk for after you win, old man."

Blue sneered. Besides Dylan and that insufferable Aizen, no one dared posture in front of him.

"Alakazam!"

Blue chose his ace Psychic-type, a perfect counter to Nidoking's Poison typing.

"Hmph. That Alakazam's no joke," Giovanni muttered, his keen eyes scanning the battlefield.

While Blue was arrogant, even Giovanni admitted the boy had freakish talent. If Dylan hadn't existed, Red and Blue would've been the leading lights of Kanto's new generation.

"You may be strong, old man, but let me tell you something!"

Blue lifted his chin arrogantly, hands on hips in a striking pose.

"I'm way stronger now than when I challenged your Gym! I've transformed!"

Sure, maybe Giovanni had held back at Viridian Gym—but who cared?

Months had passed, and he had grown far stronger. Didn't he know the name Blue Oak?

You might've beaten him once—but once Blue won, you'd never beat him again!

"I swear on my name—I'll win!"

"Hehehe… youth sure is bold," Giovanni chuckled again.

"Come then. I'll show you what it means to be the world's strongest man!"

Blue's battle spirit flared like a wildfire.

Today, he'd take the throne just below the Champion's—head of the Elite Four!

The battle began.

And then…

"Ugh… damn it! How… how could I lose?!"

Blue staggered back, staring in disbelief at his Mega Evolved Blastoise—collapsed, no longer glowing.

Across from him stood a bruised, panting Dugtrio.

He'd lost. Despite giving it his all, he'd lost. This wasn't right! How had this happened?!

"Blue, you're strong. But you've still got a ways to go before surpassing me."

Giovanni held a Poké Ball in one hand, smiling calmly at the fuming Blue.

That felt good.

"…!"

Blue's face twisted into a deep scowl.

He was pissed—but couldn't find a single comeback.

"Man, he's really strong…" Leaf muttered, glancing at the scoreboard.

Giovanni's Nidoking, Golem, and Rhyperior were greyed out—fainted.

Which meant Giovanni had only used four Pokémon to defeat Blue's entire team.

And Dugtrio, though injured, was still standing strong.

Even with Golem and Rhyperior's double weaknesses to Water and Grass, he'd still won handily.

"Indeed. Looks like Giovanni's strength has been underestimated all this time," Goodshow said, stroking his beard with a broad smile.

The stronger Giovanni was, the better—for the League.

"Red, you still want to fight?" Giovanni turned to his next opponent.

Red and Blue were close in strength, but battles were never just about stats—timing and tactics mattered.

"I do," Red said, tilting his hat slightly. His crimson eyes gleamed beneath the brim.

"Giovanni, you don't want to heal up first?" Leaf asked, blinking.

"No need. I've got others," Giovanni said with a small, dangerous smile.

Like Lance, Giovanni had long reached the upper limits of Champion-tier. Over the years, he had cultivated many core Ground-types.

That was what true depth looked like.

Maybe Red and Blue could catch up to his first-string team within a year—but not his full roster. Not yet.

Giovanni and Red began their battle. Unsurprisingly, Red also lost.

Blue looked sour. Red had lasted slightly longer and had done more damage—his performance against Giovanni's fourth Pokémon was better than Blue's against Dugtrio.

That just made Blue more annoyed.

"So Giovanni's the head of the Elite Four," Goodshow said cheerfully. "What about second and third?"

"Tch… I'll take it back next year," Blue grumbled. He admitted defeat, but only for now.

As for second and third…

Blue looked at Red, who glared right back.

Both of their teams were in no condition for another fight.

Dylan suggested a coin flip—or rather, a draw.

"…What?!"

Blue grit his teeth, staring at the paper in his hand. A big, bold "3" was written on it.

He was number three—third.

No wait—if you counted Dylan, he was fourth!

"…"

Red rubbed his nose, but the smug tilt of his lips was obvious.

"Don't get cocky! I'll take you down by year's end!"

Blue wasn't going to let this go. Losing to Giovanni was bad enough, but letting Red rank above him? Unacceptable.

He was already planning a rematch challenge after the Indigo Conference. First take Red down, then next year—Giovanni. He was climbing back up!

Red said nothing, but gave him a sideways glance. Blue knew that look.

It meant: "You? Yeah, right."

Blue's face turned red with rage. That smug jerk!

"Alright, time to get your official photos taken. Let's also snap a group shot of you all."

Goodshow beamed as the two boys bickered. Their energy made him feel young again.

What spirit!

The five of them entered the League's dressing and photo rooms. Giovanni and the others posed for their Elite Four portraits.

Dylan had already done his the day before, but they still needed a full group shot with the new Champion and Elite Four.

"Looking good! I really was born gorgeous!"

Leaf admired her own portrait in the League office.

In the image, she wore a sleek black dress. Her right hand twirled her long brown hair, left eye winking cutely. Her left arm stretched forward in a finger-gun pose, giving off mischievous charm.

Behind her, Blastoise stood turned slightly, radiating power.

The photographer had politely noted that it was "a bit too whimsical" for an Elite Four poster, but Leaf insisted. She loved it.

Red's was simpler—head down, hand adjusting his cap, with Charizard roaring behind him.

Blue's partner couldn't be Blastoise (since Leaf already used it), so he chose Tyranitar instead.

Giovanni's was dramatic: hands in his pockets, back half-turned to the camera, half his face hidden in shadow with a sly, malicious smile. His partner Pokémon?

A Persian.

Yes, his beloved Persian—still one of his favorites.

"All of your profiles have been uploaded to the League website. It's live now," Goodshow announced with a smile.

The group pulled out their phones.

Dylan noticed a ping—he'd been tagged in the Gym Leader group chat.

Officer Jenny: Not surprised at all—Dylan AND Giovanni?! @EveryoneOfficer Jenny: Learn from this, people! Dylan's Champion now, and Giovanni's head of the Elite Four! You see this?! (laughing emoji x3) (Elite Four page link)Officer Jenny: I've always had an eye for talent! These are MY boys! Hahaha!

Cerulean Gym – Daisy: Huh? Dylan's Champion now?

Cerulean Gym – Lily: Dylan, please train me! (starry eyes emoji)

Celadon Gym – Violet: I knew you could do it, Dylan! Amazing! (admiration emoji)

Pewter Gym – Bruno: (holy crap emoji)

Cinnabar Gym – Blaine: Wait, Giovanni's the head of the Elite Four? What the…

Saffron Gym – Sabrina: (shocked emoji)Sabrina: (dazed emoji)Sabrina: (is this for real emoji)**

Yep—Sabrina spammed three emojis in a row.