Chapter 166: Giovanni

A Desperate Counterattack

"Raticate, Arbok, Sandslash—attack! Quick Attack, Poison Sting, and Swift!"

The remaining Team Rocket members weren't about to back down. They swiftly retrieved three more Poké Balls, throwing them forward in unison.

With a flash of red light, their Pokémon emerged—Raticate baring its fangs, Arbok hissing menacingly, and Sandslash curling its sharp claws in preparation for battle.

All three attacked at once.

Raticate shot forward at blinding speed, its body a blur of motion as it launched Quick Attack straight at Pikachu.

Arbok reared back, spitting out a deadly spray of countless Poison Sting needles—each as fine as a strand of cow hair, yet lethal enough to poison its target.

Meanwhile, Sandslash executed Swift, summoning glowing, star-shaped energy projectiles that arced through the air, closing in on Pikachu from multiple angles.

Front. Left. Right. Above.

There was no escape.

Ash's Instant Response

But Ash wasn't about to let Pikachu get overwhelmed.

He moved just as fast as his enemies, his mind calculating the best counterplay in seconds.

"Charmeleon, Flamethrower—block Swift!"

He threw a Poké Ball into the air. In a flash of light, Charmeleon appeared, flames already flickering at the edges of its mouth. Without hesitation, the fire-type Pokémon unleashed a searing torrent of flames, burning through the incoming Swift attack with a roar of heat.

But Ash wasn't done.

"Wartortle, Water Gun—neutralize Poison Sting!"

A second Poké Ball burst open, revealing Wartortle, who quickly took position. A powerful jet of crystal-clear water shot forward, clashing with Arbok's incoming poison needles, rendering them harmless as the two forces canceled each other out.

Now, with its teammates providing cover, Pikachu had a clear path to act.

"Pikachu—go all out! Use Thunderbolt!"

Electricity crackled around Pikachu's body as it charged up its most powerful move. Sparks danced in the air, growing into a blinding light—

And then, with a piercing cry, Pikachu unleashed its full power.

"PIKA—CHUUU!!"

A massive bolt of golden lightning erupted, striking Raticate head-on before it could reach Pikachu. The Thunderbolt's sheer intensity sent crackling arcs of electricity surging through the battlefield.

The devastating attack didn't just hit Raticate. It coursed through the floor, shockwaves of energy spreading and paralyzing the entire battlefield for a split second.

And when the light finally faded—

Raticate was down.

Team Rocket in Shock

"H—how is this possible?!" one of the Rocket grunts stammered.

His hands clenched into fists. He had thought that, with three Pokémon attacking at once, Ash's Pikachu would be overwhelmed.

But instead…

His Raticate had been completely taken out in an instant.

Ash, however, didn't give them time to recover.

"Charmeleon, Flamethrower—hit Arbok!"

"Pikachu, Thunderbolt—take down Weezing!"

"Wartortle, Water Pulse—strike Muk!"

The commands were delivered with deadly precision, and his Pokémon acted immediately.

Charmeleon unleashed a roaring pillar of fire, consuming Arbok in flames. The snake Pokémon let out a piercing screech before collapsing in a burnt heap.

Pikachu's Thunderbolt blasted Weezing, the twin-headed Pokémon twitching and spasming as sparks rippled through its body before it, too, crashed to the floor.

And finally, Wartortle summoned a swirling sphere of deep-blue water, launching it straight at Muk, sending the massive sludge Pokémon reeling backward into the wall with a resounding splat.

Victory in Seconds

It had all happened in less than thirty seconds.

Three Pokémon sent out.

Three Pokémon knocked out.

Now, only one remained—Sandslash, and even it was too weak to fight.

The battle was over.

The secretary, Mei, who had been watching the entire fight unfold, stared at Ash in shock.

"That was… incredible," she murmured, still stunned.

She had known that Ash was strong. But to take down a squad of Team Rocket elites in less than a minute…

This boy was on a completely different level.

The Final Boss Arrives

Before anyone could fully process the situation, the sound of a heavy door creaking open cut through the silence.

Someone was coming.

Ash turned sharply, instincts flaring.

A Team Rocket member stepped out first, dressed in the standard black uniform, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the scene.

Then—

Another figure followed.

Tall.

Commanding presence.

Dressed in a sharp black suit, with short, slicked-back hair. His expression was calm, yet imposing, radiating an aura of sheer dominance.

Even without an introduction, Ash knew exactly who this was.

The leader of Team Rocket.

Giovanni.

A Presence That Demands Fear

The air itself felt heavier as Giovanni took a slow step forward.

His dark eyes scanned the battlefield, observing the unconscious Team Rocket grunts and their defeated Pokémon.

Yet, despite the chaos and destruction, his expression didn't change.

He didn't look angry.

He didn't look surprised.

Instead…

He looked amused.

Ash felt his pulse quicken.

The way Giovanni carried himself—it was different from any other enemy he had faced.

This man wasn't just powerful.

He was calculating. Ruthless. Dangerous.

The kind of opponent who never needed to raise his voice to command absolute respect and fear.

A slow, satisfied smirk tugged at the corners of Giovanni's lips as he finally spoke.

"So," he murmured, his deep voice laced with undeniable authority. "You finally stopped pretending, hmm?"

His gaze locked onto Ash's, his smirk widening slightly.

"As I expected," he continued. "You are quite impressive."

Ash's hands clenched into fists.

He knew.

Giovanni had known from the start.

And now…

There was no turning back.

To be continued…