"Fury Swipes!" Lian Xiu shouted.
Mankey seized the opportunity and lunged at the exhausted Nidoran♂, its claws gleaming coldly as though they could easily slice through steel!
Nidoran♂ watched Mankey hurtle toward it, its gaze unfocused as its body slowly toppled.
Its life seemed to flash through its mind, from birth until now.
I haven't gained my freedom yet!
Just as it wearily closed its eyes, a flash of red light landed squarely on its body.
The red light immediately pulled at its body, and it vanished as Giovanni recalled it into its Poké Ball.
Having lost its target, Mankey flailed in confusion and nearly took out Sandshrew.
Inside its Poké Ball, Nidoran♂ felt no pain even after a long while. It opened its eyes, realized it wasn't dead, and promptly collapsed.
At least Giovanni had enough conscience not to drag it down with him.
Don't worry. Once I, Nidoran♂, escape someday, I'll definitely put up a gravestone for Giovanni.
Outside, Lian Xiu, A Huo, and the other two who had come over sneered coldly at Giovanni, who held only a dagger. "Giovanni, you're out of tricks, aren't you? Aren't you always so cocky? Going around with that stiff face every day, acting like you're hot shit!"
"Let's see how you survive this!"
Giovanni calmly raised his hand and slowly rested it on another Poké Ball, his eyes filled with endless frost.
Lian Xiu and the other three froze, involuntarily recalling that terrifying Weedle.
Had it evolved?
Xiao Ni, who had just arrived, reminded A Huo, Lian Xiu, and the others:
"Don't be afraid. Kill him now. So what if that Kakuna evolves? It'll just be a Beedrill! It should only be level 11 anyway."
The other boy happened to be Xi Ba, the boy with the Spearow from before. Whenever he thought about what had happened, he grew unbearably irritated. He gritted his teeth and said:
"That's right. My Spearow isn't what it was back then. Watch me take it out!"
The four boys shouted together:
"Go! Kill him!"
Sandshrew, Rattata, Meowth, Mankey, Spearow, Bellsprout, Ekans, and Krabby charged at Giovanni together.
Smug smiles spread across the four boys' faces, their eyes utterly cruel, as though they could already see Giovanni torn into a heap of mangled flesh.
Click!
Giovanni gently pressed the button with his finger. The Poké Ball popped open, and white light flashed!
Kakuna appeared right in front of Giovanni, a scorching aura spreading continuously.
A terrifying force field and imposing presence spread outward!
Under the pressure of that presence and force field, all eight Pokémon involuntarily stopped, somewhat afraid!
The four boys also felt as though a heavy stone had been placed on their hearts!
But when they saw that it was still a Kakuna, they immediately shouted:
"Don't just stand there! It's only a Kakuna! It can't even move! Attack together and tear it apart!"
Their words seemed to have no effect. Instead, the eight Pokémon grew even more frightened, and some of their newly caught Pokémon had already begun backing away.
It wasn't just them. Dozens of nearby Pokémon felt their hair stand on end and looked fearfully toward Kakuna.
The battered Max forced a smile at the sight. Though the Machop beside him was covered in wounds, it remained unyielding, its silent fighting spirit burning.
Earlier, his Tyrogue had already been torn into several pieces under a group assault, its blood spilling across the ground! It was a horrific sight!
Thump, thump!
A heartbeat like thunder rang out continuously. Kakuna slowly swelled, and cracks began appearing across its surface.
A scorching aura suddenly spread, then instantly withdrew!
Crack!
The entire cocoon split apart, leaving only a large opening in the middle!
Buzz, buzz.
The buzzing resounded through the training ground.
A golden Pokémon hovered before the cold, haughty Giovanni.
It had four legs, two pairs of transparent, patterned wings, and a striped tail bearing a venomous stinger that matched its other enormous white stingers.
Its eyes were scarlet! Filled with terrifying killing intent!
Beedrill! Taking the stage!
The already terrifying force field and imposing presence grew even heavier.
The only Bug-type Pokémon left at the scene, a Butterfree, prostrated itself on the ground and trembled. This was the suppressive power of a Bug King.
Not only that, but with Giovanni's help using Viridian Force, Beedrill had completely absorbed the nutrients of ninety-nine Pokémon.
Its potential had leaped straight to blue!
Its level had also soared, breaking through six levels in a row from level 11.
And this was only the beginning. Had it not emerged early, it could have leveled up further, as plenty of residual energy remained.
That had no real effect, however. It merely meant it would level up faster afterward!
It was considerably taller and more robust than an ordinary Beedrill.
An ordinary Beedrill might have stood just over a meter tall, but it was around 1.4 or 1.5 meters, already rivaling its future Mega Beedrill form.
Beedrill gently rested its head against Giovanni's raised palm.
Giovanni said to it:
"Welcome back, Beedrill! Let this feast of slaughter be my gift for your evolution and return!"
Beedrill turned around and lightly swung its lance-like stingers, its fighting spirit rising as it let out a shrill cry.
"Bzz!"
Giovanni swept his hand forward, radiating dominance. "Let them be your whetstones! Hone yourself!"
Clang!
Beedrill lightly struck its stingers together, producing the ring of clashing metal. Its imposing presence drew inward, its attention focused, and its whole body radiated a keen edge!
A dozen or so boys shouted frantically:
"Attack together!!" "Go, Spearow!" "Go! Meowth!"
Giovanni spoke coldly. "Poison Sting! Fury Cutter!"
At Giovanni's command, Beedrill's scarlet eyes suddenly lit up, like two miniature suns shining in the darkness.
It stretched out and gave its two pairs of transparent, mysteriously patterned wings a powerful flap, whipping up a fierce gale as it instantly closed the distance to the wildly shouting boys and their Pokémon.
Whoosh, whoosh!!
Venomous needles shot out wildly in a torrential barrage, leaving the Pokémon below struggling to defend themselves.
Unlucky Pokémon and humans struck by the needles instantly fell to the ground, their bodies blackening as they foamed at the mouth.
Having devoured so many poison sacs, Beedrill's venom needed no further description.
While they defended themselves.
Beedrill streaked through the air like golden lightning, leaving behind only afterimages and the sound of air being sliced apart!
"Bzz!" With Beedrill's murderous cry, the enormous white stinger struck Spearow precisely before it could even react!
Squelch!
Blood sprayed as it pierced straight through the chest!
Without even letting out a scream, Spearow stiffened and plummeted.
Xi Ba cried out in anguish:
"Spearow!"
Whoosh!
A dagger flashed through the air and struck him squarely in the neck. He howled, clutched his neck, and looked toward the indifferent Giovanni opposite him.
He stammered, unable to form a single word, blood pouring from the corners of his mouth. Finally, he fell to the ground with a thud, his blood flowing into a pool beneath him...
Before you continue