Lance, who had long been revered as the strongest Champion, was defeated head-on by Giovanni in the Champion challenge match at Quartz Arena.
And Giovanni, who beat Lance, officially stood at the top of the Kanto Region and became Kanto's Champion!
Without question, this news was hugely sensational.
After all, for the people of Kanto, Giovanni's name was already quite famous.
Especially those Trainers who had challenged Viridian Gym in the past and received the Earth Badge were now overflowing with pride.
Having once earned Giovanni's recognition was the same as having been recognized by the Kanto Champion, wasn't it?
On the field, Goodshow stepped out and stood beside Giovanni, saying a few ceremonial words.
"As expected, you really are capable."
Damian nodded with a smile. Giovanni becoming the Kanto Champion was genuinely interesting to him.
In the original story, the Team Rocket boss, a villain who could never see the light of day, had now become an Elite Four Champion of the Indigo League.
He had become a key figure in Kanto.
Tsk~ That was just too amusing.
After the Elite Four challenge ended, Goodshow personally led Giovanni away. Becoming the Kanto Champion wasn't as simple as getting recognized by the public; he still had to be officially registered among the Champions.
"Uncle Giovanni's strength is really something~!"
Dawn exclaimed in amazement. To be honest, today's battle had really let her see the power of a top-tier Champion.
Then again, that made sense. After all, Uncle Giovanni was Damian's dad.
"Let's go. There's nothing else worth seeing now."
Damian stood up, ready to leave. The Champion challenge match was already over, so naturally there was nothing left to watch.
Damian left with Caitlin and the others. Indigo Plateau wasn't far from Viridian City, and he planned to go there first and take a look around.
However, the internet was completely unable to calm down at this point. Everywhere people were talking about this battle and Giovanni reaching the top.
Especially the Trainers who loved Bug-type Pokémon, along with the Bug Catchers. Giovanni's undisputed MVP in this battle, Mega Beedrill, had already become a godlike existence in their hearts.
What was power? This was Bug-type power!
Even Lance's ace, Dragonite, had been beaten. That was enough to smash every doubt to pieces!
Bug-types really had a hard life. Among all the types, Bug-types were basically treated as inferior.
And yet among Bug-types, aside from Pokémon like Volcarona and Heracross, there really weren't many strong ones, let alone any that could compare to pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
But now it was different!
Giovanni's Beedrill proved the power of Bug-type Pokémon.
As long as they were raised well, let alone Beedrill beating Dragonite—even taking a Caterpie to beat Rayquaza would be nothing impossible, right?
Exactly, that's how it was!
The Trainers who loved Bug-types were fired up. They had finally risen again!
It was around eight o'clock in the evening.
Inside Viridian Gym's office, Matori was making tea for Damian and the others.
The main doors opened, and Giovanni slowly walked in. Seeing Damian and the others, he didn't seem surprised at all.
"Welcome, our new Kanto Champion."
Damian waved at Giovanni with a grin.
"All day today, there've been fans of yours all over the internet, Dad. In just one day, you've become a top trend."
"You little brat."
Giovanni chuckled and scolded him with a smile.
He sat down on the sofa, and Matori immediately poured him a cup of tea.
After taking a sip, Giovanni glanced at Damian and the four women behind him, and couldn't help but go silent.
This kid was bringing more and more women with him.
Still, Giovanni didn't say anything. He smiled and nodded at Caitlin and the other three, especially Dawn.
He gave Dawn an especially friendly smile, after all, this was the girl who would give him a granddaughter in the future.
Dawn was a little nervous.
But thankfully, this wasn't the first time she'd met Giovanni. Her mindset had just changed a little.
And Giovanni's attitude toward her was pretty good too, which finally let Dawn breathe a sigh of relief.
"How did today's battle feel?"
Giovanni asked Damian, sounding a little proud. After all, he hadn't even used Groudon and still beat Lance!
That was his strength!
"It was an outcome that was only natural. You're my dad, after all. If you couldn't even beat Lance, that'd really be embarrassing for your son, me."
Damian shrugged, one leg crossed over the other.
Giovanni's eyelid twitched. This kid.
"Lance's strength really is still strong. I was right not to underestimate him before the match."
Giovanni took another sip of tea. To be honest, if Nidoking hadn't used Toxic to catch Mega Gyarados off guard, the result might not have changed much—but it also wouldn't have become a 5-vs-6.
"At Lance's current level, he can't beat you. His team still lacks something. Mega Gyarados isn't enough to support him in a battle against a Trainer of the same level."
Damian shook his head. Lance's overall strength was indeed formidable, but Mega Gyarados still wasn't enough.
Just like Giovanni. Why was he able to beat Lance today? Because his Mega Beedrill swept three Pokémon by itself.
That kind of absurd combat power was the key to victory in a closely matched battle.
Mega Gyarados was strong, but it still didn't have that kind of overwhelming pressure.
If Lance's ace, Dragonite, could Mega Evolve, then he really might be able to go head-to-head with Giovanni.
But Lance hadn't found Dragonite's Mega Stone, and that was the key.
So, in Damian's view, Lance couldn't beat Giovanni, and he probably couldn't even beat Leon.
"Hehe~ That Lance guy even threw down the gauntlet and told me that next time we battle, he'll show me his brand-new Dragon army."
Giovanni let out a low chuckle and said slowly.
"Though honestly, I think his main roster would fit the name Flying-type army a lot better."
Giovanni even teased him a little more.
Hearing that, Dawn and the others froze, then their expressions turned a little strange. Alexa quickly covered her mouth, almost unable to hold back a laugh.
Flying-type army??
Mr. Giovanni was really too funny, but thinking about it carefully, he wasn't actually wrong.
Gyarados, Dragonite, Charizard, Dragonite, Aerodactyl, Dragonite.
Only Dragonite actually had the Dragon type.
On the other hand, all six of those Pokémon had the Flying type.
Emm... that really did seem like a Flying-type army.
"Looks like he's trained up some new main roster members. Still, that makes sense. His team's weaknesses are pretty obvious now."
Damian raised a brow, but he wasn't surprised. After so many years, Lance couldn't possibly not have trained up a new main roster.
Besides, in the games Lance's lineup was limited by version factors. In fact, by the second challenge against Champion Lance in HeartGold/SoulSilver, his lineup had already changed quite a bit.
Salamence, Gyarados, Garchomp, Altaria, Charizard, and Dragonite.
That was his lineup the second time you challenged Lance in HeartGold/SoulSilver. Yeah, even though it still had more Flying types than Dragon types.
But in the Black 2/White 2 World Championship, Lance's lineup could really be called a Dragon army.
Dragonite, Salamence, Kingdra, Haxorus, Hydreigon, Flygon.
All of them Dragon type!
So strictly speaking, as the Kanto Champion, it definitely wasn't hard for Lance to put together a Dragon-type team.
After all, whether it was his identity as the Kanto Champion or his identity as a big shot from the Dragon Master Clan, Lance lacking resources? That was completely impossible.
After being Champion for so many years, Lance definitely couldn't be without a foundation. It was just that maybe his second main roster hadn't fully grown to the point where it could surpass his first main roster yet.
But after losing to Giovanni this time, there was no need to think twice—Lance would definitely go into crazy special training next.
After all, Lance was such a prideful guy. This defeat was definitely going to leave a deep mark on him.
"I don't care. No matter how much he improves, if I can beat him once, I can beat him a second time."
Giovanni said calmly. Not to mention that this time he hadn't even gone all out, since he still hadn't used Groudon.
Even without Groudon, did they really think Giovanni had no foundation?
He'd been training the Ursaluna Damian gave him very carefully, and he had to admit he was very satisfied with Ursaluna's strength.
After proper training, it would definitely become a core member of his main roster.
Not to mention there were other promising main roster members "waiting to be fed." By the time Lance came to challenge him again, Lance's team would change.
But his team would change too!
Dragon army? My Ground-type legion might not be any worse!
"That kind of dominating presence~ Dad really is different after becoming Kanto Champion."
Damian clapped and praised him. His exaggerated actions and tone made Giovanni's eyelid twitch.
This little brat.
Still, Giovanni was in a very good mood today. He'd beaten Lance, the guy he'd always wanted to fight, and become Kanto Champion.
His next goal was the chairman of the Pokémon League!
Goodshow was already very old and couldn't keep serving as overall chairman for much longer. Once he retired, Giovanni could naturally apply to become the overall chairman.
By then, Damian would manage the underworld, and he would manage the Pokémon League. Wouldn't the whole world be under their control?
Giovanni was very satisfied with the current situation.
And all of this was thanks to the influence of his all-powerful son~
"Then, Uncle, now that you've become Champion, what about Viridian Gym?"
Dawn asked curiously.
"For now, it'll stay closed until we find a suitable person to take over."
Giovanni shook his head. After becoming the Kanto Champion, he naturally couldn't keep serving as Viridian Gym Leader, since that would be too hard to manage.
In truth, he had plenty of people he could recommend, such as Team Rocket executives and top-tier Admins.
However, the relationship between the League and Team Rocket was currently in a delicate state, so that wasn't appropriate right now.
Goodshow had actually suggested sending someone to temporarily fill in, but after asking about their strength, Giovanni politely refused.
Viridian Gym was, after all, something Giovanni had inherited. Letting a second-rate Trainer temporarily take over would only embarrass Viridian Gym.
Rather than do that, it was better to just close the gym for now.
"Viridian Gym is our family property. After everything is settled, let N or Zinnia inherit it."
Damian was strongly in favor of that. Viridian Gym's name could not be tarnished!
After all, this was their "family business," wasn't it?
Damian genuinely believed that the Trainer who took over Viridian Gym absolutely couldn't be some weakling, otherwise there'd be no need to "open the doors and welcome customers."
Just think about it: who were Viridian Gym's Gym Leaders in the original story?
Giovanni! Blue!
In the anime, the ones temporarily in charge of Viridian Gym were Agatha, one of the Kanto Elite Four, so no matter what, Viridian Gym's prestige couldn't be lost.
Damian was thinking that after negotiations with the League's last clash, he'd let one of N's group take over Viridian Gym.
That would not only take Viridian Gym back, but also preserve its name perfectly.
~~
Get early access to 190+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
patreon.com/PokemonStoryWeaver
~~~