Pokémon: My Titles Know No Limits! [164]

The situation was already dire—there was no way Lorelei could be allowed to get any closer.

Giovanni was confident that, with Sabrina and Matori working together, they could stall Lorelei.

However, on the other side, August heard Giovanni’s command to Matori through the comms.

His expression turned… odd.

This was…

Honestly, he wasn’t sure how to put his feelings into words.

Giovanni… I hope you can take this news well when the time comes.

Watching as Giovanni ended the call, August smiled.

"Mr. Giovanni, the last time we met, we were fighting side by side at Mt. Moon. I never thought that the next time we’d meet, we’d be enemies."

Giovanni cast a glance toward the ongoing battle between Beedrill and Mew, then turned back.

"I never thought that the insignificant Gym Examiner from back then… would become my biggest obstacle."

Not dealing with August back at Mt. Moon—that was his biggest mistake.

Hearing that, August chuckled. "How about this? Why don’t we finish the Gym Challenge we never completed—right here, right now?"

Just as he spoke, his [Aura] flared—sensing something moving rapidly underground, closing in fast.

Without hesitation, he released Salamence and leaped onto its back.

And not a moment too soon—

WHOOSH!

The ground beneath where he had just been standing collapsed into a massive whirlpool of quicksand.

A Dugtrio emerged, its six sharp eyes locking onto August, who was now airborne.

Seeing its ambush fail, a flicker of disappointment flashed in Giovanni’s eyes.

If only Beedrill wasn’t occupied with Mew…

August looked down at the swirling pit of sand that had almost swallowed him whole, a cold chill running down his spine.

If not for [Aura] sensing, I’d be buried alive right now.

He hadn’t even noticed when Giovanni had released Dugtrio.

Yeah… fighting Giovanni is not the time to let my guard down.

Still, he wasn’t about to let that show.

"Attacking trainers without warning?" August smirked. "No wonder you’re Team Rocket’s boss."

Nearby, Gardevoir’s expression darkened at seeing its trainer almost ambushed.

Its psychic energy surged in anger.

A sudden burst of raw power sent Golem flying—cracks running even deeper across its already fractured body.

Giovanni barely spared Golem a glance. Instead, he turned to August and calmly said:

"Have you ever considered joining Team Rocket?"

August raised an eyebrow.

…Was this an attempt to recruit him now?

"You were the one who captured Koga and Lt. Surge, weren’t you?" Giovanni continued. "With your strength, if you join Team Rocket, I’ll hand over the Kanto region to you."

…

August nearly laughed out loud.

This guy really thought he could bribe him?

And with the Kanto branch of Team Rocket, no less?

Through the comms, Blaine’s voice crackled in.

[August, don’t you dare do something stupid…]

August’s expression twitched.

What kind of person do you take me for?!

Even if Giovanni personally invited me, do I look like the type to join a criminal organization just for a bit of power?

Besides—I was the one who practically tore Team Rocket’s Kanto division apart!

What, did he want me to clean up his mess for him too?

Muttering insults at Blaine in his mind, August put on his most mocking smile.

"Wow, Mr. Giovanni, that’s really tempting."

"But I think I forgot to introduce myself."

He tilted his head.

"August, current head of the International Police’s Kanto Division."

His voice dripped with amusement.

"And since we’re making offers… why don’t you surrender instead? I’ll personally escort you to prison, where you can catch up with Koga and Lt. Surge. I’m sure they miss you."

Giovanni’s expression darkened instantly.

"…International Police?"

The moment he processed those words, his face went cold.

With a flick of his hand, Dugtrio’s three heads began glowing—each one with a different hue.

Yellow. Paralysis.
Red. Burn.
Blue. Freeze.

Three energy beams shot toward Salamence and August.

At the same time, Persian and Golem charged toward Eevee and Gardevoir.

And across the battlefield—

Beedrill, under the cover of Aggron, launched a barrage of [Pin Missiles] at Mew and Mewtwo.

Without waiting for orders, August’s Pokémon counterattacked.

Eevee nimbly dodged Persian’s strike, retaliating with [Swift].

Gardevoir, surrounded by floating stones, crushed them into dust with [Psychic].

The only one struggling was Salamence.

Faced with Dugtrio’s triple-element assault, Salamence countered with [Dragon Pulse].

BOOM!

The two attacks collided, sending shockwaves rippling through the air.

Salamence wobbled, nearly throwing August off.

[Dugtrio’s too strong for Salamence alone.]

This wasn’t a normal Dugtrio—it was beyond Elite Four-level.

Seeing Salamence faltering, August made a snap decision—

He tossed out another Poké Ball.

"Dragonair—Go!"

"Hraaah!"

The long-bodied Dragonair emerged in midair, its horn glinting.

No honor rules when fighting Team Rocket!

"Dragonair—[Dragon Pulse]!"

Two Dragon Pulses roared toward Dugtrio—one from Salamence, one from Dragonair.

BOOM!

The explosion sent shockwaves through the battlefield.

Even with [Sandstorm]’s defense boost, Dugtrio couldn’t emerge unscathed.

But when the dust settled—Dugtrio was nowhere to be seen.

"It burrowed?" August narrowed his eyes.

Using [Aura], he scanned the battlefield.

All Pokémon lit up in his vision—and there, moving rapidly underground, was Dugtrio.

Its target—

"Gardevoir! Watch out!"

The moment August shouted—

CRACK!

The ground split open behind Gardevoir, and Dugtrio lunged out, one of its heads coated in dark energy.

[Night Slash]

The blade of dark energy slashed down toward Gardevoir—

At the same time, Golem had set [Stealth Rocks], restricting Gardevoir’s movement.

A coordinated ambush.

Seeing no way to dodge, Gardevoir’s eyes flashed blue, erecting a psychic barrier while simultaneously using [Teleport].

SLASH!

Night Slash shattered the psychic shield—

But instead of Gardevoir, all Dugtrio’s attack hit was a fading afterimage.

August exhaled in relief.

"Salamence, Dragonair—[Dragon Pulse]!"

Two more [Dragon Pulses] fired toward Dugtrio—

Only for it to easily dodge, vanishing into the [Sandstorm].

"Tch. [Sand Veil]…"

August frowned.

"Gardevoir, support Eevee instead!"

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This is a fan translation of 人在实教，一之濑你会后悔的 by 作者：白良. All rights to the original work belong to the creator. Please support them by exploring their original work or sharing it with others if you can. Thank you for reading and supporting my efforts to bring this story to a wider audience!