I am Giovanni

Chapter 80: A Team Forged in Fire

"A Flame Orb fragment," Giovanni murmured, realizing why Hera had chosen this specific resource for him. In its burned state, Machop's Guts ability would be activated.

During this period, its muscle activity and physical condition would reach their absolute peak, making every moment of training far more effective.

It was only a fragment because a complete Flame Orb would have likely burned the low-level Pokémon to death. The fragment was sufficient.

"Take it," Giovanni said, placing the box in front of Machop.

The taciturn Pokémon nodded, thanked his master, and held the scorching fragment in his palm. The stone hissed against his skin, but he didn't let go until his Guts ability activated, and a new wave of power surged through his muscles.

He then turned and immediately began training. He yearned for stronger power. Beedrill, Meowth... even Nidorino had now surpassed him. This was unacceptable. He was as competitive as Beedrill itself.

Watching him sweat profusely yet continue without rest, Giovanni could only sigh softly. He had guessed Machop's thoughts, but with these new resources, he estimated it wouldn't be long before it surpassed its current self.

Giovanni exhaled and started running around the spacious training ground. He, too, wanted to become stronger.

Even if it meant going bald, he would become the strongest.

— — —

Three months passed in a flash.

During this period, Giovanni had accompanied Archer and his squad on two more missions, though they were only low-level, E-rank assignments. The familiar training ground had now become his private facility, a privilege he now possessed.

In the empty chamber, Giovanni wiped the sweat from his head with a towel. More than half a year had passed since he had first stumbled into this world. With a large intake of nutrients, intense training, and the enhancement of the power of Viridian, his originally scrawny body had transformed.

He had grown to 1.75 meters with well-defined muscles that contained explosive power—a stark contrast to the thin boy he once was. His face was more resolute, eyes as cold as a hawk's, a faint killing intent always present. Dressed in the standard black Team Rocket uniform, he was the very image of a villain.

He threw the towel on the ground and clenched his fists, feeling the strength in his body. With a suitable weapon, he could now probably take down a Pokémon under level twenty all by himself.

He looked up— a golden figure was flying rapidly through the air. After rushing in one direction, its body seemed to turn on the spot, appearing in another location in a few flashes— U-turn.

This was what Beedrill had learned after months of frustrating battles with the elusive Meowth. Through intense training, it had accidentally mastered the move.

Beedrill extended its twin stingers, slicing a training dummy into several pieces. At that moment, a volley of brilliant golden, five-pointed stars suddenly assailed it—a Swift attack, powerful enough to pierce metal sheets.

Facing the sudden attack, Beedrill did not dodge. It merely raised its twin stingers, and with a few crisp clinks, the powerful Swift was easily blocked. There wasn't even a single scratch on its stingers, which now shimmered with a permanent metallic luster.

This was the bonus from the Metal Coat ore. If it were to exert its full strength now, it could even break through the defense of a senior-level Onix.

Over these three months, relying on its own aptitude, Giovanni's power, and the energy from the Metal Coat, Beedrill's innate potential had improved again, and its level had soared by six, reaching level thirty-two.

It had officially been promoted to the advanced stage and had learned the moves Toxic Spikes and Pin Missile. For Beedrill, defeating a senior-level opponent was now no problem at all.

It lightly tapped its stingers together, producing a metallic clang, and cried out to the one below. Following its gaze, a pale yellow fluffball—Meowth—was preening itself.

The Swift attack had naturally come from it. Logically, three months would have been enough for Meowth to evolve. However, because Giovanni had only just finished sorting out its previously wasted potential, he had been making it suppress its evolution.

Its level was still only twenty-seven. He felt that the standard senior-level resources were not worthy of Meowth, fearing that if it evolved now, it would waste its high aptitude.

He was conflicted. Originally, with a quasi-Elite Four level Persian as a backer, the resources Meowth needed would have been easily obtainable— but now, he could only let it suffer a bit and wait until he had access to better resources.

In another corner of the training ground, Nidorino and Machop were engaged in a friendly sparring match. Nidorino looked at Machop, which now had several poison barbs stuck in it, and its face was originally smiling.

However, it saw that Machop not only showed no signs of retreating but was fighting with increasing vigor, its aura becoming more and more violent. Nidorino let out a confused sound, "Nido?"

Bang!

Machop, its strength greatly increased by its Guts ability, sent the Nidorino flying with a Low Kick. Nidorino slowly got up, annoyed. It immediately thought of Machop's ability, which made its head buzz with frustration. Machop then beckoned to it, its fighting spirit undiminished.

Nidorino charged, then spun around and unleashed a Double Kick. Over these three months, though it hadn't made as much progress as Beedrill, Nidorino had still gained four levels, reaching level twenty-six.

Machop, however, continuously retreated, dodging the move. It then suddenly grabbed Nidorino's leg and used a Seismic Toss to throw it to the ground.

After getting the Flame Orb fragment, combined with its own relentless efforts, it had surprisingly gained five levels, also reaching level twenty-six.

When it came to pure effort, Fighting-types truly excelled.