I am Giovanni

Chapter 85: Excellent Qualifications

Giovanni took the towel his Beedrill handed him, wiped the sweat from his face, and scanned at the exhausted three. "You all need to strengthen your physique and your combat skills."

The Marauder rubbed his stinging chest. "It's mainly because you, Lord Giovanni, are too strong. If we were facing ordinary people, we would still..."

"It's because we aren't strong enough," Archer interrupted, raising his hand. He looked at Giovanni seriously. "We will double our efforts."

Only then did Giovanni nod in satisfaction. "Very good. Rest for a while, then you will train with my Pokémon." It was their mission to be at his disposal, after all.

"Yes, my lord," the Marauder and Rocco nodded immediately.

Aside from Beedrill, Pokémon like Nidorino didn't yet have the ability to fight multiple high-level opponents alone. However, dealing with a single Pokémon was no issue.

They could even win battles against higher-level opponents. This realization made the two Squad Leaders feel even more like frogs in a well. The blow gave them a true understanding of themselves— but they were still geniuses in their own right.

They regained their confidence in just a few days. Even if they couldn't compare to Giovanni, they were still much stronger than others. With him as their goal, they also became more diligent.

Archer was spurred on as well. As Giovanni's confidant, he would not allow others to surpass him. He needed to keep pace. Fortunately, with the resources Captain Ank had given him—which Giovanni had then "bestowed" upon him—he had the opportunity to become stronger quickly.

But no matter how hard they tried, they couldn't keep up with Giovanni's pace. He was getting stronger too quickly.

— — —

When only Giovanni was left in the training ground, he took out the resources Ank had given him. "Meowth, are you ready?"

"Meow!" the Meowth, looking excited, immediately nodded, impatient. Its level had been stagnant for so long, it was anxious. If it weren't for its trust in Giovanni, it would have secretly evolved long ago.

Giovanni slowly opened the box. A cold air wafted out. Inside was the claw of an unknown Pokémon. It was massive, likely from a quasi-Elite Four level Ursaring.

The energy contained within it was enormous. This time, Meowth had truly struck gold. Only a dark organization like Team Rocket would dare to be so blatant in poaching.

"Let's begin," Giovanni said, gently stroking the Meowth's head. "Don't you want to become stronger?"

With three clicks, Beedrill, Nidorino, and Machop all emerged from their Poké Balls. They came out to witness the Meowth's transformation. Nidorino still had one more chance for transformation, and Machop had two. They were all very curious.

Meowth twitched its nose, its gaze gradually firming. It slowly walked towards the Ursaring's claw, opened its sharp-toothed mouth, bit down hard, and began to tear and swallow. Soon, it was completely consumed. The energy within its body reached its peak.

Giovanni quickly placed his hand on its body, fully activating the power of Viridian to help it absorb the energy. The power was so immense that Giovanni's own stamina was quickly depleted, and he sat on the ground, exhausted.

Meowth gently rubbed his palm. Its face showed some pain, but mostly unwavering determination. It let out a low growl, and a white light began to emanate from its body. Its small frame began to stretch, its limbs becoming more slender as its energy soared.

"MEOW!"

With a meow, Persian made a dazzling appearance. Its creamy white fur looked incredibly soft. On its forehead was a red gem and its eyes were a deep, sharp red.

Its innate potential had gone from a high level to an even greater one, surpassing that of its own mother. It now possessed the qualifications to one day contend for the Champion's title.

At the same time, it had learned several new moves: Power Gem, Fury Swipes, Screech, and Switcheroo.

The Persian's sharp eyes rotated and fixed on Beedrill. It had endured for too long. It needed to prove itself. In its eyes, besides a fierce fighting spirit, there was a hint of brutality, like an Ursaring. Its aura surged.

Beedrill lightly flicked its large stingers, and with a vibration of its wings, it slowly flew up, looking down at the Persian. "BZZZT!" it buzzed. Though its aptitude were not as high as the Persian's, as Giovanni's initial Pokémon, it would never fear any threat.

Giovanni clapped his hands at Nidorino and Machop, and with them, cleared the field. He would not stop them. Rather than holding them back, it was better to let them vent completely. They were all his Pokémon.

Who won or lost was not important. The fight had to happen.

"Since you want to fight," he said, his voice echoing in the empty chamber, "then fight."

Persian and Beedrill nodded simultaneously, their fighting spirit and powerful auras surging, suppressing Nidorino Machop and forcing them to lower their heads.

— — —

Persian

Normal-type

Male

Aptitude: Dark Blue

Ability: Technician (Technician increases the power of moves - that are usually base power 60 or below - by 50%.)

Level: 36

Height: 1.39 m

Weight: 50 kg

Moves: Fake Out, Feint, Scratch, Pay Day, Bite, Taunt, Assurance, Swift, Power Gem, Fury Swipes, Screech, Switcheroo

Egg Moves: Hypnosis