Chapter 150: Battle of Legends (Part 1)
Once again, they arrived before they were seen—their presence announced by sound. The Rockets turned to look and saw a jet-black Charizard, with a Munchlax riding on its back; a Red Gyarados with an Annihilape standing atop its head. The black Charizard joined the fray between Zapdos and Moltres, spewing purple flames that matched Zapdos’s Zap Cannon blow for blow.
The Red Gyarados fired a Hyper Beam at the Rockets’ Level 40–50 Pokémon. Annihilape, having already punched itself twice, leaped off the Gyarados’s back, its fist shattering a Ludicolo’s Energy Ball and slamming into the ground with such force that the entire mountain shook like an earthquake.
"This..." Giovanni, who had been commanding Beedrill, stared in disbelief at Moltres’s unexpected reinforcements.
"Behind you—watch out!" his subordinates shouted in panic.
He turned to see a water-shrouded Greninja, its body glowing faintly with golden light, moving like a phantom through the Rocket Pokémon ranks, cutting them down one after another with Water Shurikens.
"Where did all these powerful Pokémon come from?!" Giovanni was utterly baffled.
Then a voice came from above: "Long time no see, Boss Giovanni."
He looked up and saw Rio—the young man who had left a lasting impression on him—floating with Gengar in midair.
"Rio!" Giovanni’s pupils contracted. He hadn’t expected to see him here. He turned to look at Charizard, now fighting alongside Moltres against Zapdos. The Charizard had grown significantly stronger since their last battle—its move power almost rivaling Zapdos’s.
As Giovanni looked at Charizard, Rio finally got a clear view of the Beedrill that had been dominating Raikou.
[Pokémon: Beedrill]
[Level: 83 (Time until next level: 5122 days.)]
[Talent: Legendary]
[Friendship: 0]
[Ability 1: Swarm]
[Gender: Male]
[Moves: Fury Attack (125%), Focus Energy (125%), Twinneedle (125%), Rage (125%), Pursuit (125%), Toxic Spikes (125%), Pin Missile (125%), Agility (125%), Assurance (125%), Poison Jab (125%), Endeavor (125%), Fell Stinger (125%), Cut (125%), Double Team (125%), U-turn (125%), X-Scissor (125%), Struggle Bug (125%), Giga Impact (125%), Venoshock (125%), and more...]
[Description: This Beedrill has been nurtured by the Viridian Force for decades. Its power rivals that of legendary Pokémon—and may even surpass them.]
"Level 83 with Legendary talent—no wonder it’s this strong," Rio muttered in awe. No wonder it was dominating Raikou. He seriously suspected that Zapdos had been captured by this Beedrill alone.
"Kid—stop worrying about the little fire bird and help me! This Beedrill is nothing like its species! If I fall, you’re in trouble!" Raikou’s panicked voice echoed in Rio’s mind. It had never imagined it could be overpowered by a Beedrill in a one-on-one fight.
"Gengar—bring Munchlax over." Seeing Raikou’s distress, Rio turned to Gengar. Charizard needed to stay with Moltres to fight Zapdos and the Rockets’ Flying-type Pokémon. Munchlax was the only one available to support Raikou.
Moments later, Gengar lifted Munchlax to Rio’s side with Psychic.
"Munchlax—Metronome!"
"Ka~" Munchlax raised its paws and began waving them in midair.
"Beedrill—Pin Missile! Stop it!" Giovanni shouted in alarm. He had read the mission reports from Sabrina and Archer’s invasions of Lavender Town, so he knew about Rio’s Munchlax—a Pokémon that fought solely with Metronome.
When he’d first read those reports, he hadn’t believed them. But a few months ago, Sabrina had sent him footage of Rio’s Gym challenge in Saffron City—and he’d had no choice but to accept it. The three moves Munchlax had rolled were burned into his memory: one of Mewtwo’s moves, one of Groudon’s, and one that shone like the sun. He had mentally tagged Munchlax as a Pokémon that only rolled divine moves. He couldn’t let it finish its Metronome—or Beedrill would be in serious trouble.
"Raikou—block it!" Rio commanded.
Raikou gritted its teeth and charged in, using Quick Attack to take the Pin Missile for Munchlax. The moment it did, Munchlax’s Metronome completed.
The next second, the world seemed to plunge into darkness. Everyone—including Zapdos and Moltres—felt as if all light had been extinguished. Even their own radiance was swallowed. Every source of illumination had been drawn to Munchlax, which now hung in the sky like a full moon.
"Beedrill—Double Team! Use Struggle Bug!" Giovanni continued commanding despite the darkness.
The moon-like sphere released a beam of light, illuminating several Beedrill illusions. One by one, they dissolved from left to right—until the sixth one held firm, locked in a stalemate with the light.
Deep within the ocean of the Sevii Islands, inside an ancient temple, a colossal, winged Pokémon lay sprawled on a throne. Suddenly, it sensed something and opened its eyes.
In that instant, countless whirlpools erupted across the seafloor.