Counter!
The moment they heard that move, the faces on Team Rocket's side all changed at once.
Even Giovanni, who was always known for his composure, had his expression twist slightly.
Counter: Physical damage taken from the opponent is returned at double the power to the same target!
As long as the gap in strength wasn't too huge, and the attack actually connected, and it was something you could withstand, this move could practically guarantee double damage every time!
Ssshhhk!
Right now, the Shadow Claw Persian unleashed tore through the air with a shrill screech, its ghostly purple blades burying themselves deep into Annihilape's guarding forearms!
Ghost-type energy exploded and went berserk inside Annihilape's body!
A ring-shaped dark shockwave burst outward, caving the ice under its feet into a deep crater.
Annihilape's entire body shook violently. The storm of aura around it shrank suddenly, like a balloon pierced through in an instant.
It slammed down onto one knee, its hand digging hard into the ice. Savage claw-marks ripped from its forearm all the way to its shoulder blade, the edges of the wounds still wreathed in ghostly energy that kept corroding its flesh.
"Meow!" (Why won't you just stay down already!)
Seeing Annihilape refuse to collapse, Persian's eyes flashed with anger.
Its other paw lifted sharply, Ghost-type power once again extending into jagged violet blades as it readied another savage swipe!
"Graaaah!" (What doesn't kill me—I'll kill it instead!)
Annihilape slowly raised its head, and its blood-red pupils suddenly flared with a terrifying light.
In that instant, its fist blazed with golden radiance.
Rumble!
It snapped upright like a coiled spring released, every ounce of its power surging into that fist. As it swung, the wind pressure alone ripped the air open with a deep, booming crack!
The Fighting-type energy gathered around its right fist lit up the entire arena, the abrupt shift in air pressure detonating with a blast that shattered the floor.
The specially-forged metal flooring didn't even last a few seconds under Annihilape's unleashed aura before it buckled and broke apart!
The hem of Giovanni's suit jacket was whipped up by the raging air currents, briefly exposing the Poké Ball belt hidden beneath his inner lining.
He was forced to raise an arm to shield himself from the wind. In his pupils, a dark-gold streak of light cut straight through the battlefield—
Annihilape was driving its fist directly for Persian's face!
"Meow!"
Persian's forepaws crossed into an X, Ghost-type power erupting from within it once more!
Its hind legs shattered the floor as it kicked off, charging straight into the golden fist-light head-on!
BOOOOM!!!
The instant the two forces collided, they vanished together into a searing white flash, the brilliance swallowing the entire room.
The shockwave burst outward in a ring and flung both combatants away!
Annihilape smashed into the alloy wall behind it, while Persian gouged out a furrow over ten meters long across the floor before it finally came to a stop.
When the dust cleared, both Pokémon were panting heavily, their breathing rough and ragged.
"You did great. You've earned a rest."
Grey stepped forward and gently laid a hand on Annihilape's fur, channeling a trickle of Aura into its body to keep it from slipping into a critical state.
On Giovanni's side, green light glowed at his fingertips as he treated Persian's injuries.
The two men met each other's eyes and, at the same time, both smiled faintly.
"Gym Leader Grey, I acknowledge your strength."
Giovanni drew his hand back, his appreciation for talent completely unconcealed. "Work with me. Together, we can carve up the Kanto region, and then spread outward, step by step, until we have the entire world in our grasp."
"A beautiful proposal."
Grey stood up, but only shrugged. "But I just want to be a Gym Leader. I don't really have much interest in ruling the world."
That was Grey's gentle way of turning Giovanni down.
No matter how Giovanni tried to recruit him, Grey's answer would always be the same.
Refuse, refuse, and still refuse!
"…"
After Grey gave his answer, silence fell over the field.
Proton and Petrel looked at each other, completely unable to understand why Grey was so fixated on just being a Gym Leader.
Besides, this was cooperation, not actually joining Team Rocket!
You'd be getting paid from both sides!
And he turned it down without even thinking about it?!
Haki Grey… this guy!
Giovanni, meanwhile, wore an expression of "just as I expected."
"As I thought, Gym Leader Grey still chooses to refuse me."
"Oh? From the look on your face, Mr. Boss, you don't seem all that surprised. Or is it that you've already prepared to send out Beedrill for another round with me?"
Grey smiled as he spoke. Blaziken and Articuno were already set, just waiting for his signal so they could give Giovanni a proper lesson in what "blazing heat and absolute zero" really meant.
"No. If it's you, Gym Leader Grey, then there's no point in sending Beedrill out anymore."
"I'd rather have you take a look at Team Rocket's perfect finished product."
Giovanni casually straightened his cuffs… then snapped his fingers with a crisp crack.
Snap!
The air rippled like water, and the space at his side began to twist and fold in on itself.
Light refracted within the warped space, breaking into a seven-colored halo. Within it, a humanoid silhouette slowly came into view.
The psychic hum of its power made the whole room tremble faintly, and all the ice on the floor shattered into drifting mist.
A purple-and-white humanoid Pokémon slowly stepped out of the distorted space, its thick tail crashing down onto the floor with an explosive boom.
Seeing the newcomer, Grey frowned, instantly recognizing it.
The Genetic Pokémon—Mewtwo!
Right now, its distinctive rounded hands were glowing with a faint blue aura.
Even more frightening was the collar-like device around its neck, pulsing with a seductive, sinister red light.
"Human…"
Mewtwo's cold voice suddenly echoed in Grey's mind. Just that one word made his head buzz.
"Gym Leader Grey, if it's this, then you can't say I'm just selling you dreams anymore, can you?"
Giovanni still wanted to give Grey one last chance.
Things had reached this point—surely, he wouldn't turn him down again?
"You're right about that."
Grey nodded.
If Giovanni was willing to bring Mewtwo out just to show him, there was no way you could say he wasn't being sincere.
"So in that case—"
Giovanni had just opened his mouth when he saw Grey wave a hand.
"But I refuse."
"What?!"
Petrel and Proton traded a look, each seeing pure confusion in the other's eyes.
Had someone smacked Grey over the head recently or something?
How could he be this stubborn?!
When they had been invited, they'd never gotten this kind of treatment.
And now, watching Giovanni value Grey so highly—retreating from his bottom line again and again—only for the man still not to appreciate it…
If some League officials were present, they could understand Grey putting on an act like this.
But the problem was, there weren't any League trainers here right now!
Faced with someone this contrary, the two of them had no idea what to even say.
They'd assumed, from the way Grey talked about bounty money all the time, that he'd be some hopeless money-grubber. Yet now, with the Boss of Team Rocket personally offering him this much, he still just flat-out refused…
It was absurd.
"Mewtwo, it seems someone doesn't know how terrifying your power really is."
Giovanni calmly spoke Mewtwo's name and flicked his wrist. "So let him have a good look at what true power is."
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