Chapter 81: Is This the Best Your Dragon Can Do?

"Boss?"

Both Archer and Proton's expressions changed slightly when they saw Lance arrive.

Team Rocket dominates the underworld of the entire Viridian City, essentially making them the kings of Kanto's dark world. However, the Kanto League looms over them like a mountain, forcing everyone in Team Rocket to live underground.

Within the Kanto League, two people are most feared by Team Rocket: Lorelei and Lance!

"Don't panic, you two retreat first and look for a chance to escape," Giovanni said calmly.

"But boss..."

Archer and Proton were a bit reluctant. Did their boss really have to cover their retreat?

"Lance is a madman. Whether he will attack you or not, I can't guarantee. Just fall back."

Giovanni watched as Lance approached—a man slowly descending into madness. Lance, the Dragon Master, had been driven to the edge by the sight of Team Rocket's genetic experiments over the years and by the corruption within the League itself. In Giovanni's eyes, Lance was like a mad dog growing more unhinged, but the most terrifying thing was that this mad dog was incredibly powerful.

As he thought of the possible scenarios, Giovanni's lips curled up slightly.

"Yes, sir."

Archer and Proton responded solemnly and began to slowly retreat.

Meanwhile...

"Lance, sir."

Dylan approached Lance.

"You captured Articuno?"

Lance nodded at Dylan, glancing at the Articuno behind him with some surprise.

"Yes, just a couple of days ago, by sheer luck," Dylan replied with a smile.

"Not bad," Lance said, a faint smile of approval on his lips. Dylan was a junior he acknowledged, and seeing him grow stronger gave Lance comfort. He was confident that Dylan would one day challenge him!

"Archer, Proton... and this guy?"

Lance crossed his arms, his expression turning cold as his indifferent gaze swept over Archer and Proton, finally settling on Giovanni.

Lance's sharp eyes narrowed slightly. His instincts told him this man was not simple.

"Lance, sir, this is the leader of Team Rocket," Dylan whispered.

Team Rocket's leader?!!

Lance's pupils suddenly dilated, and the muscles on his face twitched strangely. It was as if he wanted to smile but was holding back, creating an eerie and terrifying expression.

Staring intently at the middle-aged man in a black suit, his blood-red hair partially covering his murderous eyes, Lance finally spoke.

"Finally showing your face, you filthy rat!"

After a long silence, Lance's lips curled into a wide, menacing grin, revealing his teeth in a way that would frighten even children.

At this moment, he looked less like the Champion of the Kanto Elite Four and more like a sinister villain.

"Lance really has some psychological issues," Dylan thought as he stepped back, his gaze flickering as he watched the now terrifying Lance. In the original story, Lance was a twisted and fanatical villain, but in this merged world, Lance had become the Champion of Kanto.

Though he usually seemed merely aloof and cold, his extreme emotions were now becoming evident.

Lance had been born in Viridian Forest and had received its blessings. He loved nature and Pokémon deeply. However, sometimes, excessive love can lead to twisted, unhealthy behavior.

Lance's intolerance of corruption made him despise Team Rocket, especially for their cruel genetic experiments on innocent Pokémon.

To ordinary people in this world, Team Rocket's ruthless actions warranted life sentences in prison for their leaders. But to Lance, prison was too lenient. Anyone associated with Team Rocket, anyone wearing their uniform, deserved nothing less than death!

And now, the leader of Team Rocket, the source of Kanto's darkness, was standing right in front of him.

Lance felt a surge of excitement!

"Dragonite! Tear him apart!"

With a crazed smile, Lance's eyes, partly obscured by his blood-red hair, seemed to be shrouded in darkness. At his command, the unusually grim Dragonite behind him shot towards Giovanni like a yellow blur.

Dragon Claw!

Dragonite's razor-sharp claws sliced through the air, aiming straight for Giovanni.

Bang!!

But in the next moment, a sharp needle intercepted Dragonite's Dragon Claw, stopping it in its tracks. It was Beedrill.

"Hmm?" Lance tilted his head slightly.

He hadn't paid much attention to this Beedrill at first. After all, how could such a weak Pokémon stand against a dragon? But for it to block Dragonite's Dragon Claw so easily was no ordinary feat.

"Seems like you've got some skill after all, you filthy rat," Lance sneered, his grin widening as he looked at Giovanni, who was shielded by Beedrill.

"I'll accept your praise, Lance," Giovanni said, tipping his black hat slightly, his low, raspy voice carrying an odd elegance.

"But I'm surprised. Is this really the strength of the 'invincible' Dragon Master, Lance?"

Giovanni's lips curled into a faint, mocking smile as he spoke slowly.

"Is this the best your dragon can do?"

Is this the best your dragon can do?

Lance's facial muscles twitched again, as if torn between laughter and rage.

Tsk~ Giovanni's words were sharp, indeed.

Dylan couldn't help but click his tongue. Everyone knew that Lance took great pride in his dragon army.

All of Lance's pride stemmed from his dragons! His unbeatable dragons in Kanto!

"Haha~ hahahaha~!!"

Suddenly, Lance's maniacal laughter echoed through the hallway.

But in the next instant, the laughter abruptly stopped, and Lance's expression turned ice-cold.

"Then let's see the power of this dragon you call 'no big deal.'"

"Just don't run away with your tail between your legs, you rat hiding in the sewers!"

"Heh~"

Giovanni chuckled softly, unfazed by Lance's taunt.

He subtly signaled to Archer and Proton, indicating that they should leave while they had the chance.

Archer and Proton exchanged glances before nodding to Giovanni and preparing to retreat.

"Hmph~ Do you think you can escape?"

Of course, Lance noticed Archer and Proton's movements, but he wasn't too concerned about those two small fry.

"Dylan, go after them. It'll be good for you."

Lance's eyes remained fixed on Giovanni and Beedrill as he spoke coldly.

He didn't care much for Archer and Proton, but Dylan was different. If Dylan could capture Archer and Proton, along with Ariana from before, the benefits he'd gain would be immense.

Seriously, even in front of Team Rocket's leader, Lance was still thinking about Dylan's future.

But...

Dylan was torn. He really wanted to stay and watch Lance and Giovanni's showdown! This was a rare, epic battle.

"Alright, leave it to me, Lance," Dylan reluctantly agreed. He couldn't find a good excuse to stay.

Before leaving, however, Dylan set up a camera drone, hoping it would survive to capture the fight.

He hadn't gone far when he heard the sounds of a fierce battle. Clearly, Lance and Giovanni had started fighting.

Meanwhile...

Using a hidden passage, Archer and Proton emerged onto a small street.

"I hope the boss is okay," Proton said, worried.

"Don't worry, let's just leave Celadon City for now. Move," Archer replied with a grim expression. This mission had been a complete failure.

But he couldn't understand how Dylan had become so strong!

As they stepped out of the building and rounded a corner, Archer froze.

Wearing a hat with clear, red eyes visible under the brim, dressed in a red jacket and blue jeans, stood Red!

"..."

Red was also momentarily surprised to see Archer and Proton, but he quickly understood the situation.

Their disheveled appearance indicated they had escaped from Team Rocket's base.

Two flashes of light appeared as Charizard and Pikachu took their places in front of Red.

Red adjusted his hat, his expression unreadable. He had received a distress call from Leah earlier, but he had been too far from Celadon City at the time.

By the time he arrived, the League had already launched its attack, and Officer Jenny wouldn't allow him to assist. So, he had been patrolling the area when he stumbled upon the fleeing Archer and Proton.

Well, thank you, Mother Nature.

"Isn't that the kid from the ship last time?" Proton whispered to Archer.

Archer's eyelid twitched. Of course, he knew.

"Relax! Archer, you're the top Executive of Team Rocket! This kid can't be as tough as Dylan. If we defeat him, we can escape. You can do it!"

Proton encouraged Archer, though he had no choice—his main Pokémon had all been defeated by Dylan. He couldn't exactly fistfight Charizard.

Stop jinxing me, you idiot!

Archer suppressed the urge to smack Proton as he took out two Poké Balls. He had to focus on defeating this obstacle first.

"Red! Let's settle this!"

That's right, Red wasn't Dylan. There was no way he had gone easy on them back on the ship, right?

They had to win!

(End of Chapter)