Pokémon: Raising Abandoned Pokémon into Legends

Chapter 54: Rio Takes on Two Opponents

Lance’s pupils contracted as he finally noticed something unusual about this Charizard. At first glance, he’d thought it was just a shiny Charizard. But now, looking closely—

Wait. That’s not right.

This Charizard had an extra horn on its head and small wings on its wrists. It looked like a Charizard in every way, yet also not quite like one. A genetic mutation?

Regardless, that wasn’t the point. The point was the identity of the person riding this mutated Charizard—and why he was impersonating a League official.

Lance demanded: "Who are you? Why are you impersonating a League representative?"

As he spoke, the Red Gyarados below went berserk again, firing another Hyper Beam at Charizard—clearly trying to get revenge for the Flamethrower burn. But for the current Mega Charizard, dodging its attacks was easy. A flap of its wings, and it evaded once more.

Rio held tightly onto Charizard and replied to Lance’s question: "Me? I’m just a kind-hearted person who heard about a Red Gyarados terrorizing people here and came to deal with it."

Upon hearing that he was just a well-meaning passerby, Lance flicked his cape arrogantly and said: "In that case, you can leave. I am Lance, an Elite Four member of the Indigo League, dispatched to investigate this incident."

Rio raised an eyebrow: "You can investigate the incident, but to be honest—I want to catch this Red Gyarados."

Lance shook his head: "I’m afraid not. This Red Gyarados is involved in the recent attacks, so it cannot be caught by you. It must be taken back to the League by me."

Rio grinned: "Taken back to the League so you can catch it?"

Lance’s arrogant expression instantly turned cold—as if Rio had hit a nerve.

"This Red Gyarados belongs to Team Rocket! Neither of you is taking it!" the Rocket executive below shouted.

"Pidgeot, Wing Attack!"

"Tentacruel, Water Pulse!"

"Pidg~"

"Ooh~"

Pidgeot spread its wings and charged at Rio. Tentacruel fired a Water Pulse at Lance’s position.

"Charizard, tank the hit when it gets close, then use Fire Fang!" Rio commanded.

"Roaar~"

When Pidgeot closed in, Charizard opened its draconic maw, scorching flames swirling between its fangs. BAM— As Pidgeot crashed into it, Charizard spread its wings and tanked the impact with its arms, then clamped down on Pidgeot’s neck with Fire Fang. Pidgeot let out a pained screech.

"Flamethrower!" Rio gave the final order. A column of fire erupted from Charizard’s mouth, sending Pidgeot crashing into the water, incapacitated.

Rio turned to look at Lance. The other was also looking back at him. Beneath Lance and Dragonite lay the already-fainted Tentacruel.

"A decent Charizard," Lance said coldly, though inwardly he was deeply shaken. He hadn’t expected that mutated creature to actually be a Charizard. What a pity—such a Charizard wasn’t in the hands of someone from the Dragon Tamer Clan. What a waste.

On the other side, Rio laughed: "Flattery won’t make me give up the Red Gyarados."

Lance snorted coldly. Just then, the Red Gyarados fired another Hyper Beam at Rio’s Charizard. Charizard dodged swiftly, soaring through the sky.

Lance’s eyes narrowed. Seizing the moment while Rio was evading, he gave the command: "Dragon Rush!"

The Dragonite beneath him immediately shot forward with overwhelming killing intent, crashing into Rio’s position without giving Charizard any time to react.

Whoosh—

Rio and Charizard were both sent plunging into the Lake of Rage.

Looking down at the water, Lance said coldly: "All powerful Dragon-type Pokémon in this world should be controlled by my Dragon Tamer Clan. You should consider yourself lucky to have a mutated Charizard."

He then took out another Poké Ball and released a blue Gyarados, ordering it to eliminate the Rockets across from him. He and Dragonite then approached the Red Gyarados. As it prepared to attack, Lance’s hands glowed red. Under that light, the enraged Red Gyarados suddenly calmed down.

"Your suffering will soon be over. Your resentment, anger, and hatred—I will soothe all of it," Lance murmured, using his Dragon Force to try and subdue it.

On the other side—

Rio and Charizard burst out of the lake after a few seconds underwater. The first thing Rio saw was a normal-colored Gyarados—Level 50, Elite Four talent—locked in battle with other Pokémon released by the Rockets from the fishing boat. Lance was using his Dragon Force to control the Red Gyarados.

"Oh, so that’s how you want to play it, Lance?" Rio said coldly.

"If that’s your game, don’t blame me for playing rough. If you end up catching this Red Gyarados, I’ll take your last name."

With that, Rio took out two Poké Balls and released Munchlax and Primeape.

"Primeape—that guy over there has no honor. He pulled a sneak attack. What do you think we should do?" Rio said coldly.

"Pu-cha~" — Kill him!

Primeape roared, then punched itself in the face—knocking out one of its own teeth. Its previously calm expression instantly turned red-hot with rage.

Rio blinked in surprise. He hadn’t expected Primeape to go that hard on itself. Just to help him, it worked itself into a fury even without any outside provocation.

"Great—go tear them apart!" He pointed at the Rockets and the blue Gyarados.

"Pu-cha~"

Primeape punched itself again, then launched off Charizard’s back like an angry missile. When it hit the water, it swam like an Olympic champion, charging toward the fishing boat at full speed.

Seeing that, Rio knew the Rockets and the blue Gyarados were in for a world of pain. Primeape had given itself two punches just to get angry enough to fight for him—if they didn’t end up beaten to a pulp, it would be a miracle.

"Charizard, Flamethrower—interrupt him!"

With Primeape assigned its task, Rio pointed at Lance, who was still using Dragon Force to brainwash the Red Gyarados.

"Roaar~" Charizard pulled its head back and unleashed a scorching blaze.

Sensing the danger, Dragonite turned and saw the Flamethrower incoming. It immediately lifted Lance into the air, breaking his Dragon Force connection with the Red Gyarados.

Lance glared darkly at Rio atop Charizard. "Are you determined to oppose the League? I only punished your rudeness earlier. If I truly wanted to hurt you and your Charizard, you’d already be floating on the lake."

"Give me a break. If you’ve got the strength, I welcome you to put me on the lake," Rio scoffed.

He could now confirm—this wasn’t the idealistic, justice-driven Lance from the anime. This was the Special/Adventures version—arrogant, proud, and ruthless in his pursuit of creating his ideal world.

"So be it—then fall." Lance’s voice dropped.

"Dragonite! Dragon Rush!"

Dragonite shot toward Charizard, its body enveloped in a draconic aura.

Rio’s eyes turned cold.

"Charizard, Flamethrower—stop it!"

"Munchlax, Metronome!"