Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice-Chapter 247: Pokemon: I Transmigrated Twice []

Lance's Dragon Army and Giovanni's Ground-type army were locked in a massive battle.

However, anyone who understood the gap in strength between the two knew the outcome was already decided.

"What just happened?"

Cynthia, watching on her phone, was utterly baffled. She couldn't understand why Dark Mewtwo, who had been sent flying by Dark Kyurem, suddenly appeared behind its opponent.

Teleportation?

Impossible. After being hit by that Freeze move, how could it still stand back up?

Could it have been an illusion?

That couldn't be right either. Billions of eyes saw the attack land for real.

Even as a Champion-level Trainer, Cynthia was confused—let alone Sonia, Nessa, and the others.

Even Kira, who had been with Stephen the longest, wore the same bewildered expression.

Stephen explained, "The Dark Mewtwo that got sent flying was a Substitute."

"Substitute?"

The girls frowned even more.

The move "Substitute" could be learned by almost any Pokémon. It used up some of the user's HP to create a decoy that looked just like them.

It was a god-tier move in the games, but couldn't attack or act on its own.

So, in the real world, almost no Trainers used this move.

Stephen had never seen anyone use it in the anime in his previous life, either.

He continued, "When White-Black Kyurem used Fusion Flare and turned the battlefield into a sea of fire, Dark Mewtwo hid in the flames and used a lot of HP to create a Substitute to fight Kyurem. The plan was to target Lance and Kyurem with a fatal blow when they thought they had already won."

"But, Stephen..."

Karen frowned. "If you say the Mewtwo that got sent flying was a Substitute, it had been fighting before, right? Substitutes can't do that, can they?"

Substitute sounded like Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu at first, but with a huge weakness: it couldn't move or fight.

It could take hits, but 99% of Trainers would prefer a Substitute that could move, even if it shattered instantly like in Naruto.

"Aren't Psychic Pokémon good at using telekinesis?"

Stephen's rhetorical question made everyone's faces change again.

As another Psychic-type Trainer, Will was the first to react. "You mean, Mewtwo was using its mind to control its Substitute and fight Kyurem!?"

It wasn't hard to understand—for years when the three of them fought strong enemies together, Will would often use his Psychic Pokémon to assist Stephen and Karen.

Using telekinesis to move teammates through the air was a regular tactic.

Even now as a Champion-level Trainer, Will couldn't make his Pokémon control a Substitute in battle—let alone against a top Legendary!

But MEGA Dark Mewtwo could.

Still, in a direct fight, this trick wouldn't faze the Dragon of Truth, Kyurem.

So, Giovanni used a surprise move, striking when Kyurem let his guard down after thinking he'd already won.

"It backfired, huh."

Watching on the livestream as Lance's Dragon Army was wiped out by Giovanni's Ground Army, Cynthia's face grew complicated. freeωebnovēl.c૦m

She felt that broadcasting this campaign live to showcase the League's strength was a risky move by Goodshow.

The League had been losing for years and needed to restore its reputation.

But what if they lost?

Though, in hindsight, that's easy to say.

After all, with Lance + Kyurem + Leon + Eternatus...

Who would expect a loss?

Blame Lance for insisting on a solo fight.

"Let's go. Time to intervene," Stephen called to the group.

...

At the scene in Opelucid City, Leon and the League elites had arrived.

Giovanni had lost his trump card, Dark Mewtwo, but Leon's Eternatus was still in peak condition.

It looked like the outcome was set.

But the League didn't dare act rashly.

Because Beedrill's stinger was pressed to Lance's neck.

Giovanni's mainstays, Rhyperior and Nidoqueen, were down.

All of Lance's dragons were out cold!

Across the world, jaws dropped at the sight.

That battle shifted way too fast!

"I heard you've been looking for me. Haven't had enough? Huh?"

"Looks like you want to fight me. Do you have what it takes to challenge Team Rocket?"

Facing away from Leon and the others, Giovanni acted as if the League's presence didn't matter, taunting Lance:

"Your dragons are useless now, huh?"

He glanced at Lance's belt, noticed there was one Pokéball left, and snatched it, shoving it at Lance.

"You said you didn't bring a dragon? Here, I'll give you one."

Lance's eyes blazed with fury.

Through the semi-transparent Pokéball cover, he could see inside—a Dragonair, just as unwilling as he was.

This Dragonair was once his ace, Dragonite, whom Giovanni had forced back into Dratini form with drugs three years ago during the Indigo Plateau battle.

After three years, Lance had raised it back into a Dragonair, but...

"Take it!"

Giovanni shouted suddenly, startling Clair, who was about to step in.

But Lance just gritted his teeth and didn't take the ball.

Under his training, Dragonair now had Elite Four-level strength.

For most Trainers, that was a dream, but to challenge Giovanni?

Giovanni tossed the ball at Lance's feet, hands in pockets, sneering: "Don't dare to fight, huh? Not so tough now, are you?"

"Fine, I'll give you one more chance."

Giovanni stomped the Pokéball's button, forcibly releasing Dragonair.

Nidoking strode forward, grabbing Dragonair by the throat, facing it at its Trainer.

Giovanni leaned in and said, "Give the command, and your little dragon's life is mine."

"Lance, I'll count to three. Just three."

Watching from the perimeter, Stephen nearly burst out laughing.

Giovanni was baiting Lance.

If Lance dared to give the order, Nidoking would likely snap Dragonair's neck instantly.

"One! Two!"

Stephen could see through it, and so could Lance.

So, despite his anger, for Dragonair's safety, he didn't move.

"Three!"

After the final count, Nidoking tossed Dragonair aside.

Giovanni ruffled Lance's red hair twice, scolding him: "I gave you the chance, and you blew it! The whole world saw it! I gave you the chance and you didn't take it!"

"From now on, if you see me or anyone from Team Rocket in public, you call us 'Boss'—or I'll beat you every time!"

Millions of viewers were silent.

Before this mission, Goodshow had repeatedly said this would be his last act as League Chairman.

He wanted to end his career on a high note.

It wasn't a surprise for Team Rocket to crash the party. Anyone who witnessed the Indigo Plateau battle three years ago could have guessed it.

Even if Stephen wasn't there, with two top Legendaries, the League should at least have managed a draw, right?

But no—with all that buildup, they still failed spectacularly.

"Let's go!"

Giovanni stretched and prepared to leave, delighted.

Because of Silver, he couldn't kill Lance.

But the humiliation he dealt today was worse than death.

Anyone could see the reason for the defeat wasn't Kyurem—it was the Trainer.

Lance lost because his skills as a Trainer couldn't match Giovanni's.

Kyurem, the Dragon of Truth, was one of the world's strongest Pokémon.

With a partner like that, and you still lose? No excuses!

"Can't let you leave just yet, Giovanni."

Leon stepped in, blocking Giovanni with Eternatus like a living wall.

With Dark Mewtwo down, Leon with Eternatus could take him on.

But...

A giant golden ring appeared. The Dark Bird God flew out.

It was Shadow Lugia!

The next second, a man leaped from Shadow Lugia's arms.

Joker!

"They won..."

Joker glanced at Lance, who was on one knee, defeated and crushed. Disbelief flickered in his eyes behind the mask.

Anyone who knew him would be suspicious.

Because this Joker seemed very different from usual.

"Damn it..."

Even the good-natured Leon cursed.

With Joker's arrival, everything changed.

Even with Eternatus, Leon didn't think he could beat Joker, who had Shadow Lugia, Evil Hoopa, and other Legendaries.

Not to mention, Joker's skill as a Trainer was above his own.

"How's Sinnoh? Has Dr. Stephen returned yet?"

Leon asked in a low voice.

Goodshow's assistant replied helplessly, "Champion Stephen just messaged. Cynthia is injured, and he's helping her recover. He'll be back in two minutes."

"Two minutes... I can hold out."

Leon gritted his teeth and stepped forward to fight two at once.

"Forget it, Champion Leon,"

Joker raised a hand. "With only Eternatus, you're not my match, and honestly, I'm not in the mood to fight."

He muttered to himself, "And if I fought, I'd probably lose..."

"Let's go."

Joker signaled Giovanni, and together they stepped into the golden ring.

...

On the other side was the Rocket HQ, Celadon Game Corner.

"Whew..."

Joker let out a sigh, and his skin began to writhe strangely, shrinking rapidly. The skin bunched up, forming a Ditto.

Joker's true identity was revealed—it was Green!

Green had mastered disguise under Pryce's tutelage.

This was how she avoided capture after escaping.

After showing this skill, she became Stephen's exclusive stand-in.

Zoroark could have done it before, but as a Pokémon, Zoroark couldn't speak, so Green was much better.

Archer and the others approached to congratulate her.

Giovanni, elated, shouted, "Pass my order—three days of celebration for Team Rocket! All expenses reimbursed!"

Watching her colleagues celebrate, Green felt a strong sense of foreboding.

She'd witnessed the humiliation Lance suffered at Giovanni's hands.

Though Green wasn't adopted by Lance like Silver was, she knew his character.

He would never let this go.

...

"One minute late—what's going on?"

A minute after Joker and Giovanni left, Stephen arrived through Hoopa's ring, anxiously asking.

But the silence on site was answer enough.

Goodshow, looking decades older, forced a smile at Stephen, then gazed at Lance in worry.

Honestly, he'd rather Lance be raging than bottling it up like this.

It felt like the calm before a storm.

"At least Team Plasma's gone, and Team Galactic is dealt with."

Stephen tried to comfort him.

"Tell Lusamine that. I'm retired now,"

Goodshow sighed.

Indeed, most criminal groups had been wiped out in recent years, but Team Rocket was only getting stronger!

If possible, Goodshow would rather have more criminal groups than a superpower like Team Rocket.

After several hours cleaning up, Stephen had Hoopa send the regional Champions home.

...

The next morning, Su Sheng saw plenty of news about himself.

Alola's Manalo Daily:

"The facts of the past three years prove it: without Dr. Stephen, the League can't beat anyone. Even with Kyurem and Eternatus, the Indigo League fell to Team Rocket. Fortunately, Dr. Stephen's secret operation to eliminate Team Galactic was a total success."

Galar's Wyndon Economic News:

"It's all Lance's fault. He put his pride above the team. If he'd supported Leon, things wouldn't have ended this way."

Sinnoh's Jubilife TV:

"Chairman Cyrus died suddenly of illness. Professor Carolina will take over. The ex-Champion's grandmother said, 'Didn't expect to be given this role at my age. Pity Cynthia went to Alola. If she has a child, I hope my great-grandchild works in Sinnoh someday.'"

That night, Agatha sat at the Kanto TV news desk, announcing:

"After talks between regional Leagues, Chairman Goodshow has officially retired after 30 years. Alola's Lusamine will be the new Pokémon League Chairman. We believe she'll lead the League into a new era."

Goodshow had hinted at this before the Unova campaign.

But the official announcement was still the year's biggest news, rivaled only by Lance's third defeat by Giovanni.

The League had suffered loss after loss, with moles everywhere.

But that didn't erase Goodshow's status or his contributions to the League and the Pokémon world.

[Cynthia Fan]: "So many feelings. Chairman Goodshow is retiring. The League feels shaky now."

[Berry-Resistant Agatha]: "Not quite, Dr. Stephen's still holding it down. Honestly, if the League had held out just one more minute, Dr. Stephen would have arrived."

[Original Magneton]: "It's Lance's fault for being so stubborn! If he'd worked with Leon, they'd have beaten Giovanni easily!"

[Wants Joker's Feet]: "With Chairman Goodshow gone, who can keep the Indigo League's hotheads in line?"

[Aggron Unlimited]: "True, except Bruno, the rest are all a handful. Who's the new Indigo League Chairman? Can they handle it?"

While eating dinner, Stephen saw this comment and thought it made sense.

Of the Indigo Elite Four, only Bruno was easy-going; the other three were tough.

Goodshow's prestige kept them in line before.

Now that he's gone, Stephen couldn't imagine who could handle them.

That night, Lusamine pulled Stephen into her room to celebrate her new role as Pokemon League Chairman.

Over an hour later, she turned her phone back on to find that Goodshow had called over thirty times.

On the third call, Lusamine had turned off her phone, unable to take it. She hadn't expected him to be so persistent.

Something big must have happened.

As soon as she called back, the old man shouted:

"Something's wrong! Lance resigned!"