After catching Articuno, Ash and his gang boarded a ferry to Vermilion City. From there, they began their journey to the strongest gym in the Kanto region: the Viridian City Gym, where the enigmatic and powerful Giovanni awaited.
Known as "Giovanni of the Rock," the gym leader was famed for his tremendous Rock-type Pokémon. However, few knew of his secret weapon: a Beedrill so formidable it could give even legendary Pokémon a run for their money.
What no one in the public knew was Giovanni's other secret—his identity as the leader of the criminal organization Team Rocket.
Ash was eager to face him in a one-on-one battle, determined to measure just how far he had come in his journey and training. The lineup for the Viridian Gym challenge had already been decided, and Ash was ready.
Unlike their usual intense routines, this leg of the journey was relatively relaxed. Previously, the group had focused heavily on training and leveling up, but now they allowed themselves moments of fun.
Ash's attention was split between spending quality time with Misty and Sabrina, while Brock predictably chased after every "mature beauty" they encountered along the way.
Despite the leisurely pace, daily exercises continued, and Ash's Pokémon grew stronger.
Pokémon Progression
Dratini: Lv21 → Lv29
Jigglypuff: Lv35 → Lv37
Primeape: Lv34 → Lv35
Dratini, the lowest-leveled Pokémon, gained a significant boost of eight levels, reaching Lv29. Jigglypuff, though rarely participating in direct battles, provided invaluable support with her Friendly Defense ability, reducing damage taken by teammates by a quarter.
She also hypnotized opponents with Sing, gaining enough experience from supporting Dratini and Primeape to reach Lv37.
Primeape, Ash's hot-headed Fighting-type, grew stronger as well, moving from Lv34 to Lv35.
As the group progressed, Ash's mind wandered to the Rocket Trio—Jessie, James, and Meowth.
Their appearances had been sporadic since Maiden's Peak, and Ash wondered if this was due to the butterfly effect of his recent actions.
Reflecting on their pasts, Ash felt a twinge of sympathy for their struggles:
Jessie's Backstory: Her mother, Miyamoto, had been an elite Rocket agent who died during a mission to find Mew. Jessie grew up in poverty, likely shuffled between foster families. Despite her strong-willed and somewhat arrogant demeanor, Jessie deeply cared for her teammates.
James' Backstory: Born into an aristocratic but loveless family, James grew up under strict discipline and was engaged to the domineering Jessiebelle. Despite his confident front, James was a sensitive, emotional individual who cherished his Pokémon and friends.
Meowth's Backstory: Once an abandoned street kitten, Meowth taught himself to speak human language to impress a female Meowth, only to face rejection. The world's first talking Pokémon often masked his pain with humor but longed for acceptance.
Ash was lost in thought when a familiar sound echoed in his mind.
System Missions Triggered
[Ding!]
Mission 1: Help Jessie pursue her dream and seduce her into your growing harem.
Rewards: Master Ball x1, Aura Mastery +1, Potential Enhancer (Diamond) x5
potential Enhancer Diamond: Raise the level of legendary pokemon to Ancient level
[Ding!]
Mission 2: Help James pursue his dream and pair him with Gardenia.
Rewards: Master Ball x1, Psychic Power +1, Potential Enhancer (Platinum) x5
potential Enhancer Platinum : Raise the level of Ancient pokemon to mytical level
[Ding!]
Mission 3: Help Meowth pursue his dream—catch him and make him the world's most powerful Meowth.
Rewards: Life Orb x1, Silver Wing x1, Normalium-Z(exclusive to mewoth)
Life Orb x1: A powerful item that boosts Pokémon attacks but at a slight cost to health.
Silver Wing x1: A mysterious artifact said to attract the legendary Lugia.
Z-Crystal (Normalium-Z): A crystal that allows Meowth to unleash a devastating Z-move which is exclusive to him.
Ash's eyes widened at the list of rewards. Master Balls? Potential Enhancers? Z-Crystals? Each was a treasure, yet he couldn't help but wonder why the system wanted him to seduce Jessie or hook James up with Gardenia.
"Whatever the reason, these rewards are too tempting to ignore," Ash thought with a grin.
Returning to the task at hand, Ash focused on training Primeape. The Fighting-type had recently learned Rage Fist, a move that was said to be a prerequisite for its evolution into Annihilape.
"If the real world works like the games, Primeape needs to use Rage Fist multiple times and level up to evolve," Ash mused.
He turned to Primeape with a determined look. "Primeape, you're going to be busy for the next few days!"
Primeape roared excitedly, interpreting "busy" as an opportunity for growth. Its fierce spirit was matched only by its love for training under Ash.
Ash diligently trained Primeape, incorporating his aura skills to guide its moves. Despite its infamous temper, Primeape behaved exceptionally well under Ash's instruction, a testament to their bond.
"You punch harder than I do—are you sure you're not a Fighting Pokémon in disguise, Ash?" Misty joked, watching the rigorous training sessions.
Sabrina chuckled softly. "At this rate, Primeape might mistake him for its final evolution."
Primeape grunted in agreement, feeling both admiration and slight intimidation toward its trainer.
The group had set up camp in a dense forest not far from Viridian City. The air buzzed with activity as wild Pokémon roamed freely. While scouting for a suitable training opponent for Primeape, Ash's aura sensed a powerful presence nearby.
"It's here," Ash murmured, turning toward the thick foliage.
Before anyone could ask what he meant, a sharp, menacing hum filled the air. Out of the shadows emerged a massive Beedrill, its stingers glinting like polished blades. This wasn't just any Beedrill—it was larger, faster, and far more intimidating than most of its kind.
"Perfect," Ash said, stepping forward. "Primeape, this will be your challenge."
Primeape leapt in front of Ash, its fists pounding the ground in anticipation. Beedrill locked eyes with its opponent, its wings beating furiously as it prepared for battle.
"Primeape, stay focused!" Ash commanded, his voice steady and clear.
Beedrill wasted no time, darting forward with Twineedle. The move was so fast it blurred through the air, but Primeape sidestepped just in time.
"Counter with Seismic Toss!" Ash called out.
Primeape lunged at Beedrill, grabbing it mid-air with both hands. With a roar, it swung the Beedrill over its head and slammed it into the ground. The impact shook the forest floor, scattering leaves and dirt.
Beedrill retaliated swiftly, releasing a Poison Jab. Its stinger glowed a dangerous purple as it struck Primeape in the side.
Primeape growled in pain but stood firm. Ash's eyes narrowed. "This Beedrill isn't just strong—it's strategic."
"Alright, Primeape, it's time to use Rage Fist! Let's go!" Ash shouted.
Primeape's fists began to glow with a dark, fiery aura. It charged at Beedrill, unleashing a barrage of powerful punches. Each strike seemed to carry more force than the last, the energy of Rage Fist amplifying with every hit.
But Beedrill wasn't going down without a fight. It took to the air, evading Primeape's punches with incredible agility. Then, it unleashed Toxic Spikes, peppering the battlefield with hazardous traps.
"Careful, Primeape! Watch your footing!" Ash warned.
Primeape leapt back, avoiding the spikes, but Beedrill capitalized on the distraction and struck with X-Scissor, its stingers forming an energy cross that slashed at Primeape's chest.
"Don't let it shake you, Primeape! Channel that pain into your Rage Fist! Push through!"
Primeape's aura flared brighter, its anger transforming into raw power. With a feral roar, it rushed at Beedrill again, landing a devastating punch squarely against its opponent. The force sent Beedrill hurtling into a tree, splintering the bark on impact.
Just when it seemed the battle was over, Beedrill struggled back to its feet. Its wings buzzed louder than ever, and its body began to glow faintly.
"What's it doing now?" Misty asked, gripping Togepi tightly.
"It's activating its Swarm ability," Brock said grimly. "It's even more dangerous now!"
Beedrill darted into the air and unleashed a relentless barrage of Fury Attack, its stingers striking like lightning from all directions. Primeape blocked as many hits as it could, but a few strikes landed, forcing it to stumble.
Ash clenched his fists. "Primeape, this is your moment! Focus all your energy into one final Rage Fist! Let's finish this!"
Primeape roared, its entire body radiating with an intense fiery aura. The energy around its fists grew darker and more volatile as it channeled all its rage into a single, decisive punch.
Beedrill charged forward with its stingers glowing bright green, attempting a Hyper Beam.
"Now, Primeape! Rage Fist!" Ash yelled.
Primeape leapt into the air, meeting Beedrill head-on. Its glowing fist collided with Beedrill's stingers in a thunderous explosion of light and energy. The sheer force of the clash sent shockwaves rippling through the forest.
When the dust settled, Beedrill lay unconscious on the ground, its stingers cracked from the impact. Primeape stood victorious, panting heavily but glowing with pride.
As Ash rushed to congratulate his Pokémon, Primeape's body began to glow. The light enveloped it, growing brighter until its form began to shift and expand.
"What's happening?!" Sabrina asked, shielding her eyes.
"It's evolving," Brock said, his voice tinged with awe.
When the light faded, Primeape had transformed into Annihilape, its spectral flames flickering around its body. The raw power it emitted was palpable, and its glowing eyes seemed to burn with determination.
"Annihilape," Ash said, his voice filled with pride. "You've worked so hard for this. Let's show the world what you're capable of!"
Annihilape let out a triumphant roar, its fiery aura blazing brighter than ever.
"Wow," Misty breathed. "That was... incredible."
"Yeah," Brock added. "Ash, you've really outdone yourself with this one."
Ash smiled, placing a hand on Annihilape's shoulder. "This is just the beginning. Let's keep pushing forward, together."
As the group continued toward Viridian City, the victory over Beedrill served as a reminder of how far they had come—and how much further they were destined to go.