At this moment, launching reckless attacks was clearly not a wise choice.
The black mist and the Spectrier had almost merged into one, making it nearly impossible to lock onto its position.
Even if Mewtwo used a wide-range move, there was no guarantee it would hit—and even if it did hit, there was still no certainty it would inflict enough damage to matter.
Therefore, the best option right now was defense.
And with Mewtwo wearing the armor crafted from Rayquaza's shed scales, there was simply no need to worry about his defenses.
"Spectrier, use Double Kick!"
Seeing Nathan actually choose to defend, his opponent instantly grew excited.
This was exactly what he wanted—Mewtwo focusing on defense.
So, what if your defense is ridiculously strong? Did you really think you could be immune to the attacks of a legendary-level Pokémon?
Absolutely impossible!
Silent as a shadow, Spectrier approached through the black mist.
When it finally closed in on Mewtwo, its forelegs suddenly lifted high, then stamped down toward Mewtwo with explosive force.
It wasn't until Spectrier was almost upon him that Mewtwo finally caught sight of it.
But that tiny fraction of time was still enough for him to react.
Mewtwo crossed his arms before his chest, maintaining his Iron Body state.
Spectrier's powerful hooves smashed into Mewtwo's forearms.
Covering Mewtwo's wrists were reinforced vambraces, and with Iron Body active, they were more than sufficient to block Spectrier's physical force.
However, Spectrier's attacks weren't limited to physical damage.
As a Ghost-type Pokémon, some of its strikes were capable of wounding the very soul.
Legends claimed that Spectrier could even kick the soul right out of a creature's body.
Perhaps others thought it was merely a myth, but Nathan knew full well such things could indeed happen.
Those seemingly ethereal hooves truly carried that dreadful ability.
Mewtwo grunted when the blow landed, his whole body trembling slightly.
It wasn't just his body—the impact reached his very spirit.
But Mewtwo's strength was great, and on top of that, his psychic power offered him additional resistance. For his soul to actually be kicked out? That would be nearly impossible.
Still, while it wasn't fatal, the sensation was intensely unpleasant.
It felt like having your soul smashed with a massive hammer—an agony that words alone could never capture.
"Mewtwo, don't let it escape! Grab it!"
The moment Spectrier's attack connected, Nathan barked out the order.
Mewtwo immediately reacted, reaching out to seize Spectrier.
But Spectrier's reflexes were astonishingly quick.
Before Mewtwo could clamp down, it slipped back into the mist and vanished once again.
…
The failed strike left Nathan's opponent a little uneasy.
Spectrier was supposed to be able to rip souls right out of living beings.
Its attack had clearly landed on Mewtwo—so why hadn't it worked?
There was no doubt about it now: that terrifying trait of Spectrier's simply had no effect on Mewtwo.
"Spectrier, use Shadow Ball!"
Realizing Double Kick hadn't done any real damage, the trainer issued a new command.
Spectrier darted through the darkness, constantly shifting positions.
Then, spotting an opening, it suddenly fired a Shadow Ball straight at Mewtwo's back.
The pitch-black sphere cut silently through the haze.
Vigilant though Mewtwo was, in this dense fog he couldn't see the attack coming.
Shadow Ball, being nothing but a mass of black energy, blended perfectly into the dark.
Here, in this curtain of mist, it was practically invisible.
The orb smashed into Mewtwo's back, making him wince in pain.
When he spun around, there was nothing behind him but thick, suffocating darkness.
The strike had left faint gray traces across Mewtwo's form—clearly, the move's secondary effect had triggered, lowering his Special Attack.
Nathan frowned slightly as he observed.
If this went on, the battle would only head toward defeat.
Pure defense alone could never win.
"Mewtwo, use Future Sight!"
He finally gave the order.
If they couldn't pin the opponent's location down, then they would just have to wait for the enemy to walk into the trap themselves.
After casting the move, Mewtwo's eyes turned icy cold, immediately locking toward his right side.
At almost the same time, Nathan's opponent shouted again.
"Spectrier, use Confuse Ray!"
A streak of white light slashed through the black fog, glowing bright against the darkness.
But the attack missed its mark.
Having already foreseen Spectrier's movement, Mewtwo had been ready for it.
He shifted sideways, dodging the ray with ease, then launched himself straight toward Spectrier's hidden position.
The Confuse Ray fizzled into the sea, vanishing without a trace.
And Mewtwo, capitalizing on the moment, closed in.
Spectrier never expected Mewtwo to locate him so quickly in the mist.
Before it could react, Mewtwo's hand clamped around one of its forelegs.
Spectrier thrashed wildly, struggling to break free.
But how could its strength compare to Mewtwo's?
It was utterly impossible to escape.
After a few desperate jerks, Spectrier realized Mewtwo's grip was like an iron vise, unshakable.
So, it lifted its other hoof, aiming to stomp down on him.
But Mewtwo merely cast it a glance, raised his other hand, and caught the second leg as well.
Now, Spectrier was completely restrained.
And at that very moment, the black fog began to fade away.
As the mist dissolved, both the combatants and the audience could see the situation clearly.
Mewtwo stood like a war god, grasping Spectrier's legs firmly in both hands.
Though the spectral horse still struggled, it could not break free.
"Well done!"
Seeing Mewtwo truly catch Spectrier, Nathan's face lit with joy.
Earlier, the black mist had made attacking nearly impossible.
Now, with the fog gone and Spectrier caught, it was the perfect time to turn the battle around.
"Mewtwo, give it a Seismic Toss!"
Nathan shouted in excitement.
If they defeated Spectrier, Mewtwo would gain the qualification to ascend to legendary level.
Clutching its legs, Mewtwo soared into the sky, then twisted his body midair.
Spectrier was trapped beneath him, powerless, forced to watch as the ground rushed closer.
Nathan's opponent paled, panicking.
But there was nothing he could do.
Mewtwo's grip was unyielding. Even if the trainer himself jumped in, he'd only share in the punishment.
The descent quickened, velocity building to a terrifying degree.
By the end, even the whistling of the wind could be heard.
With a deafening boom, Mewtwo smashed Spectrier into the sea's surface.
The combined weight of two powerful Pokémon, amplified by that terrifying speed, sent waves seven or eight meters high crashing outward.
Though water was soft, slammed into at such speed it became as unforgiving as concrete.
Both Pokémon plunged beneath the surface, swallowed by foam.
Gradually, the spray subsided.
Then, Mewtwo rose slowly from the depths.
Only after a long while did Spectrier resurface, battered and struggling.
"I concede!"
Seeing the wretched state of his Pokémon, the trainer immediately admitted defeat.
There was no point in continuing.
With Rayquaza's scale armor, Mewtwo's defense was simply too overwhelming.
Spectrier's attacks barely scratched him, while Mewtwo's counterstrikes left Spectrier heavily injured each time.
How could this battle go on?
The moment the words of surrender left his opponent's lips, a system notification echoed in Nathan's mind.
[Mewtwo has successfully defeated three legendary-level Pokémon and now possesses the qualification to ascend to legendary status!]
To Nathan, this announcement was like the sweetest heavenly music.
After all this time, he had finally granted Mewtwo the right to evolve into a true legend.
It had been so difficult… so arduous.
Or at least, that was how Nathan felt in his heart.
If he were to say it out loud, though, others would probably want to bash their heads against a wall.
Most trainers toil for over a year, sometimes two, just to nurture a Pokémon into champion rank.
Yet Nathan, in barely two months, had already pushed not one but two of his Pokémon to the threshold of legend.
How could anyone else survive such a comparison?
How were other trainers supposed to make a living after this?
(End of Chapter)