"Huff… huff… huff…"
Mewtwo gasped for breath as cracks spread across its psychic barrier. If it hadn't unleashed its full strength with that last Barrier of the Mind, Ash's final attack would have finished it off completely.
"Cough… cough… Damn it," Ash growled, clutching his chest. Blood dripped from his lip as he struggled to stand, using the trunk of a nearby tree for support. His eyes glared upward at the sky where Mewtwo hovered, battered but still afloat.
"Still not enough…"
Quartz Conference Arena — Observation Deck
"Unbelievable… is this really a battle between a human and a Pokémon?"
"Master Ash can't hold on much longer… this doesn't look good."
"Come on, Ash! You can't lose now!"
The audience erupted in anxious murmurs as the feed from the island battlefield continued to play across the massive screens. Even the most seasoned trainers could only watch, awed and terrified by the scale of power displayed.
Reception Room — League Command Center
"The situation doesn't look good for Ash," said Nate Mugino, his tone grave as he watched the feed. "Should we dispatch backup?"
"Our Mugino family's strike teams are stationed nearby," replied Kenjiro Sasaki, head of the Sasaki security group. "But even at top speed, it'll take at least an hour to reach the island."
"No," said Professor Oak firmly, shaking his head. "Ash still has one Full Restore Capsule left. I believe he'll be fine. What we need to do is locate Team Rocket's main force. We've lost contact with the operatives we sent to scout their base."
He frowned deeply, adjusting his glasses. "The League and the Rockets have been in conflict for months. Both sides know each other's strongholds. We've tried to avoid large-scale battles to minimize civilian damage, but something's off this time."
Dr. Oak brought up a map on the screen, showing multiple red-marked Rocket outposts. "Every base we've raided today turned out to be empty—decoys. It's like they abandoned Kanto ahead of time."
"Same here," said Skye Draconis, arms folded. "Our teams scouted the southern bases. Nothing but shell facilities and data traps. The Rockets are planning something—and I doubt they left the region quietly."
Quartz Arena — Spectators' Section
"Ash… please win," whispered Cynthia, her hands clenched around the hem of her skirt. Her usually calm golden eyes were filled with tension.
"Don't you dare lose," muttered Sabrina, her gaze unwavering. "You still owe me an answer…"
Among them, Suzie remained silent, her eyes locked on the fading figure of Ash on the screen. Her thoughts were unreadable.
Grampa Canyon — Battlefield
Clap… clap… clap…
The sound of slow applause echoed through the now silent battlefield.
Ash froze mid-motion, his hand just inches from the Full Restore Capsule on his belt. Mewtwo's eyes narrowed, instantly sensing a new presence.
Out from the shadows of a black cruise ship stepped a tall man in a sleek black suit—his expression calm, his smile dangerous.
"Well done, Ash Ketchum," the man said, his voice rich and commanding. "To think a mere human could push Mewtwo this far… I should thank you."
Ash's body stiffened. His pupils shrank. "…Giovanni."
"Surprised?" Giovanni replied, adjusting his cufflinks. "You should've expected this. Did you really think I'd sit idle while you toyed with my creation?"
With a snap of his fingers, a dozen Team Rocket operatives appeared behind him, aiming heavy energy cannons directly at both Ash and Mewtwo.
"Now, Mewtwo," Giovanni said with a cold smirk, "be a good Pokémon and come home."
Quartz Arena — Outrage
"Damn it—it's Team Rocket!"
"Those cowards showed up now of all times?!"
"Get out of Kanto, you parasites!"
The crowd erupted into fury as the League officials scrambled to respond.
"Lambda, move," said Lance, rising from his seat, his cape flaring behind him. "The boss made his move—we're heading out. Athena and the others will need backup."
"Understood." Lambda's expression hardened as he followed Lance toward the exit.
Outside, storm clouds began to gather once more over the sea, as Giovanni's warship loomed like a shadow between the world of man and Pokémon.
"Yeah!"
Lambda rose immediately upon Lance's command, and the two left the Quartz Conference Arena together, their expressions grim. The screens above still broadcasted the live feed from the island — a stormy confrontation between Ash, Mewtwo, and now Giovanni himself.
League Reception Room
"Damn that Giovanni!" Professor Oak slammed his hand against the table, the monitors shaking from the impact. "He actually dared to appear before Ash again!"
The room was tense. The League command center buzzed with static as multiple feeds flickered across the walls — each one showing the same image: Giovanni's black cruise ship looming ominously near the island.
Skye Draconis crossed his arms, his sharp eyes fixed on the screen. "He's moving his forces by sea. Judging by the ship's design, he's not retreating — he's relocating. He's likely preparing to shift the Rockets' main base to another region. Kanto's too hot for them now."
"That's impossible," said Kenjiro Sasaki, his brows furrowed. "After the Mewtwo incident, news has spread across all regions. No sane League would allow Team Rocket to establish themselves again, not after what happened in Kanto."
Dr. Oak shook his head, his tone dark. "You underestimate Giovanni. There's always a price high enough to buy silence. If he offered the right 'contribution' to another region's leaders, they might just turn a blind eye."
His fists clenched. "He's done it before… sacrificed others to save his own ambition."
The old professor's gaze hardened, his voice trembling with both rage and grief. "Because of him, my wife is gone. And my daughter… I haven't seen her in ten years. I won't forgive that monster."
The room fell silent for a moment. Only the static hum of machinery filled the air.
Grampa Canyon — The Battlefield
"Are you here to capture me?" Mewtwo's voice echoed in Giovanni's mind.
It knelt on one knee, its psychic aura flickering weakly, exhaustion visible in every breath it took. Though the words were framed as a question, its tone carried certainty.
Giovanni smirked. "Capture you? No, Mewtwo… I'm here to reclaim what's mine."
He took a step forward, the deck of the ship groaning under his boots. "You were created by my hand. Every cell in your body — every ounce of your power — belongs to me. You ran once, but this time…" His eyes gleamed dangerously. "…you won't get that chance again."
A dozen Rocket soldiers raised their weapons in unison, targeting both Ash and Mewtwo.
Ash clenched his fists, feeling his Aura fluctuate wildly. He turned his head slightly, speaking through telepathy.
"Mewtwo, this looks bad. Giovanni wouldn't come here unless he had something that could suppress you."
Mewtwo's eyes narrowed. It replied telepathically, voice calm despite its fatigue. "I know. His confidence isn't arrogance — it means he's prepared."
Both of them were running on fumes. Their earlier battle had drained nearly all of their strength, yet their minds remained sharp. The link between them pulsed faintly, fueled by shared understanding — and a strange, unspoken respect.
"If you can still move," Ash continued, his mental voice steady despite his labored breathing, "we might have one shot. But first, we need to figure out what he's hiding."
Mewtwo's gaze shifted toward Giovanni's ship. Even through its exhaustion, it could feel something — an unfamiliar pulse, a containment frequency woven into the hull. Something that resonated faintly with its psychic wavelength.
So… that's it.
Mewtwo's psychic eyes glowed faintly blue.
"Giovanni," it said aloud, rising to its feet, "you think you can bind me again? You'll only learn the same lesson twice."
Giovanni chuckled, his tone cold and assured. "Oh, I've learned my lesson, Mewtwo. Which is why this time—"
He snapped his fingers.
From the ship's hull, panels split open. Rows of strange devices unfolded — each one emitting a low, droning hum that reverberated through the air.
Ash's pupils dilated. "That sound…!"
Mewtwo's face twisted in sudden pain as waves of static tore through its psychic field. Its aura flared uncontrollably, then began to collapse inward.
Giovanni smiled.
"Behold… the Psy-Suppression Field. Designed specifically to nullify your abilities. I told you — you belong to me."
Mewtwo roared in defiance, but its telekinesis faltered, the ground beneath it cracking as its legs buckled.
Ash gritted his teeth. "Giovanni, stop this!"
"Stop?" Giovanni's smirk widened.
"You think this is cruelty? No. This is reclamation. You should be honored, Ash — to witness the moment when science reclaims what nature could never control."
...
TN:
⚡ Pa-treon-com/LordMerlin (Support me! 😊)