The flames on Rapidash's body dimmed slightly.
Pryce's Swinub gave it an unprecedented sense of pressure.
It had fought alongside Blaine for many years and had even faced several Champion-level Trainers before.
But none of them had ever been as terrifying as the Swinub before its eyes.
"This is looking bad. Pryce's Swinub is giving off too much pressure. Even Blaine's Rapidash has started thinking about retreating."
Inside the inner arena, Grey stood with his arms crossed in front of his chest. The current state of the battle was beyond doubt. Pryce would absolutely win.
"Grey, is Gym Leader Pryce really that strong? Compared to the Champions from the different regions, who's stronger?"
Lillie did not have the system, so she had no idea how strong Swinub was.
In her eyes, the peak for most regional Trainers was the Champion.
"Champions? No. Gym Leader Pryce is stronger than the Champions of every major region."
Grey shook his head.
"Huh?! He's even stronger than the Champions from every region? Then... doesn't that mean Gym Leader Blaine is going to lose?"
Lillie was deeply shocked.
"More or less. The outcome of this battle was decided from the very beginning."
Grey stood up, but his gaze turned toward the south.
"Once the Indigo Conference ends, another storm is about to begin."
Kanto region, Orange Islands.
Mewtwo, leading Neo Team Plasma, landed on a hidden, isolated island somewhere in the Orange Islands.
"Hey, hey, hey, you rude outsiders! What are you doing in my territory? Don't you know this place belongs to us?!"
Just as Team Plasma's destroyer finished coming ashore, a rough shout came from not far away.
"Aaron?"
Colress adjusted his glasses, and cold light reflected off the lenses.
That name did not sound like it belonged to anyone good, but there was an old saying that you did not pick a fight with the local boss on his own turf.
Since Aaron dared to come over, it meant he was the local boss here.
The Kanto region was packed with talent. For all Colress knew, Elite Four-level Trainers could be a dime a dozen here, and even Champions might not be anything special.
Although Mewtwo was beside him protecting him, Colress still did not dare to gamble.
"That's right, I'm Aaron! You rude outsiders haven't heard of Treasure-Thief Aaron?"
The man named Aaron stepped off his boat. He looked sloppy and carefree. After spitting beside his foot, he shouted at Colress, "Hey, you outsiders have come to my turf, so you'd better follow my rules and discipline. Got it?"
"Why should we?"
Colress narrowed his eyes. The Poké Balls at his waist sensed his emotions and began shaking, ready to open at any moment.
"Heh. Rules make the world go round, and systems keep everything together. Once you've come to the Orange Islands, even if you're Rayquaza, you coil up and behave. Otherwise, if the Kanto League comes knocking, we're all dead."
Aaron sat down cross-legged and pointed at the Team Plasma destroyer behind Colress. "You people caused such a huge commotion by coming here. If the Kanto League sees it, they'll probably be at our doorstep in a few days."
"You really are idiots. Why did you suddenly come here out of nowhere? Or did you think that because the Indigo Conference is happening soon, the Kanto League wouldn't notice this side of things?"
After Aaron said all that, Colress and Mewtwo looked at each other.
It seemed that this pirate, Mr. Aaron, actually had a point.
"Then what should we do?"
Colress pondered.
"How about this? I've been running with a massive organization recently. Meeting like this is fate. You can follow me. I'll make sure you live well."
Aaron waved a hand, staring at the destroyer behind Colress in amazement. "Good grief, how much treasure did you have to rob to build a destroyer like that? Seriously, what are you people doing in a backwater like the Orange Islands?"
"We... are wanted. We had no choice but to come here from another region. My apologies."
Colress apologized slightly.
Once he said that, Aaron raised his eyebrows. "Which region's League is chasing you? Whatever. Guests are guests. You're outsiders, and you all look pretty scrawny, but I won't ask about your past."
"But there's one thing I have to say."
Aaron raised one finger and enunciated every word. "Don't do anything conspicuous."
"All right. Then what should we do?"
Colress thought he might as well adapt to local customs. Since they were following Aaron now, he wanted to see whether they could accomplish something.
"There really is something."
The corner of Aaron's mouth rose into a curve. "Next, what we're going to do is rob the rich and help the poor."
"Rob the rich and help the poor?"
Colress was confused.
"Forget it. You'll understand when the time comes."
Aaron turned and left, leaving only a carefree back behind him.
After Aaron completely disappeared from sight, Mewtwo remained silent, only slapping the ground hard with its tail.
"What's wrong?"
Colress asked.
"Nothing. I just feel that this fellow named Aaron is a little strange."
Mewtwo had just been thinking about whether it should attack, but after considering it again and again, it had endured it.
"Mm, I feel the same way. But this is the Kanto region, and the Indigo Conference is happening recently. If we cause a disturbance, even if they don't immediately surround and suppress us, they might shift their attention onto us afterward."
Colress had many things to consider.
"That's true. Then we'll just take things one step at a time."
Mewtwo did not think too much about it. It only used its psychic power to leave a small mark on Aaron, then had Colress take it to Mewtwo Two's laboratory.
After several days of travel, Mewtwo Two's experimental progress had reached eighty percent.
Only the final twenty percent remained before Mewtwo Two would truly be created.
"Mr. Mewtwo, this one's production progress is stuck. We clearly have detailed experimental data, but for some reason, we can't make any further progress."
This kind of sudden pause from time to time was actually fairly normal.
Every day or two, the progress would increase on its own.
But today's situation was a little different.
Mewtwo Two had gone from fifty percent to eighty percent in only a few days.
Now that it had suddenly stopped at eighty percent, Colress wondered if there was a possibility that Mewtwo Two had actually been created and gained consciousness long ago, and the percentage displayed on the screen was merely something it was using to deceive them.
"Let me take a look. You stay outside."
Mewtwo could also sense Mewtwo Two's strength. It was no weaker than Mewtwo itself when it had first been created.
Since they were both Mewtwo, Mewtwo felt that it was time for it to step forward.
Inside Team Plasma's destroyer.
Within the culture tank, a humanoid Pokémon that was ninety-nine percent similar in appearance to Mewtwo had its arms crossed and its knees curled up, as if protecting itself.
"Who am I?"
"Where am I?"
"What should I do?"
Mewtwo was stunned.
Those extremely familiar words entered its mind.
They made Mewtwo recall the scene from when it had first been created.
"Mewtwo, serve me! You are a Pokémon I created, born to cooperate with me! As long as you cooperate with me, you will find the true meaning of existence!"
That was how Giovanni had manipulated Mewtwo back then.
Now, after hearing Mewtwo Two's questions, Mewtwo cleared its throat before communicating with Mewtwo Two through psychic power.
"You are Mewtwo, and I am also Mewtwo. Right now, you and I are on a remote island in the most dangerous region in the world. What you should do is keep striking back! Keep surpassing yourself!"
Mewtwo's words were forceful and powerful, carrying an unquestionable tone.
Clearly, Mewtwo wanted to make Mewtwo Two part of its "strike back" cause.
"Strike back? Why should I strike back? What gives you the right to tell me to strike back?!"
Mewtwo Two's voice leaned cold and elegant, and it was clearly female.
Mewtwo's words made Mewtwo Two furious.
Although it had only just truly gained consciousness, Mewtwo was not a Pokémon that would casually let others control its fate.
It, Mewtwo Two, refused to strike back!
Mewtwo was stunned.
Bad news.
It felt like this newly created Mewtwo Two was really not right!
"Wait, wait, wait. Listen to me for a second, all right?"
Mewtwo grew a little anxious. If it were any other Pokémon, it would have attacked already.
But Mewtwo Two was different.
This one would be its greatest support in the future. If she really ran away, would that not be a disaster?
Do not look at how Giovanni also wanted to create another Mewtwo. In truth, Mewtwo itself had a rebellious heart too. You say you want to make one, and that means you get to make one?
How could all the good things fall into your lap?
That was why Mewtwo wanted to claim Mewtwo Two for itself. In the future, it would establish an organization called Team Strike Back and let Giovanni know who the real boss was.
"Speak."
Mewtwo Two coldly glanced at Mewtwo.
This guy had answered her questions on his own without asking what she wanted. What a total turnoff.
Mewtwo was stunned again.
As the first artificial Legendary Pokémon in history, Mewtwo's psychic power could read the thoughts of other Pokémon.
Mewtwo felt that this thing was a bit outrageous.
How did she open her mouth and immediately call it a turnoff?!
"Hey, I told you to talk. Are you mute?"
Mewtwo Two's tone gradually turned cold. Although she was still curled up, the psychic power all over her body was already approaching the point of eruption.
If she really let it erupt, Team Plasma's destroyer would probably be done for.
"Well... we are both Mewtwo. We should help each other, right?"
"Help each other, my ass! Who do you think you are, ordering me around? Don't think you can cozy up to me just because you're also Mewtwo! If you ask me, there's nothing good about this lousy place either! If this place won't have me, somewhere else will!"
The moment she finished speaking, psychic power suddenly erupted from Mewtwo Two's entire body.
Boom!
Team Plasma's destroyer was blown apart on the spot.
Mewtwo Two transformed into a beam of light, sensing where the strongest auras were.
"Hmm... there seem to be a lot of strong people to the north! I'll go there!"
Mewtwo Two used Teleport and instantly headed toward the Indigo Plateau.
Mewtwo was left somewhat dazed.
"Mr. Mewtwo, what happened here?"
Colress looked at the Team Plasma destroyer, now reduced to ruins, and felt his heart bleed.
He had finally managed to inherit Ghetsis's assets.
In the end, those assets had been blown up by an asset left behind by Team Rocket.
Who was Colress supposed to complain to?
"Nothing. How are the Mega Stones?"
Mewtwo calmed itself and asked about the matter of becoming stronger.
"Reporting to Mr. Mewtwo, the Special Attack-focused Mega Stone seems to have left with Mewtwo. It looks like only the Physical Attack-focused Mega Stone that is still under development remains."
Colress's gaze swept across the ruins, and he discovered that the culture tank containing Mewtwonite Y had vanished.
Only the Mewtwonite X culture tank remained.
"Tch."
Mewtwo really wanted to curse.
But it did not know how.
"Forget it. If I have to go mixed, then I'll go mixed."
Grey's figure gradually appeared in Mewtwo's mind.
That guy was probably the highest mountain and the longest river among Fighting-type Trainers in the human world.
Damn it. I will definitely defeat Grey!
I'll make him understand that striking back is the right path!
Kanto region, Indigo Plateau.
After Swinub entered the field, the battle between Blaine and Pryce ended quickly.
"Magmortar is unable to battle. Since all of Gym Leader Blaine's Pokémon are unable to battle, the winner is Gym Leader Pryce."
"I never expected Gym Leader Pryce's Swinub to be so powerful. Even at a type disadvantage, it actually defeated Gym Leader Blaine's Rapidash and Magmortar one after another. This strength is probably already at the level of our Kanto Elite Four's main Pokémon, right?"
Guli TV praised Pryce's Swinub without holding back.
It was also the strongest Swinub he had ever seen.
This was not an existence ordinary Pokémon could even hope to compare with.
Even Blaine had not expected Pryce's Swinub to be this terrifying.
"Old Blaine, you've already burned out. After all these years, your strength hasn't improved at all. Sigh. It seems I overestimated you."
Pryce's tone was heavy. As he turned around, Swinub leisurely hopped back onto his shoulder.
After leaving those words behind, he drove his wheelchair away.
"Sigh, old Pryce. Even after all these years, you still haven't let it go?"
Blaine felt regretful.
Naturally, he was happy that Pryce had become so powerful.
But why Pryce had grown stronger was something the older-generation Trainers who knew Pryce well understood perfectly.
"Could it be that you really intend to do that thing?"
Blaine narrowed his eyes. For a moment, he felt that he and Pryce were drifting further and further apart.
"Old Blaine, everything I do defies the will of heaven. The path I walk will inevitably be filled with danger and hardship. I hope that the next time we meet, you will still be able to defeat me. I will no longer lose."
That was what Pryce had once told Blaine.
Now, he had achieved it.
And Blaine could only let out a sigh.
"Grey, that Swinub really is amazing..."
Lillie had watched the whole battle.
Swinub had left an extremely deep impression on her.
Defeating two Pokémon despite a type disadvantage was not a simple thing for most type-specialist Trainers.
But Pryce had done it.
And he had defeated Blaine very easily.
"Indeed. Age and experience win out in the end."
Grey nodded.
He still wanted to say something, but his brows unconsciously furrowed.
"Strange. Why is there another uninvited guest?"
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