"Klein, why don't you go to New Island and participate in this so-called grand event?"
"Titles like 'the strongest' are ultimately meaningless. The world is vast, full of secrets beyond our comprehension. Once you recognize your own insignificance, chasing after the title of 'the strongest' becomes pointless."
Giovanni's words were calm and composed. Klein chuckled to himself and turned his gaze toward the horizon, feeling the growing intensity of the storm. "This level of weather manipulation… it must be the work of a Pokémon."
"Oh? Perhaps a Legendary Pokémon has appeared," Giovanni said with a hint of amusement.
New Island had once been a Team Rocket cloning facility, but it had long since been abandoned. Now, out of nowhere, someone had appeared there, claiming to be the strongest trainer. Even if Giovanni didn't know for sure that it was Mewtwo, he would still send people to investigate.
Now that Klein was certain Mewtwo was involved, he had a new mission in Old Shore Wharf—to keep an eye on Giovanni and prevent him and Team Rocket from interfering with Mewtwo.
"Giovanni, since we're both trainers of similar styles, why don't we have a battle?"
Klein's challenge caught Giovanni slightly off guard. He looked up at the Sandstorm Elite Four, who remained as composed as ever, before letting out a hearty laugh. "Are you trying to conduct a Viridian Gym assessment ahead of schedule?"
"No. It's just that when I see a strong trainer like you, I can't help but want to battle."
Their eyes met for a moment before Giovanni pulled out a Poké Ball. "Very well. One round, winner takes all."
The ground trembled as Giovanni's Nidoking emerged onto the battlefield. A violent and menacing aura surged through the area. Klein narrowed his eyes.
As expected, Giovanni's true strength is far beyond what's shown in the anime.
This Nidoking was no ordinary Pokémon—it was a battle-hardened monster.
"Go, Lucario!"
As the red light faded, Klein's Lucario floated slightly above the ground, its eyes calm and focused as it stared at Nidoking.
Unlike rookie trainers, a seasoned veteran like Giovanni was well aware of Lucario's capabilities. However, even he noticed something unusual about Klein's Lucario.
"…This Lucario… it's been meditating inside its Poké Ball, hasn't it?"
Giovanni was an expert—he recognized it immediately. Klein nodded. "Lucario has had strong spiritual energy since it was young. It has been training its psychic abilities alongside its combat skills for years."
It never stops meditating?
Lucario remained in mid-air, its legs folded into a meditative position. Giovanni chuckled. "Nidoking, start with a simple Double Team!"
Suddenly, Nidoking split into three shadowy figures.
Klein was still analyzing Giovanni's strategy when the next command came:
"Thunderbolt, Flamethrower, Ice Beam—now!"
Lightning, fire, and ice surged from three directions, closing in on Lucario. At the same time, Nidoking's shadows multiplied once more.
Though this was a one-on-one friendly match, it was not a regulated League battle. Giovanni had no intention of following standard move restrictions—this was a true test of survival, just like a wild battle.
Even executing three attacks at once was proof that Giovanni was an Elite Four-level trainer. Ordinary trainers wouldn't even be able to pull off this level of coordination.
As the three elemental attacks rushed toward Lucario, its eyes suddenly flared with blue light.
In an instant, it raised both hands—and stopped the attacks mid-air.
"What incredible psychic power," Giovanni murmured. "So this Lucario, just like your Scizor, is one of your core team members?"
As he spoke, Lucario activated Calm Mind, using its telekinesis to manipulate the energy.
With its right hand, it compressed the flames into a swirling fireball.
With its left hand, it condensed the ice attack into a silver sphere.
The electric energy crackled around Lucario's body.
Lucario had turned the enemy's attacks into its own weapons.
With a swift motion, it launched the fireball and ice orb toward Nidoking, breaking through its Double Team illusions. Then, using the electricity still surrounding it, Lucario blinked forward at blinding speed, appearing directly behind Nidoking.
"Earth Power!"
The ground shattered, sending rocks and debris flying. Nidoking then swung its massive tail—a strike powerful enough to crush boulders—toward Lucario.
However, Lucario activated its psychic barrier just in time. The tail strike landed, causing a massive energy shockwave, but Lucario flickered away in a burst of electricity, reappearing nearby.
A blue Aura Sphere began forming in its hands.
Nidoking roared and retaliated, gathering its immense strength into a single point.
A storm of pressure erupted as it swung its arm like a blade, splitting the air itself—and shattering Lucario's Aura Sphere in midair.
The sheer force caused shockwaves, creating a whirlwind of raw energy.
"Flamethrower, Nidoking!"
Even though Lucario was a special attacker, it was still a warrior at heart. Sparks of electricity flickered across the battlefield, but Nidoking was unfazed as it launched a torrent of flames from its mouth.
Lucario growled, and its left arm surged with power, unleashing a massive shockwave that sent the flames spiraling backward—directly into its right hand, merging them with its Aura Sphere.
"Lucario, Aura Sphere—now!"
Lucario's entire right arm ignited with purple flames, fusing with its Aura energy. As the attack charged, its body glowed brightly under the flickering lightning.
It was a breathtaking sight.
Giovanni and Nidoking did not back down.
Nidoking roared, stepping forward, its muscles rippling with power. It didn't even need to use moves—its raw strength alone was terrifying.
This was the true mark of an Elite Four-level Pokémon—an overwhelming natural physique capable of withstanding attacks without relying on abilities or status moves.
The collision was devastating.
Flames, aura energy, and psychic force exploded in all directions, sending waves of heat and pressure across the battlefield.
As the dust settled, Lucario stood, panting, its arm scorched black from the impact. In midair, it rebalanced itself with telekinesis.
Nidoking had also taken heavy damage. Its feet were embedded in the ground, and its body trembled from the force of the attack.
Klein narrowed his eyes. Lucario is one of my core six Pokémon, with both incredible aura control and strong melee combat skills… yet I still couldn't finish Nidoking quickly?
Lucario shifted slightly, but its right arm was injured. Meanwhile, Nidoking stepped back, revealing a fractured limb from their final clash.
Both Pokémon were near their limits.
Lucario suddenly surged forward, using the electric field around it to increase its acceleration, aiming for one last strike.
But Nidoking countered instantly—though injured, its fighting instincts took over, and it narrowly dodged before swinging a blazing fist downward.
A split second before impact, Klein called out:
"Psychic Terrain!"
Lucario twisted midair, avoiding the hit, and then—
BOOM!
A massive pillar of light erupted from New Island, illuminating the entire sky over Old Shore Wharf.
The entire city was bathed in an intense glow, as if it had been swallowed by a divine radiance.
Mewtwo's power had fully awakened.
(End of Chapter)