Whoosh!!
More than ten minutes after Deoxys had gone off in pursuit of Mewtwo, it finally returned to Liam with the sound of air being torn apart, having found nothing.
After landing, Deoxys gradually reverted to its Normal Form and spoke to Liam through telepathy.
"I couldn't find that Pokémon. It has probably already escaped far away."
"Well... I guess there's nothing we can do. Thanks for your hard work, Deoxys."
Hearing Deoxys' report, Liam could only smile bitterly as he pulled out the tracker, now shattered into countless pieces.
Earlier, he had kept the tracker in his pocket, but when Mewtwo launched its first attack, the resulting shockwave had smashed it to pieces. It was now nothing more than a pile of scrap metal. Without it, there was no way for Liam to continue tracking Mewtwo.
Fortunately, since he had once possessed the tracker, it now appeared in the System's exchange shop.
Unfortunately...
[Ding!]
[Mewtwo Tracker (Upgraded Version)]
[Can locate the Genetic Pokémon, Mewtwo. Maximum detection range: 500 km.
Includes regional maps and intelligent voice guidance.]
[Exchange Cost: 10,000 Exchange Points.]
Liam: "..."
What kind of scam is this?! Who wants this upgraded version?! Just give me the ordinary one!
Liam felt utterly defeated.
The Exchange Shop only offered this upgraded model; the standard tracker he had originally used wasn't available at all.
Staring resentfully at the 10,000 Exchange Point price tag, Liam ultimately decided not to exchange for it.
Instead, he planned to contact Giovanni and ask him to send another tracker.
With Mewtwo gone and the tracker destroyed, Liam had no choice but to temporarily suspend the pursuit.
He first recalled Deoxys into its Dream Ball before looking up at the sky.
The already dark heavens had grown even gloomier. Thick storm clouds were gathering overhead, promising an approaching downpour.
"Looks like it's about to rain. Garchomp, let's head back too."
"Grrroooh!"
Every muscle in Liam's body ached.
Although Mewtwo's attack hadn't struck him directly, the tremendous shockwave had still left him badly injured. The last thing he wanted now was to get soaked in a thunderstorm.
Climbing quickly onto Garchomp's back, Liam instructed it to return to Striaton City as fast as possible.
...…
"Phew... I'm back."
"Hm? Already asleep? Heh... he's still just a kid."
"Good night. I should get some rest too."
Back at the Pokémon Center, Liam opened the door to his room and found little N already fast asleep, hugging Purrloin tightly. The dinner plates on the table had been cleaned spotless.
Seeing the smile on N's sleeping face, Liam couldn't help smiling himself.
Quietly closing the door, he walked to the window.
Outside, raindrops had already begun to fall.
He shut the window, pulled over a chair, and sat facing the glass, silently watching the rain intensify.
As time passed, the drizzle became a torrential downpour, and before long it turned into a raging thunderstorm.
Bolts of lightning danced like silver serpents across the heavens while thunder continuously shook the sky.
Listening to the rolling thunder, Liam glanced back at the peacefully sleeping N.
Only after confirming he hadn't been disturbed did Liam relax. Curling up slightly in the chair, he slowly closed his eyes and drifted off to sleep.
Meanwhile, in a mountain range not far from Striaton City...
Mewtwo dragged its battered body through the stormy sky.
Lightning flashed continuously around it.
Its consciousness was already beginning to fade.
Just as Mewtwo flew past the face of a cliff—
BOOM!!
A bolt of lightning crashed down from the sky, striking the mountainside beside it.
Nature's power was overwhelming.
The explosion's shockwave hurled Mewtwo through the air, slamming it violently into the rocky face of another mountain.
"Ugh..."
Groaning from the impact, Mewtwo tumbled down the steep slope before finally coming to a stop on a rocky ledge below.
Its strength had long since reached its limit.
Behind it, lightning continued to rage wildly, repeatedly smashing into the surrounding mountains.
The violent fall had cleared Mewtwo's mind slightly.
Knowing it couldn't remain here any longer, it struggled to its feet, leaning against the mountainside as it staggered forward.
Fortunately, at the end of the rocky platform was a cave.
Seeing shelter, Mewtwo quickened its pace and slowly reached the cave entrance.
"Gruu... Gruu..."
The moment it arrived, a series of warning growls echoed from inside.
Forcing itself to focus, Mewtwo looked into the cave.
It wasn't empty.
Several Pokémon had already taken refuge there.
There was a Tangrowth, a Heatmor, two Swannas, two Petilils, a Nidorino, a Nidorina, a Minccino, a Cinccino, a Whimsicott, a Furret, a Mienfoo, a Teddiursa, a Vulpix, and an Oddish.
Those were all the Pokémon sheltering inside.
To them, Mewtwo was an unwelcome intruder. Every one of them watched it warily, openly displaying their hostility.
Sensing their caution, Mewtwo stopped at the cave entrance instead of entering.
After a brief moment of thought...
It silently turned around, preparing to leave.
But just then—
BOOM!!
Another bolt of lightning struck the ground directly behind Mewtwo. Rocks exploded in every direction, and the blast threw Mewtwo into the cave.
The entrance stood several meters above the cave floor.
Mewtwo fell straight down.
The lightning strike had also scattered the last remnants of its consciousness.
Completely defenseless, it plummeted toward the hard rocks below.
"Tang!!"
Just before it hit the ground—
Tangrowth instantly shot out its thick vines and firmly caught Mewtwo, preventing the crash.
Time passed.
Outside, the thunderstorm continued to rage.
Inside the cave, however, a warm light filled the air.
Feeling its strength gradually returning, Mewtwo slowly regained consciousness.
The moment it opened its eyes, it was stunned by the scene before it.
A gentle green glow from Aromatherapy spread across its body, easing its pain and discomfort.
Cinccino, Minccino, Whimsicott, Furret, and Teddiursa—all those fluffy little Pokémon—had gathered close, pressing themselves against Mewtwo and sharing their body heat to warm its rain-soaked, freezing body.
Nearby, Vulpix and Heatmor continuously breathed small flames to keep the cave warm.
For the first time in its life...
Mewtwo experienced genuine warmth.
It had always believed itself to be nothing more than a monster...
An unnecessary existence.
But from this moment onward...
Mewtwo finally understood.
It was a living being as well.
Just like Pokémon. Just like humans.
It, too, was one of the lives that belonged to this world.
Looking at the Pokémon surrounding it—healing it, protecting it, warming it—
Mewtwo sincerely felt...
...that it was no longer alone.
Wrapped in their warmth, Mewtwo slowly relaxed. As its eyes blinked shut once more, Liam's words echoed in its mind.
"Heh... Mew...two, huh?"
"Very well... I'll accept that name... for now."