The razor-sharp metal claws tore through the energy barrier around Mewtwo's body — a barrier already riddled with cracks and distortions — and struck against the armor it wore.
Clang—clang—clang!
Mega Metagross's claws were frighteningly sharp. Even before Mega Evolution, Metagross's claws could slice stone like tofu. Now, though Mewtwo's armor was forged from high-grade alloy, it couldn't withstand such an assault for long.
Giovanni's expression darkened as he realized what he was seeing — Metagross was actually capable of damaging Mewtwo's armor.
That armor had been tailor-made by Giovanni himself, specifically for Mewtwo.
When Mewtwo had first been born, it couldn't yet control its own power. Its psychic energy would often surge out of control, destroying surrounding objects or even injuring nearby Pokémon. To prevent that, Giovanni had poured vast sums of money into forging this suit of armor — not only to help Mewtwo regulate its immense psychic power, but also to protect its rather fragile physical body.
But there was another, far more crucial feature.
This armor functioned partially like a Poké Ball.
Of course, not in the sense of capturing.Giovanni's relationship with Mewtwo was far too delicate for that. If he ever tried to capture it, Mewtwo would likely crush him into paste.
No — this armor was designed to prevent capture.
Once Mewtwo donned it, it became immune to the effects of Poké Balls. The feature was something Giovanni had deliberately added — a safeguard to prevent the weapon he created from being stolen by some other power.
And that was precisely why Mewtwo had tolerated wearing such a restrictive suit at all.
But now, that very armor… was being shattered.
Clang!A fragment of chest plate fell to the ground in front of Mewtwo with a metallic ring.
The battlefield fell silent.
Giovanni's expression was cold as still water.Nozomi stood opposite him with a faint, knowing smile, calm and unshaken.Mewtwo's eyes burned with fury.Mega Metagross's gaze was emotionless as ever.Dragonite, watching from behind, squinted in delight.
The next instant, an overwhelming psychic pressure burst out from Mewtwo's body — far stronger than before. The remaining armor exploded apart, fragments scattering as the sheer force forced Mega Metagross backward and halted its assault.
Yet Giovanni felt no relief.
He realized something unsettling — from the very beginning, Nozomi's true target hadn't been Mewtwo itself, but its armor.
The Flash Cannon, the Meteor Mash, the Rapid Spin… all those attacks weren't random.They were aimed.
Just what was Nozomi planning?
A bad feeling crept up Giovanni's spine — a feeling that even Mewtwo's newfound power couldn't suppress.
Meanwhile, on another side of the battlefield, the duel between Sabrina and Oka had reached a deadlock.
Oka specialized in Bug- and Grass-type Pokémon, while Sabrina commanded Psychic-types.
By type advantage, Oka should have been dominating.
And indeed, for most of the battle, she was.
Her strength was clearly above Sabrina's. Even though Sabrina possessed incredible psychic power, the gap in pure battling skill couldn't be erased so easily.
But Sabrina had her own way of fighting.
She refused to face Oka head-on, instead having Alakazam engage in hit-and-run tactics — while at the same time, she kept exploiting the unconscious Chakra lying nearby.
As fellow Beasts Trio members, Oka and Chakra shared a strong bond. Naturally, Oka couldn't just stand by and let Chakra be used as a psychic pawn.
And so the fight had dragged on, back and forth, to this very moment.
"Alakazam, use Psychic!"
The twin spoons in Alakazam's hands glowed as an immense wave of psychic energy erupted forth.
"Shuckle, use Protect!"
Oka's Shuckle curled up into its shell, a green barrier flaring up to block the psychic blast. Then Oka seized her next chance.
"Jumpluff go! Use Poison Powder!"
She hurled the little Grass-type forward. Her plan was simple: poison Alakazam first, then wear it down.
But just as Jumpluff soared through the air—A terrifying surge of psychic pressure rolled across the entire battlefield.
Jumpluff was blown away instantly, tossed like a leaf in a storm.Alakazam, startled, had to raise its arms in defense just to keep from being crushed by the aura alone.
"What incredible power… that battle's on a whole different level," Sabrina murmured, turning toward the other side of the field.
The sight of Mewtwo and Mega Metagross clashing left her breathless.Mewtwo's divine, overwhelming presence — and Metagross's unyielding, stone-like might — both stirred her heart.
It wasn't about personality anymore.Even someone as cold and composed as Sabrina couldn't watch such a fight without feeling her blood boil.
Oka, however, felt none of that excitement.
As a high-ranking Rocket executive, she knew exactly what Mewtwo's armor was meant to do — and seeing it destroyed filled her with dread.
Her greatest fear wasn't that Mewtwo would turn on them.It was that Mewtwo might lose control.
If that happened, even without attacking Team Rocket directly, just its escape alone would be catastrophic for the organization — which had built so much of its recent power on possessing Mewtwo.
Thankfully, that didn't happen.
Mewtwo didn't turn against them.It didn't flee.Instead, it stood before Metagross, violet eyes blazing with fury and fighting spirit.
"You've succeeded in angering me."
Its voice echoed telepathically in everyone's minds.
The only answer it received was a Hammer Arm from Mega Metagross.
If that attack could speak, it would've said something like:"Quit showing off."
What if you've unleashed your full power? That doesn't mean you've already won.
Metagross showed no mercy.
Its Hammer Arm came down with a howling shockwave, smashing toward Mewtwo's head.
Mewtwo raised an arm to block — and was sent flying several meters before it could stabilize itself.
"What?!"It was stunned. Even after breaking its own restraints, it still couldn't overpower this Mega Metagross.
For the first time, Mewtwo — the ultimate life form — began to doubt itself.
And Giovanni… Giovanni was starting to doubt reality itself.
"Don't tell me I created a fake Mewtwo," he muttered under his breath.
No — that couldn't be. Mewtwo had already proven its overwhelming strength before, even effortlessly defeating Bruno. There was no way it should be this weak now — unable to suppress even a pseudo-legendary Pokémon.
Before either master or Pokémon could process what was happening, Metagross was already moving again, driving forward with another Meteor Mash.
Mewtwo threw up a barrier, barely managing to block the blow —but then, a voice rang out behind it.
"Dragonite, use Dragon Rush!"
With a thunderous roar, Nozomi's Dragonite shot skyward.Its massive body blazed gold as it plummeted toward Mewtwo like a meteor.
BOOM!
Even a Legendary Pokémon couldn't shrug off that impact.Mewtwo was slammed into the ground, its protective barrier shattered in an instant.
"You will all die!!"
The furious telepathic roar exploded in everyone's minds.
Giovanni, seeing Mewtwo besieged, immediately reached for a Poké Ball to send out his own Pokémon in defense.
But before he could act —shadows streaked across the sky.
The first was another Dragonite, roughly the same size as Nozomi's, diving straight toward Giovanni.
Right behind it came an Aerodactyl, a Gyarados, and a Charizard carrying a man with a fluttering cloak on its back.
One man, four Pokémon — surrounding Giovanni and his Rhyperior completely.