"Since that's the case, let's proceed according to your idea, Dr. Fuji," Giovanni said calmly.
"But remember this—there is only one last sample of Mew's genes left. You cannot fail."
As he looked at the fully installed machinery inside the laboratory, a glint of naked ambition burned in Giovanni's eyes.
"Of course," Dr. Fuji replied.
"I won't fail."
In his eyes surged the same things—madness and ambition.
"Boss, Ash has arrived," Matori reported as she returned, though it was unclear when she had left.
"He's already here?" Giovanni nodded.
"Then bring him in."
"Yes."
-----
Viridian Gym
"Ash, please follow me."
Led by Matori, Ash Ketchum arrived before an elevator guarded by staff.
Through Aura Perception, Ash had long since known that this was the entrance to Team Rocket's underground base beneath Viridian Gym, so there was no surprise or fluctuation in his emotions.
Holding Pikachu in his arms and accompanied by Charizard, he followed Matori into the elevator.
Inside were only Ash, his two Pokémon, Matori, and a heavily built man dressed as a Gym staff member—clearly a Team Rocket operative in disguise.
Clank.
Whirr.
Thud.
The elevator descended rapidly.
Within Ash's Aura senses, it soon reached the depths of the Team Rocket underground base.
Both Ash and Matori were taciturnly in sync—Matori walked ahead in silence, while Ash looked around with curiosity but asked no questions.
Inside the base, Team Rocket members were either buried in their work or moving briskly through the corridors. When they encountered Ash's group, they respectfully saluted Matori, who was leading the way—
As for Ash, they deliberately ignored him.
Soon, Matori led Ash into a laboratory packed with all kinds of complex instruments. Waiting inside were Giovanni and Dr. Fuji, whom Ash had met before during the treatment of Rattata.
"Ash, you're here," Giovanni greeted with a faint smile.
The moment Ash entered, the other researchers seemed to regard his arrival as the final missing piece. One by one, they rushed to their assigned instruments and took their positions.
"Araki—activate the flow cytometer."
"Unit B—inject the filtered Mew genes, the human combat genes, and genetic sequence 'XZ' into the healthy ovum."
The laboratory instantly became a battlefield.
Researchers operated their machines at full speed, performing procedures Ash couldn't fully comprehend.
Yet from fragments of their discussions—and from quietly listening to their thoughts through Aura—Ash pieced together the truth:
The Mewtwo Project aimed to create a being that surpassed Mew, a true god born by human hands.
The experiment used Mew's genes as the base, fused with violent, combat-oriented human genes, making Mewtwo a hybrid lifeform, straddling the line between Pokémon and human.
Both the Mew genes and human genes had been heavily filtered beforehand.
From Mew's genome, genes deemed "unnecessary"—such as its transformation ability and certain personality traits—had been completely removed, leaving only those optimized for combat.
The human genes were also carefully selected, extracted from the most violent and aggressive genetic samples.
In addition, every researcher repeatedly mentioned a mysterious genetic sequence labeled "XZ."
But when Ash tried to probe deeper—
It was as if the researchers had been hypnotized.
Their minds went blank the moment they thought about it. They only knew one thing:
In addition to Mew genes and violent human genes, the XZ sequence had to be included.
"What exactly is this XZ sequence…?"
Ash frowned inwardly.
"How can something be even more secretive than Mew's genes?"
Still, he didn't dwell on it for long.
From the researchers' thoughts, he learned that the Mewtwo experiment had already been attempted many times.
Each attempt had failed because the fusion of Mew genes and human genes caused genetic chain collapse during embryonic development.
Dr. Fuji and his team had long tried to develop a genetic stabilizer, but none had proven effective.
As a result, the project had been stalled for a very long time.
Only after Ash successfully treated Rattata, proving that his psychic power could repair genetic collapse, did the Mewtwo Project resume.
"So that means…"
Ash's lips curled into a strange smile.
"This new round of the Mewtwo Project has just begun."
"Right now, Mewtwo isn't even a true embryo—just fragmented genetic material."
Realizing this, Ash couldn't help but chuckle.
Then, suddenly, excitement surged through him.
What Team Rocket was doing at this very moment was nothing less than creating a god with mortal hands.
And he—
He was not only witnessing this insane miracle with his own eyes,
but would also personally take part in it, contributing his own power to Mewtwo's birth.
His once-calm heart began to race.
"Dr. Fuji," one of the researchers reported,
"The Mew genes, warrior genes, and XZ genes have all been injected. What remains is the final step."
All eyes turned toward Dr. Fuji.
But Dr. Fuji's burning gaze was fixed on Ash.
"Ash," Dr. Fuji said solemnly,
"Now, I must ask you—please use your healing psychic power to treat this fertilized egg."
"Leave it to me."
Ash nodded.
He didn't ask pointless questions like 'Wasn't I supposed to treat a special Pokémon? Why an embryo?'
Everyone here understood the unspoken rules.
He was being paid to participate in the Mewtwo Project.
He had acknowledged Giovanni as his teacher.
To tear away the veil now would benefit no one.
Under the intense gazes of Giovanni, Matori, Dr. Fuji, and the entire research team, Ash stepped forward to the central lab table.
Inside the flow cytometer rested a single fertilized egg.
Ash took a deep breath.
Then he extended his hand, hovering it above the instrument—
separated only by a thin layer of glass—
And began to channel Healing Grace, pouring his power into the fragile new life.
--------------
T/N:
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