Just as the Team Rocket Trio prepared to launch their attack, an invisible surge of psychic energy erupted from deep within the castle, accurately striking their Magikarp submarine.
Jessie was still striking her triumphant pose with her hands on her hips, James was about to pull a Poké Ball from his coat, and Meowth had just bared his sharp clawsin the next second, the entire submarine was slapped like a toy by an invisible giant hand, sent hurtling into the sky along with its crew.
"We haven't finished our speech yet, meow!" Meowth's scream faded as the submarine transformed into a distant star in the horizon.
"What a nasty feeling!"
This sudden turn of events left every trainer on the scene stunned.
A dead silence fell over the sea, leaving only the sound of waves crashing against the shore and the nervous, low murmurs of a few trainers.
Several trainers instinctively took a few steps back, gazing warily toward the castle.
"Trainers who long to witness true power," a cold and majestic voice rang directly within everyone's minds. The voice seemed to pierce through their very souls, sending a shiver through every person present. "Come ashore."
The trainers looked at one another, eventually deciding to step onto the mysterious island.
Ash was the first to step forward, his eyes containing both caution and unwavering determination. Misty and Brock followed closely behind, and seeing them, the other trainers began to follow suit.
At the pier, they were greeted by a dull-eyed Nurse Joy.
She wore her standard nurse's uniform, but her movements were mechanical and stiff. Her eyes were hollow and lightless, making her look like a controlled puppet.
"Welcome to the Pokémon Castle," Nurse Joy said in a completely flat tone. "Please follow me."
She turned to lead the way, her steps as precise as if they had been measured.
Through his Aura Power, Ash could clearly sense that Nurse Joy was being suppressed by a formidable psychic force. He secretly circulated his Aura, attempting to break the control for her, only to find that Mewtwo's mental restraint was exceptionally firmlike countless invisible silk threads entwining her consciousness.
The interior of the castle was magnificent, yet an air of eeriness permeated every corner. Gorgeous crystal chandeliers hung from the high vaulted ceiling, and the walls were decorated with exquisite reliefs depicting scenes of humans and Pokémon living in harmony.
However, the entire space was filled with an oppressive atmosphere, as if even the air had frozen solid.
More controlled Pokémon stood along both sides of the corridor; their eyes were empty, and they remained as motionless as statues.
In the grand main hall, the trainers finally met the "strongest trainer" who had invited them.
As Mewtwo slowly emerged from the shadows, gasps and whispers erupted across the hall. "What Pokémon is that?"
"I've never seen it before!"
"Its presence is so powerful..."
Fergus was the first to stand up and voice his doubts. He rudely pushed aside the trainers in front of him and strode to the very front. "You've got to be kidding me! A Pokémon thinks it's worthy of calling itself the strongest trainer?"
A flicker of displeasure flashed in Mewtwo's eyes. Its voice echoed directly in everyone's minds, laced with cold mockery. "A trainer? No, I am more powerful than any trainer. You humans are nothing more than weaklings who rely on Poké Balls to shackle Pokémon."
"What did you say?!" Fergus roared in fury, the flesh on his face quivering with rage. "Gyarados, show this arrogant brat our power!"
However, the moment Gyarados leaped from its Poké Ball, it was frozen in mid-air by an invisible force.
Mewtwo didn't even move. With just a casual glance, both Gyarados and Fergus were flung into the decorative pool in the center of the hall, creating a massive splash.
"Damn it! Gyarados, use Hyper Beam!" Fergus poked his head out of the water, barking the command in a fit of rage.
A golden beam of energy gathered in Gyarados's mouth, before firing toward Mewtwo with world-shaking intensity. However, this powerful move, capable of shattering solid rock,
suddenly swerved a few meters away from Mewtwo and reflected back at an even greater speed. Gyarados was struck by its own attack and let out a shrill cry of pain before crashing back into the water, sending up an even larger spray.
Mewtwo watched the scene with cold indifference, its voice dripping with undisguised contempt. "Do you see? Is this the 'bond' you take such pride in? It is nothing more than a relationship of commander and commanded. You humans will always hide behind Pokémon, making them fight your battles for you."
It turned toward Nurse Joy, its tone becoming even colder. "You are useless now."
As it spoke, the blue light in Nurse Joy's eyes vanished, and she collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut.
Ash was already prepared. His Aura Power manifested as an invisible cushion to catch Nurse Joy, while simultaneously severing the final traces of mental control. Nurse Joy slowly woke up and looked around in confusion, clearly having no memory of what had just transpired.
"You've gone too far!" Ash stepped forward, glaring at Mewtwo. "Manipulating the will of others at your whimis this what you call being powerful? Just to prove your own point, you think you can trample on the dignity of others?"
Mewtwo hovered in mid-air, looking down at the crowd, its voice filled with deep disappointment. "I once chose to cooperate with humans, but in return, I received only betrayal and exploitation.
Humans are the most wretched creatures on this planetgreedy, selfish, and destructive toward everything..." Its gaze swept across the hall, and every trainer met by its eyes couldn't help but lower their head.
"Look at these Pokémon. They should have been free, but now they have become human puppets. If this continues, this planet will sooner or later be destroyed by your hands."
"Pikachu!" Pikachu jumped down from Ash's shoulder, standing firmly in front of him with its tiny body held straight.
"Pika-pika! Pikachu!" Pikachu waved its small paws, excitedly expressing its thoughts. Through his Aura sensing, Ash clearly understood Pikachu's meaning: I chose to follow Ash because I like him! This was our mutual decision! Not all trainers are like the ones you describe!
Mewtwo let out a cold laugh, its voice carrying a hint of pity. "Poor little fellow, you have been completely brainwashed, to the point where you've lost even the ability for independent thought." It raised a hand slightly, and a Psystrike shot straight toward Pikachu.
Ash quickly pulled Pikachu into his arms, using his own body to block the hit. Though Mewtwo hadn't used its full strength, the blow still made Ash feel as if his internal organs were trembling, and the metallic sweetness of blood rose in the back of his throat.
"Do you see now?" Mewtwo said, its voice full of irony. "The weaker the Pokémon, the more it relies on humans. This is the truth of your so-called 'bonds'the weak seeking protection, and the strong granting charity."
Ash slowly stood up, his eyes burning with fury. "You understand nothing at all!"
In the next instant, powerful Aura Power converged around him, forming a pale blue barrier flowing with complex light patterns.
"Oh?" For the first time, an expression of interest appeared on Mewtwo's face. "A human can actually master this kind of power? It seems you are indeed special."
The two psychic forces collided in the hall, sending visible ripples through the air. The trainers retreated in succession, watching this extraordinary confrontation in shock.
Some of the trainers' Pokémon began to stir restlessly; they could sense the sheer magnitude of these two powers.
Fine beads of sweat broke out on Ash's forehead. Although his Aura Power was quite formidable, he still found himself struggling against a Legendary Pokémon like Mewtwo.
Cracks began to spread across the barrier, looking like glass on the verge of shattering.
Just as Ash was about to reach his limit, Mewtwo suddenly withdrew its power.
It looked at the panting Ash thoughtfully. "Interesting... You are indeed different from other humans."
---
(Author's Note: Since Ash will be catching Mewtwo eventually, I had to write the buildup with a bit more detail. Hope you guys don't mind!)
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